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Final Up to date on February 11, 2026 by Eve Dawes
San Pedro de Atacama: The Finest Issues to See & Do
Atacama Desert Chile journey guides will all point out star gazing and the park however there’s additionally a couple of different issues to do you must take a look at. It was our final cease in Chile and a suggestion from one among my nieces. San Pedro de Atacama is a small city set on an arid excessive plateau within the Andes mountains of North Jap Chile. It’s actually distant, a visit again in time, genuine and the place you’ll be able to e-book essentially the most great Atacama Desert stargazing tour. The Atacama Desert Chile dramatic surrounding desert-scape contains salt flats, volcanoes, geysers and scorching springs. The exact opposite of the Lake District we’d simply come from. Chile is such a protracted, slim nation, with mountains on one aspect and the ocean on the opposite which makes for a very numerous panorama. Whereas nearly all of guests are backpackers, it’s potential to do a luxurious trip within the Atacama desert too. Right here’s a few of my high recommendations on the place to remain and what to do.
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Is the Atacama Desert value visiting
Whether or not the Atacama Desert is value visiting or not relies on so many components. If you happen to’re backpacking most likely, if you happen to’re searching for a luxurious trip within the Atacama Desert most likely not. If you happen to’ve by no means been to the desert perhaps, if you happen to’re from Vegas or the desert most likely not.
I feel my expectations had been too excessive for the Atacama Desert and we’ve additionally been spoiled by Dubai, the Grand Canyon and residing in Vegas (Crimson Rock and the spectacular sunsets). I used to be anticipating lovely and colourful rock formations, a number of flamingoes, a peaceful breeze, few individuals and fundamental lodging.
In actuality there have been a number of individuals all over the place. You’ll get significantly sandblasted even simply strolling down the street however on the high of the sand dunes it’s full on microdermabrasion and slaps within the face. On the plus aspect, the city was very distinctive and enjoyable to discover and the lodge and meals was a lot better than we had been anticipating.
I’m nonetheless glad we went to the Atacama Desert because it gave us a extra full expertise of genuine Chile and we’d at all times have been questioning what it was like if we’d skipped it. Nonetheless, we undoubtedly most popular the Lake District which was so lovely. There was a lot to see and do each there and in Colchagua Valley studying all about Chilean wines.
The one factor we’d have accomplished in another way with the Atacama Desert would have been to spend a day much less there. For nature-loving vacationers to South America or if you happen to haven’t ever been to a desert, I feel you’ll benefit from the San Pedro de Atacama space and exploring it’s lagoons, rock formations and seeing the flamingoes and starry skies.
Find out how to get to Atacama Desert?
We got here from the Lake District (9:07 am LATAM flight Puerto Montt to Santiago, approx $54) which meant getting a connecting flight from Santiago (11:44am Santiago to Calama on LATAM approx $58) which took one other 1h 56 minutes.
We’d booked a rental automobile at Calama airport with Funds/Avis and from Calama to San Pedro de Atacama is about an hour drive. The traces had been lengthy and the service painfully sluggish at Funds so go along with one other rental automobile firm if potential.
Lunch en route from Calama to San Pedro De Atacama
If you wish to seize lunch earlier than you drive, the choices are restricted particularly at the moment of day. We went to Braseros Del Castillo (which serves lunch till 16:45/4.45pm) which was clear and new however don’t order the ceviche!
We should always’ve recognized higher than to order uncooked fish within the desert to be truthful. It’s down a mud street, don’t fear, your sat nav is correct, except you’re utilizing Waze which was the worst map to try to use in Chile. Keep on with Google or Apple maps as a substitute.
The place to remain in San Pedro De Atacama Desert?
We determined to remain at Resort Altiplanico Atacama (from $204 per evening) in San Pedro de Atacama (Domingo Atienza 282, San Pedro de Atacama) because it seemed one of many nicer ones in San Pedro de Atacama. Many accommodations will be very fundamental right here as its vastly fashionable with backpackers.
Altiplanico Atacama is minimalistic trendy meets rustic desert design utilizing pure materials (see the video for a greater concept). There’s free gated non-public parking, an out of doors swimming pool, and free WiFi. The wifi is weak in your lodge room however higher in public areas. Nonetheless, don’t anticipate to have the ability to stream.
