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- Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) — Mars-like dunes, salt spires and wind-sculpted rock that literally look otherworldly at sunset. Walk the short trails, time it for the golden hour, and you’ll understand why the desert’s light is such a big deal here. (Personal favorite — nothing beats sitting on a dune watching the colors shift.)
- Salar de Atacama & Laguna Chaxa (Los Flamencos National Reserve) — Massive salt flat fringed with bright turquoise lagoons where Andean, Chilean and James’s flamingos feed. It’s the best place in the region to watch high-altitude birdlife against a flat, reflective landscape.
- El Tatio Geysers — One of the highest geyser fields in the world; visit at sunrise when steam columns plume into freezing air and the ground hisses. It’s a raw, almost theatrical geothermal
- Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) — Mars-like dunes, salt spires and wind-sculpted rock that literally look otherworldly at sunset. Walk the short trails, time it for the golden hour, and you’ll understand why the desert’s light is such a big deal here. (Personal favorite — nothing beats sitting on a dune watching the colors shift.)
- Salar de Atacama & Laguna Chaxa (Los Flamencos National Reserve) — Massive salt flat fringed with bright turquoise lagoons where Andean, Chilean and James’s flamingos feed. It’s the best place in the region to watch high-altitude birdlife against a flat, reflective landscape.
- El Tatio Geysers — One of the highest geyser fields in the world; visit at sunrise when steam columns plume into freezing air and the ground hisses. It’s a raw, almost theatrical geothermal show — bundle up and arrive very early for the full effect.
- Laguna Miscanti & Laguna Miñiques — Twin blue lagoons sitting at 4,000+ m with snow-capped volcanoes behind them and vicuñas grazing the shore. The isolation and alpine light make these altiplano lakes feel like a different planet — great for photography and quiet walks.
- Puritama Hot Springs (Ojos del Puritama) — A string of warm, stepped pools tucked into a narrow canyon fed by natural springs. Far more pleasant than crowded baths: you hike through desert, then soak in clear, mineral-rich water — perfect after a long day of trekking.
- Pukará de Quitor — A well-preserved pre-Columbian fortress above the Rio San Pedro with sweeping views over San Pedro and the valley. It’s a compact, tangible link to the region’s indigenous past — easy to reach and great for a short cultural stop.
- Tulor Archaeological Site — Hidden gem: the low, circular adobe ruins of a 3,000-year-old village that show early Atacameño life and settlement patterns. Often overlooked by day-trippers, it’s peaceful, interpretive, and gives real context to the ruins you see scattered across the desert.
- Laguna Cejar & Ojos del Salar — Salt-saturated turquoise pools where you can float effortlessly and snap surreal photos against a backdrop of salt crust and volcanoes. It’s an addictive, splurgy way to play in the desert and a short drive from San Pedro.
- Toconao village and its stone bell tower — Hidden gem: a tiny town built from volcanic rock with a distinctive bell tower, local stonemasonry, and artisan markets selling llama-felt and carved cactus wood. It’s a quiet cultural pit stop that feels authentic — try the local bread and llama cheese.
- Machuca hamlet and highland grazing culture — Hidden gem: a handful of adobe houses and a simple church where locals herd llamas and alpacas, sell roasted corn and squash, and live the altiplano rhythm. It’s small, real, and a quick way to see traditional high-Andean life without the tourist gloss.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past decade, I’ve backpacked through 80+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.