From the Andes Mountains to excessive desert lagoons, these are one of the best issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama. The Atacama Desert was our favourite place to go to in Chile. Positioned in northern Chile, connecting Bolivia and Argentina in South America, the Atacama Desert is the driest non-polar desert on the planet and lots of vacationers make their technique to the city of San Pedro de Atacama to take pleasure in all the wonderful excursions on this extraordinary vacation spot. We visited the Atacama Desert with Exodus Travels and found all of the highlights with the assistance of our trusty information, Alex.
Issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama
The Atacama Desert is the very best and dryest non-polar desert on the planet. It’s identified for its lunar panorama and pure magnificence. With quite a lot of terrains together with salt flats, geysers, and lagoons, Salar de Atacama is likely one of the most hanging locations we have now ever visited.
Excursions and journeys will be booked to the desert from San Pedro de Atacama, and whereas visiting this area of Chile, additionally, you will have the prospect to immerse in its tradition as it’s a heart for indigenous communities. The city is a well-liked vacation spot for backpackers and intrepid vacationers who’re fascinated by journey, nature, and historical past, and there are various issues to do within the space. Listed here are some recommendations for issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama.
The place is San Pedro de Atacama
The Atacama Desert is positioned within the northern half of Chile between the Pacific Ocean, to the west, and the Andes Mountains, to the east. This 1,000-mile strip of desert, is the very best non-polar desert plateau on the planet. (Antarctica is the driest place on earth in case you are questioning) and San Pedro de Atacama is a small city positioned within the coronary heart of it close to the Bolivian Border. San Pedro de Atacama is the place everybody makes a base to do desert excursions and this cool city is a vacation spot in its personal proper. With eating places, motels, tour firms, and retailers, it makes for a incredible base to see every thing in Salar de Atacama.
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1. Laguna Chaxa
Seeing the flamingoes of Chaxa Lagoon was the primary cease on our tour and it was an excellent one! As a part of the Los Flamencos Nationwide Reserve, Chaxa Lagoon is one of the best place to see flamingoes. Three species of flamingoes frequent the salt swimming pools to feed on brine shrimp. The setting is what makes this cease so extraordinary.
Rocky paths weave by salt lagoons surrounded by layers of colours resulting in the Andes Mountains. Flamingoes fly from one pool to a different after which slowly saunter within the nonetheless waters with their reflections dazzling within the backdrop of the encircling volcanoes. From the white salt deposits to the pink hues of the desert, this can be a place you’ll wish to pull out your digicam.
There are three most important lagoons in Sector Soncor with the Chaxa lagoon being one of the best place to identify Andean and Chilean Flamingoes. The lagoons are positioned at a excessive elevation of 2300 meters (over 7500 toes)
Chaxa Lagoon is 2 hours from San Pedro de Atacama and also you’ll spend no less than an hour having fun with the strolling trails that weave by the lagoons.Â
2. Go to the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
The Valle de la Luna is a singular panorama that’s positioned simply 13 km (8 miles) exterior of San Pedro de Atacama. It’s known as the Moon Valley due to its similarity to the floor of the moon however it actually appears to be like extra just like the floor of Mars with its crimson rocks and crimson dunes.
Additionally positioned inside the Los Flamencos Nationwide Reserve, this is likely one of the high locations to go to within the Atacama to view the Mars Valley. With its rocky terrain and strange rock formations. The truth is, NASA examined its Mars Rover within the Atacama due to its comparable panorama and local weather.
3. Hike Duna Mayor
The valley is a superb place to go mountaineering, and there are a number of trails that lead by the world. It’s also possible to go to the valley at sundown for some stunning views of the encircling mountains. Mountaineering Duna Mayor is a superb brief hike to unimaginable vistas. The hike is about 20 minutes out and takes you alongside a slender path overlooking excessive dunes and out-of-this-world rock formations.
Probably the most spectacular sight was the Moon Valley Amphitheatre. We had the clearest view of it strolling again alongside the excessive journey on the Duna Mayor hike. It reminded us a lot of Wilpena Pound in South Australia.
4. Mirador Lickan-Antai
There are a number of miradors to observe the sundown in Valle de La Luna and we made positive to pop into all of them for one of the best views. With Exodus Travels we had been spoiled and loved a glass of wine with cheese as we ignored the extraordinary views from Mirador Lickan Antai. This can be a pretty cease off the aspect of the highway in case you are biking, self-driving or have employed a information. You possibly can hike out for higher views of the desert landscapes.
