Combine the Andes mountain rage blocking rain coming your way with being at the tropic of Capricorn’s latitude and the Humbolt’s oceanic current preventing water from evaporating, and you will get the driest desert on Earth: the Atacama desert.
In this guide, you will find not only the best spots to visit in the Atacama desert but also all the practical information you need to prepare for your trip to the Atacama desert in Chile. From how and when to go there to how to move around and where to stay, I have you covered!
Practical
How to get to the Atacama desert in Chile?
By plane:
The nearest airport is in the mining city of Calama. To travel from Calama to Atacama, you can hire a transfer from the airport for around 26 USD. The transfer lasts around 1h30.
When to go to the Atacama desert?
The best answer to this question is that it depends on what you want to do and see. You can visit the Atacama desert all year long, but the experience will differ depending on whether you go in Summer or Winter.
Winter (June to August) is the best time to stargaze in the Atacama desert, but temperatures can reach -20 degrees.
Summer (December to February) is the best time to enjoy sunny days and visit the different points of interest in Atacama. This would also be the perfect time to make a quick run to the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia and enjoy its famous mirror effect.
How to move around Atacama?
You can rent a car at the Calama airport and drive to the different points of interest. If you choose to do so, I would recommend you to get a 4x4 because the roads are not always in the best conditions.
Option 1 - Renting a car Renting a car will give you the freedom to explore each place for as long as you want and to stop along the route to take pictures if you want.
But before renting a car, here are a couple of things you should know:
- Some spots have hours in which only tours can enter
- If you’re not used to being at an altitude of 2000 km above sea level, you might get more tired than usual and even feel sleepier.
- If something happens to you and you need help(flat tire, etc.), you might have to wait until someone comes along and helps you (limited cell signal, remote conditions)
- Some routes are not paved, and even paved routes can be in a pretty bad state or be covered with sand
Option 2 - Getting a tour The alternative to renting a car is to go on tours that will take you to the main places of interest and sometimes even include a snack or meal. Tour prices usually do not include the entrance fees to the attractions.
Where to stay
The town of San Pedro de Atacama is the best place to stay if you want to explore the Atacama desert.
Note that there are no taxis in town so if you don’t rent a car, try to find accommodation near the main street called “Caracoles.”
9 Best things to do in Atacama
1. Piedras Rojas
The name of this place means Red Stones in English, and for good reason. The blueish water on a white salt base contrasts with the red color of the Stones. Add a Mountain in the background, and the result is just stunning.
There is one catch, however: salt accumulates on the surface of the rocks, giving them a palish red color. To see the brightest red color on the stones, it needs to rain a couple of days before you get there because rain washes the salt off the rocks.
Prepare for a long day as this sector is located 160 kilometers away from town. You can combine Piedras Rojas with both the Chaxa Lagoon, where you will see flamingos in their natural habitat, and the Altiplanic Lagoons.
Tour option: This full-day tour is the longest and includes visits to the Laguna Chaxa and the Altiplanic Lagoons.
2. Valle de la Luna
This highlight is the closest to San Pedro de Atacama, as it is only 10 kilometers away.
You can either walk around to different viewpoints or cycle through it. Either way, you will enjoy an almost utter world landscape.
Be aware that you cannot enter the valley on foot, and that entrance is restricted in the late afternoon unless you go on a tour.
Tour option: This is a half-day tour that ends by watching the sunset over the valley while enjoying some snacks and drinks.
3. Laguna Baltinache
These turquoise lagoons located 59km away from the town are beyond beautiful. In theory, it is possible to swim in some of the lagoons, but they are often restricted from access to allow them to regenerate.
Tour option: A half-day tour that will most likely take you to the magic bus as well.
4. Geysers del Tatio
This spot is 80km away from the town. You will see around 80 geysers spread across a 20 square kilometer area there. Make sure you go there before sunrise to enjoy the most activity from the geysers.
These geysers will mainly emit steam but will not spur. If you have visited Iceland or Yellowstone and hold those as the standard, these geysers might seem underwhelming to you.
Since this is the spot with the highest altitude, it is not recommended that you go there on your first couple of days to allow your body to gradually acclimate to the altitude.
Tour option: The tour is a half-day tour that starts at 4 a.m.
5. Rainbow Valley
Tour option: half-day
In my opinion, this is one of the most underrated places on this list. If you like geology, you will most likely like this tour.
Situated 90 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama, this place offers the opportunity to see red and green mountains and canyons.
Tour option: A half-day tour will bring you to the Rainbow Valley and probably take you to the Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs, where you will see carvings of llamas and other animals.
6. Cejar Lagoon
This popular lagoon is located 20 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama. It is popular because the salt concentration in the water allows people to easily float on it.
You can spot some flamingos and other animals roaming the area if you're lucky.
Tour option: You can join a half-day tour to get there.
7. Puri libre
25 kilometers away from town, you will find the Puritama Canyon. From there, you will go on a short 2.5-kilometer hike until you reach the thermal wells.
This is a great alternative to the better-known Cejar Lagoon.
Tour option: You can join a half-day tour to get there.
8. Star Gazing
As I mentioned before, the best time to do this activity is on a clear winter night.
That being said, you can still stargazing during the summer, which will still be impressive. The difference is that you have a higher chance of getting a picture of the “full” Milky Way during winter.
You don’t really need to join a tour to see the stars. You could simply drive far enough from town to observe them. However, a tour would be the better option if you are interested in learning more about the different celestial bodies.
9. Take a multi-day tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats
If you have some spare time, you can go on a four-day/three-night tour to the world's largest Slat Flats at Uyuni in Bolivia, which starts and ends in San Pedro de Atacama.
You will visit several points of interest in Bolivia, and it's great value for the money (In 2025, it costs around $250 USD for transport, accommodation, and meals).
