Between clear skies and salt flats, the wild heart of the Atacama Desert

In northern Chile lies one of the most incredible places on the planet, where the allure of the unknown meets the raw power of nature, known here as 'brutal'.
150 million years ago, during the Jurassic period, the area was a seabed.

Over time, tectonic activity has lifted the region creating the Andes mountain
range and transforming the seabed into a desert plateau.
It is one of the world's most arid locations and this, along with its altitude and the absence of light pollution, provides a breathtakingly clear view of the stars.

Here you'll find ALMA, one of the largest and most advanced astronomical stations in the world, but to enjoy the starry spectacle, you simply need to gaze skyward.

The starting point for the most famous sites in this desert is San Pedro de Atacama, a small pueblo in the middle of nowhere with hotels, hostels, and restaurants.
You can visit the nature reserves on your own by renting off-road vehicles or take an organized minivan excursion. The roads are unpaved and quite bumpy, and there are only road signs for the main sites, so it’s best to always be accompanied by an experienced guide.

Must-see sites and places

Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache
The Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache are a group of 7 shimmering turquoise lagoons hidden in the heart of the Atacama Desert at an altitude of 2300m. The primordial landscape is
among the most enchanting in the region. You can take a dip in some of the lagoons, which contain a very high percentage of salt, comparable to that of the more well-known Dead Sea. The connection with nature here is exquisitely palpable, almost disorienting.

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Laguna Chaxa - Toconao
The road from San Pedro to Toconao runs right along the 23° 26' 11'' latitude, more commonly known as the Tropic of Capricorn, the southernmost point where the sun can be found directly at its zenith during the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere. It's definitely a fun place to stop and take some photos.
After a few kilometers, you'll arrive at the Chaxa Lagoon, a national flamingo reserve, home to 3 different species: the Chilean flamingo, the Andean flamingo, and the James's flamingo. They
can be seen walking in the salt flats (known locally as salar) as they wander through the lagoon that reflects the
mountains and sky above.

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Piedras Rojas
Piedras Rojas is one of the most spectacular experiences to be had in the Atacama Desert. At an altitude of 4,200m, huge, deep red rock formations stretch for kilometers, in sharp contrast to the white of the salt flats and the pastel blue of the lagoons. The rocks are primarily composed of solidified lava and iron-rich volcanic material. The oxidation of the iron present is what gives the rocks their distinctive red color.
Complementing this landscape — which seems like a painting thanks to its colors, the polished stones and brilliant hues — is the magnificent view of the Andes and the numerous volcanoes, one of the most famous of which is Licancabur, reaching almost 6,000 meters. Here, nature's might is truly
brutal.

Valle del Diablo and Valle de las Luna, which are close to each other, are also worth a visit for their
lunar landscapes, as are the Ojos del Salar, two fascinating dark circles of fresh water in the middle of vast white expanses of salt. The Tebinquinche Lagoon, famous for its breathtaking sunsets over the white salt flats, and the Cejar Lagoon, notable for its high concentration of salt, around 28%, where you can take a truly memorable dip in the lagoon while admiring the
Licancabur volcano and the Cordillera de la Sal.

The highland lagoons, Miscanti and Miñiques, at more than 4,000 meters above sea level, and the Tatio Geysers
at 4,320 meters above sea level, are the most extreme places to go during the last days of your trip, after you've
acclimatized to the altitude.

Bonus trivia tidbits

1. After a very rare rainfall in the Atacama Desert, you might be lucky enough to witness the phenomenon known as "desierto florido", a spectacular blossoming of pink flowers across the arid ground.

2. This desert is so arid that it is perfect for mummy preservation.
Some of the world's oldest mummies have been found here in Chinchorro.

3. The Atacama Desert has become a dumping ground for fast fashion waste.Every year, some 60,000 tons of unsold and discarded clothes — of poor quality and non-biodegradable — end up in huge heaps in the Alto Hospicio area,
posing a very serious environmental problem.

4. The Salar is also one of the world's leading sources of lithium — a vital resource for manufacturing batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones and other electronic devices — and this leads to numerous environmental issues, particularly due to the high consumption
of freshwater reserves that can disrupt the natural habitats of native
species and pollution caused by heavy metals released into the environment during extraction.

Photo credit:
01. Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache / ©Cristina Del Re
02. Laguna Chaxa - Atacama Desert / ©Cristina Del Re
03. Piedras Rojas - Atacama Desert / ©Cristina Del Re