The Flowering Desert is one of the most beautiful natural spectacles you can observe.
Seeing this in the dryest desert in the world only happens when there’s a lot of rain (for a desert) during the autumn and winter.
This year 2017 was a rainy year in Chile and is promising to be one of the best years to enjoy this unique manifestation of nature.
Chile is, in my opinion, one of the most beautiful countries in the world.
What attracts travelers from all over the world (and hopefully more Chileans) is an impressive nature and stunning landscapes.
With unique views going from the green valleys of southern Chile and Patagonia, to the driest desert in the world in Atacama. It is in this place where a unique and magical phenomenon happens.
The Flowering Desert in Atacama
The Atacama Desert goes from the Atacama region to northern Chile and it’s the driest desert in the world. This is one of the few regions of Chile that has an official flag and has a border with Peru and Bolivia.
Atacama desert covers 105000km² and is rich in mineral resources such as iron, gold, and silver. With 39% of lithium reserves in South America and 28% of world reserves of copper, of which Chile is the largest producer in the world.
With 39% of lithium reserves in South America and 28% of world reserves of copper, of which Chile is the largest producer in the world.
The Atacama Desert is worldwide known for four things
It is the driest in the world, the astronomy, the Rally Dakar and the Flowering Desert. It was here that the tragedy of the 33 miners occurred in 2010.
Many astronomical observatories work in Elqui Valley and Atacama region, because of its aridity and atmosphere causes the clearest skies in the world. This is positioning Chile as a worldwide leader in Astrotourism.
In Atacama resides the largest international project of radio telescopes in the world: A.L.M.A.
Only when weather allows it, the driest desert in the world comes alive and flourishing
Between the cities of Vallenar and Copiapo, which correspond to an area of marginal desert, there’s usually 65mm rainfall per year, but when these amounts increase the magic happens.
Millions of seeds that remain dormant for long periods germinate and give rise to one of the most beautiful spectacles that nature produces.
There are only three deserts in the world in which a similar phenomenon occurs and are in Chile, Australia and the United States.
This phenomenon is rare and only happens when environmental conditions allow the seeds stored for years underground to germinate.
It may take up to 10 years without a flowering desert, but in recent years due to weather changes, and mainly due to “El Niño” and “La Niña”, has been possible to see the flowering desert almost every year.
The last time the flowering desert was presented with great intensity was in 2012, where were two blooms throughout the year.
In 2015 there were two flowering periods until October, something never seen before with such an unusual intensity and duration.
The flowering desert usually appears between June and August, but due to a big amount of rain and temperatures, this year the phenomenon began in May and is expected to continue even until November.
Following the wise indications my friend Roberto Antezana gave me, I went straight from Santiago to Vallenar to see the flowering desert for the first time.
This area of northern Chile is one of the most diverse areas in the country and is among the 25 most biodiverse places in the world and genetic heritage of Chile.
There are more than 1893 native species of plants of which 605 species (32%) are endemic to the area and 1100 species are endemic to Chile.
But with the flowering desert phenomenon not only increases the vegetal biomass but so do reptiles, rodents, spiders and migratory birds that come to feast on the many insects that appear together with the flowers.
Quite impressive is the large number of butterflies that you’ll see from north of Santiago to beyond Vallenar.
Thousands of butterflies fly over the valleys covered with millions of flowers (many were in the front of the car and believe me that I suffered from each one that hit the car I was driving).
Different species bloom in specific areas, giving rise to huge areas of color.
I’ve thought flowers were located in small areas, but, such as north of Vallenar, kilometers with pink flowers called ‘Pata de Guanaco’ (longiscapa Calandrinia) accompanying the Panamerican Highway.
Towards the coast from the city of Vallenar you’ll find Llanos de Challe National Park, with unique landscapes and a special and characteristic native flora.
If you are lucky you will see live the splendid ‘Garra de Leon’, an endemic endangered species by their small numbers and limited distribution.
For those who have been in the area at other times of year, this spectacle will be shocking.
The metamorphosis from arid hills with little vegetation to the endless carpet of flowers is stunning and moving.
What you should keep in mind while visiting the Flowering Desert
– Watch your steps and avoid environment damage
In the Flowering Desert there is a large loss of species. Caused by different factors such as animals, plants and seeds trading and above all, the more than 20,000 thousand tourists who come to visit the area.
