13 Best Things to Do and See in the Atacama Desert + Ultimate Travel Guide
The Atacama Desert has many things to do, ranging from seeing flamingos to floating in salt pools and observing the shimmering night sky. Stretching across the northern region of Chile, the Atacama Desert presents an otherworldly landscape of unearthly beauty and extremes. This is one of the driest places on the planet, yet its seemingly desolate expanses conceal wondrous geographical gems found nowhere else.
From towering volcanoes and kaleidoscopic mineral valleys to desolate expanses, the Atacama’s starkly beautiful terrain looks like something from another planet. Despite its harshness, life persists and even thrives in this extraordinary desert, making it an incredible natural wonderland for adventurous travelers to explore. Whether driving scenic mountain passes, stargazing beneath unimaginably clear night skies, or encountering remarkable desert-adapted wildlife, a journey through the Atacama promises a mind-expanding experience at every turn.
This guide to the region’s most unmissable natural attractions and unique desert towns like San Pedro de Atacama will equip you to have an awe-inspiring adventure in one of our planet’s most surreal and captivating environments.
Here is a list of the best things to do in the Atacama Desert:
Table of Contents
- Best Things to Do in the Atacama Desert
- How to get to the Atacama Desert
- How to Rent a Car in the Atacama Desert
- Buses in the Atacama Desert
- Camping in the Atacama Desert
- Best Time to Visit the Atacama Desert
- Important Tips
- Google Maps
- What to Pack
- Resources for Chile
Best Things to Do in the Atacama Desert
San Pedro de Atacama
Situated at an altitude of 7,900 feet in northern Chile’s Atacama Desert lies the tiny oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. This laid-back adobe village serves as the base for exploring one of the most geographically and climatically diverse regions on Earth. Despite its remote location, San Pedro has several good restaurants, artisan shops, and hotels constructed in traditional Desert-Atacameño style. Given its remote location and quaint style, Wi-Fi can be spotty and unreliable, and often unavailable.
San Pedro is the closest town to many of the attractions in the area, and is where you will put fuel in your rental car and get food, whether in restaurants or grocery stores.
Just outside town, the dramatically stark yet beautiful landscapes unfold seemingly infinitely. For adventurers and stargazers alike, San Pedro de Atacama offers a unique experience in one of our planet’s most extreme environments.
Piedras Rojas (Red Rocks)
One of the most iconic and surreal landscapes in the Atacama Desert is the aptly named Piedras Rojas, or Red Rocks. This stunning formation consists of eroded crimson rocks jutting from a barren salt flat, their labyrinthine shapes carved by the relentless desert winds over millennia. The vibrant red rock contrasted against the bright white salt basin with volcanoes in the background is truly a spectacle. With barely any vegetation in sight, Piedras Rojas is one of the most alien-like landscapes in the entire Atacama, transporting you to what seems like the surface of Mars or an art installation on an unearthly plane. It’s a breathtaking, humbling, and undeniably artistic reminder of nature’s complexity and beauty. Visinting Piedras Rojas is one of the best things to do in the Atacama desert.
Las Piedras Rojas is open from 9am – 6pm, but you must enter by 4pm.The entrance fee is $10, and you have to book in advance here.
Salar de Tara
This massive salt flat spans over 1,000 square miles, forming a bright white expanse that seems to stretch on infinitely to the horizons. What makes Salar de Tara so special is the cluster of small islands and rocky outcroppings that rise from the blinding salt crust. On the largest island sits the tiny village of Toconao, its bell tower the only visible man-made structure for miles around. Take one of the walking trails that wind between the islands and cracked salt hexagons for a feeling of true isolation and stark beauty. The thin layer of water on top of the salt flat reflects the sky like a mirror, treating viewers to incredible perspectives at sunrise and sunset as the islands turn to silhouettes. With not a single tree or shrub in sight, just pure salt as far as the eye can see, Salar de Tara exemplifies the Atacama Desert’s alien, almost moon-like terrain.
