Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert, located in northern Chile, is considered the driest non-polar desert on Earth. It stretches between the Andes and the Pacific Coast, covering parts of the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Tarapacá, Antofagasta, and Atacama. Its landscape features salt flats, sand dunes, rock formations, volcanoes, and clear skies almost year-round.
Despite its extreme dryness, the desert is home to remarkable biodiversity, especially in oases, ravines, and protected areas such as national parks and reserves. It is also of great scientific and astronomical importance, offering ideal conditions for sky observation, which has led to the establishment of world-renowned observatories.
The Atacama is also rich in cultural and historical heritage, with ancient pre-Hispanic routes, geoglyphs, indigenous communities, and remains of the saltpeter mining era. Its stark beauty has made it one of the most admired travel destinations in the world.