1 of 10
Adobe Church, San Pedro de Atacama
The adobe, colonial-era Church of San Pedro dates to the early days of Catholicism in San Pedro de Atacama, but the village’s history stretches back much further. Thousands of years ago it was an oasis town in northern Chile’s dry highlands—and home to the Atacama culture, which flourished there. Today, the village hosts archaeologists and tourists seeking “otherworldly” local scenery such as salt flats, geysers, rock formations, and dark skies for stargazing.
PHOTOGRAPH BY RICHARD T. NOWITZ

Pictures of Chile

See photos of Chile, including Easter Island, Torres del Paine, Santiago, and more, in this travel photo gallery from National Geographic.

Published January 3, 2010