Flora and Fauna

Known worldwide as the driest desert in the world, the Atacama Desert hides many secrets including an incredible wildlife, a wide variety of flora and exuberant vegetation and a surprising amount of oasis, and lakes as well as unusual geographical features and fabulous scenery. Because of this, each year hundreds of tourists, map in hand, decide to take the adventurous journey to South America that leads them to discover these mystic surroundings.

Enjoying  programmed walks and tours around the area, travelers are amazed by the spectacle of life that the flora and fauna of the region offer in front of their eyes. Flamingos,llamas, vicuñas and vizcachas, along with many other species of flora and fauna, live in the oases and lakes of the area.

In this very special climate, the flora and fauna has adapted in very special ways to the conditions, and exuberant vegetation is discovered in the form of Chañares and Algarrobo trees. San Pedro de Atacama is an oasis village which is located on one of the many high plateaus of the Second Region of the country that are fed by the waters which originate from the rain which produces the Bolivian Winter. At the foot of La Cordillera de Los Andes, its climate is a High Desert one, with temperatures which oscillate between  22ºC (71.6°F) during the day/4ºC (39.2°F) during the night in winter, and 27ºC (80.6°F) by day/16ºC (60.8°F) by night in summer.

Starting point for discovering Atacama

These adventure travels start mainly in the town of San Pedro de Atacama In this very place, Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa offers high quality services, to enjoy largely of all the charm of the region, emphasizing the tourist attractions of the nearby town and the local volcanoes.

For the most adventurous people, Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa organizes entertaining activities for the traveler who wants to enjoy the impressive landscape through trekking, walks and hiking programs, typical of desert excursions, along with tours you can’t miss to the high plateaus and gullies like the Salar de Atacama, Valle de la Luna and other spectacular destinies.

You can’t miss either the opportunity to know the Museo del Padre Le Paige, where a sample of artifacts is presented that shows the development of the Atacameños society. The mummies, especially the native woman with clothes and hair intact, are impressive.

The Salar de Tara, located between the volcanoes of Los Flamencos National Reservation, is another of the multiples attractions of this place that you can go at 4300 meters high. With lakes, rivers and fertile lowlands spanning 48 square kilometers, the eroded relief offers a fabulous spectacle in which coexist undulant grounds and volcanoes, along with a native animal and vegetal population.

With a refreshing and healthy bath of mineralized waters in the Termas de Puritama, its natural waters of approximately 21ºC (69.8°F) will charge your energy to keep discovering the charms of this place, recognizing ñandues, foxes, and vicuñas families and enjoying the catch sight of exotic birds as Ñandu de la Puna (Puna Rhea), the Perdiz de la puna (Puna Tinamou), Caities (Avocet Andino) anda variety of cactus, typical of the desert.

Another entertaining way of knowing the area are the excursions in four wheels vehicles, that allow to know the towns and nearby hills that crown the Atacama desert, which are known for being between the most high in the world

 At the afternoon, an amazing place where to see the sunset is the silent Valle de la Luna. This enigmatic place, bring us the image of a lunar landscape with sumptuous rock formations and enormous sand dunes, something that no visitor should miss.

 In the middle of all this mysterious beauty, back in San Pedro de Atacama, the town surprises for its exclusive mixture of ethnic culture, and archeological richness.

Rest of body and soul

In the mysticism of the desert of San Pedro de Atacama, relaxing is also imposed in this frame. A wonderful way of experiencing the silence and the immensity of the desert is letting yourself be tempted by the comfort of the spa resort of Hotel Tierra Atacama. In its interior, there are pools and Jacuzzis waiting for you in an exquisite relaxing ambient.

To complete you wellness, the hotel has a spa that invites you to release stress in the Finnish sauna or Turkish bath or in modern massages rooms, the hot stones allow muscular tension to be incredibly relaxed, experiencing a state of deep equilibrium, relaxation and well-being.

Due to the humidity loss produced on our skin, because of long treks through the desert, as well as the loss of smoothness and elasticity, the spa offers hydrating treatment with creams and vitamin lotions. These therapies will return freshness and naturalness to your skin, adding reaffirming massages, which contribute to facial circulation and toxin disposal.

A dream that can now become true, in the immense desert, the chance to find oneself, at Tierra Atacama Hotel & Spa