Before you go

Your trip to San Pedro de Atacama.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

San Pedro de Atacama – Antofagasta Destination Deserto do Atacama

How to get there

Aeropuerto El Loa (CJC) Calama · 100 km
Terminal de Buses de San Pedro de Atacama 1 km

Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.

The nearest airport is El Loa, in Calama, about 100 km away. Shared transfers leave the airport direct to accommodations; there are also buses from Calama, Antofagasta and other northern cities to the town terminal. The trip from Calama takes about an hour and a half via Ruta 23.

How many days

Four days allow you to see Valle de la Luna, El Tatio, the high-altitude lagoons and the salt-flat lagoons, with one easier day for altitude acclimatization. With five or six days you can add the Termas de Puritama, Valle de la Muerte and a relaxed night of stargazing.

When to go

The sky is often clear for much of the year. April, May, September and October tend to have pleasant days and cold early mornings. Between June and August nights fall several degrees below zero. In January and February rains on the altiplano can close the roads to El Tatio and the lagoons.

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

Do you need a car?

Within the town everything is done on foot, and rental bikes take you to Valle de la Luna, Tulor and Pukará de Quitor. For higher-altitude tours, agencies handle transport. Those who rent a car should choose a high-clearance vehicle, refuel in San Pedro and avoid driving at dawn on dirt roads without knowing the way.

Suggested itinerary

An order that works

Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.

One day in San Pedro de Atacama

Morning
Church, square and Museo Le Paige
Start at the Plaza de Armas and the adobe church with a cactus roof. Continue to the depot of the Museo R.P. Gustavo Le Paige, one block away, to learn about the archaeology of the Atacameños that predates the archaeological sites.
Afternoon
Pukará de Quitor and Aldea de Tulor
Cycle or drive to Pukará de Quitor, to the north, and climb slowly to the viewpoint.
Late afternoon
Sunset in Valle de la Luna
Enter Valle de la Luna with your entrance bought beforehand, walk the Duna Mayor and the Tres Marías and wait for nightfall at a viewpoint, when the mountain range changes color.
Evening
Dinner on Caracoles and desert sky
Dine on Caracoles street, where restaurants open late. If the weather allows, take a stargazing trip with an agency, away from the town lights; bring a heavy coat.

3 days in San Pedro de Atacama

Day 1

Morning
Acclimatization in town and at the museum
Use the first morning to get used to the altitude: walk around town, visit the church and the Museo R.P. Gustavo Le Paige, and drink water frequently.
Afternoon
Tulor and Valle de la Luna
Visit Aldea de Tulor in the early afternoon and then head to Valle de la Luna, staying until sunset. It's a day of easy, short excursions close to town.

Day 2

Morning
Dawn at the Géiseres del Tatio
Leave at dawn with an agency for El Tatio, at about 4,300 meters, and watch the steam rise in the cold. On the return, stop at Machuca and at the wetlands along the route.
Afternoon
Termas de Puritama
After resting, go to the thermal pools of Puritama, in the canyon to the northeast, in the afternoon slot reserved in advance. Bring a snack, because there is no food for sale.
Evening
Once and rest (Chile's late-afternoon snack)
Have an "once," as Chileans call the late-afternoon snack with bread, cold cuts and tea, and sleep early: the next day also starts early.

Day 3

Morning
Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques
Head south, passing Toconao and Socaire, to the high-altitude lagoons at about 4,130 meters. Hike the trails and look for vicuñas along the way.
Afternoon
Laguna Chaxa and Toconao
On the way down, stop at Laguna Chaxa in the Salar de Atacama for the trail along the water. Then see Toconao's stone bell tower.
Late afternoon
Laguna Cejar or Valle de la Muerte
If you still have energy, float in Laguna Piedra, next to Cejar, or watch the sunset over the rocks of Valle de la Muerte, a few minutes from town.

Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.

Before you go

Frequently asked questions

What is the altitude of San Pedro de Atacama?

The village sits at about 2,400 meters. Most people only feel tiredness and shortness of breath in the first days. Ascend slowly, drink water, avoid overeating and excess alcohol, and leave outings above 4,000 meters for later.

How to get from Calama airport to San Pedro de Atacama?

Shared transfers meet flights at El Loa airport and drop each passenger at their accommodation. Another option is to go to Calama and take a bus to San Pedro, or rent a car. It's about 100 km and an hour and a half of driving.

Is it cold in San Pedro de Atacama?

Days are usually warm and sunny, but nights cool down a lot, especially from June to August, when they fall below zero. On early-morning outings and at the high-altitude lagoons the cold is intense at any time of year. Bring layered clothing.

How does stargazing work in San Pedro?

Local agencies take groups at night to areas away from lights, with telescopes and explanations about southern-hemisphere constellations. The outing depends on the weather and the Moon phase; full-moon nights reveal fewer stars.

Does San Pedro de Atacama have ATMs and shops?

There are shops, small markets, restaurants and agencies in the center, especially on Caracoles street. Some places and entrances, like the gate of Valle de la Muerte, accept cash only, so it's wise to carry Chilean pesos.

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