San Pedro de Atacama, a lunar-like wonder and the driest place on Earth, captivates visitors with its breathtaking desert salt mountains and star-studded skies🌌
📍Itinerary
Day 1:
✈️Santiago to Calama: 06:01 – 08:09
🚗Calama to Atacama: 9:00 – 10:30
🥣Lunch & book tour: 11:00 – 13:30
🏜️Moon Valley: 14:00 – 18:30
🌃Stargazing tour: 21:00 – 24:00
Day 2:
🏔️Geysers: 4:30 – 12:00
♨️Salt flats: 14:00 – 17:30
✈️Atacama to Santiago: 18:00 – 23:29
Start your journey from Santiago to Calama. Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll find a Transvip counter right at the exit where you can easily purchase tickets to San Pedro de Atacama. A round trip costs 26,000 CLP, and each leg of the journey takes about an hour. It’s advisable to buy a round trip ticket as the return ticket is only available for purchase at the airport.
The staff will help you choose a suitable return time, and the shuttle will conveniently pick you up and drop you off at your hotel.
The town features a bustling main street lined with numerous travel agencies and charming little shops. Some of the most popular activities include exploring Moon Valley, Rainbow Valley, stargazing tours, and visiting the geysers. Joining a small group tour is highly recommended for these adventures.
Hotel pickup and drop-off are perfect for those who value convenience (like me). Groups of fewer than 10 people offer a more intimate and comfortable experience. I highly recommend the agency I used (details in the last photo). They provide a Mercedes minibus, and the guide is incredibly enthusiastic, speaking both Spanish and English.
Water and even sunscreen were provided. I booked three activities:
♨️Geyser del Tatio: Witness the spectacular thermal activity just before sunrise. At an altitude of 3,000-4,000 meters, make sure to dress warmly! Not wearing a down jacket will be a regrettable mistake (trust me, I learned the hard way).
🏜️Moon Valley: If you arrive by the morning flight, you can join the 2:00 PM tour, which concludes around 6:00-7:00 PM.
Enjoy a small picnic and marvel at the stunning salt mountain scenery.
🌃Astronomy Tour: Absolutely a must-do on a clear night! The southern hemisphere Milky Way offers a unique and awe-inspiring experience.
📍Restaurants: I tried two and highly recommend both: Ckunza Tilar (near Caracoles 400) and Adobe (a popular spot with great food and live music, creating a fantastic atmosphere).
📍Hotel: Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas
This hotel boasts excellent facilities, clean and tidy rooms, a small pool, and comfortable lounge chairs. For a desert location, it’s surprisingly high-end. I give it a solid 9 out of 10!
📍Cost: Round-trip airfare is approximately 1,200, hotel 1,000, tours 800, and transportation, meals, and other expenses 1,000.
