Highlights of Along the Andes

Below are some of the major travel highlights for Along the Andes. For more in-depth attractions of each country on this route, click on the country names below or select a route to see the highlights on this section of the journey. Click on the icons below to focus on specific types of features (click again to return to all).

In-depth highlights: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru


Natural	History	Wildlife	Trekking	Cities	Religious Monument	Boat Journey	Rail Journey	Diving	Cultural	Adrenaline	UNESCO WHS

Trekking opportunities of La Paz - Santiago

San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama The oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is a base for exploring the dramatic natural features of the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile. San Pedro itself is a charming little town of white-washed buildings, dusty streets, some great restaurants and bars and countless travel companies offering tours of the surrounding region. The Valley of the Moon is a bizarre, lunar-like landscape with strange rock formations. Even amongst the crowds, watching the sunset here is a magical experience. Elsewhere the Salar de Atacama is the world's largest salt lake, its rich mineral deposits attracting many flamingos and other birds. The Geysers of El Tatio, located at 4,500 metres and surrounded by volcanoes, are best visited in the morning to see the water and steam hurling up from the geysers, thermal wells and fumaroles, with the morning light producing a magical effect. Other options in the area include scaling up and sand boarding down the sand dunes of Death Valley, visiting the Puritama hot springs and hiking some of the nearby volcanoes.

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama

The oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is a base for exploring the dramatic natural features of the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile. San Pedro itself is a charming little town of white-washed buildings, dusty streets, some great restaurants and bars and countless travel companies offering tours of the surrounding region. The Valley of the Moon is a bizarre, lunar-like landscape with strange rock formations. Even amongst the crowds, watching the sunset here is a magical experience. Elsewhere the Salar de Atacama is the world's largest salt lake, its rich mineral deposits attracting many flamingos and other birds. The Geysers of El Tatio, located at 4,500 metres and surrounded by volcanoes, are best visited in the morning to see the water and steam hurling up from the geysers, thermal wells and fumaroles, with the morning light producing a magical effect. Other options in the area include scaling up and sand boarding down the sand dunes of Death Valley, visiting the Puritama hot springs and hiking some of the nearby volcanoes.

Mendoza
Mendoza is one of Argentina's most popular cities for travellers, who are attracted to its laid back atmosphere, wide leafy avenues and lively cafe and bar-laden plazas. The Mendoza region produces 70% of the wine made in Argentina and it's a great place to tour some of the major wineries and do wine tasting, particularly of the Malbec grape unique to Argentina. The spectacular mountainous landscapes around Mendoza are also ideal for trekking and horse riding.

Mendoza

Mendoza is one of Argentina's most popular cities for travellers, who are attracted to its laid back atmosphere, wide leafy avenues and lively cafe and bar-laden plazas. The Mendoza region produces 70% of the wine made in Argentina and it's a great place to tour some of the major wineries and do wine tasting, particularly of the Malbec grape unique to Argentina. The spectacular mountainous landscapes around Mendoza are also ideal for trekking and horse riding.