We want to take you off the obvious path to hidden gems and breathtaking locations that most travelers never see. Whether you're carving through mountain switchbacks, riding across vast salt flats, or gazing at the clearest night skies on Earth, Northern Chile is an adventure like no other.
Northern Chile offers strikingly diverse and dramatic landscapes, shaped by its unique geography and extreme climate. Beginning along the Pacific coast, travelers encounter the coastal mountains, a rugged chain of arid hills and cliffs that plunge sharply into the ocean. These mountains, running parallel to the shoreline, are often shrouded in morning fog known as camanchaca, which supports rare patches of vegetation in otherwise dry terrain. Below them lie narrow strips of sandy beaches and fishing coves where the sea meets the desert.
Moving inland, you enter the vast expanse of the Atacama Desert, the driest non-polar desert on Earth. This stark landscape is a study in ochres, reds, and whites — sand dunes, rocky outcrops, and wind-carved canyons stretch as far as the eye can see. Here and there, small oases and salt-encrusted basins break up the monotony. During very rare rain events, the desert floor can bloom with colorful wildflowers, a phenomenon known as the desierto florido, but for most of the year it is an awe-inspiring, silent wilderness of stone and salt.
As you continue eastward and climb in elevation, the terrain transitions into the Andean foothills and valleys. These intermediate zones are marked by narrow, fertile valleys that cut through rocky hillsides. In some valleys, you’ll see vineyards, orchards, and villages that make use of the precious river water running down from the mountains. The foothills themselves are rugged, with steep slopes covered in sparse scrub and cacti, providing a dramatic backdrop to the cultivated valley floors.
Beyond the foothills rise the towering Andean mountains, a formidable range of snow-capped volcanoes and jagged peaks that form the spine of South America. In this high-altitude environment, the air becomes thin and temperatures drop dramatically. Travelers are treated to views of smoking volcanic cones, glaciers, and mineral-rich hills that shimmer in shades of green, red, and purple. These peaks dominate the horizon and shape the climate and water sources of the valleys below.
Finally, at the highest elevations, the landscape opens up into the high plateaus and salt flats of the Altiplano. This windswept, otherworldly region is dotted with shimmering salt pans like the Salar de Atacama, turquoise lagoons filled with flamingos, and endless plains of golden grassland where herds of vicuñas and llamas graze. The high plateaus feel both stark and serene, with brilliant blue skies contrasting sharply against the white salt crusts and ochre plains. Together, these landscapes make northern Chile a breathtaking mosaic of extremes and contrasts.