In the North of Chile from the 1st region until the 3rd, and part of the 4th is the Atacama Desert, the driest in the planet. It's geography and landscape changes to the south, from a complete desert, without flora or fauna, until small bushes and trees at the end of the 4th region, including lagoons, volcanos, sal flats, geysers, hot springs, rivers, ravines and the "Altiplano", together with a widespread Spanish legacy of XVI century churches and saltpeter deposits. The "Altiplano" is a wide plateau in the middle of the Andes Mountains at an altitude of between 3,500 and 4,500 meters, on Chile's northern frontier, but it can reach 6,000 meters above in the very high and isolated volcanos forming part of this mountain range. The landscape consists of flat, grassy land and it has a steppe-like climate, with rains in summer and average temperatures between 10ºC and -5ºC. There is San Pedro de Atacama, an small town, located in an oasis, north of Big Atacama Salt flat, and high on the list of to see by international travelers.
To the west, 3.218 miles of coastline face the Pacific Ocean. Here we find the most important cities such as Arica, Iquique and Antofagasta and beautiful isolated beaches.
Another characteristic is the clearness of the sky, which is much valued by national and international astronomers who have built a number of observatories, like La Silla, El Tololo and others.
A very interesting phenomenon is the "flowering desert" that occurs every few years when the flowers grow and cover the arid grown, creating a wonderful spectacle.

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ALTUE ACTIVE TRAVEL
Coyancura 2270, oficina 801, Providencia, Santiago, CHILE
Telefóno: (56 2) 333 1390 - Fax (56 2) 234 9783
Email: info@altue.com