Welcome to the Atacama Desert, a land of
unparalleled beauty and enchanting landscapes. Join us on a thrilling 7 day
camping Adventure as we explore the top 10 sites this mesmerizing desert has to offer. Number 1: The Moon Valley. Located just 10 miles
west of San Pedro de Atacama, the Moon Valley is one of the most interesting places you will ever
visit. As you drive in you're immediately presented with a breathtaking view. Vast stretches
of rugged terrain bathed in warm hues of copper, gold and fiery red. All around you, the eroded sandstone
and rock formations sculpted over millions of years by wind and water, create an awe-inspiring
spectacle that transports you to another world. Interestingly the name Moon Valley comes from
how similar the landscape is to that of the Moon As you hike through the ancient
Canyons you encounter towering sand dunes, jagged rock formations and salt caves. We found this really cool little oasis in
the middle the desert. The one tree and shade. A common feature not only of this
Valley but almost everywhere in the Atacama Desert are the salt deposits. You
can literally find salt crystals everywhere. The entrance fee is $13 and you can get to the
Moon Valley in multiple ways: you can rent a car, you can come as part of a tour, or you
can rent a bike for the day and ride it 10 miles from San Pedro de Atacama. However you get
here make sure to pack water and the snacks since there is literally nothing here other than sun,
rocks and sand. Number 2: San Pedro de Atacama There are only a few towns in the Atacama Desert
as you would expect, but the small town of San Pedro de Atacama sits in the middle of everything. What's up everyone, San Pedro the Atacama. A little Oasis in the desolate landscape
of the desert San Pedro the Atacama was once a small trading Outpost for fishermen from the
Pacific coast and the mighty Incan Empire. It has since grown to become one of Chile's most visited
tourist destinations thanks to its great location. With a population of 3900 people
this Tiny Town acts as a base for most of the tourism in the area. Not
only is it centrally located, it's also the only place to get gas, water
or food for miles in every direction. There are no airlines that fly directly to
San Pedro, the nearest airport is in Calama City and you can fly directly to Calama from
Santiago de Chile and then drive to 65 miles east to San Pedro. As you walk through
the Narrow Street you will encounter many markets, artisan shops and little
cafes. The relaxed energy of the town is very contagious and it's friendly inhabitants
happily welcome visitors from all around the world. The town of San Pedro is very small and very easy
to navigate on foot. Bikes are also available to rent at the majority of the towns's tour agencies
or hotels for around ten dollars per day, allowing you to visit sites like the Moon Valley
without the need to book a tour or hire a car. Number 3: The Rainbow Mountains The Rainbow Valley is 40 miles north of San Pedro
so it only took us about an hour to drive. But halfway there werun into a herd of llamas
that we're just hanging out next to the road. Surprisingly they were not afraid of us at all
and we were able to get really close to them. As you enter the Rainbow Valley or Valle del Arcoiris as is known in Chile, the landscape quickly changes from flat and open terrain to towering cliffs and rugged rock formations. The rainbow in the name comes from all the
different colors you can see across the hills of the valley. The main colors you can see are
red, brown, beige, green, yellow combined with the white salt and the blue sky. These colors show
the richness and different concentrations of clays, salts and various different minerals. You
can see all the different colors as you drive through the Canyons but you really appreciate
the full spectrum once you see it from the skies. The Rainbow Valley is not just
a visual Delight, it's a peaceful Oasis in the desert. Take a moment
to breathe in the fresh air, listen to the gentle breeze and feel the
sense of tranquility wash over you. This is the perfect escape from the
hustle and bustle of the everyday life. And the best part about it, there's
no entrance fee, which is really cool. And by the way, don't forget to stay until
sunset. As the sun dips below the Horizon it casts a beautiful golden glow over the valley
creating this stunning spectacle that you won't want to miss Number 4: The Hidden Baltinache Salt Lagoons. Finding the hidden Baltinache salt Lagoons is a little tricky. Although they're only 15
miles south of San Pedro, there isn't a proper road to follow you're mostly offroading for the
last few miles there were actually a couple times we thought we were lost but we finally found
a sign pointing to the site. After we parked we found these really cool wooden trail that connects
all the lagoons together. After walking for about 10 minutes we saw the first Lagoon and we were
blown away.The contrast between the crystal blue and emerald green of the lagoons and the whiteness
of the salt was truly amazing. There are actually seven lagoons in all but in order to preserve the
site you're only allowed to swim in two of them. Diving into the mineral rich water was very
refreshing. The water was super cold but it felt amazing coming from the 95 degree sun of the
desert. Because of the high salt content in the water, you're able to float easily providing
a unique and therapeutic experience. It's actually really cool, the water is very cold
but because it's so hot outside it feels amazing and then the salt makes your
skin tingle. Yeah all my skin is tingling. It's like having your very own natural spa. It
was definitely a once in a lifetime experience. You don't have to do anything, you can put both of
your hands out of the water, both your feet out of the water like I am right now and you still float.