Valle de la Luna
One of the most iconic and must-see attractions in the Atacama Desert is the Valle de la Luna, aptly named “Valley of the Moon”. This landscape was created 33 million years ago, carved by wind and water. The valley’s undisputed highlights are the incredible salt-carved caves and caverns found within the folds of the eroded rocks, and the incredible rock formations that adorn the landscape. With such an unearthly, mesmerizing terrain in every direction, you’ll feel as if you’ve been teleported to the surface of the moon.
Valle de la Luna is open from 9am – 5pm from September to March, and 8am – 4pm from April – August.The entrance fee is $10, and you can book in advance here.
Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley)
Located conveniently close to San Pedro de Atacama, Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley) is a popular spot for people to go sand boarding down the dunes. You can rent a board from San Pedro de Atacama, or join a tour. This vast, arid expanse is made up of rippled rock formations and windswept sand dunes, which make you feel like you’re looking at the surface of mars. Despite the endless brown, the panoramic views are jaw dropping.
This is a wonderful spot to watch the sunset because there road leads to a small parking area at the rim overlooking the valley. During golden hour, the landscape is illuminated by the sun’s rays, casting shadows that exemplify the rugged surface of the earth.
This is a common spot for tour groups to end their day, but the area is large enough that there is plenty of space to have a quiet moment to yourself while you ponder the variety of the planet and complexity of the universe.
El Tatio Geysers
Located at an elevation of 14,190 feet in the Andes mountains, this sprawling geyser basin is the third largest in the world, making this one of the top things to do in the Atacama desert. The best time to visit is at sunrise, when the cold air crystallizes the billowing vapor, as it blasts up to 25 feet into the air.
There’s also a thermal bath that is fed naturally by the hot springs from the geysers. However, be aware that the water isn’t as hot as the geysers, nor consistently warm. Combined with the frigid air, this might not be the most relaxing experience. Plus, the air smells of sulfur.
The temperatures at El Tatio Geysers reach below freezing at night, so bring plenty of warm clothing to include a coat, hat, and gloves, plus comfortable shoes for walking.
If you decide to drive there yourself, be aware that the road is unpaved, so a high-clearance vehicle is essential. Additionally, the road winds up into the mountains and gains significant altitude. To alleviate and prevent altitude sickness, it is advisable to carry a bottle with coca water, which is sold at craft fairs in San Pedro. It can be taken hot or cold or even chew sweets or coca calugas.
El Tatio Geysers are open from 6am – 4pm. Upon arrival, purchase your ticket ($15) directly at the access to the Tatio Geysers. More information can be found at the Geysers del Tatio website.
Laguna Miscanti and Laguna Miñiques
Laguna Miscanti and Laguna Miñiques are two neighboring high-altitude lakes in the Atacama Desert, sitting at over 13,000 feet in elevation. These two turquoise-hued lagunas seem to glow against the golden brown and rust-colored mineral streaks of the surrounding desert and towering volcanic peaks. Perfectly mirroring the cloudscapes and mountains in their still waters, these lagunas offer fantastic photography opportunities as the light and colors shift throughout the day. Trails circumnavigating the lakes allow you to take in the full panoramas at a leisurely pace while keeping watch for the islands’ resident flocks of flamingos wading in the mineral-rich shallows.
Despite their beauty, these high-altitude lakes are inhospitable to most life, with no vegetation in sight – just barren desertscapes and snowy summits providing a sublime backdrop to their vivid blue-green hues.
They are located only a short distance from Piedras Rojas and the Salar de Talar. They are open from 9am – 6pm, but you must enter by 4pm. The entrance fee is $15, and you have to book in advance here.
You must check in at the entry control point in the village of Socaire, where you will be given your entrance ticket. Failure to check-in at Socaire will prevent you from accessing the lagoons at the entry points even if your reservation is confirmed.
Laguna Chaxa
This remote saline lake appears as a brilliant, ethereal shade of blue set against a backdrop of rusty red mountains and towering volcanic peaks. Fed by underground salt water rivers, the lagoon’s exceptionally high mineral content gives it a striking vivid blue hue that shifts in intensity throughout the day as the light and clouds change.
