Atacama Desert and The Rainforest

In the atrium of Block L, a lush, vibrant rainforest is taking shape across an impressive 1,300 square feet, a miniature version almost as breathtaking as the real thing. Around 30,000 handcrafted trees form the green heart of this tropical world. The first tree prototypes were developed in Pilar, near Buenos Aires, by the Martinez family using a variety of techniques, shapes, and materials. Of course, these prototypes had to be carefully tested: which models are stable? How do the structure and color read at scale? And above all, how realistic will the rainforest look in the end? All of these considerations flowed into the construction process, executed with meticulous attention to detail and a deep fascination for tropical flora.

The rainforest section not only captures the visual splendor of dense greenery, meandering waterways, and exotic wildlife, but also merges the technical challenges of model building with the goal of creating a realistic, immersive landscape. Across the entire space, nature and imagination blend into a miniature world where every glance reveals something new. Together with the adjoining Andes, Amazon, Machu Picchu, and Iguazú Falls, this section brings a captivating slice of South America to life—right in the heart of Miniatur Wunderland.

This section also features other striking scenes: Angel Falls, the tallest waterfall in the world, is recreated with delicate materials. Hidden among towering trees are the mystical ruins of El Dorado, entwined with vines and legend. A small indigenous settlement along the Amazon shows life in stilt houses during flooding, while a riverboat docks at the shore.

Amid rugged rock formations and colorful lagoons, a fascinating slice of the Andes rises within Miniatur Wunderland: powerful, mysterious, and full of contrasts. Here, the extremes of the world’s longest mountain range come together: from snow-capped peaks to barren high deserts. A particular highlight is Laguna Colorado, its intense red color created by mineral-rich sediments and algae. Three species of flamingos wade through the shallow waters, lending the model section an almost surreal vibrancy.

The mysterious Nazca Lines also find their place here: enormous geoglyphs visible from the air, still shrouded in mystery today. Carefully etched lines and geometric figures hint at the spiritual dimension of pre-Columbian cultures. Equally impressive are the ancient “Chullpas” burial towers, made of clay, stone, and straw, reflecting the deep ancestral connections of the Andean peoples. The result is an Andean panorama that not only showcases spectacular landscapes but also conveys profound cultural and spiritual depth—all in miniature form.

The Atacama Desert is a place of extremes—and a fascinating model-building project. As the driest spot on Earth outside the polar regions, it stretches along the South American Pacific coast, from the sea up into the Andes at elevations between 13,000 and 20,000 feet. Within a roughly 40-foot-long installation at Miniatur Wunderland, a landscape emerges that is unrivaled in its stark beauty and geological diversity. Colorful rock layers tell the story of ancient Earth, volcanoes rise like moonscapes into the sky, salt flats sparkle between barren plains, and geysers erupt with bubbling force. Amid this harsh expanse, flamingos, llamas, and alpacas roam, while on clear nights a spectacular starry sky appears, staged using the high-resolution telescopes of the famous observatory.

The model builders face particular challenges: railway construction in the Atacama follows historical reality, with narrower tracks built to conserve materials. In the model, the railway winds through tight curves, steep climbs, and deep gorges, past rusting rail infrastructure, across rocky fields, and toward old mining towns like the ghost town of Humberstone, relics of a time when nitrate was extracted here. Valparaíso, the colorful artists’ city on the hillside with its distinctive funiculars and corrugated iron houses, provides an engaging contrast to the desert. Every house tells its own story: painted, crooked, and full of character. Spectacular miniature scenes are also created, like a lava cave with LED-lit glass spheres set in motion by air pressure.

Beyond Valparaíso and Humberstone, further highlights include the Salar de Atacama, a brilliant white salt flat dotted with pink flamingos, and the world-renowned Paranal Observatory with its VLT telescope. Small mining towns such as Chuquicamata, one of the largest copper mines in the world, appear as abandoned settlements. This new section becomes a stage for grand discoveries on a miniature scale.