Be careful where you walk and watch your steps and where you park your car. Vegetation is very fragile and labile and it’s affected by your presence through the area.
– Thermal Cycling
Temperatures in the area can vary considerably during the course of the day. Being a desert area temperatures can range from -20 to 40 ° C. The humidity is low so I recommend drinking plenty of water and also moisturize your skin constantly.
– Solar radiation
Solar radiation is very high so wear goggles and sunscreen throughout Chile, but especially in this area.
– If you go by car
In this area distances are very long, so check in advance how many kilometers you’ll be able to drive each day, where you can stock up on food and drinks and where to sleep. It is very important to consider the location of gas stations as you can spend several kilometers to find the next one.
(Updated July 2017)
I recommend this place, it is very interesting and amazing…
This is soo beautiful! I should totally go to Chile <3
It looks STUNNING! I didn’t know such a place existed in Chile! Fabulous. It reminds me a bit Hokkaido (Japan) in summer 🙂
Wow, wonderful. Really want to go to Atacama and return to Chile as soon as possible. Kisses from Brazil!!!
It’s really amazing Fabio, one-of-a-kind experience! I LOVED Brazil and also really want to go back…maybe soon! 😉 We might cross paths one day somewhere in the world!
Really wonderful Nomadica, I was enjoyed by seeing the beautiful flowers. Thanks for the pics.
Lucky lucky you. This made us want to grab one of those flash flight sale offers to South America! Hope to connect with you whenever we visit Chile.
Hey! I hope we can meet up when you visit here, hurry up and enjoy summer here 😉
Fab post! How fortunate you are to have witnessed that sight. Hope to do it myself someday.
Hi Madhu! Thank you and I agree…I was very lucky to experience this! Wish you can visit someday soon too! 😉
Hi Gloria . . . I found your site through NPR. Wonderful! I lived/worked 6 years at Casa Ursulina in Chillan . . . saw some of the south but missed the desert. Someday, maybe! I LOVE Chile and miss it. Blessings on you. Ruth
Hi Ruth! Thank you very much for liking my work! Really appreciate the love. I still need to travel more in Chillan area, and as you did, I’m discovering north in the last years only. Always thought south had most beautiful places as I love green and lakes, but north has sme terrific views!!! Hope you can travel in Chile again soon! Best wishes!
Terrific photos, and more important, now its a matter of record because you took the time to record the event. Thanks again
Many thanks Ray! It was a wonderfuld experience and trully wish more people could see this!
I am impressed with your mission to travel alone to see the world. Now, there needs to be away to change the double occupancy rules so that we do not pay twice as much as others with companions.
Beautiful, a sight all would love to see.
Hi Patricia!
Many thanks for your kind words. I completely agree with you about the double occupancy, but in somehow makes total sense.
We are just beginning our rainy season in coastal NW Oregon, it is very interesting to read about this high, very dry desert. I very much appreciate your beautiful photographs and descriptive words of this unusual natural phenomena. I have seen similar displays in Death Valley California, one of the driest, hottest locations in North America.
I understand that ALMA in the Atacama.
The Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) is an astronomical interferometer of radio telescopes in the Atacama desert of northern Chile.
Thank you for your wonderful article with beautiful pictures and descriptive words.
Beautiful photography! 😀
Many thanks Keith!
CHUTAS! TE PASASTE, CABRITA!
RECIBE UN CARIGNOSO SALUDO DE AGRADECIMIENTO DE
UN CHILENO QUE VIVE AQUI EN LOS ESTADOS JUNTOS DESDE EL AGNO 1962.cUALES SON TUS PLANES PARA EL FUTURO CERCANO?
CON TE, SIMPATIA Y UN ABRAZO FUERTE DE
JOSE J. SOTO.
Hola Jose! Muchísimas gracias por tus lindas palabras, espero tu vida esté siendo muy feliz en Estados Unidos. Mis planes están recorriendo Chile hasta el fin de este año y luego emprenderé viaje por un largo tiempo. Cariños!
I wanna marry a gal like Gloria! I love deserts, particularly cacti and climbing rocks.
Wonderful writing and photos, thank you for sharing this beauty. Maybe someday will have the opportunity to see this awesome land!
Many thanks for your kind words! I wish everybody could see this amazing spectacle, to me was the very first time and was a beautiful experience! 🙂