Atacama Giant

Archaeological Site Massive prehistoric geoglyph in the Atacama Desert

A massive prehistoric geoglyph on the Tarapacá plateau, the Atacama Giant draws archaeology‑minded visitors and travelers charting the Atacama Desert’s high‑plateau landscapes.

Main image
Atacama Giant
El Gigante de Atacama (near Pica), Tarapacá Region, Chile - visible from nearby roads/desert
-19.9489, -69.6331
Open 24 hours
Free (open-air geoglyph)

Tips for Visiting Atacama Giant #

  • See the Atacama Giant in the cooler light of early morning or late afternoon for the best visibility and photos; midday heat and haze reduce contrast on the hillside.
  • View the geoglyph from established roadside viewpoints or pullouts on the Pan‑American corridor and avoid walking on the figure - it's an archaeological site and should be treated as protected.

Best Time to Visit Atacama Giant #

The Atacama Giant is best visited spring through autumn for dry, clear conditions and comfortable daytime temperatures.

Spring-autumn (best for visiting)
March-November · day ~15-25°C; night ~5-15°C
The Atacama is extremely dry year‑round; these months offer warm days and cool nights, ideal for visiting geoglyphs and desert sites with mostly clear skies.
Southern summer (warmest)
December-February · day ~18-28°C; night ~5-15°C
Summer brings slightly higher daytime temperatures; visibility is generally excellent but occasional coastal fog can occur.
Winter (cooler nights)
June-August · day ~10-20°C; night ~0-10°C
Winter days are cooler and nights can be chilly, but the desert remains dry - rare rainfall events are much more likely during El Niño years.

Weather & Climate near Atacama Giant #

Climate

Atacama Giant's climate is classified as Hot Desert - Hot Desert climate with mild summers (peaking in January) and cool winters (coldest in July). Temperatures range from 7°C to 26°C. Very dry conditions with minimal rainfall with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 51 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
DecemberMarchJanuary
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
29°
Warmest Month
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions

January

January is the warmest month with highs of 26°C and lows of 13°C. Almost no rain.

91 Ideal

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
13° 26°
50%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

3 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
3.5
UV Index
Extreme
13.0h daylight

February

February is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 13°C. Almost no rain.

91 Ideal

Comfort

19°
Feels Like Mild
19°C
Temperature
13° 25°
54%
Humidity
Humid

Weather

2 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
3.3
UV Index
Extreme
12.6h daylight

March

March is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.

95 Ideal

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
12° 25°
47%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

1 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
3.1
UV Index
Extreme
12.1h daylight

April

April is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 10°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

89 Excellent

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
11° 23°
34%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.5 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.6
UV Index
Extreme
11.5h daylight

May

May is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
21°
25%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.9
UV Index
Very High
11.1h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 7°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
20°
22%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.3 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.5
UV Index
Very High
10.8h daylight

July

July is the coolest month with highs of 19°C and lows of 7°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

13°
Feels Like Cool
13°C
Temperature
19°
21%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.4 m/s
Wind
Calm
1.6
UV Index
Very High
11.0h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 7°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

14°
Feels Like Cool
14°C
Temperature
20°
20%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.6 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.1
UV Index
Extreme
11.3h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 9°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

87 Excellent

Comfort

15°
Feels Like Cool
15°C
Temperature
21°
22%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.8 m/s
Wind
Calm
2.7
UV Index
Extreme
11.9h daylight

October

October is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 10°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

89 Excellent

Comfort

16°
Feels Like Cool
16°C
Temperature
10° 22°
26%
Humidity
Dry

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
3.3
UV Index
Extreme
12.4h daylight

November

November is cool with highs of 23°C and lows of 11°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

89 Excellent

Comfort

17°
Feels Like Cool
17°C
Temperature
11° 23°
31%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
2.9 m/s
Wind
Calm
3.7
UV Index
Extreme
12.9h daylight

December

December is mild with highs of 25°C and lows of 12°C. The driest month with just 0 mm and clear sunny skies.

96 Ideal

Comfort

18°
Feels Like Mild
18°C
Temperature
12° 25°
40%
Humidity
Comfortable

Weather

0 mm
Rainfall
3.0 m/s
Wind
Light Breeze
3.7
UV Index
Extreme
13.2h daylight

Nearby Attractions to Atacama Giant