Chile > Atacama > Geysers del Tatio
Geysers del Tatio
S 22°19.814', W 68°0.67'
2017-03-26
Our rating: 7.20
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Geysers del Tatio is one of the wonders of Chile. Located at an altitude of 4300 meters and are the third largest geyser field in the world. However, geysers in Kamchatka (Russia) can not be visited by mass tourist, due to the complete lack of infrastructure. So the Tatio geysers are the second place in the world, after Yellowstone (USA), where the large geyser field is easy accessible.
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
The vast majority of tourists visit them with organized tours from San Pedro de Atacama (~$50-60). Buses leave early to catch the dawn, as the geysers are the strongest at this time. There are many tourists here, we saw about 20 long minibuses. We came by car. The road in 100 km and travel time is about 2 hours.
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Please note that you have to drive in absolute darkness along a dirt road. In some places there are quite large pits. In one of the places we had to move over the stream, and all that in absolute darkness. The road reconstruction project exists and now it's may be already paved. It is very important to take warm clothes, as it will be very cold. The temperature can drop to -20 in winter and up to -5 in summer. It was fun to see the tourists in shorts. Gloves and a hat are required. After the sunrise the temperature will be more comfortable. And of course don't forget about the height. You have to be about 4 hours at an altitude of more than 4000 meters. Geysers are not very high here, although some shoot water for several meters, and sometimes for 10-15 meters. At this altitude water needs only 85 degrees to boil. Hot water comes out under pressure, collides with cold air and turns into steam. And under the ground it heats up because of contact with magma.
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Nevertheless, this place is very unusual and beautiful. Here you can take a lot of cool photos, everything will depend only on your luck. At first, before dawn, everyone goes to the far parking lot S 22 19.814 W 68 00.670 .
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
And when the sun has already risen and this place is tightened with steam, then people move to another parking lot S 22 20.512 W 68 00.705 . There is even a thermal pool where you can swim.
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
On the way back, you will certainly meet wild vicuñas. We have already seen enough of them in other places, so we were happy to find a viscacha. It's something like a rabbit with big tail, very cute. They live on green slopes here S 22 35.178 W 68 02.978 . Drive slowly and look to the left.
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Here S 22 32.096 W 68 02.376 on the Putana River you can also see wild birds.
Geysers del Tatio ©Yuriy Buriak
Getting there: As a part of an organized tour from San Pedro de Atacama. Coordinates of the parking lot S 22 19.814 W 68 00.670 .
Tags, Chile: geyser Tags, all countries: geyser
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.20
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - 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 : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help