Atacama Desert Holidays

Atacama Desert holidays are a definite ‘must’ on any holidays to Chile. The otherworldly landscapes range from shimmering salt flats to steaming geysers, conical volcanoes and cracked lunar-like earth.

Rising over 4,000 metres above sea level en route to Bolivia in the Andes, some parts of the Atacama Desert are the driest places on Earth. Breath-taking vistas abound here, and the photographer in you will relish the chance to get snap-happy amid the reflective salt pans and adobe villages.

Because of the Atacama Desert’s setting, days are hot and sunny with the clearest blue skies, but as darkness falls the temperature plummets. Freezing temperatures mean you’ll need to wrap up warm for one of the area’s main draws: stargazing. Nowhere on Earth is better for studying the stars, and at least one night observing the clear skies above the desert is a ‘must’.