Keep an eye out for one of the lake’s most iconic residents – clusters of three species of flamingos wading in the shallows as they feed in the mineral-rich waters. Seeing these flamingos in their natural habitat is one of the best things to do in the Atacama desert.
Laguna Chaxa is located within Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos (Los Flamencos National Reserve) and the vast Salar de Atacama, which stretches south from San Pedro de Atacama for over 62 miles (100 km) and is the third largest salt flat on the globe.
Here is Laguna Chaxa’s official site, but there isn’t much information on it. It’s best to contact them for up to date opening hours and tickets.
Laguna Baltinache
These high-altitude salt lakes sit at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level, surrounded by a panorama of towering volcanoes and expansive salt flats. Millions of years ago, his whole area was once an ocean. All the water has since evaporated, leaving behind all the salt, and creating super concentrated salt pools. The salinity is so high that you can effortlessly float in them. The water is surprisingly cold given the soaring daytime desert temperatures, but it can feel refreshing if you have been walking around in the hot sun. This unique experience is one of Atacama desert’s best things to do.
To enter the salt pools, you cannot have anything on your skin, including sunblock, perfume, or lotion. These products harm the environment and change the chemistry of the pools, which can kill the animals that live there, such as flamingos.
The entrance fee for Laguna Baltinache is $10, and you should be able to purchase tickets on arrival.
Oasis at Valle de Jere
Nestled deep within the arid folds of the Atacama lies the verdant surprise of Valle de Jere – a lush oasis that seems to appear like a mirage amidst the barren desert surroundings. Follow the trail into this sheltered valley and you’ll be met by the shocking sight of swaying palm trees and gurgling streams nourished by underground water sources. Giant sedimentary rock walls soaring hundreds of feet high enclose the oasis, creating a surreal microclimate that allowes such vibrant life to flourish in the midst of this hyper-arid region. This hidden desert paradise provides a welcome respite for adventurers seeking an escape from the Atacama’s otherworldly yet harsh landscapes. The green trees and shrubs give some much-appreciated shade, so if you have time bring some lunch and relax in this unusual spot near San Pedro de Atacama.
There’s a small entrance fee of a few dollars, then you’re free to walk along the small creek that cuts through the gorge, or climb high for amazing vistas.
Mano del Desierto (Hand of the Desert)
In Chile’s Atacama desert about 46 miles (75 km) south of Antofagasta, the sculpture of a giant hand stands alone in the middle of the desert. Standing 6 feet (11 meters) tall, this hand was constructed by the Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal in 1992. The concept of a giant hand reaching out of the desert is said to represent human loneliness and injustices, along with our vulnerability and helplessness.
The hand is located 450 meters off Route 5, the Ruta del Desierto that cuts through a brown, barren landscape. There are clear signposts along the road, but the sculpture can easily be seen from quite a distance away. It is right in the middle of the desert with nothing around it except brown rolling hills. There are no fences, gates, or buildings. There is no fee to see the hand.
Tropic of Capricorn
If you travel north of Antofagasta, you will cross the Tropic of Capricorn. South of the equator at latitude 23°26′, this imaginary line runs through some of the region’s most quintessential desert landscapes. The surrounding volcanic peaks provide a backdrop to the vast sandy terrain, where there is basically no vegetation or water. The varying colors of the earth provide unique views the further you drive into the desert, making this a fun and interesting drive despite being out in the middle of nowhere.
Stargazing
The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is widely renowned as one of the best places on Earth for stargazing. The region’s extreme dryness, minimal light pollution, and high elevation provide absolutely pristine conditions for observing the night sky year-round. The stargazing is so good that even NASA has observatories here. There are several observatories where you can book a tour, such as San Pedro de Atacama Celestial Explorations (SPACE). They have 15 telescopes on-site, including a 720-centimeter telescope, the largest public telescope on the continent. The tours are up to 16 people per night and are conducted in English, Spanish, and French. They cost about $40 and should be booked a couple weeks in advance because they fill up. However, if you are traveling on your own, you might be able to drop in the same day to see if there have been any cancellations for that night.
