Chile Highlights: Atacama Desert Tour

In the north of Chile, there is an other-worldly land, the Atacama Desert. Proud of the driest non-polar climate on earth, it is a rare piece of natural beauty, with its colorful rock formations, rolling dunes, turquoise lagoons with pink flamingos, and gushing geysers.

With steady flights to Calama, the closest airport to the Atacama Desert, an overnight in Chile's cosmopolitan and energetic capital Santiago is the run-up for your adventure to the Atacama Desert. Upon arrival at Santiago International Airport, a private driver will pick you up and transfer you to the hotel. Take the rest of the day at leisure.

After breakfast in the hotel, catch a flight to the city of Calama and then take an hour's drive to San Pedro de Atacama. With necessary tourism facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, and travel agencies, this rustic town plays as the base for all excursions and adventures into the Atacama Desert.

Check into your hotel and take some rest. When the night falls, join an interesting astronomic tour visiting the Ahlarkapin Observatory. The combination of the high altitude, arid dryness, and lack of superficial light keeps the Atacama into the perfect platform for star-gazing, where the stars seem to light the sky. Through this trip, you will learn the scientific knowledge of astrology and observe the celestial bodies through the lens of one of the biggest private telescopes in the world. What an unforgettable adventure it is to observe the fantastic universe!

The tour to the iconic Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) will start in the late afternoon. This land is carved into various formations by wind and water, which makes it look like the surface of the moon. Mindful of your steps, you can freely climb over the sand dunes, crawl through the salt caves, and go anywhere you want to go. The most beautiful moment will begin after sunset, when the earth is constantly painted with red, orange, yellow, pink, and blue. This would be a magic light show directed by nature, so don't forget to record these amazing moments with your camera.

Today will be dedicated to the Atacama Salt Flats (Salar de Atacama) and the plateau lagoons. Lying amid the Atacama Desert plains and surrounded by Andes peaks, it is the second-largest salt flat in the world.

You will have the chance to spot the rare pink flamingos strolling gracefully in the water at the Chaxa Lagoon in the heart of the salt flat and witness the most picturesque lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques with deep turquoise colored waters. Some other aborigines, like vicunas (similar to llamas), may come into your way. The tour also includes a traditional Chilean lunch at the village of Socaire and a visit to the Church of San Lucas in the town of Toconao.

The Tatio Geysers, located a few hours north from San Pedro, is another gem worth visiting in the Atacama Desert. The best time to visit it is at sunrise, when the geysers are most active and surrounded by mysterious beauty. So, get ready to wake up early and leave for this place at 4:30 am. Take your time to admire the spouts rising as high as 10 meters and enjoy a picnic breakfast near the geysers.

On the way back to San Pedro, make a stopover at the tiny village of Machuca and then take a hot spring bath in the Puritama to relax.

After a relaxing morning, you will go to the airport in Calama and fly back to Santiago. Say goodbye to Chile and make your way to the international terminal for your home-bound flight.