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Weather in Atacama
Atacama
Stretching 200 kilometers (125 miles), Atacama Desert, in Northern Chile, is the world's highest and most arid. The first settlers in the region were the atacameños, who arrived there around 13 thousand years ago. For centuries, they were the most developed of all pre-colombian peoples. Such development was greatly due to the harshness of the region. Because of the extreme soil aridity, for instance, they created the system of terrazas, contention walls to improve the use of land for agriculture, which would later on be used by the Incas. The archeological legacy left by the atacameños, may be enjoyed today at museums such as Padre Le Paige, in San Pedro do Atacama – regarded, not by chance, as Chile's archeological capital. Created in 1955 by the initiative of the Belgian priest the museum is named after, it displays a large collection with over 300 thousand pieces of ceramics, clothing, hunting tools, mummies and other relics. The history of that pacific people that worshipped the forces of nature, and that met its end with the arrival of the Spanish conquerors, may also be admired in the ruins of Tulor Settlement and in the pukaras, fortified buildings in the cities of Quitor and Lasana.
Highlights:
- The world's driest desert, with impressive salt deposits
- Large mountainous region, yet full of plains, ideal for walks, bike or
4x4 rides
- The charm of the tiny town of San Pedro de Atacama, with very cool options
of restaurants and bars
- A world's center of astronomical observatories, since there are practically
no clouds, the high altitude and the absence of cities nearby