The Ultimate Atacama Desert Travel Guide

While I think back to all my past trips on what seems like a non-stop loop, my time in Chile, specifically in the Atacama Desert, is one that feels particularly special for me. It sounds cheesy, but over the course of a few days, I saw some of the most magical landscapes I’d literally ever seen — so if you’re on the fence about visiting, just go for it!

This Atacama Desert travel guide breaks down everything you need to know before visiting and all the best places to see, and will hopefully answer every question you may have about visiting this amazing region.

Is the Atacama Desert worth visiting?

If you like spending time in nature, then 1,000% yes.

The landscapes are really like nothing else I’ve ever seen — it genuinely felt like being on another planet at times. If that speaks to you at all, then don’t hesitate, just go!

If you’re more of a city traveler, or you just would rather spend your vacation relaxing at the beach, then yeah, you may not like it then. (If you’re looking for a fun city in Chile to spend some time in, Santiago and Valparaiso are both great choices, and are only 90 minutes or so away from each other.)

Although it seems like it may be a super rugged and other-worldly destination (and that’s not untrue), it’s surprisingly easy to navigate if you stick to going on day tours. It was actually the first destination I ever visited solo, and although I was initially nervous, everything ended up being a breeze this way.

Is the Atacama Desert safe to travel?

I felt very safe the whole time. As a solo traveler, the easiest way to navigate visiting the many destinations throughout the area was just by taking day tours, so I didn’t even have to worry about figuring out transportation, or a lot of my meals. 

This reduced any chance of experiencing anything sketchy, but honestly, the Atacama Desert is considered to be very safe anyway. Just be sure to check for any up-to-date travel alerts before you go. 

Best time to visit the Atacama Desert

I visited in January, which is the summer in Chile, and I found this to be a great choice. Although it was the summer in Chile, the climate is really all over the place here, and during the early mornings and at night you’ll definitely need a jacket (maybe even a coat), while you’ll end up feeling really hot during the middle of the day.

From December to February, temperatures typically get to the mid-70s midday, and as low as the late 30s/early 40s at night. This is also a great time for spotting wild flamingos and for star-gazing. 

If you have more flexibility, the general consensus is that September to November is the best time to visit, as it’s usually less crowded without being too cold (although it really wasn’t crowded when I visited in January, to be honest).

Temperatures usually get into the 70s during the day at this time, but will go down to the mid-30s at night. 

March through May is also a great time for similar reasons, and the temperature is around the same. The temperatures are just a bit cooler than summertime, but it’s not as crowded. 

From June to August, temperatures dip below freezing at night, and generally reach the mid-60s during the day. 

If you’re concerned about rain, you probably won’t have anything to worry about. The Atacama Desert is actually the driest desert on Earth. It generally receives less than 0.2 inches of rain per year, and some people even say that parts of the region have literally never gotten any rain (I kind of doubt that, but who really knows). 

How long to spend in the Atacama Desert

I spent four days here during my 10-day trip to Chile, which included traveling and getting to San Pedro de Atacama. I found that to be the perfect Atacama Desert itinerary. But if you have the time for a longer trip, you could definitely add an extra day or two to see even more of the sights and relax more. While you could also make it work in just three full days, I really wouldn’t stay less than that.

How to visit the Atacama Desert

Visas and immigration

If you’re a U.S. citizen, you don’t need to get a visa before arrival. After landing, you will receive a small tourism card that’s good for 90 days. At least when I visited, it was a really flimsy piece of paper that I didn’t even realize was important, so I immediately lost it. I ended up having to get mine replaced in Santiago, because it’s required to exit the country. So hold onto yours!

Getting to the Atacama Desert

BY AIR – The closest airport is in Calama, which is about one-and-a-half to two hours away from San Pedro de Atacama, which is where most people choose to stay. Only domestic flights go to Calama, so you’ll most likely have to first fly into Santiago, and then fly to Calama. You can then easily get a bus or a shuttle to San Pedro de Atacama. Flying is definitely the easiest and recommended option here.

BY LAND – If you’re so inclined, you can take a bus from Santiago to Calama, and then another bus to San Pedro. The first leg of the journey will be about 21 hours though. You can also rent a car and drive yourself, which will take about 18 hours. 

Alternatively, if you’re adding stops in Argentina or Bolivia to your overall itinerary, you can travel through the Andes Mountains to get to San Pedro. You can travel from Salta, Argentina on route 51, turning into route 23 in Chile, and get to San Pedro in around eight hours. 

From Bolivia, you can take a three or four day guided tour through the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. The Andes and Atacama can be difficult to drive in yourself, so a guided tour is the easiest option, while also easily allowing you to visit attractions like Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. 

