Region of Atacama, Chile: Andes and Salt Flats

Salar de Maricunga: p. 1 | p. 2

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The Maricunga Salt Flat landscape satisfies all those who like to have clean straight lines in the landscape. The dimensions of the mountains and hills blur in the vastness of the landscape. Due to the clear, thin air, you can easily consider 20 and more kilometers to be quite close.

In this area, heavy rainfall can also occur in the summer (January, February) due to the "Invierno altiplanico".

The main route continues via the Lama Pass to Laguna Verde and finally to the San Francisco Pass.

You can also take the path towards Santa Rosa and continue to the Negro Francisco lagoon (or back to Copiapó)
The Salar de Maricunga is the salt flats located further south from all the salt flats of the Andes of Chile. The salt flat is connected to Laguna Santa Rosa. As the amount of precipitation reaches high values in these latitudes and the evaporation of water by the sun is not so strong, the formation of salt flats in these latitudes is very restricted.
The main roads near the salt flats are in good condition; be careful to approach with the vehicle to the salt flats. There are pits of "chusca" (fine dust), and some sectors show soft soils.

Information:
Data: Customs station, Salar de Maricunga
Provincia Copiapó
Comuna Copiapó
UTM: E495.690 / N70.31.595
Height: 3785 m
Distance to Copiapó via La Coipa: 170 km
Distance to Copiapó via Pedernales: 346 km
Distance to Diego de Almagro: 179 km