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A historic superbloom event is happening right now in Chile’s Atacama Desert

Credit: Getty Images/ Abrien Domundo

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
After rainfall, Chile’s Atacama Desert comes alive with over 200 types of flowers, and it’s happening right now.

Sitting on a high, rocky plateau in northern Chile, the Atacama Desert ranks as the oldest, driest nonpolar desert on Earth. It seems all the more wondrous, then, that after heavy rainfall it comes alive with the colours of more than 200 different types of flowers – yellow, purple, pink, white and red are just the beginning. And unusually high rainfall means that 2026 is proving to be even more impressive than usual. This is what you need to know about the Atacama Desert superbloom.

When does a superbloom happen?

From time to time rain comes to Atacama Desert, when that happens thousands of flowers grow along the desert from seeds that are from hundreds of years ago, amazing the
After heavy rainfall, the driest desert in the world comes alive with flowers. (Credit: Getty Images/ Abrien Domundo)

While the flowering blanket does tend to arrive in the Atacama Desert most years, mainly between June and July, there is a very specific combination of weather factors that have to align. The superbloom only activates with a precise combination of rain and cold. That means between 15 and 30 mm of rain must fall, plus it has to keep the ground wet for long enough that the dormant seeds beneath the driest soil in the world are able to be fed. It’s no small feat for nature to pull this off.

The 2026 Atacama Desert superbloom

Atacama Desert superbloom pink and white flowers
See wildflowers the colours of the rainbow. (Credit: Getty Images/ Abrien Domundo)

The 2026 superbloom is being touted as a flowering desert event for the record books. Thanks to unusually heavy rains in August. In fact, projections from the National Forestry Corporation (Conaf), the phenomenon could manifest in an area of up to 15,000 square kilometres. This year, the first sprouts began appearing in mid-to-late August near coastal areas, and the superbloom is now in full swing. It’s expected to reach its peak in the second half of October and possibly extend into November. Expect to see añañucas (red/yellow lilies), huillis (white flowers), suspiros (lilac and blue) and more.

Where can you see these flower blankets?

A rare phenomenon, flowers fields inside Atacama Desert superbloom
There are several vantage points to see these flowers. (Credit: Getty Images/ Abrien Domundo)

These flowers bloom all over Chile’s Atacama Desert, with the areas of best displays changing year-on-year. For the best chance of viewing them in 2026, it’s recommended to head to the areas of Huasco, Freirina, Vallenar, Caldera, Copiapó and Chañaral.

In particular, head 90 kilometres out of Vallenar to spend time in the Llanos de Challe National Park. Here, visitors can walk the trails to take in the desert in bloom, and even spot local wildlife, like guanacos and foxes. Or, head 30 kilometres south of Copiapó to Desierto Florido National Park for vistas of the flowering desert spreading out before dramatic mountain ranges. At the southern edge of the Atacama Desert superbloom, Caleta Chañaral de Aceituno is also putting on a show, plus areas of Totoral.

Don’t want to go it alone? There are plenty of tours you can join. The Chilean Tourism body recommends choosing one that’s registered with Sernatur (you can find the list here). And of course, if you are lucky enough to visit this natural spectacle, be sure to stay on established roads and walking trails, so as not to disturb the flowers.

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
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    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.