Sometimes when you travel, it’s one specific place that stays in your mind. Other times, it’s the full picture that comes into focus when you experience multiple sides of a destination.
In Chile, one of the most compelling itineraries in South America pairs two extremes: the surreal stillness of the Atacama Desert and the raw wilderness of Patagonia. One is all about Mars-like landscapes and epic night skies. The other is all about incredible mountain views and the thrill of seeking out one of the most elusive predators in the wild.
My name is Tasha Williams, and I love to travel to see new places & have traveled extensively to Patagonia, Chile, Argentina, Galapagos, Ecuador and many other areas of this wild continent and I am eager to share my knowledge with the world. Below is one of my many adventurous journeys from the Atacama Desert to Puma Tracking in Patagonia and want to share how Quasar combines these two contrasting experiences into one unforgettable adventure.
Key Takeaways
The journey begins in the Atacama Desert - one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth - where vast salt flats, high-altitude lagoons, and endless skies set the stage for the adventure.
Puma tracking in Patagonia is one of the most rare and rewarding wildlife experiences in the world - made possible through expert guides, patience, and deep knowledge of the landscape.
Torres del Paine offers one of the highest chances to see wild pumas - thanks to strong conservation efforts and a thriving ecosystem.
Combining Atacama and Patagonia creates a deeper, more complete journey - moving from otherworldly desert to raw wilderness, blending dramatic contrasts into one seamless experience.
Day 1: The Journey Begins
Visiting Atacama in the winter was fantastic. And by winter, I mean the month of July.
While there were heat waves at home, we were stepping out into 70°F weather—much warmer than in Santiago, where we flew through on our way to Calama in the north of Chile.
After landing, it was just a 1.5-hour drive to our hotel in the Atacama Desert, where the views were already epic. Once there, we had a briefing on the next day’s activities, which we’d chosen ourselves.
The sun set around 5:30pm, so I threw on a fleece and watched as the red rocks were bathed in reds and pinks before an amazing first dinner.
I could feel the anticipation building—I was ready to get out and explore!
Morning, Day 2: Salt Flats, Flamingos, and Moon-Like Landscapes
Our first stop was the salt flats, which are hauntingly beautiful and framed by mountains. There were flamingos in the lagoon, and they looked so bizarre and out of place.
We spent some time hiking around and exploring before we actually got in the water. What’s incredible is that the lagoon is so concentrated with salt that you float right up to the surface, just like the Dead Sea.
When we got out, we were completely caked in salt. You’re supposed to shower right away so the salt doesn’t dry out your skin too much, so we drove 20 minutes back to the hotel and rinsed off properly. Then moisturized with the hotel’s lotion, too, of course.
After a delicious lunch, we went back out. This time to the Valley of the Moon.
This may be the closest I get to exploring the surface of the moon in my lifetime! It truly feels like another planet, with sand dunes, strange rock formations, and incredible colors. We hiked through the terrain and then got to see the sunset there. I felt like I was in a movie…
Then we returned to the hotel for another amazing dinner and spent some time winding down in the spa before bed.
Afternoon, Day 2: Red Rocks and the Night Sky
The next day, we went to Piedras Rojas: Red Rocks.
The contrast there was incredible, especially the day after seeing the salt flats. Deep red rocks next to a lake, with skies bluer than I’ve seen anywhere else on my travels… The air is so clear it’s on a different level.
It was a little chilly when we started hiking in the morning, but as the sun rose in the sky it got much warmer and I could take my fleece off. We spent the whole morning exploring there, and then had a late picnic lunch prepared by the hotel.
By late afternoon we were strolling around San Pedro de Atacama, which had a great vibe and reminded me of Sedona, Arizona. There were lots of little local artisan shops, good restaurants, and a really nice atmosphere. We chose to eat out for dinner—even though the hotel food is so great, it was worth it to experience the town a little bit.
That night, we did some stargazing right at the hotel. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but they had a telescope set up and an expert came to guide us through the experience and teach us about astronomy and how Indigenous people here first interpreted the night sky. They also set up a bar there for us so we could sip wine and gin and tonics as we admired the rings of Saturn and the pockmarked surface of the moon.
At one point, I told the expert that the stargazing was amazing except for that one long cloud in the sky blocking the view…but it turns out that “long cloud” was actually the Milky Way! I definitely learned a lot.
During the experience we met a really nice couple from Brazil, and afterwards went back to the hotel bar for another drink and a great conversation.
It was a night to remember.
Pro Tip: Plan your visit during a new moon (or at least far from the full moon) to make the most of the stargazing experience.
Day 4: Cactus Valley
Today we decided to do a full-day excursion to the Cactus Valley, where a river carved its way through a red canyon, lined with towering cacti on both sides.
It was completely different scenery from everything else we’d seen. As we explored, we snacked on the bag of trail mix that we got to make ourselves in the morning, full of dried fruits and nuts. The perfect fuel for our adventure.
After yet another amazing picnic lunch, we went back and biked to San Pedro for some souvenir shopping. At the hotel that night we caught the last colors of another photogenic sunset before eating one of the best meals of the trip: a barbecue with lamb, ribeye, salmon, octopus, scallops, and vegetables. I had to try a bit of everything.
