The north of Chile is the home to the driest desert in the world. Locals will tell you that The San Pedro de Atacama Desert has not had any rain since 1870! It has, however, rained or even snowed once or twice in some areas of the desert during this time. The oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is found on the immense Salt Lake and you will see some of the starriest skies ever, due to zero light pollution. Despite its aridity, the desert is the home to a wide range of flora and fauna with its guanacos, vicuñas, iguanas, flamingos and hummingbirds. The desert has been closely related to Mars due to the similarity of its surface. Even movies have been filmed in this region, A Space Odyssey being the most famous.
Top Tours in The Atacama Desert
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The Moon Valley
The Moon Valley in Atacama is made from stone formations - moulded by millennia of wind and water that jut out from the ground like spikes on the back of a dinosaur,offering an appearance of the surface of the moon. It is easy to understand where the name of the Moon valley comes from. Towering snow-capped volcanos and The Andean mountain range form the skyline. The tallest and most famous of them all is Volcan Licancabur (in the native tongue – Mountain of the People), regarded as a holy mountain. This unique valley is a must in The North of Chile.
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacamais a top destination for many. The driest desert in the world is a popular stop-off for most travellers, especially those coming from Peru in the North. The desert is a mixture of salt flats, high elevation geysers, volcanoes and moonlike landscapes. The highlights of the area are Redrocks, Salar de Talar, Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, The rainbow valley and while you are here, why not visit ALMA? This incredible observatory is the most powerful on planet and has been studying other galaxies for some time now!
Altiplano Lagoons
The Atacama desert is blessed with stunning and colourful high-altitude lagoons, made all the more beautiful for the backdrop of the arid, high desert. Not only are these high elevation lakes stunning, there are many migratory birds that visit these lagoons such as pink flamingos, that add to the spectacular scenery. The Chaxa lagoon is best for flamingo spotting and the Miscanti Lagoon sits under an active volcano of the same name. Moments away, is the Miñiques Lagoon is a rich, deep indigo colour and an excellent place for spotting the native, wild vicunas.
We have spent 10 days in Peru on a school trip and Valencia Travel was the local partner. We were very pleased with the itinerary and the support from our guides and drivers. We spent several days in Cusco, then went to a local Cacao Farm and after of course Aguas Calientes. Everyone in the group had a great time and our guide Ronaldo tried his best to ensure all needs were met.
FA
FarAway259028August 11, 2026
Best travel guide and company for our family trip to Machu Picchu
Our family of 5 (2 adults and 3 kids) did the short Inka trail to Machu Picchu and our guide Carlos Caceres was the best! He made our trip to Machu Picchu very special and memorable. He was very experienced, kind, patient and always made sure we were taken care of. The trip went so smoothly because of Carlos. From making sure we got on trains to buses to trail crossings to restaurants in town, he was always on top of it. Highly recommend Valencia Travel Cusco and Carlos as your guide. We were grateful for everything.
CJ
cjhv12022August 09, 2026
Machu pichu and Rainbow Mountain....and so much more!
Absolutely fantastic,great value for cost,wonderful sites, amazing guide,Carlos Carceras.Every aspect was 10/10.The guide was one of the best i have ever experienced,his knowledge was astounding,his organizational skills amazing and even more his care and respect gor the group was way beyond expectations. Machu Pichu and Rainbow Mountain was oit of this world!
DE
David EAugust 06, 2026
Miguel is the man
Our guid was Miguel with Valencia travel. The guid was amazing and everything was taken care of. Food was great and learned a tone! 10/10 would recommend.
SE
Stephen EAugust 06, 2026
Amazing experience, lifetime of memories!
The trip was incredible! The views were spectacular, the history is amazing and we could not have asked for more. The trail was challenging, but it was worth it. Our guide Miguel made sure everything went smoothly and he made the difficult journey a joy for me and my family! Highly recommend for any family looking for an adventure!
CL
clausAugust 06, 2026
Tracking Erlebnis
Tracking Erlebnis der besonderen Art. Super Gruppe, guter Führer, zuvorkommende Träger und Mega Küche während den 4 Tagen
JP
Janelle PAugust 01, 2026
Everyday was a wonderful adventure
We have just finished 14 days in Peru with Valencia Travel. We had Ronaldo as our guide. Everyday was a wonderful adventure, made all the better by Ronaldo’s extensive knowledge of Peru and the Inca’s and his wonderful care of our group. Ronaldo is a gifted tour guide who brought Peru to life - the culture, the history and the vibrancy of the people. Would highly recommend.
MK
Martina KJuly 31, 2026
Fantastic
We went on a short Inka Trail hike with Valencia Travel Cusco for 2 days. Private tour - just my husband and me and our fantastic guide Nicholson. It was an amazing experience- from the first meet up to talk about the details until our trip back to Cusco. Perfectly organized. We had a wonderful time. Nicholson made sure that we enjoy every minute of this trip. He provided support , motivation and encouragement. He made sure we always felt comfortable and could enjoy the trail in our pace. We learned a lot and made great memories. Those days were the highlight of our time in Peru and Nicholson made it very special.
AS
Anna SJuly 29, 2026
4-days with Inka trail and Machu Picchu
Our guide Louis was the best guide ever! The sourroundings where really amazing and all the team made the Inka trail a super adventure. I got problem with the altitude and Louis made the differens to make the 4-day excursion an extraordinary experience. The last day he also guided at the stunning Machu Picchu - that was a lifetime dream coming true - and Louis made it even better.
AS
Andreas SjöblomJuly 29, 2026
Fantastic experience with great guide
Our family hiked the Inca Trail in July 2026. We had been looking forward to this trek for a long time and had very high expectations. However, everything we experienced — from the breathtaking nature to the exceptional service provided by the tour operator — far exceeded even our wildest dreams. It was absolutely amazing! We were fortunate to have an outstanding guide, Louis, a talented chef, Julio, and a team of 10 porters supporting our family of four. The level of service we received throughout the entire journey was truly world-class. I highly recommend Valencia Travel in Cusco, and especially Guide Louis, to anyone who wants to experience this incredible adventure. Andreas, Sweden
NE
NehaJJuly 29, 2026
Great adventure
Ruben was extra ordinary and highlight of the tour he went above and beyond There are no words to describe his generosity. Very happy to do the tour. He was the highlight. And the coach to Puno 10 hr journey was super comfortable. Flight schedule was poor. And hotel were on a good location but basic.
RO
robbR356TEJuly 28, 2026
Machu Picchu
My partner and I have had Machu Picchu on our bucket list for many years, and we were finally able to experience not only Machu Picchu but so many other incredible sights across Peru through TripADeal. Although one of our day trips was cancelled due to some poor management on TripADeal’s behalf, I want to give a massive shout-out to our guide, Ruben. He made our adventure around Peru a truly amazing experience. We were part of a large group, and while there were a few hiccups along the way, Ruben handled everything with remarkable calm, professionalism, and ease. I would definitely recommend Ruben as a guide for any expedition my friends or family may decide to embark on. We give Ruben 4.5 stars for making our Peru experience so memorable.
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