Go Backpacking

menu icon
search icon
×

Salar de Tara: Landscapes of the Atacama Desert

Modified: · Published: by |

Located a few hours east of San Pedro de Atacama, northern Chile's Los Flamencos National Reserve encompasses 740 square kilometers near the Bolivian border. From San Pedro, it's easy to do a full-day tour to visit the Salar de Tara (salt flats) located within the reserve.

A small salt flat
Taking a coffee break at a small salt flat on the drive to Salar de Tara.

I paid $88 for my tour, which included a picnic lunch of rice and chicken. During the bumpy drive out to the salt flats, you make several stops to take photos and explore the fantastic geology of the region.

These stops also help you acclimate, as the region's altitudes can reach up to 4,860 meters (16,000 feet) above sea level.

Despite the harsh environment, small tufts of grass manage to grow in the Atacama Desert. Closer to the road, you can still see some snow.
Despite the harsh environment, small tufts of grass grow in the Atacama Desert. Closer to the road, you can still see some snow.
Rock spire
Rock spire. Can anyone guess how it was formed?
To get a sense of scale, I'm standing on the rock formation, while another person looks up at it.
I'm standing on the rock formation to give a sense of scale while another person looks at it.
Looking down at our tour van from atop a rocky outcropping.
We are looking down at our tour van from atop a rocky outcropping.
Snow-capped mountains, jagged rock formations, and a whole lot of desert.
Snow-capped mountains, jagged rock formations, and a whole lot of desert.
Our first view of Salar de Tara (the Tara salt flats).
Our first view of Salar de Tara (the Tara salt flats).
Llamas grazing by the water in Salar de Tara, Chile
Llamas grazing by the water
The water offers a perfect reflection of the nearby mountains
The water offers a perfect reflection of the nearby mountains
A lone flamingo feeds at the water's edge
A lone flamingo feeds at the water's edge
The view of Salar de Tara from where we ate our picnic lunch.
The view of Salar de Tara from where we ate our picnic lunch.
Taking a moment to appreciate the raw beauty of the Atacama Desert.
I am taking a moment to appreciate the raw beauty of the Atacama Desert.
It's amazing llamas, flamingos, or any animal can live in a desert environment 4,000 meters above sea level.
It's incredible llamas, flamingos, or any animal can live in a desert environment 4,000 meters above sea level.
How does one pose in the desert? Here, I try to convey the vast expanse of space in Salar de Tara using only my arms.
How does one pose in the desert? Here, I try to convey the vast expanse of space using only my arms.
A herd of vicuñas graze on the little grass there is to be found in the desert.
A herd of vicuñas graze on the little grass there is to be found in the desert.
Posing by the entrance sign to Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos on our way back from Salar de Tara to San Pedro de Atacama.
We were posing by the entrance sign to Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos on our way back to San Pedro de Atacama.

Related Stories

About Dave Lee

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio. He's been to 68 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.