The wonders of wildlife at the Atacama Desert
Did you know that, in San Pedro de Atacama, in addition to the amazing landscapes and starry nights, you can meet some of the most unique inhabitants of the Chilean desert? We invite you to take a walk through the local fauna, along those furry and feathered friends who make this place their home. So, grab your camera, your binoculars, and your adventurous heart, and join us on this warm journey.
Flamingos: Birds that paint the sky pink
In the blue sky and the salt flats, the Andean, Chilean and James flamingos dance gracefully. The Chaxa Lagoon is their favorite setting, although you will also find them in the Salar de Pujsa and Las Vegas de Quepiaco. Its colorful plumage and elegant flight will captivate you. They are like sky artists who paint the landscape pink.
Zorro Culpeo: the clever one of the desert
This friendly canine, the culpeo fox, is one of the cleverest. He hides in thickets, steppes and low bushes, making his home wherever he pleases. His mischievous look and intelligence make him a charming desert character.
Horned Tagua: The jewel of the heights
The Horned Tagua is a hidden gem in the heights. It nests in the Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons and stands out for its protruding fleshy forehead. This species is like a highness from above who rarely shows itself, but when it does, it is a unique spectacle.
Guanaco: elegance on four legs
The Guanaco is one of the four Chilean camelids and one of the most elegant. You can see them in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. With their majestic stature and their fur that varies in tone, they are like models on a nature catwalk.
Vicuña: small and charming
The Vicuña, like the Guanaco, is one of the camelids that has not been domesticated. Although much smaller, it is just as charming. You can spot it in the Salar de Tara, where it feels at home in the puna meadows.
Llama: the domesticated friend
The Llama, cousin of the Vicuña, is a little larger and domesticated. You will find it in the Salar de Tara, with its friendly appearance and presence that will certainly make you smile.
Puma: the lurking king
Where there are Guanacos, the Puma lurks. This king of the mountains lives in the Los Flamencos National Reserve and is on the lookout for its prey. It is the silent predator of the desert, and if you are lucky (and brave), you might catch a glimpse of him.
Vizcacha: nocturnal treasure of the Salar de Tara The vizcacha is nocturnal. This stocky rodent has thick, soft fur, except on the tail, where it is hard. Its upper part is yellow or gray and the tip of its tail is black. It has long ears covered with hair, edged with a fringe of white fur. All legs have four toes. In general, the vizcacha resembles rabbits. The vizcacha’s diet is based on ichu. It measures between 60 cm and 80 cm.
You may try to see it in the Salar de Tara, where it hides in the dark.
Do you dare explore the driest desert in the world, alongside with these beauties? Wildlife awaits you in every corner of the desert!