Top things to do in the Atacama Desert

El Tatio Geysers

About an hour-and-a-half away from San Pedro is El Tatio Geysers, which is a must during your time in the Atacama Desert. The geysers are the third largest geyser field in the world, and the largest in South America, with about 80 different geysers. 

They peak from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. when the geysers reach over 30 feet high, so prepare for a super early morning (it’s worth it though, and that’s coming from someone who’s definitely not a morning person). 

The temperatures are freezing this early in the morning, so definitely bring lots of warm layers that you can remove as the day goes on. Nearby, there are thermal pools that you can visit after seeing the geysers.

The entrance fee is 15,000 Chilean pesos, or $15.45 U.S. dollars, and will be paid in cash at the entrance. 

→ This tour has lots of great ratings, includes hotel pick-up, an English and Spanish-speaking guide, and breakfast. The tour is about seven hours in total. Keep in mind that it doesn’t include your entrance fee to the geysers. Book it here. 

Machuca

Close by to El Tatio Geysers, is a small Andean community, Machuca. Over 13,000 feet above sea level, there are just 20 houses and a church here. You may see some locals selling things like crafts, and animals like flamingos and llamas. Since it’s so tiny, there’s not much to do here except check out the church and walk around the town a bit, but is still worth a stop, just to see.

Socaire

This is perhaps the Atacama Desert’s most well-known village. Only about 400 people live here, and fruit trees, quinoa, alfalfa and corn are all grown here, and it’s also known for handmade crafts. This is a common place for tours visiting Piedras Rojas and the Altiplánicas Lagoons to stop for lunch. 

Lagunas Altiplánicas (Lagunas Miñiques and Miscanti)

About two hours south of San Pedro de Atacama are two absolutely stunning lagoons. The water is really vibrant and gem-toned, and surrounded by barren desert and massive volcanoes, making for a really gorgeous sight. They’re part of a national park, La Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos (Flamingo National Reserve). Miscanti is the bigger of the two. You may even see flamingos or vicuñas, which are related to alpacas, around here too. 

Tickets must now be booked in advance, and can be done here. The entrance fee is $10,000 Chilean pesos or $10.30 U.S. dollars.

Tropic of Capricorn

If you take a tour, you’ll most likely have a quick stop here. It’s not the most impressive sight, but is still cool. Basically, it’s a circle of latitude that marks the southernmost point of the sun’s position on Dec. 21, which is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. At this point, the sun is directly above the Tropic of Capricorn.

You’ll also see the beginning of the Inca Trail here, which leads all the way to Cusco, Peru. 

Piedras Rojas

This was another place that wowed me. The landscapes were really breathtaking, with the contrast of the red rocks and aquamarine colors of the Salar de Aguas Calientes. 

The entrance fee is 15,000 Chilean pesos, or $15.45 U.S. dollars.

→ This full-day tour is a great option for visiting a lot of the Atacama’s main sites. Over the course of around 10 hours, you’ll see the Tropic of Capricorn, Laguna Chaxa, Piedras Rojas and Salar de Aguas Calientes, Lagunas Altiplánicas, and Socaire. Breakfast and lunch is included, and round-trip transportation from San Pedro de Atacama. Admission to Piedras Rojas and Laguna Chaxa isn’t included. Book it here! 

Lagunas Escondidas (the Hidden Lagoons) of Baltinache

This is another gorgeous salt lagoon. While nowadays it’s not as hidden as it once was, they do feel very secluded still. There are technically seven, but only two are okay for swimming. 

Because of the salt content, you can float in the water. Just be sure to not shave in the day or two beforehand, as the salt will cause it to burn. 

Valle de la Luna

This is another one of the Atacama’s top destinations, and was definitely another highlight for me. As the name suggests (Valley of the Moon), it really does feel like you’re on the moon, or some other planet. This is a great place to watch the sunset and end your day, since it’s not only especially beautiful, but it’s also just eight miles or so west of San Pedro de Atacama. (If you do that, just keep in mind that the last entry is at 4 p.m.) 

There are four different areas you can explore, Duna Mayor Viewpoint, Victoria Mine, Tres Marías, and Ckari Viewpoint. Keep in mind they all have limits on the number of visitors at a time and time allowed.

Tickets are 10,800 Chilean pesos per person ($11.12 U.S. dollars) and can be bought online here.

→ This sunset tour includes transportation from San Pedro de Atacama, and is about four hours total. It will take you to the viewpoints, and even includes a cocktail to enjoy at sunset. It also has lots of high ratings! Just keep in mind that it doesn’t include the entrance fee for Valle de La Luna, which you’ll want to purchase before the tour. Book it here.

Salar de Atacama 

About 30 minutes south of San Pedro lies Chile’s gorgeous salt flats, a.k.a. Salar de Atacama. They’re the largest in Chile, and the third largest in the world. 

