Stargazing, breathtaking landscapes and hidden culture
Stretching for nearly 1,000 kilometres from Peru’s southern border into northern Chile, the Atacama Desert is an adventure playground of geysers, lunar valleys and salt lakes.
Don’t expect too much rain on your tour of Atacama – the centre of the desert is the driest place on earth, with areas where no rain has ever been recorded. This may be a desert but it is not deserted: the culture and traditions of the people who live and work in the coastal cities, mining compounds, fishing villages and oasis towns can be a real highlight of your Atacama tour.
At night, the clear skies provide some of the best star-gazing in the world. Your guide will help you see why international teams of astronomers probe the cosmos from observatories perched nearby.
It’s not all get up and go, though. You can indulge yourself with spa treatments in a beautiful oasis hotel in desert towns such as San Pedro de Atacama. Or if you’re still feeling active, you can head out into the dramatic red landscape on foot, bike or horse.