North Chile Adventures: Top 5 Outdoor Activities
North Chile, you know, is a seriously special region that is just packed full of amazing outdoor stuff. From the crazy dry Atacama Desert up north to seriously impressive mountains and coastline, you’ll get these totally unique adventures that, to be honest, you probably won’t find anywhere else. I mean, like, where else can you, like, stare at the stars so clearly and then, almost immediately, go, like, sliding down massive sand dunes? It is mind-blowing, I am saying! So, basically, whether you are super into thrilling activities, or you just, kind of, like soaking up super unreal landscapes, North Chile is where it’s at. We are going to chat about five of the coolest things you can do out there.
Stargazing in the Atacama Desert
Alright, so the Atacama Desert, as a matter of fact, is famous around the globe for, almost literally, having some of the clearest skies out there. And seriously, like, there’s a bunch of things that help keep the skies so amazingly see-through. The air, for one thing, is extremely dry – and humidity messes with stargazing, you know? And then there’s the high elevation that really puts you above most of the nasty light issues that we normally deal with closer to sea level, seriously. Then, to be clear, you have spots there that get, almost, no light pollution from towns or cities, which really brings it all together, so to speak.
As I was saying, going out to see the stars in Atacama is quite unlike anything else you may have experienced, basically. Once you get away from the little towns, like San Pedro de Atacama, as a matter of fact, and, just so you know, find a dark spot, it’s like the night sky pops out in hi-def! You might get the sense that you can see seriously millions of stars – and, it’s fair to say, probably can – along with seriously mind-blowing views of the Milky Way just spreading out across the sky. A lot of tour outfits will, of course, provide really strong telescopes, too, that give you a pretty clear view of things like planets and nebulas and stuff. Honestly, you know, hearing about distant galaxies while wrapped up in a warm blanket under the silent desert sky? You have to experience this once, basically.
Read our full review: Atacama Desert Stargazing Full Review and Details
What to Expect:
- Super clear night skies because, just to be clear, the air is extra dry.
- Tours run by locals that offer really powerful telescopes, right?
- Chances, seemingly, to see planets, galaxies, and a ton of, arguably, other really deep-sky objects, that, you know, really add something to it.
- Usually pretty cold conditions – yep, even in the desert! Layers and, arguably, warm drinks make a huge difference, so they do.
Hiking Volcanoes
Chile has just so many volcanoes that, I’m not kidding, it is basically any hiker’s dream – seriously. And a bunch of them are up north! You will, by and large, discover routes up high peaks that have views that go on and on and are absolutely rewarding. And the climb itself, to be honest, that’s a rush too, really. Though you might think you are pretty hardy, remember altitude stuff before heading out. North Chile is at high elevation, and so it really takes some getting used to if you are, like, used to being at sea level. Even pretty fit hikers should consider, sort of, chilling for a bit in the region before hitting the really high altitudes to just let your body catch up.
One of the favorites, by the way, is Volcán Láscar, like, still active and has the, like, steaming crater you can peek into! Then there’s Volcán Licancabur, this really super perfectly shaped cone that lords over the Atacama – that, in a way, looks seriously unreal next to Laguna Verde’s water. Remember that the hiking situations might be rocky, and you, clearly, could have strong winds or blazing sunshine. So basically you would probably want legit hiking shoes and clothing, layers that can adjust to changing conditions and an easy daypack to keep your stuff, to put it simply. Plus, of course, a mountain of water and sunscreen and such, so really stay ahead of things!
Read our full review: Chile Volcano Hiking Full Review and Details
What to Expect:
- Difficult treks needing good fitness and altitude understanding.
- Truly mind-blowing views, right, especially from summits.
- Potentially active volcanoes you are actually climbing!
- All kinds of weather. Best way? Be super ready with layers and good gear!
Sandboarding in the Atacama Desert
Alright, forget snowboarding – think sandboarding. See, as I was saying, the Atacama Desert not only gives us fantastic skies for the stars, and the sand dunes can act as a super special snowboard run. Just to be clear, sandboarding is getting more popular with people that want this serious burst of energy from zipping down steep sandy slopes. And, almost certainly, this adds something totally different to visiting this location in Chile, or that’s just my personal opinion at least, yet the others will have to agree on this.
