Mars on Earth: Wanderings in the World’s Driest Desert has just been released in hardcover. Order your copy now at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or your local bookstore.

An utterly unique travel memoir about a gay expat searching an otherworldly place for a deeper understanding of his partner and his adoptive homeland.

“Embark on an extraordinary odyssey through the heart of the world’s driest non-polar desert―the Atacama. In Mars on Earth, intrepid journalist Mark Johanson navigates this otherworldly terrain, a sliver of camel-colored hills, windswept dunes, and desolate salt flats nestled between the Pacific’s tumultuous waves and the towering Andes. Unfolding against the backdrop of Chile’s 2019-2020 protests, Mark’s journey begins in Santiago, unraveling a rich tapestry of human resilience and passion that fuels a nation’s desire for change.

As he traverses 1,200 miles of alien landscapes, Mark climbs to the Andean Altiplano’s dizzying heights, explores the Pacific’s kelp forests, and ventures onto a lithium-rich salt flat threatened by progress. The narrative reaches new heights as Mark delves into the heart of the Atacama, meeting captivating characters―a guardian of ancient mummies, a guru in a glass box, and a copper miner who defied nature’s grasp for 69 days. At its core, Mars on Earth weaves a rich tapestry of voices, highlighting the stories of Chile’s marginalized communities, including the working class, Indigenous peoples, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and immigrant communities from Venezuela and Haiti. Each narrative contributes to the social movement that could redefine the nation’s future. This vibrant and adventurous work of narrative nonfiction is a captivating exploration of a land both barren and brimming with life.”

Listen to the Mars on Earth Spotify Playlist

Select reviews of Mars on Earth

“Johanson’s vivid descriptions spur readers to go beyond ‘bucket list’ travel and experience a destination in more meaningful ways.” – National Geographic

“Johanson reveals a world that, while harsh and extreme, is teeming with stories of resilience, history, and transformation.” – Geographical Magazine

“[Johanson’s] narrative thoughtfully embraces many of the small, often forgotten towns along the way and the spaces in between. A deep dive into an utterly otherworldly place.” – Booklist

Advanced praise for Mars on Earth

“Mark Johanson’s Mars on Earth surpasses travel memoir. This is a heartfelt, evocative narrative that transports readers to revelatory, antipodean terrain where deserts hide oases of wonder.” —Bill Arnott, bestselling author of the Gone Viking travelogues

“Mark is one of those rare journalists who never misses a beat. He’s always on point and writes in an intelligent and thoughtful way that is an amazing journey for the reader. From the serene, thoughtful moments to the quirky and wild substories woven throughout, Mars on Earth will, I’m sure, be a winner.” —Shannon Stowell, CEO of the Adventure Travel Trade Association

“Wandering the earth for Lonely Planet and an assortment of other publishers didn’t seem to be enough for Mark Johanson. While most of us were locked down during the pandemic, Mark set off for Mars, or at least to Chile’s Atacama Desert, which NASA considers to be a reasonable substitute for the Red Planet. His travels, alone and with his partner, result in encounters with mining heroes, towering volcanoes, tourist towns, forgotten mummies and outlaw communities. Meanwhile, political turmoil competes with covid-19 to destabilize what had been the continent’s most progressive economy.” —Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet

“Mark’s journey through the Atacama Desert – a place where few travelers linger – sheds light on a unique part of our planet at a unique moment in time. He brings a depth of knowledge to the subject that comes from living in Chile for the better part of the past decade.” —Rolf Potts, author of four travelogues, including Vagabonding and Marco Polo Didn’t Go There