NATURAL ATTRACTIONS

Atacama salt flats
This is the biggest of Chile's salt deposits and the second largest in South America, after Uyuni (Bolivia). Its surface is 3,000 hectares and lies in a hollow that receives the waters of the San Pedro River, as well as those of numerous streams that come from the Cordillera.
The flats, 2,305 meters above sea level, consist of a never-ending wrinkled white sheet of salt, stained by desert sand, under which lies a series of pools containing a varied wildlife, especially the beautiful pink flamingoes, one of the three species whose habitat is the high Cordillera.
The flats are situated 40 kilometers south of San Pedro de Atacama and 10 kilometers west of Toconao.

Chaxa Lagoon
Is one of the most significant lakes in the Salt Flats of Atacama. It is surrounded by a rich flora that has adapted to the desert type of weather, including the salt-loving grama grass. As regards to its fauna, there are many pink flamingoes, seagulls and chorlos de la puna (curlews), among others.
The salty-surfaced lake is considered a natural reserve and the centre of nest-building by the Corporación Nacional Forestal (CONAF). It is 45 kilometres from San Pedro de Atacama and. 7 to the southwest of the town of Toconao.

Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon)
Is a stunning geological landscape, with small, sharp-crested hills topography resembling the surface of the moon. Within the valley, there is a natural Coliseum or amphitheater 500 meters in diameter. The complex geography of the valley - that contains no form of animal or vegetable life - is attributed to changes in the Earth's surface and wind erosion. It was declared a Natural Sanctuary in 1982, and is found at the northern tip of the Cordillera de la Sal, at 2,550 meters above sea level and at 15 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama.

Licancabur Volcano
The Licancabur Volcano (5,916 meters above sea level) is an imposing snow capped massif that forms part of the volcano chain marking the frontier between Chile and Bolivia. It belongs to the Andes Cordillera and was considered sacred by the ancient Atacama people, due to which religious ceremonies and rites may have taken place here.
One can climb to its summit in a 2 or 3-day ascent, with a stopover at the base camp (at 4,300 m) or the intermediate one (at 4,700 m). The most advisable months for an "assault on the summit" are the ones from August to December. The courageous few can enjoy an astonishing view of San Pedro de Atacama, Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde (on the Bolivian side). It is located 30 kilometers east of San Pedro de Atacama.

Lascar Volcano
This is an active volcano near San Pedro de Atacama at 5,154 meters above sea level. The climb to its summit is fairly trouble-free, although a short period of acclimatizing is always needed. During the climb you will distinguish a 300 meter deep and 750 meter diameter crater.

Jerez Canyon
Some of the attractions of this canyon fed by the Rio Toconao are natural pools, rocky walls with some prehistoric engravings on them, fruit orchards that appear from nowhere, and the presence of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. It is located 38 kilometres south of San Pedro de Atacama.

Tatio Geysers
This is a spectacular geothermal field with 4,320 meters of altitude, whose fissures emit dense columns of steam at temperatures reaching 85 °Celsius. In the sunset time, when air temperatures go below zero Celsius, the landscape becomes still more strange, and the steam jets reach up to 7 meters height. The phenomenon is because the magma from Tatio volcano superheats the waters of a frozen underground stream.
Tatio is about 100 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama, 120 kilometers east of Calama and 40 from Caspana. In this area there are hot springs where one can take relaxing dips.

Miscanti and Miñiques
in one of the seven areas of the National Reserve of the Flamingoes, there are two beautiful sheets of water on the slopes of the Miscanti (5,622 meters altitude) and Miñiques (5,910 meters altitude) mountains. This spot is one of beautiful landscapes, including volcanoes, mountains and a large number of flamingoes, taguas cornudas and chorlos de la puna, among other birds. As the flora, the most abundant plants are yareta and paja brava. It is placed 11 kilometers away from San Pedro de Atacama.

LejIa Lagoon
This is a salt water emerald-green lake. It occupies a desert basin of 8 square kilometers. In summer, flocks of flamingoes, ducks, taguas and Andean seagulls, among others, mill around it. It is almost 100 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama.

Alberto Terrazas Oasis (ex Pozo 3)
This is a divine campsite whose major appeal is a relaxing warm pool. The 23° Celsius waters flow constantly from a 200 meter-depth well drilled in 1965. From the pool, the water flows on and is used for the irrigation of surrounding farmland. The well was bought by Alberto Terrazas, an engineer who built the pool and the campsite around it. It is 3 kms. east of San Pedro de Atacama.