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Weather in Atacama Desert
Driest place on Earth with cosmic skies
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About Atacama Desert
The Atacama is Earth's driest place, a 1,000-kilometer stretch of sand and stone where it hasn't rained in recorded history. Flamingo lagoons shimmer impossibly amid the desolation, geysers erupt from salt-flats at dawn, and at night the cosmos unfolds so fully that the Milky Way casts shadows. Astronauts train here; so should any sky-lover.
Best months to visit
March, April, September, October, November, December
Things to do in Atacama Desert
Atacama salt flat moonrise tour at sunset
Los Flamingos National Reserve flamingo lagoon drive
Geysers del Tatio sunrise geyser field expedition
Valle de la Luna rock formations and sunset hike
Atacama stargazing: professional observatory tour
Salt mining village tour: traditional evaporation pools
Weather by month
Click any month for detailed weather information and travel tips.
January
27C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
February
26C
Warm and pleasant, with occasional showers.
Recommended
March
26C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
April
24C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
May
21C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
June
18C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
July
19C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
August
21C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
September
24C
Mild and comfortable, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
October
26C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
November
27C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
Recommended
December
28C
Warm and pleasant, and mostly sunny skies.
The Atacama Desert is the driest non-polar desert on Earth, a vast high-altitude expanse of salt flats, geysers, volcanoes and otherworldly rock formations in northern Chile. Its clear, dry air also makes it one of the world's best locations for stargazing, with several observatories open to visitors alongside day trips to El Tatio geysers, the Valle de la Luna and high-altitude lagoons near the Bolivian border.
Best areas to stay in Atacama Desert
San Pedro de Atacama
The small adobe town that serves as the main base for desert excursions.
Valle de la Luna
A nearby valley of eroded rock formations, popular for sunset visits.
El Tatio geysers
A high-altitude geyser field visited at sunrise, a few hours from San Pedro.
Altiplanic lagoons
High-altitude salt lakes near the Bolivian border, home to flamingos and dramatic mountain backdrops.
Getting to Atacama Desert
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Flights
Fly into Calama (CJC) from Santiago (about 2 hours), then it's roughly a 1.5-hour road transfer to San Pedro de Atacama.
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From London
~2 hours by air from Santiago, plus ~1.5 hours by road from Calama.
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Getting around
San Pedro de Atacama is small and walkable; tours in 4x4 vehicles or minibuses cover the surrounding desert excursions.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Atacama Desert?
The desert is a year-round destination given its dry climate, though nights are cold throughout the year, especially at higher elevations.
What is the El Tatio geyser field?
One of the largest geyser fields in the southern hemisphere, best visited at sunrise when the steam columns are most dramatic against the cold air.
Is stargazing really that good in the Atacama?
Yes — the combination of high altitude, low humidity and minimal light pollution makes it one of the best stargazing destinations in the world, with several tour operators running astronomy excursions.
What is the Valle de la Luna?
A valley of eroded rock and salt formations resembling a lunar landscape, popular for sunset visits close to San Pedro de Atacama.
Will altitude be an issue in the Atacama?
Some excursions, like the high-altitude lagoons near the Bolivian border, reach over 4,000m, so altitude effects are possible even though San Pedro itself sits lower.
Traveler reviews
★★★★★
The night sky tour was the best stargazing I've ever experienced — the Milky Way looked almost solid.
Ines L. · August 2023
★★★★☆
Early start for El Tatio was worth it, watching the geysers steam in the freezing dawn air before the sun warmed things up.
Tobias R. · May 2024
★★★★☆
Valle de la Luna at sunset was beautiful, though the whole region is so vast that a few days barely scratched the surface.
Camille G. · November 2023
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