Paddling near Calama, Antofagasta

Calama sits in the Atacama Desert of Antofagasta Region, one of the driest places on Earth. Paddling near the city centers on Embalse Conchi, a reservoir on the Río Loa system in the Andean altiplano, and the quebradas and rivers of the surrounding high desert. Water is scarce and conditions are stark, making this a niche destination for paddlers drawn to remote, high-altitude flatwater rather than classic river runs.