It's amazing, you can just go and have a nap here. When you plan your trip to the Atacama Desert make sure
to include this beautiful site in your list of places to visit. By the way, the entrance
fee to the Lagoon it's only $13 per person. Number 5: Piedras Rojas. To reach our next
destination we drive 100 miles south of San Pedro into the mountains close to the
Argentinian border. The two hours drive through the hills and mountains are worth every
minute and the views of the landscape are amazing. Once you arrive at Piedras Rojas which literally
translates to red stones, you'll find a narrow trail that takes you for about a mile all the
way down to the salar Aguas Calientes. One of the most striking aspects of the
Atacama Desert is the richness and contrast of colors and nowhere is this contrast more
apparent and stunning than at Piedras Rojas. The bright red rocks next to the blues, greens
and whites of the salar, with the mountains on the horizon. Such a beautiful landscape, an ideal spot
for nature and landscape photographers. Being up in the mountains meant that it was pretty windy and
somewhat cold so be sure to bring a sweater with you when you visit. This is one of the few places
in Atacama that you can enjoy completely for free. You can also find several points on the main
road with dirt trails veering to The Plains of the salar and you can drive all the way down
into the open Flats. We had an amazing time just walking and taking in the vastness
and emptiness of these incredible place. And if you're liking the video so far make
sure to like this video and to subscribe to our Channel today so you can keep up
with our travels around the world. Number 6: Los flamenco's National Reserve Los flamenco's National Reserve is a nature
reserve located 75 miles east of San Pedro de Atacama right in between Chile, Argentina
and Bolivia. The reserve covers a total area of 300 square miles in the central-Andean
ecoregion and consists of seven separate sections. The best way of really appreciating the beauty
of these natural Refuge is to follow the scenic route. As you drive down Road 27 towards
Argentina you'll find five viewing points or Miradors, as they are known in Chile, where
you can stop to take pictures and enjoy the view. Each one of the spots marks a different ecosystem
with different plants and animals. The main animals that dwell in this area are the guanaco, the andian
fox, flamingos, condors and eaglets among others. If you're a nature lover this is a must visit
for you. Being this close to nature and being able to just forget about everyday life's
problems as you walk around this majestic place, is something we all need to do
every now and again. We found this little Lake in the middle of the mountains
with a whole herd of Guanacos and donkeys. It's about 50 Guanacos and maybe 10 donkeys.