Then a quick trip to the spa before going to bed. We have an early wake up call tomorrow…
Day 5: Geysers at Dawn
The alarm came early, alright, but we knew it would be worth it. We were getting up to go to the Tatio Geysers, one of the largest geothermal fields in the world.
Our guide told us the geysers are most impressive at the break of dawn, and he was right! The air is very cold, so we saw the condensation clearly. As the sun rose, the light hit the steam clouds in a way that turned it into a spectacle to behold. And because we’re here during winter, sunrise is slightly later—around 7:30 am—so the early morning was much more manageable than it would be in summer.
Since the geysers sit at over 14,000 feet, we’re so glad we had a couple of days to acclimate to the altitude before going up that high. Other than a little light-headedness, we didn’t feel anything, and our guide made sure to take things slow.
We spent the whole morning walking around, then headed to a scenic valley for a picnic lunch with our guide and driver. Then we went back to the hotel to check out and head to the airport. I couldn’t believe it was already our last day in Atacama…
That night we spent the night in a Santiago airport hotel so we could get up for our early flight to Patagonia.
Day 6: Transition From Desert to Mountains
The desert portion of our trip is officially over, so we flew down to Puerto Natales. The contrast between the scenery struck me immediately, as we went from the driest desert in the world to one of the wildest landscapes on Earth.
That night in the hotel we had a briefing with our expert guide to go over what we could expect of the next days. I couldn’t believe I might be seeing my first puma tomorrow!
Watch the Untamed Patagonia Puma
Puma sightings are incredibly rare unless you know where and how to find them. With our professional guides and tracking experts, your chances of seeing them in their natural habitat are notably better than as a solo traveler. A once-in-a-lifetime tour like the Patagonian Untamed Puma Safari gives you the chance to see Patagonia Pumas safely and in their natural habitat without disturbing the environment of these elusive cats.
Day 7: First Tracking Experience
The day started early, and we dressed in neutral colored clothes and skipped cologne so as not to alert the pumas to our presence. Fully caffeinated, we left the hotel before sunrise and drove through the expansive landscape, keeping our eyes peeled for pumas crossing the road.
By the time we reached the estancia (private ranch where pumas typically congregate) near Torres del Paine National Park, our tracker had already been there for at least an hour, gathering intel. They radioed us that they’d found one, and we parked so the pumas couldn’t hear the car engine and get spooked.
We were walking very deliberately and quietly, and my adrenaline was pumping! Then, suddenly we saw it: a graceful yet strong predator feasting on a guanaco. This is one of the benefits of visiting during the winter—guanaco gather in certain areas during this time of year, and pumas are sure to follow. Plus, with fewer tourists in the park, these typically elusive predators are more likely to be out and about.
For a while we observed, totally captivated. Our guide told us the pumas would bury the carcass to protect it from scavengers, then go rest before returning to finish the meal after dark. That was our cue to go rest, too, so we went back to the hotel for lunch and a nap before setting out again.
Day 8: Deeper Into Patagonia
The next day, we chose to join the tracker to gain further insight into their work and how they go about finding pumas. It was an even earlier morning than yesterday, but so fascinating!
And we were rewarded for our efforts with something incredible: two female pumas fighting. The sound of their roar…I won’t forget it. It echoed throughout the entire landscape.
We made sure to keep our distance to not disturb these powerful creatures. With these precautions and the presence of experts, we felt completely safe and taken care of the entire time.
After morning tracking, we returned to the hotel for lunch, rested a bit, and headed out again in the afternoon. Pumas are most active at dawn and dusk, which is why winter is ideal—sunrise is around 8:30–9:00am and sunset around 5:30pm, so we didn’t have to stay up super long to catch our puma spotting windows.
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Day 9: Gaining New Perspective in Torres del Paine
One of the great things about the puma tracking tour was it wasn’t all about the pumas. We got lucky enough to see plenty of pumas while we were there, and on our last day we decided to do something else instead. The guide arranged an amazing day for us, which we spent inside Torres del Paine National Park, seeking out photography opportunities, watching condors, hiking, and soaking up this incredible scenery.
By the time we retired to the hotel for a last dinner, we felt like we’d truly experienced Torres del Paine. And had the amazing photos to prove it!
Day 10: Reflecting on an Adventure to Remember
On our ride to the airport to start our journey home, I reflected on all we’d experienced in the last ten days. It’s hard to put it in words, but what I’m taking with me are some of the most meaningful travel memories I’ve ever had, and a deeper appreciation for Chile’s stunning diversity. I know in my bones I’ll be back.
Ready for your own Chilean adventure?
From the Atacama Desert to Patagonia luxury tours, we can help you design a journey that brings it all together. If you’d like to create your own adventure to remember, get in touch today!
Hello! My name is Tasha. I love to travel to see new places and meet new people. I am passionate about creating unique travel experiences for adventurous travelers with a desire to see some of the most remote corners of South America. I have traveled extensively to Patagonia, Chile, Argentina, Galapagos, Ecuador and many other areas of this wild continent and I am eager to share my knowledge with the world.
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