Atacama Desert & the North travel

Journey through Northern Chile. The vast salt flats of the Atacama are among the most spectacular in the Americas. A world of silence, they stretch out in the heart of the Andes mountain range at altitudes of over 4,500 metres (14,763 feet). Magical vistas of high-altitude lagoons, fumaroles from the El Tatio Geysers, churches built from cactus wood and llama leather. La Serena is worthy of stay over a few days. From Aguirre to Hemingway, it is laden with stories of conquests, big-game fishing and lively, well-watered parties. It is also the departure point for astronomical observatories, including the renowned VLT. Further north, Chungará Lake, overlooked by the Parinacota volcano, forms the border with Bolivia.