5. Las Tres Marias Valle de La Luna
If you’re in search of these pictures that seize the Salar de Atacama, a cease at Las Tres MarÃas is the place you’ll view the well-known rock formations of the Atacama Desert. The salt flat of the Atacama Desert is way totally different from the Bolivian Salt Flats. See what the salt flats in Bolivia are all about at A Bolivia Salt Flats Tour in Uyuni: Every thing You Must Know
Since it’s such a dry desert (some locations solely see rain each 100 years!) you don’t get the glass-like views and trick-of-the-eye pictures as you do in Bolivia, however that is the place the place you’ll be able to play with scale and scope just a little bit. The path is a brief 15-minute stroll.
6. Sundown from Mirador de Kari Piedra del Coyote
Probably the greatest issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama is to observe the sundown from Mirador de Kari Piedra del Coyote. Positioned exterior Valle de La Luna, that is one of the best place for sundown as a result of it’s good to be out of the valley by a sure time. Since you can’t keep within the Valle de la Luna after sundown, this mirador has the majority of vacationers watching the solar go down within the Atacama Desert.
It’s a stunning view with the solar creating shadows and depth on the rocky valley flooring because the excessive mountains twinkle with coloration surrounding the huge desert.
7. Go to the El Tatio geysers
The El Tatio geysers are a gaggle of geothermal springs which are the very best geothermal space on the planet. A go to to the geysers occurs at daybreak, and whereas it’s an early and chilly tour, that is one place within the Atacama Desert that you simply don’t wish to miss.
The El Tatio Geysers are a few two-hour drive from San Pedro de Atacama. We had been picked up properly earlier than dawn and hopped within the van for a nap earlier than getting out within the brisk air. It was -13 levels Celcius on the geysers so be sure you layer up with gloves and a hat. The geysers are most lively at daybreak when the water is at its hottest (and air at its coldest), they usually produce steam and scorching water that may attain temperatures of as much as 100°C.
It takes about 90 minutes to stroll across the geysers alongside the designated stone paths and whereas not fairly as spectacular on the Geysers of Yellowstone, these are the third largest geothermal areas on earth so they need to not be missed!
8. Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques
Have you ever ever questioned what it was prefer to stroll at excessive altitudes however don’t wish to hike for days to get there? Properly, a go to to the high-altitude lakes (The Lagunas Altiplanicas) of Miscanti and Miñiques will do the trick. We drove on to an elevation of over 4000 meters (13,000 toes) to stroll from the picturesque lakes of Miscanti and Miniques.
Often, you would wish to trek for days to get to this elevation. The nonetheless deep blue waters are hanging and it’s surprising to be standing at 4000 meters with the 2 excessive volcanoes towering overhead. It was exhausting to imagine that the Volcano proper earlier than our eyes was greater than Mount Kilimanjaro. The 2 volcanoes that body the lagoons are (5,622 meters (18,445 ft)) and Cerro Miñiques (5,910 meters (19,390 ft))
9. Spy on Vicuñas
The lagoons are related by a path of rocks and also you’ll be capable of see wild vicunas roaming the panorama. These animals are associated to the llama and el paca households and are actually protected. These vicunas are unattainable to cultivate so to get their in-demand wool, they spherical them as much as shave them solely as soon as each three years.Â
10. Go stargazing
San Pedro de Atacama is positioned in an space with little or no gentle air pollution or precipitation, which makes it a super place for stargazing and excursions will be booked for round $50 to see the evening skies throughout San Pedro de Atacama. There are a number of firms that supply stargazing excursions within the space that you could e book in San Pedro de Atacama. Our tour was an add on with Exodus Travels.
The clear, dry air of the Atacama Desert permits for wonderful visibility of the celebs, planets, and the Milky Means. Due to the low humidity, excessive altitude, and low gentle air pollution, it’s a scorching spot for astronomers to check the skies, and lots of firms from all over the world have scientists learning its darkish skies. San Pedro de Atacama is well-liked for Astro-tourism and you can’t miss doing this tour. I actually didn’t suppose I’d be impressed, however I cherished listening to the tales of our information as he identified constellations earlier than having us look into the large telescopes at Saturn, Mars, and Pluto.Â
We seemed by these huge telescopes at stars and planets till the wee hours of the morning. Our information was so gung ho that lengthy after different excursions left, we stayed trying into the evening till 2 am!
