San Pedro de Atacama - 2400m a.s.l.
Unesco Tentative List
San Pedro de Atacama (San Pedro for short) is a small village located in one of the many oases which are founded in the altiplano of the second region of Chile. Along this geographic zone rise some of the highest volcanoes of the Los Andes cordillera. Formerly the center of the Atacama culture, today San Pedro's population is about 2.500. Nowadays this small town has a big importance becouse it is considered as the archeological capital of Chile and also becouse of its extreme geographic position , the beauty of the landscape and its eternal blue sky. The main economic activities are tourist trade followed by small farming (small cultivation, breeding of sheep and goats). Due to the amazing landscape of this zone, San Pedro has turned into the start point of the touristic activity and the excursions around the region. So we can find a big variety of services for the visitors such as lodging, restaurants, tourist agencies, handcraft, telephone office, internet, post and police station. Another characteristic of San Pedro is its cosmopolitan atmosphere, becouse it is a destination that cannot be lost by all the tourists that come to Chile, specially from Europe.
History: It is estimated that about 11.000 years ago the first towns of the north of Chile were founded, they chose the "puna"region and the gorges of the Atacama desert. The "atacameños" (people from Atacama) were the founders of the so called "San Pedro Culture" , they established themselves in the Loa's basing and in all the oases of the Atacama's desert. Source: www.sanpedroatacama.com
Unesco Tentative List
San Pedro de Atacama (San Pedro for short) is a small village located in one of the many oases which are founded in the altiplano of the second region of Chile. Along this geographic zone rise some of the highest volcanoes of the Los Andes cordillera. Formerly the center of the Atacama culture, today San Pedro's population is about 2.500. Nowadays this small town has a big importance becouse it is considered as the archeological capital of Chile and also becouse of its extreme geographic position , the beauty of the landscape and its eternal blue sky. The main economic activities are tourist trade followed by small farming (small cultivation, breeding of sheep and goats). Due to the amazing landscape of this zone, San Pedro has turned into the start point of the touristic activity and the excursions around the region. So we can find a big variety of services for the visitors such as lodging, restaurants, tourist agencies, handcraft, telephone office, internet, post and police station. Another characteristic of San Pedro is its cosmopolitan atmosphere, becouse it is a destination that cannot be lost by all the tourists that come to Chile, specially from Europe.
History: It is estimated that about 11.000 years ago the first towns of the north of Chile were founded, they chose the "puna"region and the gorges of the Atacama desert. The "atacameños" (people from Atacama) were the founders of the so called "San Pedro Culture" , they established themselves in the Loa's basing and in all the oases of the Atacama's desert. Source: www.sanpedroatacama.com
Moon Valley
It is one of the most visited places in San Pedro and it is located at 17 kilometers of San Pedro's downtown, in the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt mountains) area, is an interesting area with stones and sand formations that per millenia the floods and the winds have given it a series of colors and texture to the desert, it presents an extraordinary attractive by its similarity with the moon surface and the natural coliseo of great dimensions. From a great dune is possible to appreciate the wonderful and surprising surroundings of this zone. Set of landscapes of incomparable beauty and that resemble a fragment of the moon landscape. This wonderful natural phenomenon, is due to the encounter of the Atacama desert with the Andes mountain range, which is produced by smooth slope changes, conformed by cones of rollings originating of the mountain bankruptcy. The Moon Valley has dry lakes, in where the salt composition of these covers with a beautiful white mantle; escarpments of all green, blue, red, yellow colors surprising with the most diverse and surprising forms and which the sun makes vary its tones in thousand different forms during the day, specially in the twilight hours that reaches its best beauty. In full moon nights, the valley also presents an indescribable aspect, plenary of majesty and silence, coldly beautiful and imposing. It presents diverse saline outcrops that seem true sculptures also of a great variety of caverns. In this place a geologic spectacle of great beauty can be observed, in special in the evening and daybreak. Declared sanctuary of the nature by its great natural beauty and strange moon appearance to which must its name. Every year is visited by hundreds of tourists for being one of the knowest places in Chile. Source: http://www.explore-atacama.com
