Salar de Pular, Salt flat on the Chile–Argentina border, Puna de Atacama

Salar de Pular is a salt flat located at high elevation in the Andes, straddling the border between Chile and Argentina. The white mineral expanse lies within the arid Puna landscape, accessible from the Chilean side near San Pedro de Atacama.

The salt flat lies on the straight border line that runs between the Socompa volcano and Cerro del Rincón, in the Puna de Atacama. Its catchment covers 723 km², of which 443 km² (61%) fall in Chile and 280 km² (39%) in Argentina. Cerro Pular, 6,225 m high, sits on the watershed dividing this basin from the Salar de Atacama.

The salt flat lies on the straight border line drawn between the Socompa volcano and Cerro del Rincón, in the Puna de Atacama. Its name is shared with Cerro Pular, the 6,225 m peak on the watershed that separates this basin from the Salar de Atacama. The basin covers 723 km², 61% in Chile and 39% in Argentina.

The location sits at extreme altitude and requires good physical fitness and proper gear for harsh conditions. Plan to bring water and food since the nearest services are several hours away and weather can change quickly.

The basin feeding this salt flat extends far beyond what you see on the surface, making it a hidden network crucial to the high mountain water cycle. Few visitors realize that the white expanse they walk on represents only part of a much larger underground water system.