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Hot Spurts: Geysers del Tatio, Chile

Where It's At

The Geysers del Tatio are situated around 50 miles from the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama in Northern Chile. Situated 13,000 ft in a high altitude plain, these are said to make Del Tatio the highest geyser field in the world. With its remote setting and spectacular scenery the geysers are certainly one of the most impressive to visit.

What's a Geyser?

Geysers are found in volcanic, or recently volcanic, areas around the world and scientists believe they indicate the presence of magma beneath the earth’s surface.

They are a type of hot spring that erupt in a burst of hot water or steam and are formed when rain water soaks into the ground and runs deep into the cracks of the earth. The water then comes into contact with heated rocks which cause it to boil and push upwards with great force in either steam or liquid form. These spectacular eruptions can last from anything between a few minutes to a few hours.

Visiting del Tatio

The best time to visit the Geysers del Tatio is between 04.30am and 07.00am when its streams can reach up to 30ft high. This means an early start in San Pedro where tour operators all require a 04.30am start for the two and a half hour drive. The tour is highly recommended as it is cheap and it's a difficult to find location if you travel privately.

Unlike many other geyser fields in the world the area is unrestricted, offering a real close-up view of this rare activity. There are even thermal water pools where visitors can take a warm bath if they are brave enough to strip down in the cold early morning weather.

By Jonny Willes