【Transportation🚌】
Our journey began with a flight from Santiago to Calama, followed by a minibus ride from the airport to San Pedro. Figures 12-13 showcase the bus company we used, Transvip. If you opt for a round trip, you can enjoy a discount. The one-way fare is 15,000 pesos per person, and the scenic drive from the airport to the town takes about 70 minutes.
For added convenience, you can purchase return tickets online in advance, just make sure to download WhatsApp as the travel agency uses it for all communications and group chats.
【Lodging🏠Agency】
San Pedro is teeming with a variety of travel agencies, which can be overwhelming at first. Given our tight schedule and limited time for research, we decided to go with the same agency my boyfriend had used on his previous visit. Figure 15 highlights the sign of the agency, “Yuraj Tika,” which is easily spotted after a 2-minute walk from the town entrance.
This agency offers a fantastic package deal of 150,000 pesos for 5 tours if booked together. However, with our limited time, we could only join half-day tours. We chose the most iconic ones: Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna), Geysers (Geyser del Tatio), Salt Lagoons (Lagunas de Baltinache), and the stargazing tour (Astronomico).
In Figure 14, the circled items with Chinese text indicate the prices, which do not include admission fees. Communication can be a bit challenging as not many locals speak English. It’s best to use translation software to avoid any misunderstandings, hahaha [Laughing].
Unfortunately, the stargazing tour was canceled due to cloudy weather that night, but we received a full refund. We thoroughly enjoyed the other three tours. [Drinking milk tea] Figure 16 captures the breathtaking desert landscape of Moon Valley, Figure 17 shows the mesmerizing geysers, and Figure 18 highlights the serene salt lagoons.
Overall, the value for money was exceptional, and these were all natural wonders I had never experienced before [Clapping].
Remember to carry more cash, as you can often negotiate better prices when paying in cash in the town. Some stores also charge a fee for credit card payments.
【💰Tour Price Reference】
1️⃣ Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna)
Price: 30,000 + Admission: 10,800
Tour time: 3 PM – 7 PM
2️⃣ Geysers (Geyser del Tatio)
Price: 30,000 + Admission: 15,000
Tour time: 4:30 AM – 11:30 AM
3️⃣ Salt Lagoons (Lagunas de Baltinache)
Price: 35,000 + Admission: 5,000
Tour time: 2 PM – 7 PM
4️⃣ Stargazing Tour (Astronomico)
Price: 25,000 (No admission fee)
Tour time: 8/9 PM – 12 AM
All tours include a delightful afternoon tea, featuring homemade pastries, fresh fruits, cocktails, and refreshing drinks. The overall experience was fantastic, and the guides for each tour were highly professional and bilingual.
I’ve shared more detailed food guides and experiences for each tour in other posts 😊
