Paddling near San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta

San Pedro de Atacama sits at nearly 2,400 metres above sea level in the Atacama Desert, within the Antofagasta region of northern Chile. The area is anchored by Los Flamencos National Reserve, which spans roughly 740 square kilometres and encompasses high-altitude lagoons and salt flats. Paddling here means flatwater on remote altiplano lagoons such as Laguna Tebenquiche, where glassy, mineral-rich water and extreme desert light create a singular on-water environment.