🗺️ Chile and Mexico: a giant hand, a relict forest and the island of the dolls

The Atacama Desert looks like the surface of another planet. It is the driest place on Earth, which is why the landscapes here are unlike anything else.

60 km south of Antofagasta, right by the Pan-American Highway, a giant hand rises 11 meters out of the sand (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia). Further south, near the city of Ovalle, a fog forest from the ice age has survived. And in Mexico, among the canals of Xochimilco, an island hung with old dolls awaits you.

The three places lie in two countries, so the route is easy to split into two trips. Below you will find practical details for each: how to get there, when to go, and how much time to allow.

Overview: three unusual places

💡 In short:

The hand in the desert stands right by the highway, and there is no fee to see it.
The Fray Jorge forest survives thanks to ocean fog, not rain.
The Island of the Dolls lies in the canals of Xochimilco, and you can only get there by boat.

Place	Country	What it is	How to get there
Hand in the desert	Chile	Hand sculpture by the highway	From Antofagasta by car
Fray Jorge forest	Chile	Relict rainforest	From La Serena or Ovalle by car
Island of the Dolls	Mexico	Island with hundreds of dolls	By boat from Xochimilco

Below, each place separately: what makes it interesting and what to see there.

1. The Atacama Desert and the hand in the sand

The Atacama stretches along the entire north of Chile. It is the driest place on the planet, where rain may not fall for years and the sky stays clear almost every night.

Giant hand sticking out of the sand in a desert

The desert's main art object stands not in the middle of nowhere, but right by the road. The sculpture Mano del Desierto was created by Chilean artist Mario Irarrázabal and was unveiled on March 28, 1992, at an elevation of 1,100 meters above sea level. The base of the hand is made of iron and concrete, and its height reaches 11 meters.

The artist intended the hand as an image of human vulnerability before the desert. It is best viewed early in the morning or at sunset, when the shadows are long and the heat subsides.

How to get there: from Antofagasta, head east, then south on the Pan-American Highway.
How much time: half an hour is enough to see it, but you will stay longer because of photos.
The catch: the sculpture regularly suffers from graffiti and is periodically cleaned.

2. The relict Fray Jorge forest

Near the city of Ovalle, at the very edge of the ocean, a patch of rainforest has survived. It stands in a semi-desert zone and looks like a green oasis among dry hills.

Paine massif above a lake at dawn, Chile

The secret of the forest's survival is simple. The moist ocean fog called camanchaca settles on the slopes and feeds the trees (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia). The park was created back in 1941, and in 1977 UNESCO included it in its network of biosphere reserves.

The park covers about 100 km², but the forest itself occupies only 4% of the territory. Olivillo trees and copihue, Chile's national flower, grow here. Among the animals you may encounter guanacos, degus, and foxes.

How to get there: from La Serena, head south on the Pan-American Highway, then west toward the ocean.
What to see: the relict forest, the ocean panorama, and the night sky with starlight certification.
The catch: the last stretch to the forest runs along a steep dirt road, not suitable for every car.

3. The island of the dolls in Xochimilco

The Island of the Dolls hides not in the wilderness but in the canals of Xochimilco in the south of Mexico City. It is a chinampa, an artificial island, of which there are hundreds in these waters.

Creepy dolls on a tree on the Island of the Dolls

The story began in the mid-20th century. Don Julián Santana Barrera collected old dolls and hung them on trees (as of 09/2026, Wikipedia). According to legend, a girl drowned in the canal, and he hung the first doll in her memory.

After Barrera's death in 2001, his family opened the island to tourists. Today there are hundreds of dolls, three huts, and a small museum. In 2022, the island made it into the Guinness World Records as the largest collection of haunted dolls.

How to get there: by trajinera boat from the pier in Xochimilco; you cannot walk there.
Who it's for: for those looking for unusual and dark places; with children, decide for yourself.
The catch: the legend of the drowned girl has still not been confirmed by any document.

How to get there and when to go

Chile and Mexico lie on different continents. In Chile, the desert and the relict forest await you; in Mexico, the Island of the Dolls.

The hand in the sand is easy to see from Antofagasta, on the way inland. The highway sign is posted in advance, and you definitely won't miss it.

The Fray Jorge forest is closer to La Serena and Ovalle. Allow half a day for the drive.

In Mexico, the Island of the Dolls is part of a canal boat trip. Combine the island with other stops on the canals.

In the desert, bring water and sun protection. In Xochimilco, water and a hat will also come in handy.

⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is the hand in the desert?

The Mano del Desierto sculpture stands 60 km south of Antofagasta, on the Pan-American Highway between the 1309 and 1310 km markers. An exit and a short dirt road lead from the highway to it. You can get there by car or as part of a day trip from the city; the drive takes less than an hour.

Can you visit the Island of the Dolls without a tour?

Yes, you don't need a separate tour. The island lies in the canals of Xochimilco, and trajinera boats take you there from the piers; most rowers agree to bring you to the site. The trip often includes the Ecological Zone and the axolotl museum, so take a boat for several hours.

When is the best time to go to the Atacama?

The Atacama lies in the tropical belt, but the air here is dry because of the cold ocean current. During the day the desert is hot, and at night the temperature drops sharply. You can go at any time of year, because rain almost never falls here. The hand is best viewed early in the morning or at sunset, when the heat subsides and the shadows are long.

How do you get to the Fray Jorge forest?

The park lies south of La Serena, near Ovalle. Paved road leads to it from the Pan-American Highway, and the last section to the forest runs along a steep dirt road (as of 09/2026, Spanish Wikipedia). It is difficult to get there without a car, so rent a vehicle or take a tour from La Serena.

Is it true that there are ghosts on the Island of the Dolls?

Talk of ghosts and whispering dolls appeared only after the island was opened to tourists. The story is often retold for atmosphere. If you enjoy dark tourism, you will like it here.

In short: what to book

The three places in this selection are nothing alike. The hand in the desert is seen from Antofagasta, the Fray Jorge forest is combined with La Serena, and the Island of the Dolls is part of a canal boat trip in Mexico City.

If you are going to Chile for the desert, allow one night for Antofagasta. If you want to see the fog forest, stay in La Serena. For the Island of the Dolls, one day in Mexico City is enough.

Both places in Chile are easier to reach by car, and a boat from Xochimilco will take you to the Island of the Dolls.

A hand in the desert and the island of the dolls: three unusual places in Chile and Mexico