No cell telephones or cameras are allowed, however Dave went off on his personal to take some evening pictures and the corporate we went with was variety sufficient to provide pictures of our expertise. This is likely one of the hottest excursions within the Atacama Desert.Â
It’s also possible to go to the ALMA Observatory, which is positioned about 50 kilometers exterior of San Pedro de Atacama. The observatory is house to the biggest array of radio telescopes on the planet, and
11. Stand on the Tropic of Capricorn
There’s something particular about crossing one of many 5 main circles of the earth. For instance, when taking a cruise, every passenger will get a certificates that they crossed the equator. When visiting the Atacama Desert, we had the prospect to face on the Tropic of Capricorn. The Tropic of Capricorn is about 60 km from San Pedro de Atacama. It’s a small and brief cease, however very cool to face on the place that’s the most southerly latitude the place the solar can seem instantly overhead at excessive midday. Cool eh?
12. Go to the Village of Tocanao
Moreover San Pedro de Atacama, there are a couple of villages within the Atacama Desert. If you wish to do some purchasing, the village of Tocanao is an effective cease. We purchased some jewellery and baggage for only a few {dollars}. Positioned 38 km from San Pedro de Atacama, most excursions will cease right here for no less than half-hour to an hour to assist the area people. Probably the most notable constructing within the village is the bell tower which was in-built 1750.
13. Church of Socaire
Socaire is one other cease within the Atacama Desert that may be a sensible choice for lunch. Our information known as forward to order conventional stew. The primary attraction on this city is the Church of Socaire. This rustic church with a thatched roof is positioned in a picturesque setting simply off the aspect of the highway.
14. Discover the Salar de Tara
The Salar de Tara is a big salt flat positioned inside the Los Flamencos Nationwide Reserve of the Atacama Desert subsequent to subsequent to Piers Rojas (The Crimson Rocks). It’s the third largest salt flat on the planet, and it’s house to quite a lot of plant and animal life. The Salar de Tara is a superb place to go for a drive, as there are a number of grime roads that lead by the world. It’s also possible to go to the salt flats on a tour, which can take you to a number of the finest spots for pictures and sightseeing. Learn extra at: Salar de Tara an Extraordinary Journey within the Atacama Desert
15. Salar de Talar
One other salt flat within the Atacama is the Salar de Talar. Positioned at 3900 meters, Salar de Talar is 46 sq. km that you could view on the best way to Laguna Miscanti. We didn’t go to the salt flat, however we did cease on the aspect of the highway a number of instances for views of the valleys under. The beauty of taking an organized tour is that our native information all the time knew the place to cease to see the highest sights of the Atacama Desert.
16. Valle de la Muerte (Demise Valley or Mars Valley)
Valle de la Muerte is called so as a result of it is likely one of the harshest places on the planet. Previously these animals (and people) who dared to cross perished within the unforgiving situations. No vegetation, animals and even bugs can survive in Demise Valley.
Also called Mars Valley, this can be a nice cease for backpackers or these seeking to discover on their very own. Positioned simply 2 km from San Pedro de Atacama this can be a good cease to see the rocky panorama with desert dunes and unusual formations giving a style of that Mars terrain that we talked about earlier.
16. Rainbow Valley – Valle del Arcoiris
All through the Atacama Desert, the rainbow colours of the panorama are some of the spectacular websites. However there’s truly a spot particularly known as Rainbow Valley. Valle del Arcoiris is about 90 minutes from San Pedro de Atacama which will be booked on a day tour. It showcases the layers of colours reminiscent to Rainbow Mountain in Peru. Whereas there you’ll be able to see the ten,000-year-old petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas.Â
17. San Pedro de Atacama
Properly, this whole article is in regards to the excursions from San Pedro de Atacama, so let’s cease and discuss this sprawling desert city positioned in northern Chile. San Pedro de Atacama has that typical backpacker vibe with loads of eating places and retailers. There are a number of motels on the town and it’s a good spot for eating. You possibly can e book any day journey you want from city and it has a cool laid-back vibe that makes it excellent for chilling out for a couple of days.
There are a number of issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama with out leaving city.
- Meteorite Museum – Whereas strolling round San Pedro de Atacama, make a cease on the Meteorite Museum which helps you to truly contact stones from out of this world,
- R. P. Gustavo Le Paige Archaeological Museum – t is devoted to the archaeology and historical past of the Atacama Desert. The museum has a set of artifacts and reveals that showcase the indigenous cultures of the area, together with the Atacamenian, Inca, and Mapuche cultures.
- Buying – This can be a incredible city for purchasing. The artist’s neighborhood of Pueblo de Artesanos is an effective place to select up Andean souvenirs from ponchos to blankets.
