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(11) 3958-707110 tips to get to know the Atacama Desert
In its participation in the latest version of the New York Times Tourism Fair, visitors were amazed by our natural landscapes. Not for nothing, Chile was once again chosen the best adventure tourism destination in the world.
Among the favorite places and highlighted in second place in the list that every year prepares the New York Times with the best attractions to visit during 2017, we find our Atacama Desert. We leave you a complete guide for you to plan your trip and be surprised with the secrets of the driest desert in the world.
Norte Grande: The Atacama Desert extends throughout the Chilean Norte Grande, comprising the regions of Arica, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, Atacama and the northern part of the Coquimbo region, with more than 100,000 square kilometers of surface. Therefore, if you visit any of these places, you will already be in the desert.
2.- Extreme climate: The desert climate is very fluctuating, with differences of more than 20 degrees between day and night. Temperatures usually vary from 4 degrees in the morning to over 45 degrees during the day. This is because it is located within the Tropic of Capricorn, where the sun's rays fall vertically every summer solstice. Be prepared to wear appropriate clothing regardless of where you are, since the climatic variation affects the whole area.
The best skies in the world: The Atacama Desert is considered the best place in the world for stargazing and the development of astronomy. Due to its altitude and practically no light pollution, it allows a detailed appreciation of the sky. This is why many of the most important telescopes on the planet are located in this area, such as ALMA, VLT, La Silla and Paranal, among others.
Mountaineering in the middle of the desert: Within the Atacama Desert, in the third region, we find one of the most interesting heights for mountaineers from all over the world: the Ojos del Salado volcano. It has an impressive altitude of more than 6800 meters above sea level and the best time to climb it is between October and March. Its views are breathtaking, allowing you to observe in one place valleys, glaciers, volcanoes, salt flats and mountains.
5.- Nevado Tres Cruces National Park:
Of course one of the biggest attractions of our desert is San Pedro de Atacama, a town already worldwide recognized as one of the most touristic places in our country. Just 12 kilometers from the town itself, we find one of the most vivid postcards of the aridity of its environment, the Moon Valley. We can walk or cycle through it and be surprised by the silence, the erosion of the wind creating whimsical sculptures on the rocks, its huge desert dunes and the Cordillera de la Sal. One of the most representative places of this geography is the so-called Amphitheater.
8.- Salar de Atacama: Located 40 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama, the Salar de Atacama - which actually corresponds to an immense salt lagoon - is home to typical fauna of the area such as pink flamingos, like the ones we can find in the beautiful Chaxa Lagoon. Its extension is more than 3 thousand kilometers of salt.
Tatio Geysers: In the surroundings of San Pedro de Atacama, we find the impressive geothermal complex El Tatio, located more than 4,500 meters above sea level, it is one of the must-see places in the desert. It is worth getting up at 4 in the morning and tolerate the high altitude ascent to observe the spectacle of the fumaroles rising their vapors against the light of dawn. As a reward, there are hot springs to relax and enjoy this unique spectacle in the world.
Pan de Azúcar National Park: Located on the coast of the regions of Antofagasta and Atacama, this is one of the most incredible places in the desert, as it allows you to enjoy the spectacle of the sea surrounded by an arid landscape, with flora and fauna specific to this place. We can observe Humboldt penguins, chungungos and sea lions, among many others.
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