A 3-day Atacama Desert itinerary covers Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geysers, Laguna Cejar and stargazing. With 4 days, you can add Piedras Rojas and the Altiplanic Lagoons; with 5 days, add Salar de Tara and allow more time between high-altitude excursions. The landscapes around San Pedro de Atacama change dramatically as you climb above 4,000 meters, where volcanoes, lagoons and vast desert plains create some of northern Chile's most unforgettable scenery. Planning a trip to

Written by Mona Sho, who spent 5 days exploring the Atacama Desert by guided tour, based in San Pedro de Atacama. The Atacama Desert is located in northern Chile, between the Pacific coast and the Andes Mountains. It is the driest non-polar desert on Earth and is usually visited from San Pedro de Atacama, the main base for hotels, tours, restaurants and stargazing. For a first trip, most travelers need 3 to 5 days to see Valle de la Luna, El Tatio Geysers, salt flats, lagoons