Photo: Diego Jimenez / Unsplash
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Leg 4 · The Atacama — driest desert on Earth

Chile

A 4,300 km-long country — the lunar Atacama in the north, then the wild Carretera Austral and Patagonia in the far south.

What to see

5 stops we’re not missing

  1. 01

    The Atacama Desert

    The driest desert on Earth — Valle de la Luna, El Tatio geysers, salt lagoons, and some of the planet’s clearest skies, based at San Pedro.

  2. 02

    Torres del Paine

    Patagonia’s signature granite towers, glaciers, and turquoise lakes — Chile’s greatest trekking park.

  3. 03

    The Carretera Austral

    A wild ~1,200 km gravel-and-pavement road through Patagonian fjords, rainforest, and hanging glaciers.

  4. 04

    Chiloé

    A misty island of stilt houses (palafitos), UNESCO wooden churches, and seafood.

  5. 05

    Santiago & the Central Valley

    The capital under the Andes, with the surrounding wine country.

! What to watch for

  • Long, empty desert and Patagonian stretches — fuel and water planning
  • Fierce winds in the south
  • Strict agricultural border checks (no fresh food across)

⛽ Diesel & DEF

The best fuel on the route — ULSD is widely available, and DEF is easy to find in cities and on the highways.

🛂 Borders & permits

SAG agricultural inspections (no fruit, veg, or meat across the border). Good roads and services, at a higher price.

Sources & further reading

Safety notes link to the live official travel advisory — always check it before you go.