Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a small village lost in the Atacama Desert; now, it is a well-known tourist center. You will find more hotels than residential houses, a white colonial church, souvenir shops, numerous cafés, sleeping volcanoes on the horizon, and a desert landscape, all of which contribute to this place's unique charm. If you are planning a tour of the Atacama Desert, the best way to explore the desert with comfort is to stop in this village and take a day or half-day excursion to different locations every day.
We recommend at least three days for a visit to the Atacama Desert, and we can offer you our three-day tour package. By choosing us, you will get a trustworthy driver and local guide in San Pedro de Atacama who knows the region from the inside out. They'll share whit you all the hidden gems and the very best an area has to offer, ensuring a memorable and enriching experience.
Keep on reading this blog to find out which attractions you can visit during your stay en San Pedro de Atacama.

You can reach San Pedro from Santiago by plane, which takes approximately 2 hours. You'll land at El Loa Airport in Calama, about 100 km from San Pedro de Atacama. You can take a shared or private transfer to San Pedro from the airport. It is always recommended that you book your transfer with anticipation.

Covering an area of 73,986 hectares, the Los Flamencos National Reserve offers a variety of attractions for visitors, including mountains, salt flats, rock formations, lagoons, archaeological sites, and native flora and fauna. The reserve is divided into seven sectors: the Tara Salt Flat, the Aguas Caliente Salt Flat, the Pujsa Salt Flat, the Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, the Soncor sector, and the Aguas de Quelana Lagoon of the Atacama Salt Flat, the Valley of the Moon, and Tambillo, each located at different altitudes. Each sector has unique climatic conditions, leading to diverse populations of plants and animals.
The fauna in the reserve includes vicuñas, culpeo and gray foxes, vizcachas, chinchillas, chululos, caitíes, swallows, hawks, pygmy owls, Andean gulls, rheas, condors, James's flamingos, Chilean flamingos, and more. The flora, on the other hand, consists of llaretas, paja brava, breas, tolas de agua, amaja, cachiyuyos, and tamarugos.

The Valley of the Moon is located just 15 kilometers from the village. It forms part of the Cordillera de la Sal and is one of the most visited places from San Pedro. This fascinating area boasts stone and sand formations sculpted over millennia by floods and winds, resulting in a diverse palette of colors and textures. The valley's extraordinary appeal lies in its resemblance to the lunar surface and its natural coliseum of vast dimensions. From atop a large dune, you can admire the stunning and surprising surroundings of this area. The landscape here is a collection of unparalleled beauty, resembling a fragment of the lunar landscape.
This marvelous natural phenomenon is due to the meeting of the Atacama Desert with the Andes Mountains, produced by gentle changes in slopes formed by rock cones originating from the mountain ravines. The Valley of the Moon has dry lakes, where the salt composition covers them with a beautiful white mantle. The escarpments display a surprising variety of colors—greens, blues, reds, and yellows—each of which changes in a thousand shades throughout the day, especially during twilight when it reaches its peak beauty.
On full moon nights, the valley also presents an indescribable spectacle, full of majesty and silence, coldly beautiful and imposing. It features various saline outcrops that resemble true sculptures, along with a great variety of caves. You should plan at least three to four hours to explore this magical place fully. It is one of the best spots to witness the desert's legendary sunsets as the sun sets as the valley transforms into a canvas of vibrant colors.

Located 130 km from the town of San Pedro de Atacama, the Salar de Tarais one of the best-kept secrets in the region and cannot be missed: an absolutely natural element where the extension of the desert will raise your spirit towards the blue sky. The landscapes are staggering, and the trip is long but fully worthwhile from beginning to end. The highest altitude will reach approximately 5,200 meters above sea level. As a general recommendation, this visit should be made one of the last things you do after getting acclimated to altitude on your visit to San Pedro de Atacama.
The tour to Salar de Tara usually departs around 7:00 am, returning to San Pedro around 5:00 pm. On average, one will take four to five hours from San Pedro to Salar because there are many stopovers at the viewpoints. One of the most photographed spots along the way is the Monjes de la Pacana, towering columns of volcanic rock uniquely shaped by wind. Not far away, there is Salar de Aguas Calientes, where waters mix into different colors. You should bring sunscreen, water, a hat, accessories to protect you from the cold, and a good camera.
This is a beautiful but remote and hard-to-reach location, so a guided tour would be the best solution.

