The Atacama Desert is best explored by heading to the charming town of San Pedro de Atacama. To get there, you’ll need to fly from Santiago to Calama and then take a scenic one-hour transfer to the town. It’s wise to purchase round-trip tickets for the transfer right after you land.
San Pedro de Atacama is a hub for adventure, with numerous travel agencies offering an extensive array of tour options. As shown in Figure 7, these tours cover just about every experience you could imagine.
I’ve had the pleasure of visiting this incredible place twice and have tried out most of the basic tours. Let me share my insights! I highly recommend the tour that heads east towards the Bolivia-Chile border (I can’t recall the exact name, but it might be the third full-day tour on page 7). This area, featured in pages 2-6, is breathtaking.
However, be prepared for altitude sickness, as the highest point reaches 4,600 meters. The weather can be quite chilly, and you might even see snow in March.
Another must-do is the geysers tour. Although I struggled with altitude and motion sickness, making the day a bit of a blur, the photos my friends took were stunning. The tour starts with a visit to the geysers and then continues to several picturesque spots. For a visual treat, check out pages 13-15.
The star-gazing tour is also a highlight, not only for the stargazing but also for the astronomy lectures, though they can be a bit challenging to follow 😖. The desert nights are frigid, so don’t forget to ask your travel agency if they provide blankets. The Moon Valley tour is a classic, offering a chance to hike through the desert and watch a spectacular sunset. On the other hand, I found the Rainbow Valley to be the least interesting attraction.
When it comes to dining, there aren’t many standout restaurants, mostly serving Chilean cuisine. Adobe, as seen on page 16, is a high-end option, offering excellent food but at a premium price. A steak and a glass of juice will set you back around 200 RMB per person. The restaurant features live music, and you should tip in addition to the service charge [cute R].
Accommodation in the desert can be pricey. A clean and comfortable standard room typically costs around 150 USD per night. For 3-star or higher, expect to pay 200 USD or more. Opt for hotels near the town center, as tours usually end and drop off at the village entrance, requiring a walk back to your hotel.
For those concerned about altitude sickness, oxygen tanks are not available for sale, but you can buy medication at Cruz Verde. Be aware that their altitude sickness medication is essentially a strong painkiller (at least that’s what I got), so double-check when purchasing.
The desert’s temperature fluctuates dramatically. In November, you might sweat during the day but need a down jacket at night, so pack a variety of clothing.
It’s helpful to have a WhatsApp contact, but if not, leave your phone number or arrange to wait at the hotel in advance.
Overall, the Atacama Desert is definitely worth a visit, and a 3-4 day trip is usually perfect!
