The Atacama Desert
The driest place on earth runs an improbable variety show: geysers erupting at dawn at El Tatio, flamingos wading salt lagoons, the Valle de la Luna doing its Mars impression at sunset, and — the finale — some of the clearest night skies astronomy has ever pointed a telescope at.
- Best forAdventure
- Approx. flying time~10h 15m from Los Angeles
- Nearest airportAntofagasta (ANF)
About this place
Base yourself in San Pedro de Atacama, where every agency sells the same circuits. Altitude is sneaky at 2,400 metres and above, so save the high geysers for day three.
Featured in Ten desert adventures worth the sand in your boots
When to go
Daytime highs run from about 21°C in June to 27°C in January. Rain is rare in any month.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
August22° · no rainMild and dry.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Pick a budget to open live availability in The Atacama Desert. Prices are per night for two people.
Flights
Los Angeles Atacama Desert, Chile
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Roughly 10h 15m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
