Discover the Atacama Desert in Chile

Bolivia isn’t the only place with beautiful deserts and otherworldly landscapes, discover the Atacama desert, which is a few hours away from Uyuni. Learn everything you need to know about how to get there, what to do, and more!

Salar de Uyuni has become one of the most significant attractions in Bolivia since its desert gathers a variety of places and visually striking sceneries, such as:

But this doesn’t end here, Bolivia shares part of its deserts with Chile, that’s why you cannot miss the opportunity of visiting the Atacama desert, a place full of natural wonders, mysteries, and astonishing landscapes. Make sure you get to know everything about this enigmatic place while you’re here.

The Atacama Desert

Considered to be the driest desert on earth, this is the perfect location for those who love adventure and want to disconnect from the world. The Atacama desert is located in northern Chile and connects to the southwest part of Bolivia, which makes it easily accessible from the Uyuni Salt Flats.

The desert extends for 105,000 km², has an altitude of more than 4,000 meters above sea level, and it’s recognized for its mineral-rich soil, which makes Chile one of the principal producers of metallic minerals, such as copper, gold, iron, and silver, as well as for non-metallic minerals.

Million years ago, this desert used to be a seabed, but now due to the climate change and the Andes mountain range, rain is almost something unknown to these lands since the average rainfall is about 15 mm (0.6 in) per year.

A fun fact about this location: Part of the Atacama desert is compared to Mars because of its otherworldly appearance. This particular location is constantly used for filming Mars scenes. As well, in this land, NASA tests instruments for future Mars missions.

What to see in the Atacama Desert?

This remote location gathers lots of tourist attractions and without a doubt, it has become one of the best things to do in Chile. Here you’ll find all the best things to see in this magnificent desert:

These are a few of the many things that you can do in the Atacama desert, keep reading to know how to get there and finally see this astonishing destination with your own eyes!

How to Get to the Atacama Desert?

how to get to san pedro de atacama

If you plan to travel through South America without missing anything on the way, we got you covered! Here you’ll find the information you’ve been looking for:

It is worth mentioning that San Pedro de Atacama is a small town with limited internet access. If you are planning to do this on your own, we highly recommend getting a local sim card and taking your time while deciding which bus company to take. In this area, it’s not so safe to wander alone and especially if you don’t speak Spanish.

Luckily for you, we have a complete guide about tour operators to help you decide what’s the best option for you and fulfilling a lifetime experience in the desert.

atacama desert

The Atacama Desert and Salar de Uyuni complement each other. Unquestionably these places are the best tourist attractions in South America. If you are going to start your adventure from San Pedro de Atacama, make sure you read our guide and get to know all the details for visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats from this beautiful location.