Set off before dawn to witness one of the Atacama’s most extraordinary geothermal displays.

As the first light breaks across the horizon, towers of steam rise up to 12 meters from bubbling pools, illuminating a field of more than eighty active geysers. Breakfast is served amid this otherworldly landscape, where the air shimmers with heat and color.

Beyond the geothermal spectacle, the excursion offers a window into the wildlife that thrives in this extreme environment. On the journey back, keep watch for graceful vicuñas, elusive foxes, curious vizcachas and rheas roaming freely across the high-altitude plains.

Tatio Geysers Left
Tatio Geysers Right

A stop in the picturesque village of Machuca adds a cultural interlude. With its adobe homes, wooden church and local handicrafts, this tiny desert community provides a glimpse into traditional life framed by the vast Andean backdrop.