Plizio Visual Lab

El Tatio Geysers

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Landmark

Weather…

El Tatio is a spectacular geyser field located high in the Andes Mountains of northern Chile at an altitude of over 4,320 meters above sea level. It is the third-largest geyser field in the world and the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring more than 80 active geysers and numerous fumaroles. The best time to visit is in the early morning at sunrise, when the cold mountain air makes the steam columns from the hot springs particularly visible and dramatic. The water in the springs reaches temperatures of around 85 degrees Celsius, which is the boiling point at this high altitude. The surrounding landscape is one of rugged beauty, providing a habitat for high-altitude adapted flora and fauna, such as vicuñas and various rare bird species. Natural thermal pools are available for visitors to bathe in while observing the sunrise. This geothermal activity is driven by the proximity to Andean volcanoes and represents a fascinating and unique natural wonder.

Location: Chile
Top sights: Cerro Deslinde · Cerro Copacoya · Campo Geotérmico Géiseres del Tatio

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Jan, Feb, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	10	10	9	7	4	3	2	4	5	7	9	10
Rain mm	10	11	7	1	2	0	1	1	0	1	2	5

📋 Practical info

🚪

Visiting

Visitors can walk around the geothermal field along marked paths, but it is strictly outdoors and requires extreme caution due to boiling water and fragile crusts.

🕒

Typical hours

The site is usually accessible from early morning, with most organized tours arriving before sunrise to see the dramatic steam plumes at their absolute peak.

📷

Photography

The best photographic opportunities are right at sunrise when the freezing mountain air makes the steam billow highest; use a lens cloth to wipe away condensation.

⏱️

Time needed

Most visitors spend about two to three hours at the geyser field, which includes time to observe the thermal activity, eat breakfast, and perhaps soak in a hot spring.

➕

Combine with

Often combined with a visit to the nearby traditional village of Machuca or a trip to the Puritama Hot Springs on the way back down to San Pedro de Atacama.

🧭

Getting there

Located about 90 minutes from San Pedro de Atacama via a winding, unpaved mountain road; joining a guided tour or hiring a sturdy 4x4 vehicle is highly recommended.

💡

Insider tip

At over 4,300 meters altitude, temperatures before dawn drop well below freezing, so dress in multiple warm layers and acclimatize properly beforehand to avoid altitude sickness.