- Address: 38 km from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile;
- Height: 2500 m above sea level;
- Sightseeing: local workshops, salt lake of Chaks, canyon of Jerez.
To get acquainted and learn a lot of useful information about the history of Chile you can, if you visit the village of Tokonao. This is an ancient settlement in which the indigenous peoples of South America lived many centuries ago. This magnificence is very close to the city of San Pedro de Atacama , just 36 km away.
A little interesting about the village
Curious tourists learn that "Tokonao" literally translates as a stone. The incredible beauty of the village is surrounded on all sides by a desert, and is located at an altitude of 2500 m. Despite its close proximity to one of the driest places in the world, fruit trees grow on the streets of the village. On the slopes of the canyon, which protects Tokonao from the sands of Atacama , blossom of figs, pear, apricot, quince gardens.
The attention of tourists is attracted by buildings made in a unique way. All buildings are built in the style of eclectic modernism, the material was volcanic stone, slabs and bricks.
The best time to come for an excursion to the village of Tokonao is June, July, August or the first half of autumn. Visiting the place, you can stop to enjoy the beauty of Lake Chaks. On its shores, flocks of flamingos and other birds live. Arriving in the village and wandering a lot along the streets, tourists go on another excursion - in the canyon of Jerez, which are even more beautiful.
Many people purchase an excursion tour, which includes visiting the Atacama Desert and visiting its sights. The cost of entering the village is included in the tour payment. As a rule, tourists stop for a few days in a comfortable hotel. The only thing you need to get used to is high temperature extremes. If the daytime temperature rises to + 30 ° C, at night it can go off drastically into the minus.
It's nice to walk through winding streets, but even more fun tourists get when visiting the old souvenir shops. The main souvenirs that tourists buy for all relatives and friends are knitwear. They are made from alpaca wool in local workshops, which are most often visited by travelers. Another no less popular souvenir is ethnic hand-made ornaments.
The local population is very much visited by the village of Tokonao, mainly due to the fact that in the middle of a lifeless desert it was possible to create an oasis with fruit trees. In the garden, guides take tourists for at least an hour, showing all the trees and vegetables that grow here.
How do I get to Tokonao?
The village of Tokonao is located at a distance of 36 km from the city of San Pedro de Atacama , you can reach by car. In the case of buying a tour to the destination will take a sightseeing bus.