Atacama Desert, Chile

Quick Facts

• The Atacama Desert receives less than 1 millimeter of rainfall each year, making it the driest non-polar desert in the world.
• Home to the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA), the desert hosts one of the most advanced radio observatories globally, which became operational in 2013.
• The landscape includes unique geological formations such as the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon), known for its resemblance to the surface of the Moon.
• In 2015, NASA confirmed that liquid water flows intermittently on the surface of the Atacama, a discovery that has implications for astrobiology.
• The desert features some of the clearest skies on Earth, making it a prime location for astronomical observations, with over 300 clear nights a year.

Travel Details

Country

Chile

Population

Varies

Daily Budget

$50-100

Best Time to Visit

Apr–Nov

Current Weather

☀️

25°C/77°F

Clear

Currency

$ CLP

Coordinates

-24.5000, -69.2500