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Last Updated on 30 June, 2026 by Daniel Silvente
The Atacama Desert is one of the most surprising landscapes in South America. Although it is considered the driest non-polar desert on the planet, it is also home to salt flats, volcanoes, lagoons, geysers, colorful valleys, and places with unexpected biodiversity.
In this article, we’ll explain where the Atacama Desert is located, how it was formed, why it is so dry, what makes it unique, and when the flowering desert phenomenon happens. We’ll also explain why San Pedro de Atacama is the best starting point to visit it and how to organize an Atacama Desert tour to discover its most impressive landscapes.
Where Is the Atacama Desert Located?
The Atacama Desert is located mainly in northern Chile, although due to its large size, it also reaches parts of Bolivia, Argentina, and even Peru. It covers an area of approximately 40,540 square miles (105,000 km²), with a length of almost 995 miles (1,600 km) and a maximum width of about 112 miles (180 km).
To the west, the desert is bordered by the Pacific Ocean. To the east, it is framed by the Andes Mountains, a natural barrier that is key to understanding its extreme climate conditions.
The best-known and most visited area of the Atacama Desert is around San Pedro de Atacama. This small town is the main starting point for exploring the desert, as most excursions depart from here to places such as the Valley of the Moon, El Tatio Geysers, the Atacama Salt Flat, Piedras Rojas, and the high-altitude lagoons.
That is why, if you want to discover the most spectacular landscapes in the area, the most common option is to book a tour from San Pedro de Atacama and plan your visit depending on how many days you have available.
How the Atacama Desert was formed?
The origin of the Atacama Desert can be explained by a combination of geological and climatic factors. Although today we know it as one of the driest places in the world, millions of years ago this territory was part of the ocean. Over time, movements in the Earth’s crust and the formation of the Andes Mountains transformed the landscape into the desert we see today.
One of the key phenomena that explains its extreme dryness is the Foehn effect. This happens when moisture-filled clouds meet a large mountain barrier. In this case, the Andes act as a natural wall: the clouds release their rainfall on the eastern side, and by the time they cross the mountain range, they reach the western side with almost no moisture left.
As a result, rainfall from the east is blocked and barely reaches the Atacama Desert. This process, repeated over thousands of years, has helped make it one of the driest places on Earth. Despite these extreme conditions, the desert has been inhabited for centuries. Remains of ancient peoples and cultures connected to the territory have been found in the area, including the Atacameño, Lupaca, Chango, and Uru peoples. This shows that this apparently inhospitable landscape has also been a place of life, movement, and history.
Biodiversity in the Atacama Desert
Although it may seem impossible, the Atacama Desert is not just sand, rock, and dry landscapes. Despite its extreme conditions, there are areas where life appears in surprising ways, especially near salt flats, lagoons, wetlands, oases, and places where some moisture accumulates.
In different parts of the desert, it is possible to find flamingos, foxes, reptiles, Andean birds, like the Andean Condor, and even species adapted to living in very dry environments. One of the best examples can be found in the salt flats and high-altitude lagoons, where flamingos find food in the middle of a seemingly inhospitable landscape.
Near the coast of northern Chile, you can also find the Humboldt Penguin National Reserve. It may sound surprising, but this area is part of the desert environment and is home to penguins thanks to the influence of the cold waters from the Humboldt Current.
But if there is one phenomenon that truly shows how surprising this place can be, it is the flowering desert of Atacama.
The Flowering Desert of Atacama
The flowering desert of Atacama is one of Chile’s most special natural phenomena. In some years, after unusual rainfall, the dry landscape fills with colorful flowers and creates an image that is hard to imagine: a desert covered in life.
This phenomenon does not happen every year, which is why seeing it is so special. It mainly depends on whether enough rain has fallen in the previous months, allowing the seeds that remain underground to germinate and transform the landscape for a few weeks.
When Does the Flowering Desert Happen?
The flowering desert happens when the Atacama Desert receives enough rainfall during the southern autumn, especially in April and May. Since this is one of the driest areas in the world, these rains are not common, so the phenomenon cannot be guaranteed every year.
If the conditions are favorable, the seeds begin to germinate and, weeks later, the desert changes completely. That is why many travelers interested in this phenomenon check the season’s rainfall before planning their trip.
When Is the Best Time to See the Flowering Desert?
Although the rain needs to fall during the southern autumn, the best time to see the flowering desert is usually between late September and October, when spring arrives in the Southern Hemisphere. In some years, if conditions are right, it can also be seen during part of November.
Even so, it is important to remember that the flowering desert of Atacama does not appear every year. If you want to try to see it, it is best to check updated information before traveling and keep your dates somewhat flexible.
Where to See the Flowering Desert in Chile
The flowering desert can appear in different areas of northern Chile, but it is usually more intense in the Atacama Region, especially in areas close to the coast, where Pacific humidity helps the flowers bloom.
One of the best-known places to see it is Pan de Azúcar National Park, located north of Copiapó. Its proximity to the ocean, coastal landscapes, and desert-adapted plant species make it one of the most interesting places to enjoy this phenomenon.
If you are planning a trip through northern Chile and want to combine dry landscapes, salt flats, lagoons, and, with some luck, the flowering desert, you can plan a broader route through the Atacama area. And if your base is San Pedro de Atacama, you can also take the opportunity to discover some of the desert’s most famous landscapes with an organized tour.
History of the Atacama Desert
The history of the Atacama Desert is closely linked to mining, ancient cultures in northern Chile, and territorial conflicts in the region. There is evidence of human presence here dating back thousands of years, with communities that adapted to an extreme environment and made use of the resources available.
One of the most important examples is mining activity. In the Taltal area, evidence has been found of mining work dating back around 10,000 years, related to the extraction of iron oxide. This makes the Atacama Desert an important territory for understanding some of the oldest mining activities on the continent.
In more recent history, part of this region was connected to Bolivia, as it represented the country’s access to the Pacific Ocean. This connection was strategic for transporting minerals from the Altiplano and from areas such as the Uyuni Salt Flat to the coast.
In 1879, the War of the Pacific began, involving Chile, Bolivia, and Peru. After the conflict, Chile incorporated this area into its territory, while Bolivia lost its access to the sea. This change had a major impact on mining activity and trade routes in the region and left the Cemetery of Trains.
Other curiosities of the desert
The Atacama Desert is also famous for its extreme landscapes, which have been used for sporting competitions, scientific expeditions, and adventure experiences. Its dunes, valleys, and arid terrain have hosted events such as the Dakar Rally, helping bring this landscape to international attention.
Another popular activity is sandboarding in Death Valley, an area of large dunes near San Pedro de Atacama. Sliding down the sand in a landscape that looks like Mars is a fun experiences for travelers looking for a bit of adrenaline.
The Atacama Desert is also considered one of the best places in the world for stargazing. Its low humidity, limited light pollution, and large number of clear nights make the Atacama sky one of the most impressive on the planet.
Visit the Atacama Desert with Howlanders
The Atacama Desert is much more than the driest desert in the world. It is a destination of salt flats, volcanoes, high-altitude lagoons, geysers, colorful valleys, starry skies, and unique natural phenomena.
If you want to discover its most impressive landscapes without worrying about the organization, with Howlanders you can book your Atacama Desert tour. You’ll find excursions to the Valley of the Moon, El Tatio Geysers, Piedras Rojas, the high-altitude lagoons, the Atacama Salt Flat, and multi-day packages to experience the desert in a complete way.
Compare the available options, choose the tour that best fits your trip, and get ready to discover one of the most incredible landscapes in Chile.
