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 at a Glance#

Address: El Gigante de Atacama (near Pica), Tarapacá Region, Chile - visible from nearby roads/desert

Hours: Open 24 hours

Admission: 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