Searching for aliens: a guide to Area 51 in Nevada

Area 51 is a secret CIA site in the American Mojave Desert (Nevada) where, according to legend, the bodies of aliens whose spacecraft crash-landed in New Mexico were studied. A visit to the area gives you a look at America's beautiful landscapes with endless roads, vast plains and vibrant, intense colours.

Area 51's secret location has been out for years. It is 133 kilometres (83 miles) northwest of Las Vegas. The city of casinos is the perfect starting point for a trip to a test and training camp that actually the CIA never called Area 51, but rather Groom Lake, due to the dry salt lake in the vicinity.

To get to Area 51 (or as close as possible), enter the following coordinates in your GPS or navigator: N37° 38.801' - W115° 44.760'. Along the way, there are a few references to the extraterrestrial presence in the area, in the form of some of the most stimulating pop iconography.

Take Nevada State Route 375, better known as the Extraterrestial Highway, to reach Area 51.

This is Pat, owner of the Little A'Le'Inn, a motel, restaurant and souvenir shop. It can be found at 9631 Old Mill St, in the town of Rachel. The famous venue has been catering to the alien-seeking tourist trade since 1990.

Go 14 kilometres from Rachel, and you will find the closest entrance to approach Area 51. But, beyond a certain point the signs warn: do not continue. And they even warn: Use of Deadly Force Authorised. The locals advise you to follow orders and not get too close.

In reality, the important thing is not to get to Area 51 but to enjoy the breath-taking scenery of the Mojave Desert. This is also a place where atomic explosions have been tested.

The Area 51 Alien Center is another place to stop for a drink or spend an extra-terrestrial night. It can be found at 2711 US-95, Amargosa Valley, and it features genuine American pop culture flavour.

You get to Area 51 via a very long stretch of highway and, at a certain point, it seems to go nowhere. There are no gas stations nearby and no places to go for assistance. Important advice: be prepared.

As for the so-called extra-terrestrial presence, you can find it in many places along the way. The roads are filled with quirky items and spots, thanks to Area 51 already being a tourist attraction. It is debatable whether there were ever aliens in the hands of the US military. But who really knows?