12 Stunning Places Where Golden Desert Sands Meet The Sea

2. Atacama Desert Coast, Chile: Cliffs Over the Pacific

Stretching along Chile's northern coast, the Atacama—the world's driest non-polar desert—ends abruptly at dramatic cliffs towering over the deep blue Pacific Ocean. In areas like Pan de Azúcar National Park, the stark, rocky desert landscape, dotted with cacti, plunges hundreds of feet to meet waves fueled by the nutrient-rich Humboldt Current. This proximity supports surprising biodiversity, including penguin colonies and sea lions lounging on rocks just meters from hyper-arid terrain. The contrast between the lifeless desert above and the vibrant marine life below is truly breathtaking.