Atacama

The Atacama Desert is the most arid desert in the World, extending from the First to the Third Region, including all of the north of Chile. It is nature in one of its purest expressions, surrounded by one of the best skies that can be seen in the world. The simplest way to get to know the bounties of Atacama is through the city of Antofagasta, on the coast and from Calama to the interior, both located in the Second Region of Chile.

Locating ourselves on the world map, the Atacama Desert is more or less over the Tropic of Capricorn just like the desert of Kalahari, or the Great Desert of Australia. Helping to increase the aridity is the so-called Costal Mountain Range, a costal mountainous mass that blocks the humidity that originates from the Humboldt Current, which traces the South American coast from Antarctica to Ecuador.

Atacama is a unique natural environment. It is an immense elevated plain of volcanoes and snowcapped mountains that hoard the immense riches of mineral resources that are currently being exploited, as in the case of Chuquicamata, the largest open-pit copper mine in the world.

The Geysers of Tatio
In addition to the immense lakes that with the sun are multi-colored, a not-to-miss visit is to the Geysers of Tatio, a geothermic field located in the Andes Mountain Range (4,200 meters high). During the early morning the geysers put on an impressive show of fumaroles of vapor produced by the high temperatures of its watery craters (85ºC).

Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon)
The erosion, provoked by the extreme climatic factors such as the lack of rain, wind, and daily differences in temperature, help to form a spectacular landscape, the magical Valle de la Luna, which is peculiar in that it has a similar geography to that which is observed on the surface of the moon.

Salar de Atacama
It is the largest salt deposit in Chile with a white and rugged surface, which hides at first glance a large brackish lake. Its size of 300,000 hectares can be appreciated in its totality thanks to the completely dry air.

The Villages of Chiu-Chiu and Lazana
Lazana is a military fortress (at 2,590 meters) 51 km from Calama, close to Chiu Chiu, dating back to the 17th century. Located on a cliff against the river with defensive walls toward the west, it was the permanent lodging of the chiefs and the administration, as well as a place of protection for the town. Restored between 1951 and 1953, it demonstrates a peculiar architecture of narrow alleyways, surrounded by 110 buildings from one to five rooms. The majority of the rooms are rectangular and circular - watch towers and granaries - , entirely built of stone and supposedly with a roof of wood and mud, which today has completely disappeared. It became depopulated at the same time of the Spanish occupation.

San Pedro de Atacama
In the oasis of San Pedro the principal center of the culture of the people of Atacama appeared. It is the starting point for all those who look for contact with rugged and impressive nature. The town preserves its typical and ancestral forms of building in adobe, combined with services that allow you to remain connected to the modern world. San Pedro is located at 1,670 kms north of Santiago, Chile. To get there you have to fly to Calama, the closest city, which is connected to San Pedro by an excellent paved highway and a startling desert landscape.

The towns of Toconao, Peine, and Socaire
The old systems of community can still be found in the localities of Toconao, Peine, and Socaire. In these towns the inhabitants still practice the forms of pasturing and agriculture of their ancestors, together with the elaboration of ancient products, such as arrope, a kind of syrup or sweet nectar extracted from a tree called chañar, typical of this area and resistant to the dry climate.

Pukaras de Lazana and Quitor
The ruins of Pukaras, ancient fortifications that provided a shield for the town, are also considered a tourist attraction. It is worth visiting Pukaras de Lasana and Quitor, both built in the 17th century and declared national monuments. In addition, you can visit a large number of areas with cave paintings and architectural sites of great value.

Hot Springs of Puritama
The Termas de Puritama are located 27 kms to the northeast of San Pedro de Atacama. In a mountainous canyon of great natural beauty, the Termas de Puritama are a wonderful source of hot springs with constant flow of water, temperatures that range between 25º and 30 º C, and curative properties for rheumatic problems.

Festival of the Tirana
In Atacama there are a large number of popular religious festivals that have resulted from the union between the Christian religion and the demonstrations of pagan faith existent at the moment of the arrival of the Spanish conquistadores to the north of Chile. One of the largest celebrations of this type is that which is celebrated in the town of La Tirana, a small, quiet village located in the pampas close to the city of Iquique. The town adorns itself each July (between the 12th and 18th) to celebrate the Virgin of Carmen with a colorful festival and spectacular religious dances, music, and offerings. It is the only festival of its type in the country. Together with this celebration you can find events in each of the towns in the interior, many of which still practice ancestral rites, such as the adoration of the "Pachamama" or Mother Earth.

Chuquicamata
In Atacama the presence of large tectonic events have caused the emergence of magnificent and impressive volcanoes and mountains that adorn the Andes mountain range in the area of Atacama, which still preserve in their insides fabulous reserves of copper and lithium. Proof of this is the existence of Chuquicamata, the largest open-pit mind in the world.