Salar Grande, Salt flat and beach in Atacama Region, Chile.

Salar Grande is a vast expanse of white salt crust located on a high plateau in the Atacama Region. The flat stretches across the barren landscape and dominates the view in all directions.

The salt flat formed through geological processes spanning millions of years, shaped by volcanic activity and tectonic movements in the Andes. These natural forces created the conditions for the accumulation of salt deposits we see today.

Luis Risopatrón recorded the Salar Grande in his 1924 Diccionario Jeográfico de Chile, noting bad water at its shores, no grass or firewood, and good water with abundant pajonales in a nearby gully, with firewood sought some 3 km away. The flat lies between the Salar de Infieles and the Argentine border ridge.

The high elevation requires physical preparation and time to acclimatize to the thin air. Bring plenty of water, strong sun protection, and layers of warm clothing since temperatures can change dramatically between day and night.

The caldera's name also belongs to a separate salt flat near Taltal, east of the coastal city and close to the Argentine border, at 3,950 m. Luis Risopatrón described it in his 1924 Diccionario Jeográfico de Chile as having bad water at its shores, no grass or firewood, and good water with abundant bunch grass in a nearby gully.