ATACAMA DESERT
The north of Chile
The region known as the ``North of Chile" occupies an area
equivalent in size to two thirds of Italy. It stretches from
the highlands of the Andean Altiplano over the golden sands of
the Atacama Desert as far as the shores of the Pacific Ocean.
Diverse, surprising, majestic and untouched... this is the
place for those in search of adventure with its breathtaking
salt flats, geysers and Andean volcanos, vast expanses of land
and here and there, occasional signs of life... llamas,
vicunas, flamingos and alpacas, all unperturbed by the presence
of man. Here you can find museums which record ma~ns
presence over the last 10,000 years, sea and long sandy
beaches, relaxation and entertainment in casinos, restaurants
and hotels, and above all the friendly hospitality of the
Chilean people.
The North of Chile... in fact... has everything!
The desert in the highlands
The Chilean Altiplano, situated in the foothills of the Andean
Mountain Range, 4.000 meters above sea level, is a treasure
chest of natural phenomena set in surroundings of unspoilt
beauty. Here, you simply must visit the Lauca National Park,
a natural monument now declared a World Biosphere Reserve.
Incredible landscapes, with volcanos, lagoons, salt flats, tiny
pre-Hispanic settlements, as well as a wide variety of animal
life such as llamas, vicunas, guanacos, alpacas, flamingos and
wild duck, create a lasting impression of sheer beauty.
Archeology History and mystery
For over 10,000 years these lands have been inhabited by man
and evidence of his presence can be found throughout this area
from the Pacific coast to the high Andean Mountain Range 6,000
meters above sea level. In the Azapa Valley 12 kilometers from
Arica, the museum of San Miguel de Azapa exhibits especially
'prepared' mummies dating from18000 BC, the oldest in the
world yet to be discovered. The museum also houses a fine
archeological collection of some 20,000 objects discovered in
this area.
From the road the huge geoglyphic paintings which adorn the
hillsides are still visible through the olive groves and from
the air they stand out even more clearly. These gigantic
drawings of which the most important are those of Lluta,
Azapa, Pintados, Cerro Unitas and Tiliviche remain wrapped in
mystery to this day. Another world-famous museum, San Pedro
de Atacama, is located 100 kilometers from the city of Calama.
The small village from which it takes its name was once the
center of the Atacamanian civilization. This museum contains a
collection of over 300,000 pieces which include pottery, woven
fragments and mummies discovered in this area The ruins of
Indian fortresses or 'pukaras' such as Quitor, Lasana and Turi
remain to this day in the North of Chile, where every step
leads to discovery and a new understanding of the history of
man.
The desert is life and adventure
...Discover for yourself the many wonders of the Atacama
Desert, the most arid desert in the world.
Spectacular landscapes and natural phenomena abound wherver you
look.
And in all this immensity, tiny villages such as Parinacota,
Caspana, Socoroma, Surire or Isluga still maintain the
traditions of their Aymara ancestors, and the influence of
Spanish colonization is still evident in the architecture of
their churches. The city of Calama, 214 kilometers from
Antofagasta, is an oasis in the middle of the desert. With
its fine selection of hotels, this in an ideal basecamp for
sightseeing trips to nearby places of interest such as the El
Tatio Geysers 3,550 meters above sea level, where great pillars
of water and steam which rise up some 10 meters high and reach
temperatures of 85oC. 100 kilometers to the southeastlies the
arid wasteland of the Valley of the Moon. Towards the north,
the village of Chiu-Chiu has several attractions including the
nearby 150 meter deep Chiu-Chiu Lagoon, an astonishing natural
phenomenon in the middle of the desert.
From Calama, you can also visit the huge amphitheatre of the
biggest open-cast mine in the world-Chuquicamata. As the
largest of the twelve salt flats in the Northern Region, the
Salt Lake of Atacama is especially interesting. It stretches
out like a vast white lake as far as the eye can see and its
banks are the habitat of unique species of fauna.
The North is entertainment and relaxation
The main cities of the North, Arica, Iquique, Antofagasta
are situated on the coast. They all have airports linking
them to the rest of the country, and are connected by road
to each other and to the most important sightseeing areas.
Comfortable hotels, motels and hostels, usually located on or
near the sea in these towns, are available for your enjoyment
and relaxation. Ther'es no time for boredom in the North...
every day you can choose from the delicious variety of local
dishes usually based on fish and seafood. For those who like
shopping there are lots of local markets in Arica where yo'ure
bound to come across that unexpected treasure, or you can visit
the Duty Free Zone in Iquique. The choice is endless! Spend
the afternoons sunbathing on one of the numerous beaches lulled
by the sea breeze and the feeling of endless space! At night
enjoy a game of back gammon, roulette or even the slot machines
in the Casinos of Arica or Iquique where you can also dine and
dance.
The North of Chile it much more...