The lodge is clear, quiet and secure, with gates and cameras. We didn’t need to be proper by the primary road to keep away from any late evening occasion noise. Bah humbug, I’m like a granny that wants her sleep and excursions typically begin early earlier than it will get too scorching. The lodge’s effectively located and it’s solely a 10-15 minute stroll to the primary road.
The breakfast is fundamental and options regional merchandise together with oat cookies/biscuits my Mum appreciated a lot so acquired the recipe from the chef.
In addition they serve Mate de Coca tea, each the tea baggage and unfastened leaves (which you’ll be able to chew)! Now, right here’s an attention-grabbing tea!
Don’t attempt bringing this tea house, it won’t work out so effectively at customs for you. Nonetheless, if in case you have any digestive points or altitude illness (San Pedro de Atacama is at 7,900 toes) it’s presupposed to be a remedy.
Find out how to Get Again to Calama Airport from San Pedro De Atacama
You’ll need to go away about an hour to get again to Calama Airport which is 62 miles from the lodge. The airport’s actually small so it doesn’t take lengthy to clear customs, it simply takes some time to return the automobile if you happen to used Funds/Avis.
If Resort Altiplanico Atacama is totally booked, these are the opposite accommodations we’d narrowed it all the way down to. Costs could fluctuate relying on while you go.
- Resort Pascual Andino, San Pedro de Atacama $210 per evening. The closest to the primary road.
- Resort La Casa de Don Tomas, San Pedro de Atacama $188
- Resort Discover Atacama All-Inclusive $1568. The one 5* lodge in San Pedro de Atacama. This provides a lot extra than simply all-inclusive meals! The value features a alternative of over 40 unique expedition choices on horseback, bicycle or foot. In addition they have an in-house steady with specifically educated horses, in-house observatory for stargazing, spa space, 4 swimming swimming pools, 4 open-air scorching tubs, saunas and transports even included.
What are the perfect issues to see and do within the Atacama Desert Chile? Atacama Desert stargazing tour and highlights
After going to the Atacama Desert, there have been undoubtedly some issues we felt we may’ve skipped and others we’re glad we did. 2 days and nights is loads, we didn’t want the third day however if you happen to wished to do sand boarding or further excursions you may nonetheless do every thing in 3 days.
Try to e-book excursions while you arrive with one of many many tour operators on the primary road in San Pedro de Atacama or through your concierge. We had points attempting to contact and make sure with the tour corporations we’d booked with because the numbers and addresses they’d listed had been all incorrect! They did each present up however each had been working late and you are able to do with out the stress of questioning whether or not or not they’re going to point out.
These are the Atacama Desert excursions we did however I wouldn’t advocate the Valley of the Moon tour we did because it took too lengthy to do little or no. The stargazing tour was worthwhile and also you discovered and noticed rather a lot within the 2 hours.
High issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama
These are my suggestions for the highest issues to do in Atacama:
- Go to Atacama Desert nationwide park
- On the park see 3 Marys / Tres Marias
- Hike to the highest of the sand dunes
- Watch sundown
- Go stargazing (not throughout a full moon)
- Go to the flamingoes at Laguna Chaxa
- Discover San Pedro De Atacama Fundamental Avenue
- El Tatio Geysers
- Go sandboarding
- Get a therapeutic massage
Extra on every of those beneath.
High issues to see and do within the Atacama Desert
These are among the high rated issues to do within the Atacama Desert:
1. Atacama Desert Chile day tour: Valley of the Moon/Valle De La Luna, Atacama
We had been underwhelmed with the desert panorama and weren’t anticipating the crowds. Nevada/Arizona’s desert and nationwide parks are extra colourful and numerous and Dubai has higher sand dunes you can go on, however it was nonetheless attention-grabbing to do. You may simply tour the park by yourselves in a SUV if you happen to’re not a tour individual. We didn’t study rather more by doing the Viator tour.
Our Valle de La Luna Tour description was somewhat complicated because it says 4-12 hours! It ended up being about 6 hours with a gaggle of 13 of us. The quantity and deal with is inaccurate on the itemizing. So I’d advocate reserving one thing while you get there moderately than reserving prematurely. Because it ended up being demanding worrying they weren’t going to choose us up and never having the ability to contact them.
The tour began on the Nationwide Reserve “Los Flamencos” sector of Valle De La Luna/Moon Valley and stopped within the central crater for a photograph opp, Tres Marias rock formations, after which the choice to climb the Dune Maggiore.
