Under one of the brightest and clearest skies on the planet, emerges the "jewel of the desert", also known as the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. This northern town located 98 km south of Calama, in the province of El Loa, is a testimony of religious syncretism, surrounded by wonderful landscapes, archaeological sites and an architecture and customs that reflect its Atacameño past and the different cultures that complemented it. 

 

This variety of influences that the Atacameño culture received from the Tiahuanacos, Incas and Spaniards, resulted in a large number of important architectural and cultural records. Among them we find the church of San Pedro de Atacama, built in 1774, which was classified as a National Monument in 1951. This structure of Andean construction is made of adobe and is the largest in the area; it is decorated every June 29th to celebrate the feast of the patron saint of the town, San Pedro Apostle, father of the church. To the north of San Pedro de Atacama, there are two Historical Monuments, the Old Town of Peine, in which the ruins of its chapel stand out, built by the first Spanish missions at the end of 1500, and the Pukara de Quitor, which is a defensive construction, built in the course of the year 1100, which was used for the defense against the expansion of the Aymara.

 

 

Another outstanding sector in the surroundings of San Pedro de Atacama is the Valle de la Luna area, which is one of the 7 zones of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Within it, 6 kilometers south of San Pedro, lies the oldest archaeological vestige of the Salar de Atacama, the Atacama village of Tulor. This Archaeological Monument is a construction of 22 circular buildings, dating from approximately 3,000 years ago, and it has had to be excavated to discover it, due to the fact that the sands covered it with the passing of time.  

 

Another of the wonders of the area is the Salar de Atacama, 100 kilometers long and 80 kilometers wide. It is one of the most impressive places to visit. Its existence is due to the upwelling of subterranean waters saturated with salts, which evaporate leaving a crust rich in salts and minerals. The dryness of the air gives it a perfect transparency, which allows it to be seen up to 70km, however this same clarity makes it difficult to judge distances. In spite of its salinity, it is inhabited by a diversity of migratory birds and Chilean and Andean flamingos; at the same time there is a flora that adapts to the saline environment, such as the cachiyuyo and the brea.

 

 

The Cordillera de la Sal, which reaches 2,624 meters above sea level, is what gives life to the Valle de la Luna. As its name suggests, the shapes and colors found there give it a lunar experience. Watching the sunset in the Valley, with the multiple colors reflected in the volcanoes, is an overwhelming experience.