From the Andes Mountains to excessive desert lagoons, these are the perfect 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 this planet and plenty of vacationers make their option to the city of San Pedro de Atacama to take pleasure in the entire 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 this planet. It’s recognized for its lunar panorama and pure magnificence. With a wide range of terrains together with salt flats, geysers, and lagoons, Salar de Atacama is likely one of the most putting locations we’ve ever visited.
Excursions and journeys could 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 serious about journey, nature, and historical past, and there are a lot of issues to do within the space. Listed here are some options for issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama.
The place is San Pedro de Atacama
The Atacama Desert is situated 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 this planet. (Antarctica is the driest place on earth in case you are questioning) and San Pedro de Atacama is a small city situated 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, inns, tour corporations, and outlets, it makes for a incredible base to see all the things 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 a great one! As a part of the Los Flamencos Nationwide Reserve, Chaxa Lagoon is the perfect 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 via 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 encompassing volcanoes. From the white salt deposits to the pink hues of the desert, this can be a place you’ll need to pull out your digital camera.
There are three major lagoons in Sector Soncor with the Chaxa lagoon being the perfect place to identify Andean and Chilean Flamingoes. The lagoons are situated 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 at the least an hour having fun with the strolling trails that weave via the lagoons.
2. Go to the Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley)
The Valle de la Luna is a singular panorama that’s situated simply 13 km (8 miles) exterior of San Pedro de Atacama. It’s referred to as the Moon Valley due to its similarity to the floor of the moon nevertheless it actually seems to be extra just like the floor of Mars with its crimson rocks and crimson dunes.
Additionally situated inside the Los Flamencos Nationwide Reserve, this is likely one of the prime locations to go to within the Atacama to view the Mars Valley. With its rocky terrain and strange rock formations. In truth, NASA examined its Mars Rover within the Atacama due to its related 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 via the realm. You can too go to the valley at sundown for some stunning views of the encompassing mountains. Climbing Duna Mayor is a wonderful quick 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 look at the sundown in Valle de La Luna and we made certain to pop into all of them for the perfect views. With Exodus Travels we had been spoiled and loved a glass of wine with cheese as we neglected the extraordinary views from Mirador Lickan Antai. It is a pretty cease off the facet of the street in case you are biking, self-driving or have employed a information. You’ll be able to hike out for higher views of the desert landscapes.
5. Las Tres Marias Valle de La Luna
If you’re on the lookout for these pictures that seize the Salar de Atacama, a cease at Las Tres Marías is the place you’ll view the well-known rock formations of the Atacama Desert. The salt flat of the Atacama Desert is much 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 Have to 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 may play with scale and scope slightly bit. The path is a brief 15-minute stroll.
6. Sundown from Mirador de Kari Piedra del Coyote
Among the best issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama is to look at the sundown from Mirador de Kari Piedra del Coyote. Positioned exterior Valle de La Luna, that is the perfect 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 ground 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 might be the very best geothermal space on this 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 need to miss.
The El Tatio Geysers are a couple of 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 you should definitely layer up with gloves and a hat. The geysers are most energetic at daybreak when the water is at its hottest (and air at its coldest), they usually produce steam and sizzling 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 have to not be missed! Learn extra in regards to the Yellowstone Geysers at The Important Information to Grand Prismatic Spring, Yellowstone
8. Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques
Have you ever ever puzzled what it was wish to stroll at excessive altitudes however don’t need 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.
Normally, you would wish to trek for days to get to this elevation. The nonetheless deep blue waters are putting and it’s surprising to be standing at 4000 meters with the 2 excessive volcanoes towering overhead. It was onerous to consider that the Volcano proper earlier than our eyes was larger 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 linked by a path of rocks and also you’ll be capable to see wild vicunas roaming the panorama. These animals are associated to the llama and el paca households and are actually protected. These vicunas are inconceivable to cultivate so to get their in-demand wool, they spherical them as much as shave them solely as soon as each three years.
