Amazing and powerful spirit 
what not to miss & tips
who, why, when, where, what
brief introduction to Atacama
GPS (if possible satellite communicator), maps, a good camera (not mobile phone!!), trekking boots & layers garments, trekking backpack, sun protection and sunglasses, 4x4 vehicle with low gears (preferably with diff-lock) with fuel can and additional spare tyre.
Always inform your hotel / lodge reception when you leave for a trip in lonely and remote areas.
Don't underestimate the altitude sickness (mal de altura / puna). It can be dangerous and spoil your travel. Spend time to get acclimatized. If you are not in the best shape and feel sick: take time to recover, drink mate de coca, have light meals and as less alcohol as possible. Before your departure, try get physically ready being well fitted.
Don't go hike or drive to the mountains and / or remote areas without checking the weather conditions are very good. Also check / pay attention to Volcanoes' alerts.
Don't go in remote areas alone without having good knowledge of the area, without proper gears, GPS and maps and mostly don't go without a safety / emergency plan you can put in place in case of accident or emergency. Bring always with you sufficient and additional water, food, fuel and warm clothes! Good knowledge of the area means you have to study and spend time in your homework, to know plan your trip and fix a track, to know details, conditions and risks of the place you are are going to visit. This is a wonderful part of your journey and it starts much in advance than travel itself. Don't go there as a weekender tourist! You won't enjoy and you will expose your own life to a big risk.
Pay attention to your valuable goods and keep your passport always with you and an additional copy in a safe place.
Please be as much respectful as possible of places you visit and people who live there.
Keep a low profile, friendly but very deferential at any border post. If you cross the borders with your vehicle, don't forget to ask to your rental car station to release to you the permit for your rental car export/import through various Countries you will visit. Missing this, you will be prevented to cross the borders and your trip will be over.
Last, but the most important thing, never forget these are natural places extremely fragile and endangered. You are a visitor. Do your best to leave such places as they are and bring with you only wonderful memories in your hearth, mind and camera.
Pay attention: Pisco Sour can be addictive ;)
Be hungry for adventure, with open mind, wide sense of travel and big romance. Please check to have this within yourself. Then, just fall in love with Atacama.
Who: people with adventure attitude, curious to know how is World out of the western edges and with great passion for wild and lonely travels. Lonely, couples, or small group, what's mean is to be pushing.
Why: to feel the real spirit of Altiplano, which will teach you the true sense of traveling. No other place conveys such a mix of lonely adventure, vibrant atmosphere, romantic freedom feeling.
When: Boreal Summer (July & August) is a good spot as you will have such deep blue skies and starring nights without risk of heavy rainfall of the "Altiplano Winter", which actually occurs in Australis Summer months (December to March). In July and August you may have chance to enjoy some snow still drawing the landscape and at the same melting to push the blossoming the spring life, flora and fauna both. (pay attention when you plan your 4x4 trails or also your travel moments through the Andean passes)
Where: San Pedro de Atacama is definitely the core. Putre in the far-north is a must as well. El Penon and Tolar are the "not-to-miss" in the Puna (Argentina side of Atacama).
What: it's difficult to identify some attractions which deserve more than others, as Altiplano is all magic. By the way, Salar de Tara is probably something you will remember forever as a legendary milestone in your life. Salar de Surire in the far north is actually very close to be incredible as Salar de Tara, but just a bit less risky to go as self-drive. Laguna Colorada (Bolivia) makes pairs with these two Salar in terms of beauty and emotions.
El Penon (Argentina) and the wide area around there is something you will never forget.
Frankly speaking the star of "what" in Atacama, is the travel through Atacama itself. It's the sense of magic, the majestic presence of Andes and Volcanoes, the endless landscapes and tracks through the wild and colorful desert.
As "What" the best suggestion would be drive through there, hike there, enjoy the atmosphere and a Pisco Sour under incredible skies and let such things fill you in full.
The Atacama Desert ranges for 1600 km long and 200 km wide approx from southern part of Perù and Bolivia to the northern part of Argentina, but the most part is in Chile, covering, from north to south, the Chilean regions of Arica & Parinacota, Tarapaca, Antofagasta and the northern Atacama.
This is one of the driest place in World and some of its areas are likely to be the most similar areas to Mars planet we can find on Earth. Scientific researches have been lead here with the purpose to study the conditions on Mars surface.
Andean chain mountains and the myriad of volcanos shape the landscape, along with the endless numbers of immense salt pans and lagoons populated by flamingos, vicunas and a much larger numbers of other animals than you can image.
Startling fauna and flora contribute in an impressive way to the astonishing beauty of this place.
Climbed up from the sea level over 2500 m, you will then discover that desert turns into a completely different place, where snow melting and water flowing, along with the living presence of volcanoes, generate the magic of the Altiplano, which you won't never forget.
Briefly in terms of contemporary political configuration, the Altiplano has been designed in by the Pacific War (Chile, Bolivia, Perù) and by the exploitation of the natural resources with a huge numbers of mines. This configured endless clash and conflicts between the Countries sharing the Atacama desert, including Argentina.
The area has been widely populated by pre-Columbian and pre-Inca populations, who still represent the most significant culture and population nowadays. You can find spread over the entire Atacama and Puna a numbers of Pukara (fortress) and petroglyphs.
We strongly recommend you just to spend a bit of time on Wikipedia to to deepen your knowledge for a more conscious journey. Having knowledge of geology of Andes & Atacama, pre-Columbian populations, Pacific War (Guerra del salitre), flora and fauna living in Altiplano will add value to your trip and improve your ability to appreciate the places you visit.
The tourist capital town is without any doubt San Pedro de Atacama, which has an outstanding location to reach the main attractions of the Altiplano. This well server small town will give you the impression to be at the center of World, despite maintaining an indescribable Andean pueblo charm as being completely far different to any tourist place you can have ever visited in the western World.
Our trips to Atacama have been mostly focused to the Chilean and Argentinean areas, stretching from the far north above Putre, down to El Penon, obviously having San Pedro de Atacama as belly button on the map. When in San Pedro it is a must not to miss a daily trip to Bolivia to the impressive Laguna Colorada.
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