There’s basically the Valle de la Muerte (Death Valley) near San Pedro. It is super well known for being an incredible location to get a bit of a sand slide, so there’s that. Now, some advice: renting your sandboard locally makes stuff totally convenient – loads of places have rentals – but arguably take care, because that’s actually very important! Slather that sunscreen, just so you know, grab the sunnies to keep those rays back, and have some of that water near to just, like, basically hydrate like there’s no end! I probably recommend going later in the day, sort of, if that can work for you, because the sand in the morning can actually bake super, right? Then again you will definitely not be lonely, that’s for sure. But even in the late day in the desert will keep up its sunshine-y conditions that ask you, as said, to grab something like SPF30+
Read our full review: Atacama Sandboarding Full Review and Details
What to Expect:
- A fast, zippy experience.
- Warm to extreme heat from the sunshine – prep correctly by prepping yourself with that high SPF-rating.
- The workout. Just be ready to have sore muscles by the end of the trip, very.
Soaking in El Tatio Geysers
Alright, so you should consider waking up super early. No really. To be sure, I mean super early if you want to take this experience in, that being El Tatio Geysers. The location lies at over 4,300m in the hills so you know it’s at a high altitude! In reality it’s, like, one of the absolute highest geyser fields across this planet. How crazy is that! A bunch of tourists trek from San Pedro de Atacama before dawn in time to take this gorgeous sunlight bursting onto a very chilly, geothermal-heated setting, of course.
What will I see, for the sake of discussion? Enormous steam clouds climb, and there’s the almost bubbling mud and gurgling water. Is that not an awesome setting, honestly! Arriving early can also enable you to beat crowds; at certain hours the experience just gets jam-packed, okay? Be ready for cold, however, since the temperature tends to hang somewhere close to freezing or it could even fall underneath. By and large remember it as well if that includes, in theory, being on tour since a certain tour operator can suggest items that are musts for you to make sure the tour goes better, clearly, So keep layers and don’t just shrug that off or something since some will suggest they help better with these early moments. And a hot spring pool? It is often available; taking dips here in a heated zone should make an unbelievable approach to starting off your early break. However it may work if you’ve got everything you would to take something similar!
Read our full review: El Tatio Geysers Full Review and Details
What to Expect:
- Dawn sees geysers blasting columns of water or steam skyward, alright.
- Very chilly, even snowy weather conditions (think mountain), in general. Dress with layers and that is all, frankly.
- Chance to relax on geothermal heat and springs when it’s up for it. Remember swimwear when interested!
Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) Exploration
This, in a way, puts you somewhere similar to walking on a freaking other world. The spot obtained, for all intents and purposes, a name based on its crazy strange and harsh landscape and really gives an impression that’s somewhere along a Moon land surface, to tell the truth. All this sets itself near to San Pedro de Atacama. Also the destination displays magnificent geological features, ranging across things just like sand dunes and towering, steep rock designs that are chiseled over the year to get awesome displays through solar or lunar actions, seriously.
Tour firms arrange travel through places such as the Duna Mayor – is that a sight in any form for one? – , a spot for taking sunsets along panoramic, awesome views across some part from somewhere else, definitely. By the same token, Las Tres Marías refers at several naturally carved, standing stony structures the result out over lots. Don’t disregard all you can gather there, for all you need to bring for any of it includes anything along a little sunblock, headwear to hold on, in some respect. Similarly to like those mentioned early it comes as part, probably, to maintain lots of drinking fluid ready for taking throughout for yourself!
Read our full review: Valle de la Luna Full Review and Details
What to Expect:
- Something, like, otherworldly scenarios due mostly to its parched, rocky geography – which, by the way, goes just fine for pics or walking near at just moments there when visiting through tour arrangements, or even those carried alone!
- Take good sights to experience and photo op on those rocky sights, such those great views to sight and picture taking on times of either some setting there inside our local orbit or a glowing moment where Moon arrives with a bit.
- Pretty simple to get when leaving at some part from San Pedro: all it goes when setting across group or rental opportunities to begin traveling for ourselves when getting here around Atacama in just that spot!.
