Located in South America, in a hyper-arid region of Chili, the "Flowering Desert" is home to landscapes unique in the world. Renowned for its astronomical observation site, it is also highly sought after for its lagoons, its geysers and its famous Valley of the Moon and Valley of Death… Do you wish to discover the Atacama Desert? Here is our guide to visiting it, coping with its scorching temperatures – and avoiding altitude sickness!

1. When should you travel to discover the Atacama Desert?

Chili is a country located in the southern hemisphere, which enjoys an austral climate. The result? Its seasons are reversed from those of Europe:

• Spring: from September to November;

• Summer: from December to February;

• Autumn: from March to May;

• Winter : from June to August.

Crowded with visitors during winter, the site is less touristy between October and December. In addition to being less crowded, this period offers more hours of sunshine – and airfare prices are lower.

2. What precautions should you take before visiting this high-altitude desert region?

Coping with temperatures

Considered the driest in the world, the Atacama Desert remains highly popular nonetheless. Each year, thousands of visitors brave its scorching temperatures and high altitude to admire its lunar landscapes (or to observe the stars there). But this part of the country is subject to a high-altitude desert climate, where temperatures can reach 45°C during the day before dropping to 0°C at night!

To make your journey successful, you will need to account for the challenges posed by these temperature fluctuations. Before you pack your suitcase, make sure you have:

• good hiking boots;

• warm and light clothing to cope with both cold and intense heat;

• sunglasses (with quality protective lenses);

• SPF 50 sunscreen (the highest levels in the world of ultraviolet radiation have been recorded in the Atacama Desert! A high SPF will protect you from UV rays);

• binoculars or a small telescope.

Acclimatizing to high altitude

While the Atacama Desert is located at 2,408 meters, some of its attractions stand at 3,500 or 4,000 meters! To withstand such altitudes, you must imperative acclimatize your body before your climb – to avoid altitude sickness (more commonly known as "mountain sickness").

The effects of hypoxia (which occurs when the amount of oxygen decreases) can be felt starting at 1,500 meters of altitude. This manifests itself, among other things, by shortness of breath and an accelerated heart rate… Our advice? 48 hours before your excursion, settle in San Pedro de Atacama, located at approximately 2,400 meters of altitude (avoid strenuous physical activity and stay hydrated).

3. How do you get to the Atacama Desert?

To visit the Atacama Desert, you must first head to San Pedro de Atacama, in the Antofagasta region. The simplest option is to take a domestic flight from Santiago, Chili.

The nearest airport is El Loa, located in Calama. Flight time from Santiago is 2 hours 10 minutes, then approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to travel to San Pedro by car. More distant, the airports of Arica, Iquique, and Copiapó also offer domestic flights from the capital.

It is possible to reach San Pedro de Atacama by bus from Santiago, but the journey is very long! Allow approximately 20 hours to Calama, then one hour to reach San Pedro.

4. How do you visit the "Flowering Desert"?

With or without an agency

Both options are possible, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Note that trips organized by an agency typically provide an English-speaking guide to visit the Atacama Desert. In addition to guiding you through this vast territory, they handle driving the vehicle.

By car

The desert can be explored with a suitable vehicle. To easily access the different sites, preferably rent a 4x4. One tip? GPS doesn't always work and signage at the site isn't very good, so take a paper map or download one to your phone beforehand.

By bike

Biking is quite possible in the Atacama Desert. It depends on the areas, the types of terrain, and, once again, on the altitude. Rentals are available in San Pedro de Atacama (approximately €5 per day).

On horseback

A horseback ride can be considered to discover the Atacama Desert! Several local agencies allow you to take this original excursion.

On foot

The desert can be the subject of a trekking expedition of varying length. Depending on the sites you wish to see (lagoons, geysers, archaeological remains, salt flats, valleys, etc.), your excursion can require several days of hiking!

5. How many days should you plan to see everything in the desert?

It is recommended to allow a minimum of two to four days to visit the Atacama Desert, as must-see attractions are sometimes quite far apart. Also keep in mind that high altitude requires more effort… Regardless of your fitness level, you'll definitely move more slowly when exploring this wonder of Chili.

Note: to avoid payment difficulties, have Chilean pesos on hand, as it is impossible to pay by credit card or to withdraw cash in rural areas near the desert (the rare ATMs are often under pressure and frequently empty).

Audrey Denjean