However, you don’t need to be at an observatory to have your mind blown by the bright spiral arm of the milky way stretched across the night sky. You can appreciate the stars from anywhere in the desert. I decided to tent camp, and the night sky took my breath away every single night. Stargazing in the Atacama desert is one of the best things to do in the Atacama desert.
How to get to the Atacama Desert
By Plane
- Take a 2-hour flight from Santiago to (SCL) to Calama (CJC). This route is flown by several airlines, including LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSMART.
- From Calama, drive to San Pedro de Atacama. You can take a bus, rent a car, or take a transfer to get to the gateway of San Pedro de Atacama. The minibus transfers leave directly after flights arrive and cost a fixed rate of $15 one-way and $28 for both ways. The distance is about 60 miles (100 km) and takes around 1.5 to 2 hours.
By Bus
- There are direct bus services from Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama, which take about 24 hours. There are a few companies driving this route, such as TurBus and Pullman Bus.
By Car
- You can drive from Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama, which takes 20-24 hours. You will need to split the drive into two days, and stay the night in one of the towns along the way. The most common route is to take Route 5 North towards La Serena, Antofagosta, and Calama, and then head to San Pedro de Atacama. It’s a long trip, but it offers the opportunity to enjoy the landscapes and be bewildered by all the dystopian looking mines and factories along the way.
How to Rent a Car in the Atacama Desert
I think that renting a car is the best way to explore the Atacama desert because it gives you the freedom to go at your own pace and really appreciate the vastness of the landscape.
You can rent a car in either Santiago or Calama. There is no option to rent a car in San Pedro de Atacama because it is such a small town. I would personally recommend renting a car in Calama because the drive between Santiago and Antofagosta isn’t all that interesting. Plus, there are numerous tolls along this highway, which are surprisingly expensive.
I would also recommend renting a 4×4 because some roads to the attractions are dirt or gravel and are poorly maintained.
Buses in the Atacama Desert
From San Pedro de Atacama, there are buses that leave for Salta, Argentina. They generally depart in the morning, and the journey takes 11 hours. It’s recommended to book a couple of days in advance.
From Calama, there are buses to Santiago (24 hours) and Bolivia. On the days they depart to Bolivia, they leave in the morning, and the journey takes 8 hours. It’s recommended to book a couple of days in advance.
Camping in the Atacama Desert
If you love a bit of adventure, and like to keep your costs down, then camping in the Atacama is the best option. There are many great places to camp in the Atacama, but you are not allowed to camp inside parks, reserves, or protected areas. There are several apps for finding good places to pitch a tent or park your campervan, and I used iOverlander.
It is a really wonderful experience being out somewhere so isolated and quiet, and the stars overhead are truly next level. Plus, it’s free and easy. For the best experience, try to park and set up camp out of view of the road, or at least a good distance away.
Best Time to Visit the Atacama Desert
The best time to visit the Atacama Desert for stargazing is during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer months, which run from December through February. The Atacama is extremely dry year-round, but the summer months are the driest, with virtually no cloud cover. Clear, cloudless skies provide optimal viewing conditions.
Daytime temperatures are pleasantly warm, in the 70’s and 80’s F (20’s – 30’s C), while night temperatures only dip into the 40’s F (10 C). The moderate nights make spending hours under the stars more comfortable. During the colder months, the temperatures at night can be freezing.
The summer months (which are opposite of the northern hemisphere) offer longer nights due to the tilt of the Earth. More hours of darkness increase prime stargazing time.
Between December and February, the center of the Milky Way galaxy is highly visible arcing across the night sky in the Atacama. Plus, the Quadrantids meteor shower peaks in January.
While stargazing is amazing year-round in the Atacama, the warm, dry, cloudless summer nights from December through February provide the absolute optimal conditions to take in the spectacular night skies.
The summer is also peak tourist season, so there will be more people at the attractions and tours could fill up. However, the Atacama desert doesn’t see nearly the number of tourists as some other destinations in South America, like Machu Picchu or Patagonia, so it is still enjoyable to visit during this time.