Methods to Get to San Pedro de Atacama
By air: The closest airport to San Pedro de Atacama is the El Loa Airport, which is positioned within the metropolis of Calama. The airport is served by a number of main airways, together with LATAM and Sky Airways, and there are flights to and from Santiago in addition to different cities within the area. From the airport, you’ll be able to take a taxi or a bus to San Pedro de Atacama, which is a few 45-minute drive from the airport.
By bus: There are a number of bus firms that function common service to San Pedro de Atacama from main cities in Chile. The bus journey from Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama takes about 23 hours, and there are a number of totally different lessons of service accessible, together with semi-cama (semi-bed), cama (mattress), and VIP. The buses depart from Terminal Alameda in Santiago, and tickets will be bought on-line or on the terminal.
By automobile: When you want to journey by automobile, you’ll be able to drive to San Pedro de Atacama from Santiago or different cities within the area. The drive from Santiago to San Pedro de Atacama takes about 22 hours, and it’s endorsed to take a 4×4 automobile because of the tough terrain of the Atacama Desert. It’s also possible to lease a automobile in Santiago or Calama, and there are a number of automobile rental firms that function within the area. Take a look at automobile rental costs right here.
By tour: When you want to journey with a guided tour, there are a number of firms that supply excursions to San Pedro de Atacama from Santiago and different cities in Chile. The excursions normally embody transportation, lodging, and actions, and they’re an excellent choice for vacationers who wish to see as a lot of the area as potential.
Irrespective of the way you select to get to San Pedro de Atacama, you will need to plan your journey prematurely and to be ready for the distinctive situations of the Atacama Desert. The city has a dry, arid local weather so refill on water and ensure to decorate in light-weight clothes that may defend you from the solar and warmth. Oh, and be ready to be coated in sand. There may be lots of sand.
The place to Keep in San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is the primary hub to discover the Atacama Desert of Chile. There are a number of choices for lodging. Listed here are some recommendations for the place to remain in San Pedro de Atacama:
- Accommodations: San Pedro de Atacama has quite a lot of motels to select from, starting from price range to luxurious. We stayed at Resort Diego Del Almagro which has among the finest places in San Pedro de Atacama. The resort rooms are primary, however you’ll be able to’t be the placement. Positioned proper within the heart of the town, it was inside strolling distance to every thing. If you’re driving, it has free parking for company and a swimming pool.Â
- Another well-liked choices embody Resort de Larache, Resort Atacama, and Resort Casa de Don Tomas. These motels supply a variety of facilities, together with swimming pools, eating places, and spas, and they’re positioned within the heart of the city, close to the primary sq. and the primary vacationer sights.
- Hostels: If you’re touring on a price range, there are a number of hostels in San Pedro de Atacama that supply inexpensive lodging.
- Some well-liked choices embody Hostal La Casona, Hostal Atacama, and Hostal El Descanso del Viajero. These hostels supply shared dorms and personal rooms, they usually normally have frequent areas, equivalent to kitchens and dwelling rooms, the place you’ll be able to socialize with different vacationers.
- Tenting: When you want a extra out of doors expertise, there are a number of campsites in and round San Pedro de Atacama.
- Fashionable choices embody Tenting San Pedro de Atacama, Tenting La Duna, and Tenting El Molle. These campsites supply primary amenities, equivalent to bathrooms and showers, and they’re an excellent choice for vacationers who wish to be near nature.
- Renting a trip house: If you’re touring with a gaggle or need more room and privateness, you’ll be able to contemplate renting a trip house in San Pedro de Atacama. There are a number of choices accessible, starting from flats to homes, and yow will discover trip leases on Vrbo. Renting a trip house could be a good choice if you wish to have your individual kitchen and dwelling area, and it may also be extra economical in case you are touring with a gaggle.
Irrespective of the place you select to remain in San Pedro de Atacama, you will need to e book your lodging prematurely, particularly throughout the excessive season, which runs from November to March. The city can get very busy throughout this time, and it’s best to e book your lodging as early as potential to make sure that you have got a spot to remain. It is usually a good suggestion to analysis the placement of your lodging, as some locations could also be farther from the middle of the city or the primary vacationer sights.
From its unimaginable salt flat to rolling desert dunes, San Pedro de Atacama is likely one of the finest locations to go to in South America. While you go to Chile, be sure that it’s added to your itinerary. It’s a visit that may create reminiscences to final a lifetime.
