Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
Walk and watch sunset among salt-crusted ridges, wind-carved dunes and pale canyons in the Cordillera de la Sal, the lunar landscape that made San Pedro famous.
Antofagasta (Chile)
San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a small adobe village in a green oasis at the edge of the driest desert on Earth, and it is the base for some of the most otherworldly landscapes in South America.
Within a few hours of the village lie the salt-carved ridges and dunes of the Valle de la Luna, the steaming geyser field of El Tatio at more than 4,000 m, turquoise high-altitude lagoons with flamingos and vicuñas, floating pools in the Salar de Atacama, rainbow-striped hills and volcanoes that climb above 5,000 m. At night, the high, dry, cloud-free air makes the Milky Way blaze, and stargazing tours with telescopes are one of the great pleasures of a stay. Cultural sights such as the Pukara de Quitor fortress, the ancient village of Tulor and the archaeological museum add the human story of the Atacameno people. This guide covers what to book, how to order your days around altitude, and where to stay, from central village hotels to all-inclusive desert lodges.
Don't miss
Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
Walk and watch sunset among salt-crusted ridges, wind-carved dunes and pale canyons in the Cordillera de la Sal, the lunar landscape that made San Pedro famous.
El Tatio Geysers
Rise before dawn for a drive into the Andes to a field of steaming vents at more than 4,000 m, where the geysers are at their most dramatic at sunrise.
Piedras Rojas and the Altiplanic Lagoons
Drive high onto the altiplano for turquoise lagoons, red volcanic rocks and a salt lake edged with white, framed by snow-capped volcanoes and grazing vicuñas.
Atacama Stargazing Tour
Look at the Milky Way, planets and star clusters through telescopes beneath some of the clearest night skies on Earth.
Things to do in San Pedro de Atacama
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
El Tatio Geysers
Rise before dawn for a drive into the Andes to a field of steaming vents at more than 4,000 m, where the geysers are at their most dramatic at sunrise.
Piedras Rojas and the Altiplanic Lagoons
Drive high onto the altiplano for turquoise lagoons, red volcanic rocks and a salt lake edged with white, framed by snow-capped volcanoes and grazing vicuñas.
Laguna Chaxa, Salar de Atacama and Toconao
Watch flamingos feed on the edge of Chile's great salt flat, then visit the stone village of Toconao and its green canyon.
Laguna Cejar, Ojos del Salar and Laguna Tebinquiche
Float in a salt lagoon where the water is saltier than the sea, then see the Ojos del Salar and Tebinquiche at sunset.
Baltinache Hidden Lagoons
Float in a string of turquoise, very salty pools tucked into the desert near San Pedro, a quieter alternative to the bigger lagoon tours.
Rainbow Valley and Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs
Walk through hills banded in red, green, yellow and purple, then see ancient rock carvings at Yerbas Buenas on a quiet half-day outing.
Vallecito and the Cordillera de la Sal Sunset Walk
A short, scenic outing into the salt ridges near the village for a hillside sunset walk, a quieter alternative to the busy Valle de la Luna.
Atacama Stargazing Tour
Look at the Milky Way, planets and star clusters through telescopes beneath some of the clearest night skies on Earth.
Cerro Toco Volcano
Climb to the summit of an extinct volcano at more than 5,600 m for a panorama over salt flats, lagoons and the peaks of the altiplano.
Lascar Volcano
Hike towards the summit of one of northern Chile's most active volcanoes, a high, demanding day with a view into a steaming crater and across the altiplano.
Puritama Hot Springs
Soak in a series of warm, clear pools in a rocky canyon, a restful outing that fits neatly after a Tatio dawn or a day of walking.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
explora Atacama
Edge of San Pedro village
An all-inclusive desert lodge on the edge of the village with four pools, a spa, 50 individually furnished rooms and a daily programme of guided explorations.
Check rates →Tierra Atacama
Sequitor, near San Pedro village
A luxury boutique hotel a short drive from the plaza, with indoor and outdoor pools, a spa, a library and guided tours as part of an all-inclusive stay.
Check rates →Nayara Alto Atacama
Ayllu de Quitor
A five-star lodge in the Ayllu de Quitor, a few minutes from the Pukara fortress, with six pools, a spa, river setting and guided eco-tours.
Check rates →Awasi Atacama
Near the plaza
A small, all-inclusive desert lodge known for private excursions, with stocked minibars, a pool and a restaurant close to the plaza.
Check rates →Hotel Kimal
Central San Pedro, corner of Atienza and Caracoles
A central, low-rise hotel on the corner of Atienza and Caracoles, with two pools, a spa, a restaurant and free breakfast, a five-minute walk from the plaza.
Check rates →Hotel Poblado Kimal
Central San Pedro, Calle Domingo Atienza
A central hotel with a pool, spa, yoga classes and a local-cuisine restaurant, five minutes on foot from the plaza and close to the tour agencies.
Check rates →Hotel La Casa de Don Tomas
Central San Pedro, Calle Tocopilla
A large, central hotel with 104 rooms, a pool, garden, two restaurants and free breakfast, a short walk from the plaza and the meteorite museum.
Check rates →Diego de Almagro San Pedro de Atacama
Central San Pedro, Calle Toconao
A Chilean chain hotel three minutes from the plaza, with a pool and children's pool, free breakfast and parking, and family rooms for up to five.
Check rates →Naturalis
Central San Pedro, near the plaza
A quiet, adults-only hotel close to the plaza and church, with an outdoor pool, garden, free breakfast, free parking and free bicycles.
Check rates →San Pedro de Atacama guides
First Time in San Pedro de Atacama: How Many Days, What to Book and How to Get Around
The practical primer for a first visit to San Pedro de Atacama: how to get there, how many days you need, what to book ahead and how to plan the headline tours around altitude.
Where to Stay in San Pedro de Atacama: Village Hotels, Desert Lodges and All-Inclusive Stays
A guide to choosing where to stay in San Pedro de Atacama: central village hotels, quiet lodges along the ayllus, and all-inclusive luxury, with tips on transfers, tax and what to check.
San Pedro de Atacama in Three Days: A Sample Itinerary That Respects Altitude
A three-day San Pedro de Atacama itinerary that builds up in altitude: the Valle de la Luna, salt lagoons and ruins first, then El Tatio or the high lagoons, with stargazing each evening.
Eating and Drinking in San Pedro de Atacama: Andean Flavours, Desert Dining and Practical Tips
A guide to eating and drinking in San Pedro de Atacama: Andean ingredients, Chilean classics, set lunches, picnics on tours, drinks and practical tips on tipping, hours and dietary needs.
Best Time to Visit San Pedro de Atacama: Seasons, Weather, Moon Phases and Crowds
When to visit San Pedro de Atacama: how the seasons, the altiplanic winter, the Moon cycle and school holidays affect the weather, stargazing, crowds and prices.
Altitude and Staying Well in San Pedro de Atacama: Acclimatisation, Sun and Dry Air
How to stay healthy in San Pedro de Atacama: acclimatising to altitude, ordering your tours, hydration, sun and cold protection, who should take extra care and when to turn back.
