Why San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro is the gateway to the driest non-polar desert on Earth and to the high Andes: volcanoes over 5,000 metres, altiplanic lagoons, geysers at sunrise, salt flats with flamingos, and some of the clearest night skies on the planet.
The main decision is town centre or ayllus. In the centre everything is walkable and agencies collect you at your door; in the ayllus you get silence, space and dark nights, but you will need a bike, a car or a willingness to walk.
Choosing by type of trip
- First visit, no car: a guesthouse or apartment in the centre.
- Couple: a cabin or dome in an ayllu, for stargazing.
- Family or group: an adobe house with a kitchen in the ayllus.
- With a car and time to explore: the ayllus or Toconao.
- Tighter budget: a place with a kitchen in the centre, outside peak season.
When to go
- Good time to save
- Peak season: pricier and busier
- A guide only: varies each year.
Year-round
San Pedro works in any season. Spring (September to November) and autumn (March to May) are usually the most comfortable, with mild days and cold but bearable nights.
Summer (December to March)
Peak season for Chilean holidays. Between January and February the "Altiplanic winter" can bring storms to the high mountains, which sometimes close roads and cancel tours.
Winter (June to August)
Sunny days and very cold nights, well below freezing on the altiplano. Skies are especially clear for stargazing. July school holidays fill the town.
Getting there
- Fly into Calama from Santiago, then it is around an hour and a half by bus or shuttle to San Pedro.
- Shuttles can be booked to meet your flight; regular buses run from Calama's bus terminals.
- Renting a car in Calama lets you visit several sites on your own, but some altiplano roads are gravel and very high: check conditions and carry water and fuel.