It’s extremely windy, to the purpose the fellows had been complaining the sand damage, however the views from the highest are lovely. You possibly can’t stroll on the highest of the dune however that’s what retains it trying so untouched and pristine. The salt caves had been closed, so we went straight to the Ckari Mirador to see the spectacular desert sundown. Together with a whole lot of different vacationers who’d additionally come on excursions up to now!
TIP: Put on sunscreen and sneakers. Don’t put on a skirt/costume and maintain onto your hat!
2. Sundown within the Atacama Desert Chile
Until you get actually unfortunate with the climate, most evenings you’ll be capable to see the Earth’s driest non-polar desert erupt into 1 of its most colourful expanses. One of the best place to observe sundown in Atacama is at Ckari Mirador/Mirador de Kari – Piedra del Coyote. Get right here earlier than 7:30pm because the park closes at the moment so it is advisable enter earlier than then and to beat the crowds that come right here to observe sundown. Wrap up heat because the temperature plummets at evening at it’s actually windy up on the mountain high.
3. Salar de Atacama/Salt Plains: Atacama Desert
You don’t must take a tour to see the salt plains in Atacama, however that’s an choice or you’ll be able to even take a tour from San Pedro de Atacama Desert to the Salt flats in Bolivia that are larger than Chiles. We drove to Salar de Atacama on the best way to Laguna Chaxa. We had been all disillusioned within the salt flats, they’re not as salty/white as we’d anticipated and there’s actually not a lot to see though there’s 3000 sq meters of them. Fortunately we hadn’t made a journey particularly to see them however noticed them however en path to the flamingoes at Lake Chaxa/Laguna Chaxa.
4. Visiting the Flamingoes at Laguna Chaxa
The nationwide reserve of flamingoes is NOT the place you go to see Flamingoes, it’s only a title. To see the flamingoes you’ll be able to both take a tour or drive to Laguna Chaxa. You’ll need to both go early within the morning or at sundown when the flamingoes are nearer to the shore. The tour buses had been right here by 9am and other people are likely to trigger the flamingoes transfer farther from shore. So if you need a more in-depth glimpse get there earlier than 9 am.
It’s a few 45 minute drive to Laguna Chaxa from San Pedro de Atacama. January is meant to be the perfect time to see the resident Andean flamingos take flight throughout sundown. You most likely received’t want or need to spend greater than 45 minutes to see all 3 forms of flamingoes right here and stroll across the quick path. I’d advocate both doing this to begin or finish your day and see the Valley of the Moon/Valle De La Luna on the identical day.
PS: it at all times smells right here as a result of sulphur gases which might be repeatedly emitted from the Lascar volcano however you don’t discover it after some time.
5. San Pedro De Atacama Fundamental Avenue
This can be a cute little hippy city that appears just like the land time forgot. The streets are sandy and unpaved and pink washed stone buildings entrance the primary road. Behind these partitions, they divulge heart’s contents to quite a lot of eating places and cafes from the genuine to the extra trendy to some which might be really fairly elegant, tour operators, and retailers.
Discovering good espresso isn’t the best in Atacama however we discovered nice espresso and lunch at Roots which has a extra trendy vibe than most of San Pedro. One of the best dinner we had was at La Casona which had dwell music, conventional meals and superbly offered salads. Both go early or make a reservation as this spot’s actually fashionable and for good motive.
Like many areas of Chile, the world has a variety of poverty so costume tremendous informal. Depart your heels and wedges at house and be ready to get very sandy and wind swept.
6. Atacama Desert stargazing tour San Pedro De Atacama
There’s 2 trains of thought as to when the perfect time to do a Atacama Desert stargazing tour. If you happen to go when it’s a brand new moon and the skies the darkest you’re going to have the ability to get the perfect view of the celebs. Nonetheless, if you wish to see the moon and the celebs by way of the telescope, going halfway by way of the moon cycle like we did is a superb time to go stargazing. That is the Atacama Desert stargazing tour we booked through Viator:
Astronomical tour with information and decide up – San Pedro de Atacama by Astrotour
This tour picked us up from the lodge (about half-hour late, so don’t stress, they may present up) and drove us about 10 minutes outdoors of city to their location. At totally different instances of the yr you’ll be capable to see various things: planets, open and closed clusters, galaxies and stars through their high-end, computerized and handbook telescopes and their laser pointer.
