A Wild Mining Road to Tatio Volcano in the Atacama Desert
Chile, south-america
17.5 km
5,184 m
moderate
Year-round
Ever dreamt of touching the sky? Head to the Atacama Desert in Chile and check out Volcán Tatio! This dormant volcano hides a secret: a mining road that snakes its way up to a staggering 5,184 meters (17,007 feet)!
Nestled near the Bolivian border, west of Tocorpuri Volcano, you can't miss Volcán Tatio, especially with Cerro La Torta (a cool lava dome) hanging out on its eastern side. The volcano gets its name from the nearby El Tatio geothermal field, a Kunza name meaning "the grandfather who cries" — a nod to the geyser steam plumes.
This isn't your average Sunday drive. Sulfur mining back in the day carved out a rugged, unpaved road through geysers and fumaroles that ends near the summit's north side. A 4x4 is a must — this sandy track has some super tight hairpin turns. Jump on the B-245 scenic road, and get ready for 17.5 km (10.87 miles) of pure adventure, climbing 802 meters. The views are totally worth it.
Where is it?
A Wild Mining Road to Tatio Volcano in the Atacama Desert is located in Chile (south-america). Coordinates: -36.9985, -72.5092
Road Details
- Country
- Chile
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 17.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 5,184 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- -36.9985, -72.5092
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