Desert Adventures in San Pedro de Atacama | Atacama Desert Tours
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Desert Adventures in San Pedro de Atacama | Atacama Desert Tours

4 min read

Nov 13, 2016

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By Jason Mayo

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Last updated on January 15th, 2021 at 09:53 am

Atacama Desert Tours

Are you curious about what it would be like to visit the driest desert in the world? Here are some desert tours that you can experience on an incredible adventure in the Atacama Desert in Chile. Learn about the unique salt flats, colorful lagoons, sparkling stars, and fascinating wildlife that you can see while exploring San Pedro de Atacama on a tour.

Atacama Desert Tours

Getting to San Pedro de Atacama

One way to reach San Pedro de Atacama is to cross the border from Bolivia to Chile. Descended from the high elevation in Uyuni 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) to the open view of the Chilean desert at 2,407 meters (7,896 ft) and take in the spectacular landscapes. San Pedro de Atacama is extremely close to the Bolivian border, so if you time it properly, Β you can go on a full morning tour and be back at your hotel by 2 pm! If you are traveling from Santiago de Chile, you can take a flight from the Capital to Calama and take a private transfer or bus to San Pedro de Atacama 98 kilometers (60 mi).

Stargazing in theΒ Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert Tours

Nowhere on Earth offers better stargazing than Chile’s Atacama Desert. People from around the globe travel to San Pedro de Atacama to stargaze under some of the clearest night skies. Once nightfall hits, you’ll start your stargazing tour. Your experienced guide will give an incredible presentation on the cosmos that will leave you in awe. Your guide will help you pinpoint constellations and various stars with the help of aΒ  high-tech telescope. It is unbelievable how bright the stars shine. This tour was a truly memorable night and an amazing way to start a journey in the Atacama.

The Atacama Salt Flats & Lagoons Tour

A suggestion for the second day we suggest a tour to see the Atacama salt flats and lagoons. Some are apprehensive to do this excursion, especially if you are heading to Bolivia afterwards, because you may think that the Atacama salt flats will closely resemble the Uyuni salt flats. However,Β  the Atacama salt flats are very unique! Instead of the salt flats in Uyuni, where the surface is flat with an octagon pattern, the Atacama salt flats are rocky and uneven.

Atacama Desert Tours

Though the Atacama salt flats and lagoons are an excellent part of the day, your favorite part may be taking action shots of flamingoes flying overhead! It’s not every day you get to see flamingos in their natural habitat, and these beauties made for some unusual photo opportunities. After a wildlife photoshoot, we made a stop at the colored lagoons.Β  Your guide will keep the energy up with their extensive knowledge of the driest desert in the world. If you only have one day in the Atacama, we highly recommend this tour.

Atacama Desert Tours

The Town of San Pedro de Atacama

The small town of San Pedro de Atacma is incredibly charming and unique. Some hotels are located right in the center of town of San Pedro while others a further bit out. The dirt filled streets are small and full of small shops and restaurants.Β  We highly recommend taking time to stroll through the town before indulging in some delicious cuisine and drinks high up in the Andes! There are some hotels right in town

Atacama Desert Tours

Atacama Desert Tours

Are you ready to visit San Pedro de Atacama, Chile? If yes, contact any of our experienced travel consultants today! Β Seamlessly combine Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina into one fantastic multi-country tour on our Magic Triangle of the Andes tour. Or spend more of your time concentrated in one area that you have been longing to visit. No matter what you choose, SouthAmerica.travel is ready to help you customize your dream Chile vacation.

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Last updated on January 15th, 2021 at 09:53 am

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