Although South America is well known for its incredible Amazon Rainforest and Andes Mountains, it is not all that South America has. The remarkable deserts in South America are sure to impress. One should not overlook the picturesque deserts on your next South American itinerary. Deserts can be various kinds from sandy to icy and hilly to flat. Moreover, deserts cover about a seventh of the earth’s surface. No matter what type of desert it is, they are extremely dry. The barren landscapes are termed deserts if they have an average of 10 inches (25 centimeters) or less of annual rainfall. The deserts offer an amazing opportunity to explore spectacularly beautiful scenery, as well as experience many adventure activities.
Atacama Desert Chile
One of the best-known deserts in South America is the Atacama desert in Chile. It is located along the coast of Northern Chile. Atacama desert offers incredible and jaw-dropping landscapes and panoramic vistas. The tour of the desert offers you an opportunity to explore the area’s main attractions. Startling volcanoes dominate the largest salt flat in South America, the Salar de Atacama. Not only this, Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley) is another must-see place that has terrain that looks similar to the moon and truly feels out of this world. Undoubtedly the Atacama desert is the driest in South America. However, it has a variety of wildlife biodiversity. You are most likely to spot flamingos, coots, and even Humboldt penguins around small lagoons. Moreover, a tour of the Atacama desert offers an amazing chance to see colorful rock strata, the best stargazing skies, impressive geysers, and picturesque towns. You would be amazed to know that this desert is home to around a million people, as well.
Salar de Uyuni Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni is a salt desert and it may change your notion of deserts altogether. Why is it so? You have to be there to know this. It is located in Bolivia’s southwest corner. You would be mesmerized by this immense and sparkling sea of salt that is beautifully blinding. If you have altitude sickness, you have to be super careful as it is at a lofty height of 11,985 feet (3,653 meters) above sea level. Salar de Uyuni is a massive desert measuring 12,000 square kilometers. However, once upon a time, Uyuni was a prehistoric salt lake that covered most of southwest Bolivia. Later on, it dried up but remained a beautiful geographic feature of its kind. The remarkable Bolivian landscape is speckled with flamingos and colorful lagoons like the red Laguna Colorada and the jade-green Laguna Verde. The endless expanse of white salt, vibrant lakes, and gaze at the horizon is truly mesmerizing here.
Lençóis Maranhenses Brazil
The stunning Lençòis Maranhenses is not technically a desert but a National Park in Brazil that certainly deserves a mention. The average rainfall here is 47 inches a year, so technically it is too rainy to be considered a true desert. Then you might be wondering why it lies among the list of best deserts in South America. It is simply because the rolling white dunes in Lemçòis Maranhenses can certainly make you think otherwise. The blinding white dunes stretch for miles. Moreover, you will find thousands of crystal-clear lagoons forming in the valleys between the dunes. These lagoons are short-lived and only exist for a few months. If you are planning your next trip to Brazil, do consider this between July and September. As it is when the pools are at their most impressive forms and temperatures are moderate.
Salinas Grandes Argentina
Salinas Grandes is another remarkable desert in South America. It is a vast white salt desert that is located in the Jujuy and Salta provinces of Northern Argentina. Although Salta in itself is an iconic bucket list destination. However, we recommend you head out of the city a bit to explore the salt flats. This excursion is worth going for as it often includes a visit to Purmamarca, a quaint, small town with views of the Hill of Seven Colors. When in Argentina, try not to miss this one. A very great option for all those adventurous souls who due for any reason can’t make it to Peru’s Rainbow Mountain, this is a comparable alternative. The journey is truly enthralling as it zigzags through the Andes Mountains. There is a single road that will lead you to the impressive Salinas Grandes. To reach salt flats, you have to ascend to a maximum peak of 13,680 feet (4,170 meters) above sea level on this route.
Final Words
We have tried to choose some of the best worth visiting deserts in South America. Not many people are aware that the rich landscape of South America has precisely six expansive deserts and many other “pseudo-desserts” that don’t quite fit the scientific definition of deserts but still have been named a desert. When in South America try to check out at least one of the deserts to explore the landscape and biodiversity here.
