During the vibrant Brazilian Carnival, my partner and I, not being fans of the bustling bloquinhos, decided to escape to the serene landscapes of Atacama, Chile. We meticulously planned our adventure, drawing inspiration from numerous travel guides on Xiaohongshu. A heartfelt thanks to all the generous souls who shared their invaluable travel tips and experiences ♥️
Our stay in San Pedro de Atacama spanned four days and three nights, packed with a mix of excitement and unexpected twists. Initially, we had a jam-packed itinerary, but a last-minute cancellation of the geysers tour allowed us to catch up on some much-needed rest, which rejuvenated us for the adventures ahead. The geysers we missed will just have to wait for our next trip to Bolivia or Iceland!
Here’s a detailed breakdown of our journey, perfect for anyone planning a 3-4 day visit to Atacama:
✅ Day 1:
8:00 AM – Arrived in Calama 🛬
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM – Transvip van ride to San Pedro de Atacama (a journey that should have taken an hour and a half, but was extended due to a vehicle breakdown) 🚙
2:30 PM – 7:00 PM – Explored the surreal salt flats and floated in the buoyant waters of Laguna Cejar 🎈
9:00 PM – 12:30 AM – Star gazing ✨ (A breathtaking experience; Do Min Joon was right, it was absolutely stunning)
✅ Day 2:
6:00 AM – 5:00 PM – Visited Piedras Rojas, watched flamingos in their natural habitat, hiked through the red rock formations, and explored the high-altitude lakes 🦩
✅ Day 3:
The morning geysers tour was canceled due to maintenance, and tickets for the Puritama hot springs were sold out, so we took the opportunity to sleep in and leisurely explore the charming town, picking up a variety of delightful souvenirs ~ 🛖
3:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Hiked through Valle de la Luna and witnessed a mesmerizing sunset 🏜
✅ Day 4:
11:30 AM – 12:50 PM – Transfer Pampas back to Calama airport, returning to São Paulo. The subsequent LATAM flight adjustments were too many to count 🛫
All our tours were booked with Layana, a travel agency highly recommended by a friend. This friend, a seasoned stargazer, had visited Atacama multiple times and found Layana to be the best. Concerned about the crowds during Carnival, we pre-booked all our tours with this agency, skipping the price comparison step.
We felt incredibly fortunate. On the afternoon of our stargazing, it rained in Atacama, and the evening was overcast. We only received confirmation from the travel agency at 8:30 PM that the stargazing would proceed, and what followed was a celestial spectacle beyond words. The guide informed us that the conditions that night were the best in nearly 30 days, as Atacama had been cloudy for several evenings.
The next day, chatting with other travelers, we discovered that their stargazing tours the previous night had been canceled.
Traveling in South America truly demands flexibility. You can make plans and even backup plans, but when unforeseen circumstances arise, a calm and adaptable mindset is key. During our trip, we faced a vehicle breakdown, tour cancellations, and flight delays. But I know that years from now, while the memory of standing under the scorching desert sun might fade, the brilliance of that starry river will forever remain etched in my heart.
