El Tatio

Really cool experience! Such a large field of geothermal activity and the change to wander around and see so much up close. Bring a jacket! And layers! If you think you have enough then add more, it is very very cold before sunrise. Cool to see the change in everything as the sun comes up and sheds a new light on the steam vents. We left San Pedro around 430 in our own car and arrived just after 6. Also saw flamingos on the way back.

Sept.25: we didn't want to get up @4AM & do a packed touristic tour. After breakfast we went on our way to the El Tatio Geysers @again height of 4.320 m (distance 78KMs) & arrived @noon. El Tatio is a high-altitude geothermal field in the Andes of northern Chile, known for its spectacular morning geyser eruptions, which are best seen at sunrise. El Tatio lies at the western foot of a series of stratovolcanoes which runs along the border between Chile & Bolivia. This series of volcanoes is part of the Central Volcanic Zone (one of several volcanic belts in the Andes), & of the Altiplano–Puna volcanic complex (APVC) – a system of large calderas & associated ignimbrites which were the sources of supereruptions between 10 million & 1 million years ago. Some of these calderas may be the source of heat for the El Tatio geothermal system. There are no recorded eruptions of the Tatio volcanoes in the historical period. Of course again spectacular views. @the beginning the road was ok, but became worsened & the last 15-20KMs only washboard road! Great views along the road, including several vicuñas roaming around. The ticket lady said that entrance payment would be CPL15.000 each, but mentioned upfront that the fumaroles were only small @this hour. We decided not to pay & went back after we had eaten our lunch.

This excursion starts very early in morning as the geysers are best visible in the early morning. It’s very cold so wear as much as possible. We had -5C with strong winds. We liked it also because it surrounded by vulcano’s and beautiful views on the way back. The geysers themselves are ok. If you have seen Yellowstone national park you will NOT be impressed here.

Surely one of Nature's Wonders of the World. There are hundreds of Geysers at El Tatio of all sizes and they blast out plumes of water vapour all morning... the earlier in the morning the better as the vapour dissappears after lunch. These Geysers are at 4,300m altitude so make sure you have acclimatised a bit before you visit them. Another tip would be to go with a tour company that provides breakfast nearby the Geysers as it is not often you can have breakfast at 4,300m with such a stunning view.

I was quite underwhelmed. The geysers are really just a bit of steam. It’s advertised they go as high as 35m but the ‘killer’ geyser, the biggest one, was perhaps only a metre high at its highest. The road to the geysers is really, really bad for about 45 minutes - the worst we drove in several weeks in Chile. It’s exhausting to drive it and then have to also drive the same route back. We heard from some friends on a tour that the bus there was also extremely uncomfortable. The swimming pool is closed and looks like it has been for a while. There is zero information / signs on the geysers, how they form, what the different geysers are etc. If you go self guided it’s ultimately a walk around a path, trying to hear any info from tours walking past. Given all the above plus the cost (15k CLP per person) I would suggest you spend your time and money at other places in Atacama which are much better value

El Tatio Geysers – absolutely worth it, but plan your visit well El Tatio Geysers in Chile are truly beautiful and impressive, but getting there can be a challenge. The road starts off okay, but later becomes very rough – so I recommend either driving a 4x4 or, even better, joining an organized tour. It’s not ideal for regular passenger cars due to the bumpy terrain. We visited in the afternoon, even though most guides recommend going early in the morning. The reason is that in the early hours, when the temperature is below freezing, the steam from the geysers is much more visible – and the visual effect is stunning. Still, we really enjoyed our afternoon visit too. The geysers were active, we could clearly see the steam and water shooting into the air, and the views of the surrounding mountains were beautiful. There were also many llamas nearby, which made the experience even more special – great for photos! Just note that the entrance fee is around 15,000 Chilean pesos per adult and about 5,000 for children. In short: despite the difficult road and our late arrival, it was a unique and memorable experience. I highly recommend visiting El Tatio – just try to go in the morning if you can!

Amazing natural wonder at 4500 m altitude. The trip is worth it!

Absolutely incredible to see. Well worth the crazy early departure from one’s accommodation to get here! There are some placards with English translations on site. Incredible lunar-like landscape with plenty to of spouts. Be prepared for it to be COLD-just above or below freezing-even in the summer, so dress appropriately.