A LUXURY VACATION TO THE ATACAMA DESERT
The Atacama Desert is the driest place on Earth – a haunting lunar landscape dotted with salt lakes, lagoons, immense volcanoes, and steaming geysers.
San Pedro de Atacama, a small adobe town framed by volcanoes, is the gateway to the region. Home to a handful of exceptional desert lodges, it’s also the starting point for exploring the area’s otherworldly terrain. A few hundred kilometres south, the landscapes of Copiapó and Valle de Elqui are no less spectacular and remain gloriously free of crowds.
For those drawn to serious adventure, we can arrange cross-Andes expeditions through the Atacama into Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flats or northern Argentina, or to a magnificent luxury tented camp on Chile’s Pacific coast.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN THE ATACAMA DESERT
The Atacama Desert is a land of extremes, where the vast, ethereal silence of the desert gives way to bursts of activity in its small oasis towns.
Wander the dusty streets, lively markets, and traditional straw-and-adobe houses of San Pedro de Atacama, which paint a picture of life in the desert. Local bars and restaurants offer a taste of the region’s culinary heritage, while luxurious desert lodges provide an oasis of comfort amidst the vast, arid landscape.
Venture deeper into the Atacama to explore the remote beauty of Copiapó and Valle de Elqui, where solitude and open space reign supreme – volcanic ridges, empty plains, and remote valleys that can be explored by 4×4, bike, or on foot. Explore the Tatio geysers and the breathtaking lagoons that glow pink with resident flamingos, or traverse the Licancabur Volcano which sits on Chile’s border with Bolivia. For an aerial perspective, we can arrange sunrise hot air balloon flights over the desert, with panoramic views over the salt flats and peaks.
By night, the Atacama’s high altitude, dry air, and lack of light pollution make it one of the best places in the world for observing the night sky; we can arrange private stargazing tours with expert astronomers and high-powered telescopes. Sunsets, too, are extraordinary, often igniting the horizon in a riot of colour.
ELSEWHERE IN CHILE
Chile captivates with its dramatic landscapes, from the arid Atacama Desert to the majestic peaks of Torres del Paine and the emerald lakes of Chile’s Lake District.
It’s a land of striking contrasts, where ancient traditions sit alongside a dynamic, contemporary culture – and we’ve spent years exploring its every corner. From the buzzing capital city of Santiago to the mysterious Moai of Easter Island, we can open doors to places and people few travellers encounter. Chile is vast, complex, and deeply rewarding – and we know how to make it yours.
CONTACT US
Get in touch to start planning your trip to the Atacama Desert.
Conde Nast Traveler Specialists every year since 2017
Field Notes
The Insider’s Guide to Chile’s Atacama Desert
A Solo Road Trip from Buenos Aires to the Chilean Coast with Stanley Stewart – Condé Nast Traveller
Where The Wild Things Are: Latin American Summer Family Adventures
Chile’s Valley of Delights with Stanley Stewart – The Financial Times
