The Atacama Desert in Chile, the driest non-polar desert on Earth, is renowned for its unique landforms and breathtaking natural landscapes.
✈️Travel
The journey from Santiago (SCL) to Calama (CJC) is a quick 2-hour flight. Upon arrival at the airport, we were met with an unexpected hiccup: the car rental we had booked online was inexplicably canceled 😠.
This left us no choice but to hop on a small bus right outside the airport, which took us 1.5 hours to reach the charming town of San Pedro de Atacama. The bus service, TransVIP, costs CLP15,000 per person. Once in the town, we headed to a larger car rental company, West, to secure our transportation.
🏜️Attractions
⭐️Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley) & Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
These two stunning attractions are just a 10-minute drive from the town. Death Valley is a haven for adventure seekers, known for its steep sand dunes, reddish-brown rocks, and arid surface. The towering sand dunes offer the perfect setting for sandboarding, where visitors can rent equipment and experience the thrill of sliding down the dunes.
🎫Tickets: CLP6,000 per person, no reservation required
Moon Valley, with its lunar-like landscape, is a photographer’s dream, especially during sunset when the colors come alive, creating a truly spectacular sight.
Free sunset viewing point📍Mirador Likan-Antay
🎫Tickets: CLP10,800 per person, no reservation required
⭐️Piedras Rojas + Miscanti y Miniques
These two sites, featuring red volcanic rock and salt lakes, are located close to each other, making it convenient to purchase a combined ticket.
For those driving, tickets must be bought online at least one day in advance, specifying the order of visits, date, and time slot; tickets are not available on-site. For example, if your ticket is for visiting Piedras Rojas first, you must start there and cannot go to Miscanti y Miniques first. Following the order is crucial, as failure to do so will result in denied entry.
When heading to the salt lake, you’ll pass through the town of Socaire, where you need to register one hour in advance. Have your ticket QR code and license plate number ready to give to the staff, who will provide a receipt. Keep this receipt, as it will be checked upon arrival at the salt lake.
🎫Online tickets: www.
socairechile.cl
⭐️Laguna Cejar
Experience the unique sensation of floating in highly saline waters. If you’re not part of a tour group, the opening hours are from 9 AM to 12 PM, and tickets must be booked online in advance. Note that it is closed on Tuesdays.
🎫Online tickets: lagunacejar.com
Adults: CLP15,000, children aged 6-12: CLP5,000
Other attractions
⭐️Geysers del Tatio
⭐️Termas de Puritama
⭐️Astronomical Tour
For more details, see the last image.
