South America
Welcome Kit
Chile
Northern Chile and Atacama Desert
Northern Chile is home to the world’s most arid desert and its salt flats, hot springs and geysers as well as large deposits of copper and other minerals and mines. It also boasts fertile ravines and oases whose unique fruits make for excellent culinary tours and is inhabited by some of the country’s native peoples.
San Pedro de Atacama (San Pedro for short) is a small village located in one of the many oases which are founded in the altiplano of the second region of Chile.
Highlights
Atacama Desert is an extensive territory nestled in the north of Chile.
The Atacama Desert is an area abundant in energy, thanks to its welcoming ancestral cultures and the oases that are a source of life in the driest desert in the world.
Visit San Pedro de Atacama and explore unique landscapes in the world. Salares, geysers and lagoons of an intense blue color are part of the places that will amaze you.
An ideal land for those who want to live different, unique and unforgettable experiences.
If nature, hiking and adventure are on your list of pending activities, this is a destination that will allow you to meet all.
General Facts
San Pedro is located 1.670 kms north from Santiago de Chile. Along this geographic zone rise some of the highest volcanoes of the Los Andes cordillera.
Formerly the center of the Atacama culture, today San Pedro’s population is about 2.500.
Nowadays this small town has a big importance becouse it is considered as the archeological capital of Chile and also becouse of its extreme geographic position, the beauty of the landscape and its eternal blue sky.
The narrow streets of this old town are home to the mysticism of ancestral cultures and all the trappings of modern tourism. This unique blend of past and present has made San Pedro one of the most photographed places in specialized journals.
Located 102 km from Calama (the closest city), the land around San Pedro de Atacama is primarily owned by native peoples whose focus is agriculture and tourism. Its old town square features a church (built in 1774) that reveals some of local architectural style: cactus wood details, adobe construction and leather-bound algarrobo beams. Nearby, you’ll find the R.P. Gustavo Le Paige Archeological Museum, where you can marvel at mummies and everyday objects that offer a glimpse into the richness of the area’s past.
The average altitude of San Pedro de Atacama is 2400m (about 8000 feet) above sea level. Some of the tourist attractions are well above 4000m (12000 feet)
Map Location
Documentation
A valid Passport. Insurance information.
Most countries in America and Western Europe do not require a visa.
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Best Time to Go
The best season for visiting Atacama Desert are from September to November and March to May.
The warmest months are January, February, March, October, November and December.
During February there are more chances to have some rainy days.
High season (oct-march)
Best time for excursions.
Best time for excursions. Busy season. High temperatures during day.
Low Season (apr-sep)
Ideal for visits without crowds.
Snow falls are usual.
Clothing
It’s best to dress in layers. Regardless of the season you visit this area, it is likely that you will be hot and cold in the same day, especially when your tour includes outings to nearby attractions or takes place in the early morning or late at night.
In places like the Tatio Geysers or some Altiplanic Lagoons, temperatures can drop below zero, so it is recommended to dress very warm, with a hat, gloves and comfortable shoes. And if you choose to bathe in the hot springs of the geysers, you must bring a bathing suit, sandals and a towel.
Those who venture into the desert or the salt flats should wear pants to avoid the discomfort of the sand in contact with the skin when facing strong gusts of wind. For the same reason, it is also advisable to wear a windbreaker.
If on your walk to the Quebrada de Guatin you have considered going through the Puritama hot springs, do not forget to bring your swimsuit, towels and sandals.
Remember to always wear a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and bottled water, since San Pedro de Atacama is one of the areas with the highest ultraviolet radiation in Chile.
Healthcare
It is not unusual in the Andes.
Take it easy when you land in Atacama and try not to do anything too strenuous.
Check with your doctor before coming if in doubt.
Always consider drinking bottled water and avoid drinking alcohol upon arrival.
Packing
Chilean flights allow, as their restrictions are limited to 50 pounds (23 kg) per person.
Currency
Peso Chileno.
Major credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity
Chile: 220 V – 50 Hz.
Plugs Type C / L
Local Taxes
Foodie
Below we share a series of local dishes that we believe every tourist should try during their stay in San Pedro.
Spicy rabbit. A delicious alternative to taste the meat of this animal, which is cooked and fried in semolina and then cooked in its broth over low heat, along with a tasty sauce of puti carrots, onions, garlic and chuño potatoes previously sautéed in egg. This preparation is served with white rice and various accompaniments.
Patasca. The northern stew protagonist of the traditional ceremonies of San Pedro de Atacama. Prepared with dry corn cooked for several hours, this tasty broth of beef, lamb and pork sautéed in garlic, onion and colored chili is ideal to combat the cold and recover energy after a long day of hiking.
