Atacama Desert
A starkly beautiful landscape offering a captivating world of extremes
Chile’s Atacama Desert is a truly otherworldly destination
Wedged between two mountain ranges, uncover the world’s oldest and driest desert.
The sheer bareness of the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile is one of awe-inspiring beauty. Nestled between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean, this ghostly landscape is home to some of the most breathtaking natural wonders and unique experiences. This arid landscape, often described as a ‘lunar-like’ environment, is characterised by its stark beauty, extreme temperatures, and unique adaptations of its inhabitants. Despite its harsh conditions, the Atacama Desert is a fascinating and scientifically important region, offering insights into the limits of life and the potential for extraterrestrial existence. A landmark of the El Norte Grande, this area boasts an astonishing landscape of ragged, rocky mountains and ravines that are interspersed by a striking white salt pan and surrounded by towering volcanoes. It’s a photographer’s dream destination.
As the world’s driest desert, the immense Atacama lives up to its title, with some areas registering not even a single raindrop in over 150 years. Sitting at an altitude of 3,500 m (11,482 ft), the dramatic and desolate desert boasts clear, unpolluted skies that allow for the most unforgettable stargazing.
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