Deserto do Atacama, Chile: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Deserto do Atacama occupies northern Chile, between the Andes Range and the Pacific, and is one of the driest regions on Earth.

From San Pedro depart tours to the Valle de la Luna, the Valle de la Muerte and the lagoons of the Salar de Atacama, such as Laguna Chaxa and Laguna Cejar. Higher up, above 4,000 meters, are Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques and the El Tatio geyser field, visited very early in the morning when steam appears in the cold. Near the village there are sites of the atacameño peoples, like Pukará de Quitor and the Aldea de Tulor, as well as the Termas de Puritama, in a canyon to the northeast.

Calama, on the banks of the Río Loa, is the air gateway. The city lives off copper: to the north lies the Chuquicamata mine, which offers guided visits with prior registration. In the center are the Catedral San Juan Bautista and, to the south, Parque El Loa; to the east, the hamlet of Chiu Chiu preserves a 17th‑century adobe church.

Altitude requires caution: ascend slowly, drink water throughout the day and leave the higher excursions for after the first days. The sun is strong and the air dry, and nights cool down a lot even in summer. At night, agencies in San Pedro take groups to observe the sky away from the village lights, always depending on weather conditions.

This destination brings together 2 cities: San Pedro de Atacama, Calama.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Deserto do Atacama is

Contornos: Natural Earth (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Deserto do Atacama

✈ Aeropuerto El Loa (CJC), in Calama · 100 km to San Pedro de Atacama

The most common route is to fly to Calama, to El Loa airport, and then travel about 100 km by road to San Pedro de Atacama by transfer or bus. Check before booking. There are also buses from Antofagasta and other northern cities.

Suggested arrival point: San Pedro de Atacama

Antofagasta · Deserto do Atacama Suggested arrival point

San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is an oasis of adobe houses at about 2,400 meters altitude, the base for desert tours. In the center are the Iglesia de San Pedro de Atacama and the Museo R.P. Gustavo Le Paige; around them are Pukará de Quitor, Aldea de Tulor, Valle de la Luna and Valle de la Muerte. Farther away are Laguna Cejar, Laguna Chaxa, the Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques, the Géiseres del Tatio and the Termas de Puritama.

Antofagasta · Deserto do Atacama

Calama

Calama is the mining city of the Atacama, at about 2,260 meters of altitude, on the banks of the Río Loa, and the air gateway to the region via El Loa airport. To the north lies Chuquicamata, a copper mine with guided visits and an old workers’ camp. In the center is the Catedral San Juan Bautista, with a copper dome; to the south, Parque El Loa. To the east, the village of Chiu Chiu preserves the Iglesia de San Francisco from the 17th century.

The local experience

Things to do in Deserto do Atacama

Calama · Antofagasta · Mine and industrial heritage

Chuquicamata

An open-pit copper mine north of Calama, with a pit more than 4 km long. Codelco offers guided visits to the old camp and to a viewpoint.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Nature reserve

Valle de la Luna

A valley of salt, clay and sand in the Cordillera de la Sal, about 13 km from San Pedro, with dunes, ridges and caves shaped by the wind. It is part of the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos.

Calama · Antofagasta · Park and museum

Parque El Loa

Park on the banks of the Río Loa, in southern Calama, with lawns, trees, a replica of the church of Chiu Chiu and an archaeological and ethnographic museum.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Natural landscape

Valle de la Muerte

Valley of reddish ridges and a large dune in the Cordillera de la Sal, a few kilometers from San Pedro. Popular for hikes, cyclists and sandboard runs.

See 11 more places in Deserto do Atacama

Calama · Antofagasta · Church

Catedral San Juan Bautista

Cathedral in downtown Calama, facing Plaza 23 de Marzo, with a dome and copper cladding—the metal that underpins the city's economy.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · High-altitude lagoons

Lagunas Altiplánicas Miscanti y Miñiques

Two lagoons above 4,100 meters, at the foot of Cerro Miscanti and the Miñiques volcano, with vicuñas and Andean birds nearby. They are in the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos.