Llama meat. Without a doubt, an ingredient present in all the kitchens and restaurants of San Pedro de Atacama. With a soft texture and a flavor similar to lamb, llama meat is present in stews, casseroles, empanadas and even in the popular “poor” version with eggs and French fries. When ordering this dish, ask for the local blue/purple potatoes, the quintessential accompaniment for this meat.
Rich-rich. This aromatic and versatile herb, whose flavor is reminiscent of mint, can be found in thousands of sweet and salty preparations in the area. Ice creams, pisco sour and seasoning for meats are the delicacies that head the menu created with rica-rica, a must-see from San Pedro de Atacama.
Quinoa. Basic ingredient of the food of San Pedro, available in its three versions: red, white and black.
Airampo. The reddish seeds of this cactus flower are used in sweet preparations, such as sauces, ice cream and drinks. As an infusion, they also have healing properties to lower fever and fight stomach ulcers.
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Activities
The Atacama Desert is one of the best-known postcards of Chile. And it is that the most arid place in the world offers a variety of landscapes and attractions that seem taken from another planet.
Los Flamencos National Reserve.
Reserve of more than 70,000 hectares created in 1990 and, one of its purposes, is to protect species such as the culpeo fox, the vicuña and the puma, and flora such as the tamarugo and the carob tree. It is divided into several sectors, which include attractions such as the Valley of the Moon, the Salar de Tara, the Salar de Pujsa, the Salar de Atacama, the Altiplanic Lagoons (Miscanti and Miñiques), the Tulor Village or the Tambillo sector, where there is a forest of 370 hectares of tamarugo.
Sunset in the Valley of the Moon
With its lunar landscape and its pink-streaked mountains, the Valley of the Moon is the letter of introduction to the Atacama Desert. It is located 15 kilometers from the town of San Pedro, an ideal place to enjoy the best colors of the desert sunset.
Photographic tour in the Salar
The Salar de Tara is located near the border of Argentina and Bolivia, an hour and a half from the city. It is made up of a huge salt plain and a thin layer of water. This combination creates magical reflections of the sky in a landscape that stretches for miles. Take advantage of taking lots of photos and playing with the optical illusions that occur in this place.
Cejar Lagoon and Baltinache Hidden Lagoons
Located about 19 kilometers from San Pedro. The emerald lagoons contain such a concentration of salt that you can float in them without any effort.
Piedras Rojas, the treasure of the desert
At more than 4,000,000 meters above sea level and 150 kilometers from San Pedro are the Piedras Rojas, a landscape covered by stones whose reddish hue is due to the oxidation of the iron present in the area.
Mars Valley
Located just two kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama, the Mars Valley stands out with its dunes, which lie between spectacular rock formations of the Cordillera de la Sal.
This valley, one of the most interesting attractions of the Atacama Desert. Its sandbanks of more than 100 meters offer the opportunity to practice sandboarding and zigzagging through the desert.
Altiplanic lagoons: Miscanti and Miñiques
About 100 kilometers southeast of San Pedro are the Altiplanic Lagoons, two impressive blue lakes, next to two volcanoes, the guardians of the lagoons that share the name.
Rainbow Valley
90 kilometers from San Pedro is this valley of reddish, green and yellow soil, near the petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas. Its great attraction, apart from the variety of tones produced by the mixture of minerals, clay and iron, are the various rock formations produced by erosion.
Tatio Geysers and Puritama Baths
About 80 kilometers from San Pedro are the Geisers del Tatio, impressive columns of steam that spring from the ground. This place is 4,200 meters high.
It is advisable to go on a tour and not on your own due to the characteristics of the road. Consider the altitude at which the geysers are located and leave this visit for when you have already spent at least a couple of days in the desert.
You can take advantage of the way back to make a stop at the Puritama Baths, an oasis of hot springs made up of well-constructed rock pools that descend through a gorge. There are changing rooms and bathrooms on the premises and in high season it is recommended to book your ticket
Archaeological tours: Pukará de Quitor and Aldea de Tulor
The Pukará de Quitor, is a pre-Inca fort from the 12th century that clings to a steep hillside. To reach the top, a trekking of about fifteen minutes is required.
You can also visit the famous village of Tulor, the oldest in this region. It is estimated that this town was built around 800 BC. of C.
Astrotourism in the desert
Atacama is one of the best places in the world to observe the stars and practice astrotourism. In fact, with the naked eye you can make out the Milky Way.
You can camp in the desert and admire the stars at night, or go on a night hike. These tours leave from San Pedro de Atacama and take you to a remote place where you can observe the sky with a powerful telescope.