View from Valle De La Muerte, Atacama Desert, Chile

Atacama Desert

The driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert is a largely desolate landscape freckled with lagoons, hot springs, geysers and salt plains that stretches some 600 miles across northern Chile.

The charming oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama resides at the edge of the dazzling Salar de Atacama, close to the Bolivian border. The narrow sandy streets lines with adobe-style buildings are a gateway into the depths of Atacama Desert.

Choose between one of many possible excursions into the desert, either on foot, by jeep, horseback or mountain bike. Visit the world’s highest geysers at El Tatio, Chuquicamata, the world’s largest open-cast copper mine, climb a volcano or visit interesting archaeological sites, petroglyphs and abandoned ghost towns. For those not so active, unwind in a hotel spa ow swimming pool in a property beautifully perched beside the desert and overlooking the towering Andes.

Experiences

What do you really love doing? We’ll tailor your itinerary to suit you.

Salt flats, Los Flamencos National Reserve, Atacama Desert, Chile
Atacama Desert

Photography in the Salt Flats

Travel overland to the shimmering Salar de Atacama salt flats to photograph the flocks of pink flamingos that feed in this otherworldly landscape.

Suggested Holiday Idea

View from Valle De La Muerte, Atacama Desert, Chile
Atacama Desert

Hike the Atacama Desert

Explore the dramatic red landscape of the Atacama Desert, the highest and driest desert in the world, on foot.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Desert Horseriding, Chile
Atacama Desert

Atacama Desert Horseback Riding

Saddle up and ride across the endless open desert under the watchful eye of the Licancabur Volcano.

Suggested Holiday Idea

Atacama Desert, Chile
Atacama Desert

Stargaze in the Desert

Visit one of the Atacama Desert’s world-class telescope projects to learn about the cosmos or simply gaze at the spectacularly clear star-filled night sky,

Suggested Holiday Idea

Atacama Sunset, Chile
Chile

Highlights of Chile

Explore the length of this filament of a country, full of vast and varied landscapes, from the finger-like granite peaks of the Torres del Paine National Park in the south to the lunar-like Atacama Desert in the north, with time spent among the snow-capped volcanoes and hot springs of the Chilean Lake District.

11 days

from £6,995 pp

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Where to stay

Some of the wonderful places to stay that we frequently recommended.

Explora Atacama £££££

  • Chile
  • Wilderness

Designed to blend seamlessly with the colours and materials of the desert, Explora Atacama combines contemporary architecture with old stable yard-style accommodation blocks. Its 50 rooms, each accessed by crossing an original stone courtyard, are all at once authentic and comfortable in feeling, boasting large copper tubs, cosy handcrafted blankets, local materials and hand-selected furnishings. With views that range from the private stables to grazing paddocks to the milky pink volcanoes on the horizon, the surrounding landscapes ensure nights of deep and restful sleep after long days of exploration.

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Casa Atacama £££££

  • Chile

Hotel Casa Atacama is a boutique hotel with just 25 rooms, conveniently located within walking distance to the centre of the pretty abode town of San Pedro. The hotel has a spa offering a choice of different services as well as a swimming pool and jacuzzi. Casa Atacama provides a comprehensive selection of activities and excursions into the surrounding Atacama Desert. The hotel either offers a bed and breakfast service or a full board service with all excursions and activities included.

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Awasi Atacama £££££

  • Chile
  • Wilderness

An intimate and authentic property that offers unexpected opulence within the arid Atacama Desert, Awasi Atacama is tucked behind an impressive ancient adobe wall that disguises the sumptuous accommodations within. Its 12 thatched-roof suite cottages, each skilfully constructed from local stone, adobe and wood, boast a private patio and a sitting area and are decorated with local handicrafts and cosy alpaca wool blankets. Moreover, each pre-Inca inspired cottage is allocated its own private guide and 4×4 vehicle to facilitate the memorable tailor-made experiences that the property is known for.

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Tierra Atacama Resort & Spa £££££

  • Chile
  • Wilderness

Set within an Altiplanic region ruled by moon-like valleys, spectacular night skies and high-altitude lagoons, Tierra Atacama offers a home-from-home experience that balances relaxation with adventure travel. Its 32 exquisitely designed rooms each boast al fresco showers, a private terrace, subtle local handicrafts and spellbinding views of either Licancabur Volcano or the Cordillera de Sal. The architectural design of the hotel is largely traditional and blends well with the encompassing desert, while the interior communal areas are contemporary and cosy in feel.

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Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa £££££

  • Chile
  • Wilderness

Blending seamlessly with the burnt red rock face that forms its backdrop, Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa is burrowed at the foot of the ruins of Pukara de Quitor and appears to melt into the encompassing rocky landscape. Thoughtfully built in the style of the centuries-old villages of the densely-cultural Altiplano, the property was designed with both authenticity and practicality in mind, so there are few luxurious touches with the exceptions of an aromatherapy spa and dazzling collection of six outdoor swimming pools.

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Meet our experts

A passion for travel runs right through every one of our experts - meaning they're always ready with first-hand insight about their specialist countries.

Rachael Tallents

Adventure, discovery and my curiosity for people and the natural world is what drives my love of travelling.  I am grateful for my parents’ desire to explore, and from an early age my eyes were open to diverse landscapes, cultures, and underwater worlds.

For the last 16 years, I have worked for a leading luxury tour operator designing incredible journeys for discerning clients and travelled to some magical places. I am excited to have joined Steppes Travel, and to be working for a company with such strong ethical and sustainable values.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

Paul Bird

Combining the arid Atacama Desert and iconic Torres Del Paine National Park in Patagonia, the dramatic contrasts of its landscapes make Chile one of Paul’s most treasured travel destinations.

Talk with our experts
  • 01285 880 980

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