Calle Caracoles
Restaurants, tour officesThe main street, with agencies, restaurants and hostels close by.
Village guide
Things to do in San Pedro de Atacama
An adobe oasis village in the driest desert on earth, ringed by volcanoes, salt flats, geysers and lagoons. And at night, some of the clearest skies on the planet.
29
Hostels in the city
8.4
Average, from 14,477 reviews
2,400m
Altitude of the village
4–5
Days to do it properly
An oasis in the driest desert
San Pedro de Atacama is a small village of adobe houses and dusty streets at around 2,400 metres, in an oasis of the Atacama Desert in northern Chile. It has been inhabited for thousands of years by the Lickanantay (Atacameño) people, and its whitewashed church and the nearby ruins of Pukará de Quitor tell its long history.
Today the village is a base for exploring one of the most extraordinary landscapes in the world. The Valle de la Luna's eroded ridges glow red at sunset, the El Tatio geysers steam at dawn at more than 4,000 metres, flamingos feed in the Salar de Atacama, and high-altitude lagoons shine blue beneath volcanoes. At night, the dry, high air makes for stargazing as good as anywhere on earth.
Plan on four or five days, building up to the highest trips gradually to acclimatise. Most visitors book tours from the many agencies in town, though cycling to nearby sights is popular too. San Pedro is also the starting point for three-day tours to the Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia.
Where to base yourself
The village is small. Stay within walking distance of Calle Caracoles, the main street, for restaurants and tour pick-ups. Places on the outskirts are quieter but a dusty walk at night.
Around the plaza
Church, quiet eveningsThe old centre around the church and square.
Outskirts
Quiet, starsHostels further out, quieter and darker, but a dusty walk at night.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 9 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in San Pedro de Atacama
Start with the Valle de la Luna, a short ride from town, for sunset over salt-crusted ridges and dunes. Entry is managed by local Lickanantay communities and tickets are bought online in advance. Laguna Cejar, where the water is so salty you float, and the Ojos del Salar make a good half-day.
When you are acclimatised, go higher. The El Tatio geysers, at around 4,300 metres, are best at dawn, when columns of steam rise into freezing air, so tours leave around 4am. The Altiplanic Lagoons, Miscanti and Miñiques, and the Piedras Rojas sit even higher, under snow-capped volcanoes. The Salar de Atacama and Laguna Chaxa are home to three species of flamingo.
By night, take an astronomy tour with telescopes, as the Atacama has some of the clearest skies in the world and is home to major international observatories. Sandboarding in the Valle de la Muerte and cycling to the Pukará de Quitor ruins are other favourites.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Most of the big sights charge entry fees to the local communities that manage them, but the village itself is free and charming, with its adobe church, square and craft market.
On a clear night, simply walk to the edge of the village away from the lights, and the Milky Way is overhead. Cycling to the viewpoints around town is a cheap way to see the desert, with a bike rental for the day.
The archaeological museum and the old church are small but tell the story of the Lickanantay people.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
San Pedro's restaurants cater mainly to visitors, with menus of pizza, pasta and grilled meat alongside Andean dishes. Look for quinoa, llama, rica-rica (a desert herb used in drinks and desserts) and chañar, a desert fruit.
Prices are high for Chile, as most food is brought in from Calama. Many restaurants offer a set lunch menu, the best value meal in town, and the small supermarkets let you cook in your hostel kitchen.
Drink plenty of water and go easy on alcohol, especially before high-altitude trips. A pisco sour flavoured with rica-rica is the local twist.
Nightlife
Going out
San Pedro's nightlife is low-key: bars close relatively early and the village has no big clubs. Evenings are about dinner, a drink by a fire, and the stars.
Some restaurants have live Andean music, and hostels are social, with travellers swapping tour tips around fire pits.
Early starts for El Tatio and the lagoons mean most people are in bed early anyway.
Getting around
Getting around
The village is small and walkable. Bikes are cheap to rent for nearby sights, and tours provide transport to everything further away.
The nearest airport is in Calama, around an hour and a half away, with flights from Santiago and shuttle buses to San Pedro. Buses also run from Calama, Antofagasta and Arica, and across the Andes to Salta and Jujuy in Argentina.
Three-day tours to the Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia leave from San Pedro, crossing the border at Hito Cajón. Bring your passport and some cash.
Costs
What San Pedro de Atacama costs
San Pedro is one of the most expensive places in Chile. Dorm beds run from around €12 to €25, and food costs more than in the rest of the country.
Tours are the main expense, and so are the entry fees to the sights, each charged separately by the community that manages it. Booking several tours with one agency can bring a discount. Bikes are the cheap alternative for the sights near town.
Cards are widely accepted, but bring cash too, as ATMs in the village can run out at busy times and some entry fees are cash only.