There was solely 5 of us in our group which meant a number of time to ask questions and look by way of the telescope. The spotlight for me was seeing the moon by way of the telescope and having the ability to take a photograph of it with my iPhone.
TIP: Wrap up heat on your Atacama Desert stargazing tour, though we went of their Summer season, it will get chilly and windy at evening.
7. El Tatio Geysers
We didn’t go right here because it meant a very early begin (after late stargazing) and was a full day tour however it’s value trying into if you happen to’re right here for a few days. My niece stated it was well worth the drive out to. You possibly can learn extra about it on Tripadvisor.
8. Sandboarding in San Pedro de Atacama
This seemed actually enjoyable however I’m an excessive amount of of a rooster and we ran out of time because the final day was a write-off as I used to be sick in mattress. I wasn’t hungover, I picked up a chilly someplace alongside the best way. I’d advocate discovering a tour by way of a tour operator on the Caracoles (most important road) moderately than on-line.
Suggestions for spending a day within the desert
Coming from Vegas we’re professionals spending time within the desert:
- Bear in mind to put on and take SPF.
- Take water round with you (decide up from an area grocery retailer).
- Pack a Hydroflask or one thing to maintain water chilly.
- Take a hat (a variety of the time it’s too windy to put on however will provide you with some solar safety when it’s not. Plus it hides wind swept hair and a sandblasted face).
- Excursions don’t embody entrance charges to the nationwide parks (between 3-15 USD).
The place to eat in San Pedro De Atacama
We ate a few nights on the lodge (Altiplanico Atacama) for comfort earlier than night excursions and as soon as on the town on the primary road. Discovering good espresso isn’t the best in Atacama however we discovered nice espresso and lunch at Roots which has a extra trendy vibe than most of San Pedro.
Dinner at La Casona was an sudden gem of a discover with dwell piano music, conventional meals and superbly offered salads. Both go early or make a reservation as this spot’s actually fashionable and for good motive.
What to put on within the Atacama Desert?
We visited the Atacama Desert Chile in early January (Summer season) however it was nonetheless chilly within the wind and at evening so you’ll be able to’t beat layers and a windbreaker. At evening I wore a tank high, full zip sweatshirt, windbreaker, Barbour jacket and scarf!
It’s windy just about all the time so go for shorts as a substitute of skirts or attire. We just about lived in sneakers because it was too dusty for flip flops and too informal for heels, and many others. Pack a bag to out your soiled sneakers in so you’ll be able to pack them with out overlaying every thing else in sand.
What number of days do you want within the Atacama Desert?
We spent 3 days there however 2 is de facto sufficient to do every thing. Itinerary concepts:
- Day 1: you may go to see the flamingoes at Laguna Chaxa after which drive to discover Valle de la Luna. Then e-book a stargazing tour for the night.
- Day 2: go to the geysers and discover San Pedro De Atacama (it’s a small city of a few streets so it doesn’t take a lot time to discover).
Find out how to discover Atacama
Do you want a rent automobile? If there’s solely 2 of you, the lodge you’re staying at provides an airport switch, you’re strolling distance from the primary road and planning on doing excursions then most likely not. If there’s greater than 2 of you, your lodge doesn’t provide airport transfers otherwise you want to have the ability to go and discover by yourself in addition to doing excursions hiring a vehicles most likely a very good choice.
Do you want money in Atacama?
Sure. You should use your bank card in most locations however Chilean peso Is helpful for tipping, the grocery retailer, small purchases, snacks, espresso, and many others. Change your cash earlier than you go for the perfect charges.
The place else moreover Atacama ought to I go to in Chile?
We liked the Lake District and exploring Patagonia: seeing the penguins on Chiloe Island, going to Osorno Volcano and Petrohue Falls. In addition to visiting the totally different wineries in Colchagua Valley. In every single place we went the individuals had been so pleasant and the meals was so recent.
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How we did our analysis for visiting Atacama Chile
We do most of our analysis on the place to remain and what to do through Tripadvisor, reserving.com and accommodations.com. In addition to asking family and friends who’ve already been. The Atacama Desert stargazing tour was a suggestion from my niece who nonetheless says it’s one of many clearest skies she’s seen at evening. My Mum additionally had a Chile Journey Information e-book I’d waded by way of when again in England over the Summer season.
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