Atacama Desert

The Atacama Desert is a narrow plateau with an altitude of 2000 m, located 1000 km from the Peruvian border in Northern Chile. In the center is the driest place on the planet. The average amount of annual precipitation here is only 1mm, in some parts of the area it never rains. This natural phenomenon is 15 million years old.

Remains of Native American Paleolithic culture are found here, and preserved mummies from the Inca era have been found. The desert is the world's largest deposit of saltpeter, and 40% of the world's lithium reserves are found in the Salar da Atacama salt lake.

The main oasis of the desert, the village of San Pedro, offers beautiful views of the Andes and the Salt Mountains with their giant rock formations sculpted by erosion. Interesting sights are also the National Reserve in the Chasa Lagoon and the flamingo nursery in Los Flamencos. The time from September to November should be avoided for visiting.