North &
Atacama Desert

Passing through lush vineyards, cool little beach towns, enjoying starry southern skies at one of the many observatories and not to mention exploring the volcano-dominated altiplano scenery of the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth there͛s something for everyone in the north of Chile. On the high Andean plateau, you͛ll find small villages at up to 4,000 meters above sea level where timeless traditions linger in extreme and wonderfully photogenic settings. If you͛re a fan of water sports or simply enjoy soaking up the sun, don͛t miss the northern coastal region, with its exquisite sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and superb seafood.

Condor Tips

North Road trip Chile Atacama Desert
  • Scuba junkies will love Pichidangui & Los Molles. Buceo Pichidangui offers PADI courses for all levels. Those already certified can take part in 3 dives in 1 day $55.000 CLP.
  • Book a guided tour at Mamalluca Observatory near Vicuña. Bilingual guided tours available. Times vary dependent on the season.
  • Destileria Pisco Mistral in the Elqui Valley offer excellent tours in Spanish & English. $6.000 CLP. Also has a good restaurant.
  • Boat trips to Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt leave from Punta de Choros. Park your camper, grab some local food & book on one of the many boats leaving to the islands. $11.000 CLP.
  • San Pedro De Atacama lies 2,300m above sea level with lakes at 4,100m & El Tatio Geysers at 4,300m. Altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of age or general health.
  • Traveling around 16th July? Check out Fiesta de La Tirana. An annual festival held in La Tirana located in the Tarapaća region of northern Chile. The festival is in honour of Virgin Del Carmen & draws 250,000 visitors per year. The party begins on the 11th & runs up until the 16h July. 15th & 16th are the busiest days.

 

Condor Tips

North Road trip Chile Atacama Desert
  • Check out free walking tours in Santiago & Valparaíso. A great way to discover the cities & learn real history from a local. Tips only.
  • Scuba junkies will love Pichidangui & Los Molles. Buceo Pichidangui offers PADI courses for all levels. Those already certified can take part in 3 dives in 1 day $55.000 CLP.
  • Book a guided tour at Mamalluca Observatory near Vicuña. Bilingual guided tours available. Times vary dependent on the season.
  • Destileria Pisco Mistral in the Elqui Valley offer excellent tours in Spanish & English. $6.000 CLP. Also has a good restaurant.
  • Boat trips to Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt leave from Punta de Choros. Park your camper, grab some local food & book on one of the many boats leaving to the islands. $11.000 CLP.
  • San Pedro De Atacama lies 2,300m above sea level with lakes at 4,100m & El Tatio Geysers at 4,300m. Altitude sickness can affect anyone regardless of age or general health.
  • Traveling around 16th July? Check out Fiesta de La Tirana. An annual festival held in La Tirana located in the Tarapaća region of northern Chile. The festival is in honour of Virgin Del Carmen & draws 250,000 visitors per year. The party begins on the 11th & runs up until the 16h July. 15th & 16th are the busiest days.

North Road Trip

Begin with a few nights in the happening capital, Santiago. Stroll around the historic centre, soak up some heritage in the fantastic museums, break for a lively seafood lunch in the Mercado Central and spend the afternoon gazing over Santiago from the summit of Cerro San Cristobal. If you’ve got any energy left, the bohemian neighbourhood of Bellavista will be open for dining, drinking and dancing until the early hours.

Starting early, pickup your Condor Camper at our centrally located Condor Campers HQ and get ready for your North road trip. Before driving off, stock up on cheaper essentials in the city and head west where you’ll soon reach the Casablanca Valley. This is Chile’s fastest growing wine region where you can learn all about the process and sample the best white wines of Chile at one of the many vineyards.

On to funky Valparaíso to walk its famously steep cerros (hills) and ride antique elevators like Cerro Concepción, the city’s oldest. This UNESCO World heritage site is a great place to get lost in the steep maze of bright mural lined alleyways, feast on the catch of the day, and take a boat ride around the harbour at sunset before eventually collapsing in one of the antiquated bars that stay open until the small hours.

Make your way north along the beautiful road that hugs the coastline, searching for your tailor made beach town. MaitencilloCachagua and Zapallarare some of our favourites or, for those who like scuba diving or snorkelling, you’ll enjoy going under in Pichidangui. All places have fantastic beaches and are a great place to sit down with a tasty empanada in one hand and a glass of Chiles finest in the other. Sit back and just enjoy the spectacular sunsets of the Chilean west coast.