The entrance fee is 2500 Chilean pesos, which at the time of writing, is $2.54 U.S. dollars. 

Laguna Chaxa

In the same area of Salar de Atacama, salt deposits also surround this lagoon, making for really interesting views. It looked almost like a painting, to me. There are two types of flamingos that you may even see here, the Andean and the Chilean flamingo. They’re supposedly some of the oldest bird species on the planet. 

The entrance fee is $13,800 Chilean pesos, or $14.17 U.S. dollars at the time of writing.

Laguna Cejar

Another lagoon in the same vicinity as Salar de Atacama, this lagoon is bright turquoise, which contrasts beautifully with the surrounding salt. Because of the salt, you can float in Laguna Cejar. The salt concentration is supposedly even higher than in the Dead Sea. 

Laguna Tebinquinche 

Also around Salar de Atacama, Tebinquinche Lagoon is one of the largest open-water areas in the salt flats, but seems to be less visited than Chaxa and Cejar. Unlike Laguna Chaxa, Tebinquinch mostly consists of groundwater, some of which entered the salt flats millions of years ago. This lagoon is known for its wide range of microorganisms, so this isn’t an area where you’ll be able to go in the water at all. 

Booking in advance is required, and costs 6,000 Chilean pesos, or around $6.18 U.S. dollars.

Ojos del Salar

These two small, round pools are also in the Salar de Atacama area. You can jump in and swim here.

Stargazing tour

Since I had limited time here and ended up getting up so early every day, I ended up skipping this, but I’m honestly regretful. It’s one of the top things to do here, and people travel here specifically just for this. Because of the lack of pollution, the view at night is unreal.

→ This popular tour option would be my pick! It is highly-rated, lasts about two-and-a-half hours, and includes transportation from San Pedro de Atacama.

Where to stay in the Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama is the best home base for your time here. It’s a hub for backpackers, and you’ll find a number of choices along  with food spots around town.

$ = Under $50 a night

$$ = $50 to $100 a night

$$$ = $100 to $150 a night

→ What I recommend: I only suggest places that are well-rated (yes, I read through reviews!), have a decent number of ratings, and are all-in-all a place I would consider booking myself. 

$ – CASA VOYAGE HOSTEL – This highly-rated hostel looks like one of the best choices if you’re on a strict budget, with dorm beds available for as little as $13. The building itself is cute, colorful, and historic. No breakfast is included but there’s coffee, tea, and cereal. Find out more here.

$ – BACKPACKERS SAN PEDRO – This hostel is super highly-rated. No breakfast is included, but three nights a week, it offers a free open bar. There are dorms in a four-person room available, along with private rooms with a shared bathroom. Learn more here.

$$ – HOSTAL QACHI CHENTURA – This hostel has great ratings, especially when it comes to the staff, cleanliness, and comfort. Private rooms with private bathrooms start at $50 a night, and include a continental breakfast. Book it here.

$$ – ICKOTA B&B – This is a great mid-priced option. There’s a pool, breakfast included, and private bathrooms for every room. It’s rated exceptionally well for its staff and location. A small double room is under $100. Find out more here.

$$$ – NUEVA LODGE ESTACIÓN SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – If you’re looking for amenities and comfort, this is one of the best options in San Pedro de Atacama. There’s everything from a seasonal outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden and terrace, private bathrooms, TVs in each room, room service, and an included breakfast with a buffet, continental, and American options. It’s also located right near Rua Caracoles, which is the main street in San Pedro de Atacama. Book it here.

How to get around the Atacama Desert

I would really suggest coordinating individual day trip tours, so that you don’t have to worry about transportation. A lot of the sights around the desert are extremely spread out, meaning it would be a lot of driving to do by yourself, especially in such difficult terrain. 

It’s rocky, salty, dusty, and just overall bumpy and unpaved. I’ve heard accounts from other travelers who said they saw cars broken down (which without any phone signal, is a situation you obviously don’t want to be in). Other travelers have also reported that Google Maps is unreliable around here. 

Of course, if you drive yourself you have more freedom to spend just as much time as you’d like at each sight, and pick only your top destinations. If you do opt to rent a car, just make sure it’s an off-road vehicle with adequate tires for the conditions. Also note that there’s a gas station in San Pedro de Atacama, but not near any of the sightseeing spots, so don’t leave San Pedro without a full tank. 

Even within San Pedro de Atacama, there’s not much as far as public transportation or Uber.  (There are taxis though.) So expect to walk around the town to get food or any tour pickup/drop-off areas. When I needed to get back to the airport to leave, I just had my hostel arrange a shuttle to pick me up, and that worked out fine.

Internet connection and getting a SIM card in the Atacama Desert

Connection will be strongest in San Pedro de Atacama, but prepare to potentially not get much signal as you venture out into the desert. 

