Route Overview
About this Tour
The Atacama Desert is an out-of-this-world experience on earth. In the driest desert in the world, where it hasn't rained for decades, a landscape like from another planet awaits you. San Pedro de Atacama is your base camp – a small oasis village with adobe houses and a relaxed backpacker atmosphere. From here you explore the Valle de la Luna, where sand dunes and salt formations glow in all shades of red at sunset. The clear nights make the Atacama the world's best place for stargazing. An absolute highlight is visiting the El Tatio geysers at sunrise – when the freezing plateau at 4,300 meters awakens and steaming fountains shoot into the sky.
Your Journey in Detail
🌵Antofagasta & Anfahrt
Most campers start in Antofagasta, the largest city in northern Chile. The trip to San Pedro leads through endless desert expanses – gas stations are rare, so fill up again in Calama. The altitude rises to over 2,400 meters, take your time to acclimatize. On the way, you pass petrified forests and the first salt flats that give a taste of what awaits you.
🌙San Pedro de Atacama erleben
San Pedro is tiny but full of energy. Enjoy the turquoise water of the Ojos del Salar during the day, swim in the Laguna Cejar (so salzhaltig, that you can't sink!) and explore the bizarre Valle de la Muerte. In the evening, an astronomy tour under the clearest sky in the world is a must – up here you can see the Milky Way in its full glory.
♨️El Tatio & Hochland
The alarm rings at 4 a.m., but it's worth it: At sunrise, the geysers are most active. The hot water shoots into the minus-degree morning sky – a surreal spectacle. On the way back, stop at the Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques, where flamingos wade in turquoise highland lakes. The onward journey leads optionally to Bolivia (Salar de Uyuni) or back to the coast.
💡Practical Tips
- ✓The altitude (2,400-4,300m) is no joke – acclimatize for at least 1-2 days in San Pedro.
- ✓It gets COLD at night (below 0°C) – secure a well-insulated camper.
- ✓Cash is king – many small providers do not accept cards.
At a Glance
Duration
7-10 Tage
Distance
600 km
Difficulty
Moderate
Highlights
- ⭐Valle de la Luna at sunset
- ⭐El Tatio Geysire
- ⭐Lagunas Altiplánicas
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