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Tatio Geysers
photo by Christine Nguyen
The Tatio Geysers are at the height of their activity between 5 a.m and 7:30 a.m. To make sure that visitors are present for the geological phenomenon, most tours leave San Pedro at 3:30 a.m. view panorama

The Tatio Geysers are one of the most popular geological attractions in the Atacama region. At over 14,000 feet (4,300 meters) above sea level, the Tatio geysers are the highest geothermal phenomena of their kind in the world.

Thousands of visitors each year visit the Tatio caldera to observe its numerous geysers and fumaroles. The ideal time to view the geysers is during the early morning hours, when the air is very cold.

Tatio has several small geysers, fumaroles, and a series of hot springs, but none is as big nor erupts as frequently as Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful. Visitors can soak in one of the hot pools, and the entire caldera is unrestricted, allowing visitors to walk wherever they like, although this freedom has led to serious accidents in the past.

Geysers are relatively rare and temporary geological features that require a specific set of geological conditions to exist: (1) an intense source of heat, (2) an abundant supply of water, (3) a water-tight, high-pressure chamber to contain the water until an eruption. The water is heated in subterranean chambers to temperatures around 284 degrees Fahrenheit (140 degrees Celsius) by liquid hot magma. The heated water and water vapor then emerges to the surface through fissures and cracks in the rock. After being expelled, colder water flows back into the chamber and the process begins again.

photo by Mónica Vicuña M.
The geysers are located within a crater of the volcano El Tatio. view slideshow
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