For some reason I can’t explain, I decided to wing it and not get a SIM card. I was totally fine, and just pre-downloaded San Pedro de Atacama’s Google Map and Spanish on Google Translate while I had WiFi. Since I was exploring through day tours, I didn’t have to worry about coordinating any transportation or navigating myself. But with that said, I wouldn’t recommend this option. It’s obviously always safer to just have a SIM card.

The easiest way is to get an eSIM. You can just set everything up by yourself, without having to navigate going to a store and then making the switch. I’ve used Airalo in the past, but there are a number of options. It allows you to keep your regular number, which is always nice, and isn’t the case when you use a physical card. 

If your phone doesn’t allow you to use an eSIM, I would recommend getting the physical card in Santiago Airport, or at one of the malls in Santiago. 

Your four options will be Movistar, Claro, Wom and EnTel.

Money and currency in the Atacama Desert

The currency in Chile is the Chilean peso, or CLP. At the time of writing, $1 U.S. dollar is 970.87 Chilean pesos. 

You’ll want to have cash with you, especially as some of the destinations will require an entry fee, and plenty of places like restaurants and tour agencies within San Pedro de Atacama will also be cash-only. There are four ATMs within San Pedro, so it’s probably best you go to an ATM at the Calama or Santiago Airport

If you need to exchange cash, it’s usually advised that you do it in Santiago, as you may get better rates. 

Costs of traveling in the Atacama Desert

These are rough estimates, and are of course subject to change.

• Dorm bed in a hostel: $12 to $26 a night
• A private room in a basic hostel or hotel: $35 to $70 a night
• A luxury or boutique hotel: $125+ a night
• A beer: around $3
• A coffee: $2-$3
• An empanada: around 50 cents to $2.50
• A typical meal: $5 to $15
• A short taxi ride: around $12

The main cost to consider is booking tours, along with the admission fees for the individual destinations across the desert.

What to bring to the Atacama Desert

• You’ll definitely want to bring a jacket. As I mentioned earlier, the weather is ever-changing here. I brought a light jacket, and honestly wished I’d packed a slightly heavier jacket for my earlier mornings, especially at the Tatio Geysers (and this was during the summer!)
• Layers. Along the same lines, in the middle of the day, it can suddenly get hot, so you’ll want a T-shirt or other short-sleeved shirt to wear underneath.
• Sneakers. If you have options, bring darker colored shoes, as it can get pretty dusty.
• A camera. I sometimes hesitate to bring my camera, either out of concern for safety, or just because it’s heavy and I can get sick of carrying it. This is not the place to do it! I literally look at my photos all the time, just because I still can’t believe what I saw was real. I’ve linked a more affordable alternative to the one I have, that’s highly-rated for beginner photographers! 
• Cash, especially since you’ll need it for some of the entrance fees that we talked about.
• A filtered water bottle. First of all, the Atacama Desert has a high elevation. While you may end up totally fine, it’s always a good idea to stay extra hydrated just in case. Also when exploring most of the sights within the desert, there will be no place to buy anything, so it’s best to be prepared. Although the tap water is generally safe in Chile, the exception is in the Atacama Desert. Because of heavy mining in the area, arsenic and other heavy metals have made their way into the water. I haven’t tested this one myself, but this water bottle is a highly rated option.
• Sunscreen. Although it’s always a good idea, no matter what, you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, and in high elevation, so it’s really a must here. I’ve linked my favorite sunscreen!
• A bathing suit, if you’d like to experience swimming in the salt lagoons. 

What to eat and drink in the Atacama Desert

While I wouldn’t call it a top food destination by any means, the Atacama region has a unique cuisine based on local ingredients and Andean traditions, and is hearty and overall great.

Some things to try:

• Chupes, or meat pies made with crab or mussels
• Pastel de choclo, a baked corn pie with chicken and other ingredients
• Patasca is a traditional corn and meat stew with lamb, dried jerky, tripe, and potatoes, among other ingredients
• Empanadas are popular in a number of countries, but Chile has its own unique spin on it that I really enjoyed. Unlike in places like Argentina, Chilean empanadas are typically large and with a combination of ingredients, rather than just meat and cheese.
• Pisco sours aren’t just famous in Peru. It’s also a popular cocktail in Chile, but unlike in Peru, it doesn’t include the egg white foam. 
• Coca tea is popular in various regions like Peru that are known for high altitude.
• Mote con huesillo, or husked wheat in juice with a dehydrated peach is an Andean drink. 

The Atacama Desert is really such a special place, and I’m so happy that you’re going to experience it! I hope this Atacama Desert travel guide leaves you feeling prepared. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment or send me a message on Instagram.

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