The desert town of San Pedro de Atacama is a travellers' hub

An oasis of life set in the harsh dazzle of the mineral desert where clear skies have always attracted stargazers, the small town of San Pedro de Atacama has now grown into something of a travellers' hub.

It makes an ideal base for exploration of the surrounding area and has an atmosphere of laid-back hedonism by night.

From here you can go dune-bashing in the lunar landscape of the Atacama by jeep, bike or horseback, or organize an excursion further afield to see snow-topped volcanos, flamingo-dotted lagoons, dazzling salt flats or bubbling geysers and thermal pools.

Testament to the fickle boom and bust fortunes of mining, the northern deserts are also littered with atmospheric ghost towns.