Safety
Safety and scams
San Pedro is a safe village. The real risks are the environment.
Altitude matters: the village is at around 2,400 metres, but El Tatio and the lagoons are above 4,000. Spend a day or two in town before going higher, drink lots of water, and avoid alcohol before high trips. The sun is fierce and the air very dry, so wear sun cream, a hat and lip balm. Nights are cold, especially on the dawn tours.
On bikes, carry plenty of water and avoid cycling in the heat of the day. In an emergency, call 133 for police or 131 for an ambulance.
Worth leaving the village for
Everything here is a short ride, or a long climb, from town.
Valle de la Luna
Salt ridges and dunes, best at sunset.
El Tatio geysers
Steaming geysers at around 4,300 metres.
Altiplanic Lagoons and Piedras Rojas
Blue lagoons and red rocks beneath volcanoes.
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
The salt flat via lagoons and geysers, crossing into Bolivia.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Desert festivals and small gatherings around the plaza.
16 Jul – 31 Dec
Karaoke Night
A karaoke event takes place at Perrock on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, beginning at 10:00 p.m. Participants are invited to perform songs in…
15 Jul – 31 Dec
Rainbow Valley Tour
The hills surrounding this valley appear almost painted, with layers of color that shift from reddish Mars-like terrain to softer mineral hues across the…
15 Jul – 31 Dec
Altiplanic Lagoons, Red Stones & Chaxa Lagoon Tour
This full-day journey takes you through some of the Atacama's most striking high-altitude landscapes, from the emerald waters of Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons to…
15 Jul – 31 Dec
Astronomical Tour
The Atacama Desert's legendary clear skies make this one of the best places on Earth for stargazing, and this evening tour takes you to…
15 Jul – 31 Dec
Cejar Lagoon, Ojos del Salar & Tebenquiche Tour
Float effortlessly in the Cejar Lagoon, where the high salt concentration makes sinking impossible — a strange and satisfying sensation worth experiencing. The tour…
15 Jul – 31 Dec
Hot Air Balloon Flight Tour
A morning coffee and a hands-on look at how hot air balloons work kick things off before you lift into the sky above the…
15 Jul – 31 Dec
Moon Valley Tour
The Moon Valley Tour takes you through one of Earth's most otherworldly landscapes, where wind and time have carved rock formations into strange, beautiful…
15 Jul – 31 Dec
Tatio Geysers & Vado de Machuca Tour
The Tatio Geysers come alive at first light, when fumaroles shoot steam columns up to 10 meters high against the dawn sky, with temperatures…
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in San Pedro de Atacama, straight from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Backpackers San Pedro
Dorms from €11 a night
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Mamatierra Hostel
Dorms from €29 a night
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Casa Voyage Hostel
Dorms from €9 a night
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Hostal Campo Base
Dorms from €29 a night
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Aji Verde Hostel San Pedro de Atacama
Dorms from €14 a night
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Hostal Rural
Dorms from €14 a night
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Rural - La Florida
Dorms from €9 a night
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Hostal Possada Atacameña
Dorms from €12 a night
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EcoExplor Tours & Hostal
Dorms from €9 a night
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When to go
San Pedro is good all year. Days are sunny and warm, nights cold. January and February can bring summer storms to the high plateau, the 'altiplanic winter', which can close high roads.
Jan
Summer, possible altiplanic storms
Feb
Storms can close high roads
Mar
Clear and pleasant
Apr
A great month
May
Cool nights, clear days
Jun
Winter, freezing nights
Jul
Winter holidays, very cold at night
Aug
Windy, clear
Sep
Spring, good stargazing
Oct
Warm days
Nov
Clear skies
Dec
Summer begins
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Nights fall below freezing in winter, especially at altitude.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person. Doing things includes a share of tours and entry fees.
Treat these as a guide. Uyuni tours cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
San Pedro de Atacama questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to San Pedro de Atacama?
Fly to Calama from Santiago, then take a shuttle of around an hour and a half. Buses also come from Calama, Antofagasta, Arica and Argentina.
How many days do you need in San Pedro de Atacama?
Four or five, starting with lower trips like the Valle de la Luna and building up to El Tatio and the lagoons.
Do I need to worry about altitude?
Yes for the high trips. The village is at around 2,400 metres, but El Tatio and the lagoons are above 4,000. Acclimatise for a day or two first.
Do I need to book the Valle de la Luna?
Yes. Tickets are sold online in advance and entry is managed by local communities.
Is San Pedro de Atacama expensive?
It is one of Chile's priciest places. Tours and entry fees add up, so budget for them.
Can I go to Uyuni from San Pedro?
Yes. Three-day tours cross into Bolivia and finish at the Uyuni salt flat. Bring your passport and cash.
When is the best time to stargaze?
Any clear night away from the full moon. Astronomy tours run year-round.
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