Atacama Desert

Antofagasta & Atacama Regions, Chile

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The Atacama Desert, spanning the Antofagasta and Atacama regions of northern Chile along the Pacific coast, is the world's driest non-polar desert, covering about 105,000 square kilometers between the Andes Mountains to the east and the Chilean Coast Range to the west, with some areas receiving less than 1 mm of rain annually due to the rain shadow effect, cold Humboldt Current, and subtropical high pressure.

Its otherworldly landscapes include vast salt flats like Salar de Atacama, towering sand dunes, eroded valleys such as Valle de la Luna, colorful rocky plateaus, and geothermal geysers, while sparse life adapts in oases with flamingos, lichens, and fog-dependent lomas vegetation. 

Rich in minerals like copper, lithium, and nitrates that fueled Chile's economy, the region supports astronomy observatories at high altitudes for clear skies and hosts adventure tourism like stargazing, sandboarding, and visits to moon-like terrains amid mild daytime temperatures around 20-25°C and chilly nights.​