Popular Tours in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile includes trips to the Isluga National Park Moon Valley near San Pedro de Atacama, Atacama Salt Lake and Toconao, Tulor and Quitor, Oasis de Pica, El Tatio Geysers and Puritama Hot Springs, Iquique, nitrate mines, Lauca National Park and Chungara Lake, Huasco and Arica. These tours from Viator are also priced in AUD, EUR and GBP.
Imagine - the sun setting in the middle of the Atacama desert - and you sitting atop a huge sand dune. You'll feel like you're the only person on earth as the quiet of the desert engulfs you. What could be more magical?
Step back in time as you visit the historic town of Toconao. Here, all the houses are constructed out of the local liparite stone. On your way here, you'll pass the breathtaking Atacama Salt Lake, which is over 1,000 kilometers long. Complete your tour with a visit to the Jeri Valley and the Chaxa Lagoon to see the flamingoes.
This fascinating tour traces the history of this area of Chile back over 2,800 years! The town of Tulor was first identified by the priest Gustavo Le Paige in 1958, and today, it remains a bit of a mystery as only 4% has been uncovered. This is a great tour for those wanting to discover the ancient beginnings of this amazing place!
Journey to the Isluga Volcano National Park, where you will visit the Geysers of Puchuldiza, the village of Enquelga, with thermal springs, on to Isluga, famous for its Andean church and finally on to the town of Cariquima. This is a great way to see the local way of life, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city!
Enjoy this 'eco' day trip to the salt lake of Huasco. Here, you will be able to see many species of local fauna, including Llamas, Alpacas and a variety of Flamingo. On your return journey, you'll stop at the hillside village of Pica, which has natural thermal waters which help in the growing of citrus fruits.
Spend the day in a geothermal wonderland! First, make your way to the Tatio Geysers, where the early morning gives the best viewing. Continuing on your tour, you will come to the hot springs of Puritama, which translates to "Puri" (water) and "tama" (warm) in the local language. The constant thermal water temperature is a very pleasant 25 to 30 degrees centigrade and has been known to help with rheumatic diseases.
For a great overview of this once industrial city, you can't go past this tour. Visit the historic clock tower in Plaza Prat, the Regional Museum which features displays of ancient Cinchorro mummies and Astoreca Palace. Complete your tour with a visit to the duty free zone (zona franca) for some retail therapy!
To truly understand the history of Iquique, you simply must take a visit to the former towns of Santa Laura and Humberstone. The latter was the residential town of the workers, and you'll visit the local area attractions including the church, theatre, swimming pool and hospital. You'll also get a guided tour of the nitrate mine in Santa Laura. This tour is nothing short of fascinating!
Travel to one of the highest lakes in the world, the pristine Chungara Lake in the Lauca National Park. This park is home to a wide variety of local flora and fauna - and is also home to the native Aymara Indians. You will also visit the villages of Parinacota and Putre along the way to one of Mother Nature's most beautiful works!
For a great overview of this amazing city, look no further! Take in all the sites, including the "Morro" of Arica, standing 110 meters high and located next to the sea, giving panoramic views of Arica. Complete your tour with a visit to the Archaeological Museum of San Miguel to see the oldest mummies in the world at 5,000 years of age!