The Atacama Salt Flat covers an area of around 3,000 square kilometers. It is the biggest salt flat in Chile, and a secret lake underlies its ochre-colored crust. In addition, 40% of the world's lithium reserves reside here. For tourists, Salt lagoons are the most visited attractions here. If you what to unic expirience to enjoy a refreshing swim in the desert you should visit Laguna Cejar. But this won't be just any swim—you'll float in the water as if you were in space, because of the cuantity of salt in yhe water without any effort or assistance.
A couple of distances from Laguna Cejar you have two freshwater lagoons called "Ojos del Salar." Both lagoons are of equal size, and viewed on a map, they have the appearance of two eyes. The views from Laguna Tebenquiche are panoramic and breathtaking. It is the only lagoon surrounded by something that is really white and flat, like one pictures a salt flat to be.
The Laguna Chaxa area is the best place to watch flamingos. Depending on the time of year, you may see three species: James's flamingo, Chilean flamingo, and Andean flamingo.

Not far from the pass leading to Argentina, at an altitude of 4,200 meters, lies the Talar salt flat (Salar de Talar) among the gentle mountain peaks, along with the viewpoint of the Red Stones or Piedras Rojas—massive, flat boulders that look completely otherworldly. They aren't red, as the name might suggest, but rather a soft salmon color. This hue is the result of oxidation processes in the volcanic rock. The scorching Atacama sun has been evaporating water from the soil for hundreds of thousands of years, adorning the desert with sparkling salt flats. Underground springs tirelessly feed the turquoise lakes, maintaining a delicate balance.
The Red Stones are a must-visit during your tour of the Atacama Desert.

Mars Valley, often called Death Valley, is a playground for thrill-seekers only two kilometers from San Pedro. Some of the massive dunes rise to over 100 meters, making sandboarding ideal for these. The valley's bizarre surroundings, part of the Cordillera de la Sal mountain range, are great for mountain biking. Whether you want to experience adrenaline or relax in the unique rock formations, Mars Valley is an interesting site.

These two breathtaking high-altitude lakes are located approximately 100 kilometers southeast of San Pedro. Enclosed by similar volcanoes, these blue lagoons act as a refuge for native fauna, such as Chilean flamingos and red-gartered coots. The contrast between the snow-capped volcanoes, surrounding yellowish grasslands, and deep blue lakes creates a stunning view. Normally, these two lagoons you can visit during the tour of Red Rocks (Piedras Rojas)

About ninety kilometers from San Pedro, this vibrant valley is a geological wonder. Its soil is colored in reds, greens, and yellows because of the presence of iron, clay, and different minerals. Apart from its colorful hues, the valley is well-known for its fascinating erosion-sculpted rock formations. Visitors must Visit the neighboring Yerbas Buenas petroglyphs, which have 10,000-year-old rock art, being there.

Situated 80 kilometers from San Pedro at an elevation of 4,200 meters, the Tatio Geysers stand out as one of the most renowned attractions in the Atacama region. These impressive steam columns erupting from the earth create a surreal landscape, especially during sunrise. On the way back, Make a stop at Puritama terms (Baños de Puritama), a set of hot spring pools situated away in a stunning ravine. These thermal baths offer a relaxing soak with well-maintained facilities.

Don't skip these archaeological sites if you're into history. Pucará de Quitor is a 12th-century pre-Incan fort which is only 3 kilometers away from San Pedro. One should trek up to the top for sweeping views of the surrounding scenery. Tulor Village is the oldest settlement of this place, dating back to 800 B.C. and is located about 9 kilometers southwest. This place have well-maintained mud-brick structures which provide you insight into ancient desert living.   

Visitors should consider camping in the desert beneath a starry sky for an experience that is more profound as it has clear skies.  The Atacama Desert is one of the best places in the world for stargazing, where you can actually look up and see the Milky Way and countless stars through large telescopes at first glance. Also, you can go to famous observatories like ALMA, which provides public tours.
(You need to schedule your visit with many mothers before the trip, and we can do it for you. Just contact us by mail or WhatsApp)
Whether you're floating in salt lagoons, amazed at geysers, or stargazing at the Milky Way, San Pedro de Atacama offers a unique combination of natural wonders, ancient history, and glowing nights. While visiting, don't forget to settle into the high altitude, stay hydrated, and show respect for the fragile desert environment.