This is really cool. There's no entrance fee for this site but you do need to have a car to
visit or maybe come as part of a guided tour. Number 7: Geysers El tatio. For our next stop
we need to have an early start. We wake at four o'clock in the morning and head high and deep into
the mountains to visit a mystical place. Good morning morning, we're on our
way to El tatio geysers right now. Nestled high in the Andes Mountains El Tatio geysers is the third largest GeoThermal field in the world and it's the highest place
in the world where you can see geysers. Exploring El tatio is like stepping into
another planet. As you venture through this GeoThermal wonderland you'll encounter colorful
mineral deposits, geothermal ponds and thermal springs. The geysers with their bubbling
pools and steam offer a mesmerizing site. The white plumes of steam rise
against The backdrop of a volcanic landscape forming a surreal spectacle that
seems straight out of a sci-fi movie. The geothermal activity at El tatio is a good
reminder of Earth's incredible power and the forces that shape our planet. This is so cool
it's like been in the surface of another planet. It is a captivating destination for geology
enthusiast, adventure seekers and anyone who appreciates the wonders of nature. One
thing to remember when you visit is to wear many layers you're going high up in
the Andes mountains and it will be cold. I think that one's supposed to be the El Tatio geyser. It smells like rotten eggs in here though. The geysers are a two-hour drive north
of San Pedro the Atacama and you need to be here before 7 A.M if you really
want to appreciate this amazing place. By eight in the morning, with the sun
risen and the temperature going up the geysers slowly disappear and
stay dormant until the next day. The entrance fee to El tatio is $20 per
person. Number 8: Chacabuco Abandoned Town. Located amid the bearing desert landscape
Chacabuco tells a story of hardship and resilience. Founded as a saltpeter mining town in the early
20th century it is one of the many abandoned nitrate or saltpeter towns in the Atacama Desert.
Unlike the other ghost towns in the Atacama Desert, Chacabuco became a concentration camp during the
Pinochet regime in 1973. To this day it remains surrounded by approximately 98 lost landmines
left by the Chilean military when Chacabuco was used as a prison camp. Today it stands as a sad
reminder of a forgotten chapter in history. As you wander through the deserted streets
you will encounter crumbling buildings, dilapidated houses and rusted machinery.
All swallowed up by the unforgiving desert. The eeriness of the abandoned town creates an
atmosphere that is both haunting and captivating. Exploting Chacabuco allows you to imagine the lives once lived
here. The dreams and aspirations of the people who called this place home. Chacabuco is located 135 miles Southwest of San Pedro de Atacama on the way towards Antofagasta. If you don't have
your own set of wheels there is no easy way to get to Chacabuco so you need to rent a car or
participate on a guided tour to visit this site. The entrance fee is very low it's
only three dollars per person. Number 9 : Antofagasta Beach Next, on an Impulse, we strike west. For no apparent
reason other than, why not? We decided to drive the 250 miles that expand the Atacama Desert and
we arrive at the ocean on the Pacific coast. Literally from the top of the Andes to the
beach at Antofagasta and we arrived just in time to set up our tent and watch the sunset. Today we decided to camp by the beach, complete opposite of the desert. I mean, we
still surrounded by desert but we're at the ocean side it's beautiful here we're about
to sip some wine and watch the sunset. Cheers. As the day comes to a close, prepare to be
mesmerized by a breathtaking sunset. The sky transforms into a canvas of beautiful colors.
The reds, the oranges and yellows painting a magical backdrop as the sun dips below the
horizon. The next morning after jumping in the water for a quick swim and packing up we head
back to Atacama for our last day in the desert. It's the morning of our last day at the
desert. Well, technically we're not in the desert anymore, we're at the beach but we now
have to cut through the desert to get back to the airport and fly to Santiago. But this
is what we woke up to, amazing, yes beautiful. Number 10: Hand of the desert. The hot and empty
Atacama Desert stretches for hundreds of miles on both sides as you drive down the Pan American
Highway undisturbed by any sign of human activity. But about 45 miles Southeast of the
Antofagasta town this monotony is broken by a sight even more alien
than the desert itself and yet definitely human. A 36 feet
tall hand protruding out of a sand. This small gravel road leads from the main highway to
the sculpture. There are no signs or information or entrance fees. Just a giant hand stretching
from the sand and reaching out to the sky. This captivating sculpture created by Chilean
sculptor Mario Irarrazabal has become an iconic landmark in the Atacama Desert. Its remote
location adds an element of adventure and exclusivity to the experience. The meaning
of this sculpture is unknown. Some people say it represents human vulnerability
and helplessness, while others say it's about mankind's ability to rise no
matter what the circumstances. But like everything in arts everyone will view
it differently and should form their own opinions.
