Chile Atacama Desert
This lunar landscape is the world’s driest desert, home to hissing geysers, sprawling salt flats and otherworldly valleys of magnificent amber rocks.
Overview
The Atacama’s inhospitable desert landscape is harsh and rugged, but it isn't an empty wasteland. Volcanoes and geysers steam and hiss into life. Pink flamingos haunt the featureless white salt flats, cacti stride towards the horizon and oases splash the tawny landscape with vigorous vegetation, especially after rare flash rainfall. The culture and settlements echo with the legacy of the desert’s pre- and post- Columbian inhabitants, with ruined temples and dusty colonial villages. There are some top quality hotels and the area is becoming a favourite for adventure activities such as volcano climbing and horse riding. If coming from Santiago or Patagonia, you may notice the high altitude as you explore the Atacama: however, all hotels are in San Pedro - at a comfortable 2,450m.
Holidays Atacama Desert
Browse our selection of unique and memorable holidays visiting the Atacama Desert. Book now with Journey Latin America.

Private Journeys
Chile
Active Chile: Andean Skiing and Atacama Desert Adventures
12 days from £5,899pp

Group - Classic
Peru / Lake Titicaca / Bolivia / Chile
Andean Flamingo: Andes laid bare
17 days from £4,726pp

Private Journeys
Argentina / Chile / Patagonia
Family Patagonia: Glacial lakes and mountains
16 days from £6,640pp

Private Journeys
Chile
Luxury Chile: Exclusive lodges and untamed landscapes
13 days from £9,460pp
Things to do
Enjoy a range of activities in the Atacama Desert, from seeing flamingos in the salt flats to exploring the Valley of the Moon. Book with Journey Latin America.
Accommodation
After a memorable day exploring the rugged Atacama Desert landscape, relax in our selection of comfortable hotels. Book now with Journey Latin America.
Where to go when - our guide to Atacama Desert

The weather in Atacama Desert is wide and varied
This lunar landscape is the world’s driest desert, where rain falls an average of six days a year. Its hissing geysers, sprawling salt flats and otherworldly valleys of magnificent amber rocks are accessible throughout the year, with daytime temperatures remaining mostly in the 20°Cs thanks to the surprisingly high altitude. Chilean summer runs from December - February, offering warmer, sunnier weather by day and the best conditions for viewing the milky way at night. During this time flocks of wild flamingos, which are scattered across the salt flats year-round, gather together in huge numbers. The resultant haze of magenta feathers against orange and purple-hued mountains is spectacular. In the run up to Lent you may catch the regional festivities of el Carnavalón.
Though chances of rainfall are very slim, it is worth bearing in mind that January has seen some downpours in recent years which are best avoided as they may restrict access to the salt flats.
March - May and September - November are pleasant shoulder seasons with somewhat cooler temperatures and fewer visitors. The winter months of June - August bring chilly nights which reach below zero degrees, and the added possibility of snowfall in July means this could be a less ideal time to visit. Then again, July coincides with the Fiesta de la Tirana, where locals don flamboyant costumes for the dance of the devil in the Tarapacá region.
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