Next, you’ll soon arrive at Parque Nacional Fray-Jorge. A UNESCO listed cloud forest that grows in the middle of a coastal desert area more than 1,250 km from its usual preferred habitat – a true testimony of what the Atacama Desert was like over 30,000 years ago. With your Condor Camper at the ready there are little roads that will take you to observation points where you can spot different species of animals, more than 440 species of trees and native plants and breathe in the fresh air from the millennial natural site.

Continue on route 5 north, admiring Norte Chico’s coastline and you’ll arrive at La Serena, Chile’s second-oldest city and thriving regional capital. La Serena, with its beautiful architecture and long golden shoreline make it a perfect base for exploring the nearby sights and restocking all your camping essentials.

A short journey east from La Serena takes you in to the lush green Elqui Valley, one of Chile’s most important valleys and the heart of Chilean Pisco production. After sampling the national alcohol ‘Pisco’ in the village of Pisco Elqui, be sure not to miss some of the world’s best stargazing at one of the many observatories. Our favourite is the Observatorio Cerro Mamalluca. Book on a guided tour for a truly unforgettable evening beneath the most magical, clearest skies on the planet.

Rejoining the coast, head to Reserva Nacional Pingüino de Humboldt. Wildlife enthusiasts will jump for joy boarding one of the excellent boat excursions to the nearby islands. This national park is home to cormorants, pelicans, Peruvian boobys, marine otters, playful bottle-nosed dolphins, sea lions, huge whales and of course, the cheeky Humboldt penguins!

Continue up the coast stopping at the little beach town of Bahía Inglesa. Quiet white sands and turquoise waters have made this cute seaside resort one of the North’s most popular vacation spots.

The next area of interest north is Parque Nacional Pan de Azúcar, a unique and beautiful national park where an abundance of white sandy beaches, stony headlands and sheltered coves line the desert coast. Here, in this 437-sq-km park, are superb coastal campsites, numerous hiking trails, many species of cacti as well as foxes, birds and vicuñas. The shore is also home to many species of migratory seabirds including our firm favourite, the Humboldt Penguin.

Saving almost the best till last, next stop is San Pedro de Atacama, the driest place on earth! Ancient cultures and travellers from all over the world intermingle in this age-old town with dirt roads and adobe homes. Take at least three to four days to explore the whole region. El Tatio Geysers, Valle de la Luna, Altiplano lakes, Salar de Atacama, Piedras Rojas, these are just some of the sights here. There are also countless activities on offer for everyone. Trekking, biking, sand boarding , just dreaming …..This marvellous, fascinating corner of the globe is a place to admire and not be rushed.

San Pedro de Atacama is the perfect drop off location for various onward destinations in South America. Here are a few options:

Through Argentina back to Santiago – Take route 27 from San Pedro to the border crossing at Paso de Jama, an Andean mountain pass nestling at 4,200 metres. Once in Argentina, visit Salinas Grandes and Purmamarca. Continue to Jujuy to stock up on supplies before hiking in the nearby Parque Nacional Calilegua. Further south is Salta, the heart of the area. A great base for picking up information about the neighbouring regions and also home to Argentina’s best empanada! Quebrada de Cafayate, Parque Nacional Talampaya and Parque Nacional El Leoncito are just some of the wonderful sights to be enjoyed as you slowly make your way back south to Mendoza, Argentina’s best and most famous wine region. A breath taking journey through Parque Provincial Aconcagua with stunning vistas of the highest mountain outside of the Himalayas, bring a sad but memorable end to one unforgettable, fantastic road trip. Drop off in Santiago at Condor Campers HQ.

To Bolivia – Those wishing to continue to Bolivia can drop off their Condor Camper at our remote location depot in San Pedro De Atacama and join an excursion to Uyuni in Bolivia via the Salar de Uyuni, another incredible place to visit in South America.

To Peru – Those heading towards Peru can continue with their Condor Camper north passing through UNESCO listed Humberstone and Santa Laura. This, former mine is now an interesting modern day ghost town thriving with history. The Chinchorro mummies are the oldest known artificially preserved bodies in the world and these can be found in the Azapa Valley at the Museo Arqueologico San Miguel de Azapa. Less than 20km away is the city of Arica and another Condor Camper remote location. Drop off your campervan and continue your adventure however, don’t rush from Arica too soon. Surfers, sunbathers and swimmers can all find their niche along Arica’s plentiful beaches with superb camping options.

Direct to Santiago: Retrace your steps back to the Panamericana 5 and follow the road south back to Santiago calling in at places you didn’t have chance to visit travelling north.
 

 

 

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