It is one of the most visited places in San Pedro and it is located at 17 kilometers of San Pedro's downtown, in the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt mountains) area, is an interesting area with stones and sand formations that per millenia the floods and the winds have given it a series of colors and texture to the desert, it presents an extraordinary attractive by its similarity with the moon surface and the natural coliseo of great dimensions. From a great dune is possible to appreciate the wonderful and surprising surroundings of this zone. Set of landscapes of incomparable beauty and that resemble a fragment of the moon landscape. This wonderful natural phenomenon, is due to the encounter of the Atacama desert with the Andes mountain range, which is produced by smooth slope changes, conformed by cones of rollings originating of the mountain bankruptcy. The Moon Valley has dry lakes, in where the salt composition of these covers with a beautiful white mantle; escarpments of all green, blue, red, yellow colors surprising with the most diverse and surprising forms and which the sun makes vary its tones in thousand different forms during the day, specially in the twilight hours that reaches its best beauty. In full moon nights, the valley also presents an indescribable aspect, plenary of majesty and silence, coldly beautiful and imposing. It presents diverse saline outcrops that seem true sculptures also of a great variety of caverns. In this place a geologic spectacle of great beauty can be observed, in special in the evening and daybreak. Declared sanctuary of the nature by its great natural beauty and strange moon appearance to which must its name. Every year is visited by hundreds of tourists for being one of the knowest places in Chile. Source: http://www.explore-atacama.com
The Salar de Atacama
Center-stage of many surprises, the 3,000 square kilometer salt lake is an unbeatable sight. Home to Andean birds and a large lithium reserve, its thick crust forms heaps that crackle at sundown, when temperatures drop quickly. The Atacama Salt Flat is one of the main attractions of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Be amazed by the large number of long-legged birds that nest and feed in its “watery eyes”, like those of the Chaxa Lagoon. Keep your eyes wide open to try to spot the differences between the Andean, Chilean and James flamingos. Source: www.explore-atacama.com
Center-stage of many surprises, the 3,000 square kilometer salt lake is an unbeatable sight. Home to Andean birds and a large lithium reserve, its thick crust forms heaps that crackle at sundown, when temperatures drop quickly. The Atacama Salt Flat is one of the main attractions of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Be amazed by the large number of long-legged birds that nest and feed in its “watery eyes”, like those of the Chaxa Lagoon. Keep your eyes wide open to try to spot the differences between the Andean, Chilean and James flamingos. Source: www.explore-atacama.com
Toconao Town
a quiet town with typical colonial architecture, but full of details that make it unique and help you relax. Known for its volcanic rock constructions, its church, built in 1744 and the San Lucas Bell-tower, which are examples of the benefits of this rustic material. Walk around the square and get a souvenir from the stands set up there, where alpaca textiles and miniature versions of the bell tower made of rock will charm you. Taste their delicious fruits; quinces, fresh and dried figs and apricots from the Jere gorge will indulge your palate. Source: www.explore-atacama.com
a quiet town with typical colonial architecture, but full of details that make it unique and help you relax. Known for its volcanic rock constructions, its church, built in 1744 and the San Lucas Bell-tower, which are examples of the benefits of this rustic material. Walk around the square and get a souvenir from the stands set up there, where alpaca textiles and miniature versions of the bell tower made of rock will charm you. Taste their delicious fruits; quinces, fresh and dried figs and apricots from the Jere gorge will indulge your palate. Source: www.explore-atacama.com
Altiplanic Lagoons
Deep blue waters and white shores which welcome a large variety of birds, the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons are a gift of nature. Located inside the Los Flamencos National Reserve, at more than 4,000 meters above sea level, they provide a magical contrast with the snow capped hills that surround them. A mix of desert, mountains and ice, it is the ideal site for photography and birdwatching. While there in the Altiplanic Lagoons (Lagunas altiplánicas) go deeper into its sheer immensity until you reach the Aguas Calientes salt flat, where you’ll find the desolate Tuyaito Lagoon with a pearl-like color difficult to find elsewhere. Source: http://chile.travel.com
Deep blue waters and white shores which welcome a large variety of birds, the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons are a gift of nature. Located inside the Los Flamencos National Reserve, at more than 4,000 meters above sea level, they provide a magical contrast with the snow capped hills that surround them. A mix of desert, mountains and ice, it is the ideal site for photography and birdwatching. While there in the Altiplanic Lagoons (Lagunas altiplánicas) go deeper into its sheer immensity until you reach the Aguas Calientes salt flat, where you’ll find the desolate Tuyaito Lagoon with a pearl-like color difficult to find elsewhere. Source: http://chile.travel.com