Наверх


рус  укр  eng
Chile
  
Countries
  • Albania
  • Andorra
  • Austria
  • Belgium
  • Chile
  • China
  • Croatia
  • Cyprus
  • Czech Republic
  • Denmark
  • Ecuador
  • Estonia
  • Finland
  • France
  • Georgia
  • Germany
  • Greece
  • Italy
  • Jordan
  • Latvia
  • Lithuania
  • Luxembourg
  • Malaysia
  • Malta
  • Monaco
  • Montenegro
  • Netherlands
  • North Macedonia
  • Norway
  • Peru
  • Poland
  • Portugal
  • Romania
  • San Marino
  • Singapore
  • Slovakia
  • Slovenia
  • Spain
  • Sri Lanka
  • Sweden
  • Switzerland
  • Tanzania
  • Turkey
  • UAE
  • Ukraine
  • Vatican
Search
Chile > Atacama > Salar de Tara lake

Salar de Tara lake

S 22°59.069', W 67°18.172'
2017-03-25
Our rating: 7.00
Overall rating:
Salar de Tara lake is a very unusual and quite inaccessible place in the Atacama desert. In our tourist career it was the most dangerous trip. And probably the most interesting.

Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

It is dangerous for many reasons. In case of Geysers del Tatio or Miscanti Lagoon you climb to a height of 4200 meters then walk for an hour or two on the spot and start the descent.

This trip took us 7 hours and 6 hours we were at altitudes of 4600-4900 meters! This is a lot for an unprepared tourist. If you feel bad, there is no help from anywhere. When we return back we were in poor condition and had to drink headache tablets.

This driver lost consciousness at an altitude of 4850 meters.

Accident in the Atacama Desert
Accident in the Atacama Desert ©Yuriy Buriak

We left early in the morning, before dawn. Pre-filled a full tank, took water, food and medicine.

The road to Salar de Tara lake
The road to Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

Pretty fast reached the plateau.

The road to Salar de Tara lake
The road to Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

There we decided to test the drone at altitudes above 5000 meters. As it turned out drone flies without any problems. From above we saw the fog. Where does it come from at such an altitude? There is no rain here and therefore water.

The road to Salar de Tara lake
The road to Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

Take into account one little-known fact. At high altitude your car will lose power and speed uphill will drop to 20-30 km per hour.

The road to Salar de Tara lake
The road to Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

The first part of the way is pretty easy and the road is excellent. Turn is here S 23 03.618 W 67 29.168, you can reach this place by any car. Here located the interesting stone formations Monks of Pacana (Monjes de la Pacana).

Monjes de la Pacana (Pacana Monks)
Monjes de la Pacana (Pacana Monks) ©Yuriy Buriak


Monjes de la Pacana (Pacana Monks)
Monjes de la Pacana (Pacana Monks) ©Yuriy Buriak

The road ends and the desert begins. And by the word desert, I mean an absolutely empty, lifeless place, without vegetation, roads, without any pointers. You have to drive here 30 kilometers one way and 30 kilometers back.

Monjes de la Pacana (Pacana Monks)
Monjes de la Pacana (Pacana Monks) ©Yuriy Buriak

It was really scary. GPS is useless, since there are no roads and it shows just an empty place. But you can use it to record a track to return back. We did not even have a map and rode just at random.

The road is a dirt road with pits and ravines. At least 5 times car stalled due to little power. It's not uncommon that some tourists get stuck in the sand. Since there is no phone connection you will have to wait for other tourists or a minivan with the group.

Near the orange arrow is a steep climb, the most difficult part.

The road to Salar de Tara lake
The road to Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

Then begins a long, flat area, almost to the lake. It's not clear where to go. We went just ahead. However from the satellite the road is clearly visible.

The road to Salar de Tara lake
The road to Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

But on the ground you're lost. Next pictures are from the automatic drone that flew behind us.

Road to Salar de Tara
Road to Salar de Tara ©Yuriy Buriak


Road to Salar de Tara
Road to Salar de Tara ©Yuriy Buriak


Road to Salar de Tara
Road to Salar de Tara ©Yuriy Buriak

Coordinates of the endpoint S 22 59.068 W 67 18.171. There is a small house with a ranger. You will be asked to enter your details in the visitors' log.

Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

The lake? Yes, it's beautiful. But at this moment we began to feel dizzy and it was necessary to return.

Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak


Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak


Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak


Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak


Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak


Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

Near the lake there are some marmots.

Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

On the way back at an altitude of 4800 meters we found a fox. The foxes in Atacama can be seen very often and their photos appear in the records of travelers. But in most cases people see grown-up foxes who lost their color. And we found a very nice and bright fox pup. Fed him and made photos. It turned out that at such an altitude even just holding a 2.5 kilogram camera was a real problem. After each shot my hands became numb.

Little Fox in the Atacama Desert
Little Fox in the Atacama Desert ©Yuriy Buriak


Salar de Tara lake
Salar de Tara lake ©Yuriy Buriak

Getting there: As part of an organized excursion from San Pedro de Atacama. If you go by car follow here S 22 59.068 W 67 18.171.
Tags, Chile: desert, lake

Tags, all countries: desert, lake
- Rate this place -
Location :

Impressions :

Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) :

State :

Picturesque (for the photographer) :

* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.00
Location :

Impressions :

Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) :

State :

Picturesque (for the photographer) :

* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location :

Impressions :

Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) :

State :

Picturesque (for the photographer) :

* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help

Comments (Total: 1)

2019-02-26 16:02 # 1 YaKaya
Отличный пост. Спасибо. Мы будем в Атакаме с чилийской стороны через неделю. Правда сюда не планируем. Но в три имеющихся дня постараемся впихнуть 7 мест. А потом хотим от Икике доехать до Laguna Roja. Тоже, как у вас здесь, весьма непростой маршрут. 5 часов туда и 5 обратно, последний час - полное бездорожье. Но надеюсь, справимся! А вам - удачи и спасибо!

Please follow standard rules to add comments

Name / Nickname


You can also log in with your name or with social networks

Comment

  - What you need to see (8)
  - What to see next (0)
  - Other interesting places or events (2)
View map
  - Aisen (0)
  - Antofagasta (0)
  - Araucania (0)
  - Arica and Parinacota (0)
  - Atacama (6)
  - Biobio (0)
  - Coquimbo (0)
  - Libertador General Bernardo O’Higgins (0)
  - Los Lagos (0)
  - Los Rios (0)
  - Magallanes and Antartica Chilena (1)
  - Maule (0)
  - Santiago Metropolitan Region (1)
  - Tarapaca (0)
  - Valparaiso (2)

Atacama Desert

92.54 km

Tebenquinche lake and Eyes of the Salt Pan

97.02 km

Miscanti Lagoon

97.40 km

Moon Valley in the Atacama Desert

100.91 km

Geysers del Tatio

102.71 km

beach city desert geyser island lake mountains ruins stroll
2024-10-04 19:07
Kaminne Selo (Stone Village)
2024-09-25 00:20
The most expensive real estate in the world at Cap Ferrat
2024-06-18 21:40
Greece
2024-05-09 10:38
15 best parks of Ukraine
2024-03-08 21:08
France
Mount Zugspitze - 10
Goreme National Park - 9
Observation Deck on the Chervonozorianyi Avenue - 1
Potsdam - 8
Sigulda, Krimulda and Turaida - 8
About Us
Advertising
List of countries
Travel history
© 2012 - 2024
PIZZATRAVEL.COM.UA
Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited