El Loa Province: Desert Landscapes and the High Andes

San Pedro de Atacama is considered the gateway to the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. In El Loa Province, desert formations meet high-Andean landscapes, hot springs, and archaeological sites. When planning your trip, it is worth choosing places according to what interests you most: shaped minerals and sand, lagoons and wildlife, or the history of former settlements.

Desert Formations and Protected Landscapes

Valle de la Luna is a natural sanctuary in a depression in the Cordillera de la Sal. Erosion has shaped minerals there into forms reminiscent of a lunar landscape. Valle de la Muerte offers a different focus: this mountainous, sandy valley provides opportunities for trekking and sandboarding. The two places give the desert landscape distinct forms—from eroded mineral formations to slopes and sandy expanses.

Salar de Tara is a Ramsar site within the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos. Its landscape includes lagoons, rivers, and wetlands, and native wildlife also characterizes the area. The Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos protects more than 73,000 hectares of high-Andean ecosystems, whose flora and fauna are adapted to extreme dryness. It is home to the three flamingo species found in Chile, as well as vicuñas and foxes.

The altitude is another defining feature of the region. Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques lie at more than 4,100 meters. Their turquoise waters stand out against the dry landscape and snow-capped peaks. The lagoons offer opportunities for birdwatching, including flamingos and giant coots. Géiseres del Tatio form a geothermal field at more than 4,300 meters and are considered the third-largest geothermal field in the world. The high-altitude ecosystem there provides habitat for vicuñas, birds, and endemic vegetation.

Hot Springs and Archaeological Traces

At the Termas de Puritama, thermal water at about 33 °C flows continuously into eight natural pools. Native vegetation surrounds the pools, which are connected by wooden walkways. This makes it possible to experience the site as a hot-spring area with a clearly described landscape and sequence of pools. At Aldea de Tulor, the archaeological features take center stage: paths pass reconstructed dwellings and adobe remains, making the visit an archaeological experience.

Understanding Starting Points and Routes

Your excursions’ starting point can be a helpful guide when looking for a hotel. Valle de la Luna lies 15 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama off Ruta 23 and can be reached by private vehicle, bicycle, or guided tour. The directions to the Termas de Puritama also start there: the site is 30 kilometers away via Ruta B-245 toward Tatio, a drive of about 40 minutes. Road conditions and reservation requirements may change; check them before driving to the Termas.

If you arrive via Calama, you can travel the final 100-kilometer stretch to San Pedro de Atacama via Ruta 23 by bus, transfer, or private vehicle. The journey takes about one hour and 30 minutes. The arrival leg and excursion routes therefore have different reference points: Calama is relevant to the described route to San Pedro, while the excursion directions given here start from San Pedro. Take this difference into account when choosing where to stay.

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