Calama · Antofagasta · Historic church

Iglesia de San Francisco de Chiu Chiu

A 17th-century adobe church in the village of Chiu Chiu, about 35 km from Calama, regarded as the oldest in Chile. It has been a National Monument since 1951.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Lagoon and birdwatching

Laguna Chaxa

A shallow lagoon in the middle of the Salar de Atacama, in the Soncor sector of the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos, where three species of flamingo usually feed.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Geothermal field

Géiseres del Tatio

Field of about 80 active geysers at over 4,200 metres, northwest of San Pedro, visited at dawn when the steam rises in the cold.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Salt lagoon

Laguna Cejar

A very salty lagoon in the Salar de Atacama, about 20 km from San Pedro. Bathing is done in the neighboring Laguna Piedra, where the body floats effortlessly.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Archaeological site

Pukará de Quitor

12th-century stone fortress on a hillside above the Rio San Pedro, 3 km from the village. It is a National Monument and has a trail to a lookout.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Archaeological site

Aldea de Tulor

Village of circular adobe houses, occupied for more than two thousand years and found under the sand southwest of San Pedro. It has walkways and reconstructed houses.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Historic church

Iglesia de San Pedro de Atacama

Adobe church on the Plaza de Armas, with 18th-century walls and a cactus-wood roof tied with leather. It has been a Historic Monument since 1951.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Archaeological museum

Museo R.P. Gustavo Le Paige

Archaeological collection assembled by Father Gustavo Le Paige, displayed in a visitable repository of the Universidad Católica del Norte, one block from the Plaza de Armas.

San Pedro de Atacama · Antofagasta · Natural hot springs

Termas de Puritama

Eight thermal pools along a stream at the bottom of a canyon about 30 km from San Pedro, linked by wooden walkways.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

You can go year‑round. March to May and September to November usually have mild days and cold nights. From June to August early mornings fall below zero and it can snow at the high lagoons. In January and February the so‑called altiplanic winter brings rains in the mountains that can sometimes close excursion roads.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

For San Pedro and the main excursions, allow four to five days: one to acclimatize with lower‑altitude outings, and the others for the Valle de la Luna, El Tatio, the high plateau lagoons and the Salar de Atacama. Calama needs half a day or a full day, preferably on arrival or departure, since it lies on the way to the airport.

Which city to stay in

Almost everyone stays in San Pedro de Atacama. The town center, near the Plaza de Armas and rua Caracoles, concentrates agencies, restaurants and guesthouses, and everything is within walking distance. The ayllus around the village, like Solor, Coyo and Quitor, offer more remote and quieter lodgings, good for those with a car. In Calama, the center around Plaza 23 de Marzo is practical for arrivals late or early departures from the airport.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Deserto do Atacama

How many days to stay in the Atacama?

Four or five days in San Pedro allow you to do the main excursions without rushing. Ideally start with the lower‑altitude sites, like the Valle de la Luna and the archaeological sites, and only afterwards go up to El Tatio and Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques, above 4,000 meters. With an extra day you can include Calama, the Chuquicamata mine and Chiu Chiu.

What is the best time to visit the Atacama?

March to May and September to November tend to combine sunny days, little wind and open roads. In winter, from June to August, days remain sunny but early mornings at the geysers and lagoons can be many degrees below zero. January and February are peak holiday season and the altiplano rainy period, which can cancel some excursions.

Do you need a car in the Atacama?

It is not mandatory. San Pedro is walkable, and local agencies run almost all the excursions, some departing at dawn. Renting a car in Calama gives you freedom for the Valle de la Luna, the Salar de Atacama and the lagoons, but requires attention to dirt roads, altitude and fuel, which is available only at a few points. For El Tatio and Puritama, a high‑clearance vehicle or 4x4 is recommended.

Can you do a day trip from Santiago to the Atacama?

No. San Pedro de Atacama is over 1,500 km from Santiago, and the trip requires a flight to Calama plus about an hour and a half by road. Even with the flight, a single day isn’t enough: tours depart at different times and altitude requires at least one night to adapt. A reasonable minimum is three nights in San Pedro.

Deserto do Atacama

A region to enjoyat your own pace.