The blooming desert: Extreme beauty in the Atacama. North of Chile. Tours in San Pedro de Atacama

In territories of the Atacama Desert, every couple of years you can witness a fascinating phenomenon, also known as the "Desert in Bloom".

Numerous plant species survive prolonged periods, remaining in a state of dormancy. Occasionally and every certain variable number of years, which can be 3, 5, or 10 years, there is more rainfall than usual, transforming an arid and desolate landscape of sands and stones into a green natural carpet. New leaves are born from dry bushes, seeds, bulbs, and rhizomes, which were stored underground for years, waiting for their share of moisture needed to come back to life. Associated with this rich plant presence, a wide range of fauna surfaces: mammals, birds, reptiles, and insects among others.

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This vast phenomenon that transforms the desert completely is called "Desert in bloom". The flowering begins at the end of July and August, depending on the rainfall and temperatures, and can continue until November, which is also varying according to each zone. This phenomenon can be seen with greater predominance, from the south of the Cuesta Pajonales to the southern limit of the Antofagasta Region, occurring with greater force in the area of the Atacama Region both in the interior interfluvial zones and coastal influence.

Flowering and budding are not even throughout the area, with some species being more dominant in coastal areas and others predominantly inland. The species do not all flower simultaneously, beginning the birth of bulb species such as the yellow and red Añañucas (rhodophiala phycelloides) and the white-flowered Huilli (leucocoryne spp.).

In general, the areas are delimited by determined species, that is to say, they do not coexist all together in the same place and at the same time, some of them are associated by area.

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Later, seed species such as Pata de Guanaco (calandrinia longiscapa) with fuchsia flowers bloom and cover large sectors of the desert and foothills of hills: purple and blue "suspiros", (nolana paradoxa ssp atriplicifolia) or Don Diego de la Noche (oenothera coquimbensis) which grow in sandy soils. In the dormant stages, these plants are covered by sand and thereby protected from the extreme desert tempertures.

Sectors of the desert are covered for a long period with Malvillas (cristaria cyanea phil) of white and bluish colors which coexist with Coronillas del Fraile (encelia oblongifolia DC.), Cartuchos Amarillos (argylia radiata), Senecio (calliandra chilensis benth.), the beautiful yellow Lilies (alstroemeria kingii phil.) and Orejas de Zorro (aristolochia pearcei phil.).

In the fauna associated with the Desert Florido, we find some lizards, birds, the precious Vaquita del Desierto (gyriosomus luczoti), wasps, and Coleoptera such as Meloides.

Cactaceae species such as Copiapoa, lion's claw, Añañucas, and others, should be preserved not only for their great beauty, and the endemic character of some but in order to avoid their extinction due to indiscriminate logging and destruction that is carried out in some sectors.

If you would like to experience the blooming desert, it is suggested to always consult because this is a dynamic phenomenon in space and time, the conditions and state of each place to visit.