This Chilean region considered to be the driest in the world can be discovered from the air.
Oases and bubbling geysers are part of this exceptional place in South America. The Atacama Desert is considered to be the driest in the world due to the low presence of precipitation (less than 5 centimeters per year on average). This is due to two natural dams: the Cordillera de la Côte, which blocks clouds from the Pacific, and the Andes, which prevents those coming from the Amazon basin from passing.
To discover this region of northern Chile from a different angle, it is possible to board a hot air balloon to have a 360-degree view of these lunar landscapes, both volcanic and rocky, at a time when the sun rises and is reflected on the various dunes or on the Pampa del Tamarugal, a nature reserve or the lemon trees of Pica, as well as the pink flamingos.
Since August, the Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa 5 *, voted 2nd best hotel in Chile in 2015 according to TripAdvisor, has expanded its offer of excursions with Balloons over Atacama, specializing for seventeen years in flights in a hot air balloon.
Champagne and field of flowers
Two options are available: the Classic Overview, with sixteen people on board who, as “tradition” requires, will have a glass of champagne after the flight; and the Premium Overview, made up of eight people and who, in addition to the fine bubble drink, will have the privilege of having as a souvenir a photograph of them in flight.
Last October, after heavy rains, consequences of the El Niño climatic phenomenon – which sweeps the Pacific coast every two to seven years – the bulbs and rhizomes (horizontal underground stems) were able to germinate. As a result, the Atacama Desert has turned … into a field of yellow, white, red, purple and pink flowers.
The Alto Atacama Desert Lodge & Spa 5 * – Stay in “all inclusive” formula 4 days / 3 nights including the classic flight: 1950 € (full board, drinks, excursions, certain spa treatments and airport transfer). Supplement of 66 € per person for the Premium flight.
