San Pedro de Atacama

Mars-like Landscapes and Starry Nights

San Pedro de Atacama is a high desert town in northern Chile where clear skies and rugged mountains create striking scenery. The area features volcanic landscapes, salt flats and ancient ruins that attract scientists and explorers alike. Local markets sell handmade crafts while small cafes serve hearty meals to travelers. Its location makes stargazing popular due to minimal light pollution. Historic churches and museums preserve cultural heritage alongside modern amenities for visitors seeking both adventure and relaxation in a unique environment shaped by natural extremes.

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Town in Chile

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 6.2

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	5
Accessibility:	4
Tap water:	6

Read details

3/5

English is moderately spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and by tour guides. In shops and restaurants, basic Spanish can be helpful, but most places cater well to international visitors.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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San Pedro de Atacama Summary

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World-class for desert landscapes and stargazing. Explore salt flats, watch geysers at sunrise, hike lunar valleys and enjoy clear night skies.

Place score

7.5

Best at:

Deserts

Natural sites

Stargazing

Hiking

Cosy towns

Personal score

Suited for

👶 7

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

🛡️ 8

Travel Beginners

❤️ 8

Couples

Chile – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type L Type C: Type L: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Chilean Peso (CLP) £1 ≈ CLP 1,306
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Chile, particularly in cities and tourist areas. Credit and debit cards are commonly used. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated in Chile but not mandatory. A 10% tip is typical in restaurants. Taxi drivers and hotel staff also appreciate small tips for good service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally allowed in designated areas, but it is illegal to drink alcohol on the streets in some cities. It is best to consume alcohol in licensed venues.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in indoor public spaces, including restaurants, bars, and public transport.

Fiestas Patrias (18–19 September)	National holiday celebrating Chile's independence with parades and festivities
Christmas (25 December)	Celebrated with family gatherings and festive meals

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 133 (Police), 131 (Ambulance), 132 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Cabify
Other:	Chile is famous for its natural beauty, including the Andes mountains, Atacama Desert, and Patagonia. It is a top destination for adventure tourism and outdoor activities.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

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High season:	Jan. - Feb., July - Aug., Dec.
Shoulder season:	March - June, Sep. - Nov.
Crowdedness:	6 (Many tourists)

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Climate details

Altiplanic winter January to March: afternoon storms can flood roads and cancel trips to the geysers and high lagoons

May to August: nights fall below freezing, Tatio geyser sunrise tours start at about 5 am and are very cold

Stargazing tours run on clear nights, but many are cancelled around full moon

Don't miss

🌅 Witness sunrise at the geysers of El Tatio
🧂 Float effortlessly in the salt-rich Laguna Cejar
🌕 Explore the otherworldly landscapes of Valle de la Luna
🌈 Discover colorful mineral formations in Rainbow Valley
✨ Stargaze in one of the clearest night skies

You've been here?

Why travel to San Pedro de Atacama?

This place is an adventure lover’s dream, with unique natural attractions like the Moon Valley and El Tatio Geysers. The Atacama Desert is one of the best places in the world for stargazing due to its crystal-clear skies. Just keep in mind that the high altitude and dry climate require acclimatization and lots of hydration.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Valle de la Luna
2 Laguna Céjar
3 Iglesia San Pedro

🎡Places for activities

1 Valle de la Luna
2 Pukará de Quitor

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Volcán Licancabur
2 Sitio Ramsar Salar de Pujsa
3 Valle de la Luna
4 El Tatio
5 Piedras Rojas

🛍️Shopping

1 Handcrafters Village

🎈Events

San Pedro de Atacama Festival (June 29)
Día de San Pedro y San Pablo
Tierra Atacama Music Festival
Astrotourism Events
Local Craft Fairs
Easter Celebrations
Indigenous Festivals
Chile’s National Day (Fiestas Patrias)
Traditional Markets
Geyser Sunrise Gatherings

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Knowledge before you go

Acclimatize to 2400m altitude; drink coca tea, avoid alcohol first day.
Book high-desert tours with reputable agencies; avoid self-driving remote roads at night.
Layer clothing for extreme temps; scorching days drop to freezing nights year-round.
Watch for landmine signs near old borders; stick to marked paths in Valle de la Luna.

How to travel to San Pedro de Atacama

The nearest airport is El Loa Airport (CJC) in Calama, about 100 km away. From there, shuttle buses and private transfers take you to San Pedro de Atacama. Regular buses also connect from Calama and other major cities.

Access summary

From Calama El Loa Airport (CJC): Shuttle or transfer, about 1.5 hours.
From Santiago de Chile: Direct flights to Calama, then shuttle 1.5 hours.
High-altitude desert: allow time to acclimatize; avoid rushing tours on arrival day.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in San Pedro de Atacama

Accommodations range from basic hostels to boutique hotels and eco-lodges. Many places offer guided tours and transportation, which is convenient for exploring the desert and its attractions.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hotel Cumbres San Pedro de Atacama

8.9

HOSTAL COPART

9.2

Hotel Diego de Almagro San Pedro De Atacama

Casa Solcor Boutique bed & Breakefast

9.5

Hostal Desert

8.5

Tierra Atacama, Beckons

Explore more accommodations

How to get around San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro is compact and walkable. For excursions, guided tours and rental cars are the best options. Many places are only accessible by organized tours or with a 4x4 vehicle. Biking is popular within the town.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-47 %

Daily expenses in San Pedro de Atacama are around 47% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-17 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CLP) is 17% better than in recent years. That means travelling now is considerably cheaper compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£42	£87	£243
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£45	£120
🍝 Food per day	£19	£37	£104
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£6	£19

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£12
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£7.50
🍟 Fast food combo	£7.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6
☕ Cappuccino	£2.30
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£2.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.75
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£11.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.15

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.10
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£32
🤧 Cold medication	£5.50
💇 Basic haircut	£5

Safety information overview

General safety

San Pedro de Atacama is generally safe, with a low crime rate. Take standard precautions, especially in crowded areas and avoid wandering alone in remote areas after dark.

Health & Medical

Basic medical facilities are available in town, but for serious issues, Calama or Antofagasta offer better-equipped hospitals. Bring altitude sickness medication if needed and stay hydrated.

Accessibility

The town is partially accessible, but the rugged desert terrain and high altitude can be challenging for those with mobility issues. Some tours may accommodate accessibility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is generally not recommended for drinking. Stick to bottled water or refillable bottles with purification filters. Hydration is key due to the dry climate and altitude.