Important Tips
Chile loves bureaucracy, and so beginning March 2023, many of the Atacama Desert’s main attractions must be booked in advance. Make sure you are prepared with the necessary information for each attraction you plan to visit.
For tours, packages, and accommodations, make sure you book at least a month in advance if visiting during high season (December through February).
Pets are not allowed in most attractions or National Parks.
If you decide to go on a road trip, make sure you bring several big jugs of drinking water with you. The desert is huge, expansive, and mostly dry as a bone. Drinking water is only available in the small towns, which are few and far between. Additionally, always bring a full reusable water bottle with you for every excursion if going with a tour.
Since a lot of the Atacama desert and its attractions are at high altitudes, it is recommended to take the necessary precautions to avoid altitude sickness. Don’t drink a lot of alcohol, try to get as much sleep as you can, and use coca leaves/ tea to help with any symptoms. You can find coca in San Pedro de Atacama.
Google Maps
During my road trip in the Atacama desert, google maps was frequently wrong. Most attractions are correctly located, but you should triple check every time before setting off. There were a few times we drove for several hours in the wrong direction, ending up in a massive salt field surrounded by hundreds of volcanoes. The view was actually amazing, but we “wasted” almost the whole day. There are usually signs to the main attractions, but the distances are so far that you have to drive for a while before you see any of them.
A lot of the roads are dirt or gravel, so it really helps to have a capable vehicle. Especially if you turn down a wrong road, the conditions could be even worse.
If google is not recommending an alternate route, it could be for a good reason. I saw a road on the map, but no matter how hard I tried, google wouldn’t recommend the route to me for directions. I decided to just follow the map anyway, which was a very bad idea. I ended up on a road that dissolved into deep sand, and almost ended up stuck out in the desert for who knows how long. I eventually came to a mine, where the people were very, very surprised to see me. Take my advice and stay on the main routes.
What to Pack
Whether you’re road tripping or booking tours and staying in San Pedro, there are a few essential items you will need to bring to the Atacama Desert:
Clothing
- Warm Layers: the desert gets very cold at night, so pack warm base layers, a heavy jacket, hat, gloves, and thick socks.
- Lightweight long sleeves and pants: to protect against the intense sun during the day.
- Shoes: closed toed shoes for exploring and being on your feet for many hours. I prefer trail running shoes.
Sun Protection
- Sunblock and SPF lip balm
- Sunglasses
- Wide-brimmed hat
Hydration
- Reusable water bottle
- Jugs of water (if road tripping)
Other Essentials
- Swimsuit for salt pools
- Backpack
- Camera
- Headlamp/Flashlight: bring a red light to preserve night vision for stargazing.
- High-Altitude Remedy: the Atacama Desert is at roughly 8,000 feet, so coca leaves might be needed. They can be purchased in San Pedro de Atacama.
Dressing in layers, carrying ample water, and bringing the right gear for both day and night conditions in the desert will ensure you’re prepared for amazing stargazing in the Atacama. Check out my complete camping gear packing list for what I used to camp in the Atacama desert.
As you venture into this otherworldly desert, you’ll be awestruck by how much natural beauty and breathtaking wonder is concentrated in one of the driest places on Earth. From exploring rock formations that are tens of millions of years old to witnessing the clearest skies on the planet, the Atacama leaves you with a profound appreciation for the marvels of our world. Its surreal landscapes, vibrant colors, and endless star-filled nights will take your breath away. Pack your sense of wonder, and get ready to be awe-struck by this remarkable corner of Chile.
Resources for Chile
If you are planning a trip to Chile, here are additional resources:
- 13 Best Places to Visit in Chile
- How to Visit the Marble Caves in Chile: Complete Travel Guide
- How to Get to Patagonia: A Complete Traveler’s Guide
- How to Hike the W-Trek in Torres Del Paine, Patagonia
- How to Hike the O-Circuit in Torres Del Paine, Patagonia
Check out my YouTube video about my road trip through the Atacama Desert!
