THE FAR NORTH OF CHILE

This is the area between the north of Calama and the south of Antofagasta. Here you'll find the famous Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world.

A trip to the far north is a complete change of scenery, as the landscapes are unique and varied, with valleys, lakes, oases, canyons, salt deserts and more. There's also something magical about the sky in this region, which is renowned for its star-gazing.

In this part of Chile, several excursions or expeditions leave from San Pedro de Atacama, a small village next to Calama.

Located in an oasis in the middle of the desert, the magnificent natural landscapes around San Pedro de Atacama have been attracting travellers for decades. Fortunately, the town has retained its traditional architecture, with dusty streets that add to its charm and allow you to fully experience the Chilean desert.

San Pedro de Atacama has been inhabited for 10,000 years and is considered the archaeological capital of Chile. Two sites bear witness to this: Tulor, where the first inhabitants of the region lived, and Pucará de Quitor, the ancient pre-Inca fortress.

Travel ideas from San Pedro de Atacama:

The must-haves:

The Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna): 15km from San Pedro de Atacama, this magnificent and strange valley in the heart of the Cordillera de la Sal offers a surprising geological spectacle. The wind and sand have carved ridges, canyons and moon-shaped hills into the rock.

TheAtacama Desert and its high-altitude lakes (Salar de Atacama): 40km south of San Pedro de Atacama, lies the country's largest desert at 3,000km². Its resplendent white surface, due to the salt, is interspersed with sparse vegetation and lagoons home to colonies of pink flamingos.

Geysers del Tatio (Tatio geysers): 96km north of San Pedro de Atacama, a multitude of geysers can be found amidst the fascinating scenery of the Altiplano, at an altitude of almost 4,400m. The best time to enjoy this spectacle is at dawn, when the still very cold air comes into contact with the heat of the geysers and allows you to contemplate the formation of its steam chimneys.

If you have more time:

Salar de Tara: a real excursion into the heart of the desert, off the beaten track.

Laguna Cejar and Ojos del Salar: the high salt content of Lake Cejar allows travellers to swim and float on the surface naturally!

The archaeological sites of Tulor and Quitor: relics of the region's history.

The Valley of the Rainbow (Valle de Arcoiris): hills of red, green, blue, grey and purple.

The Puritama thermal baths: ideal for enjoying a bath in water at 35°C in a unique natural setting.

If you're in the mood for thrills or physical activity

Volcano climbs: Lascar (5,600 mts), Licancabur (5,900 mts), Sairecabur (6,040 mts).

One-day or multi-day hikes, bike rides or horse-riding to discover the region from a different angle.

Combination idea: From San Pedro de Atacama, you can travel to Bolivia to discover the South Lipez, or to Argentina to visit the Salta region.