10. Go stargazing
San Pedro de Atacama is situated in an space with little or no gentle air pollution or precipitation, which makes it an excellent place for stargazing and excursions could be booked for round $50 to see the night time skies throughout San Pedro de Atacama. There are a number of corporations that provide stargazing excursions within the space that you would be able to ebook 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 celebrities, planets, and the Milky Method. Due to the low humidity, excessive altitude, and low gentle air pollution, it’s a sizzling spot for astronomers to check the skies, and plenty of corporations from all over the world have scientists learning its darkish skies. San Pedro de Atacama is common for Astro-tourism and you can’t miss doing this tour. I actually didn’t assume 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.
We appeared via 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 night time till 2 am!
No cell telephones or cameras are allowed, however Dave went off on his personal to take some night time pictures and the corporate we went with was form sufficient to provide pictures of our expertise. This is likely one of the hottest excursions within the Atacama Desert.
You can too go to the ALMA Observatory, which is situated about 50 kilometers exterior of San Pedro de Atacama. The observatory is house to the most important array of radio telescopes on this 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 quick cease, however very cool to face on the place that’s the most southerly latitude the place the solar can seem straight overhead at excessive midday. Cool eh?
12. Go to the Village of Tocanao
In addition to San Pedro de Atacama, there are a number of villages within the Atacama Desert. If you wish to do some buying, the village of Tocanao is an effective cease. We purchased some jewellery and baggage for just some {dollars}. Positioned 38 km from San Pedro de Atacama, most excursions will cease right here for at the least half-hour to an hour to help 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 referred to 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 situated in a picturesque setting simply off the facet of the street.
14. Discover the Salar de Tara
The Salar de Tara is a big salt flat situated 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 this planet, and it’s house to a wide range 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 via the realm. You can too 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 would be able to view on the way in which to Laguna Miscanti. We didn’t go to the salt flat, however we did cease on the facet of the street a number of occasions 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 (Loss of life Valley or Mars Valley)
Valle de la Muerte is known as 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 circumstances. No vegetation, animals and even bugs can survive in Loss of life Valley.
Also referred to as 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 one of the crucial spectacular websites. However there may be truly a spot particularly referred to as Rainbow Valley. Valle del Arcoiris is about 90 minutes from San Pedro de Atacama which could be booked on a day tour. It showcases the layers of colours reminiscent to Rainbow Mountain in Peru. Whereas there you may see the ten,000-year-old petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas.
17. San Pedro de Atacama
Properly, this complete article is in regards to the excursions from San Pedro de Atacama, so let’s cease and discuss this sprawling desert city situated in northern Chile. San Pedro de Atacama has that typical backpacker vibe with loads of eating places and outlets. There are a number of inns on the town and it’s a excellent spot for eating. You’ll be able to ebook any day journey you need from city and it has a cool laid-back vibe that makes it good for chilling out for a number 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 – It is a incredible city for buying. The artist’s group of Pueblo de Artesanos is an effective place to select up Andean souvenirs from ponchos to blankets.
Get to San Pedro de Atacama
By air: The closest airport to San Pedro de Atacama is the El Loa Airport, which is situated 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 may take a taxi or a bus to San Pedro de Atacama, which is a couple of 45-minute drive from the airport.
By bus: There are a number of bus corporations 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 courses of service obtainable, together with semi-cama (semi-bed), cama (mattress), and VIP. The buses depart from Terminal Alameda in Santiago, and tickets could be bought on-line or on the terminal.
By automotive: For those who favor to journey by automotive, you may 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 is suggested to take a 4×4 car as a result of tough terrain of the Atacama Desert. You can too hire a automotive in Santiago or Calama, and there are a number of automotive rental corporations that function within the area. Try automotive rental costs right here.
By tour: For those who favor to journey with a guided tour, there are a number of corporations that provide excursions to San Pedro de Atacama from Santiago and different cities in Chile. The excursions often embody transportation, lodging, and actions, and they’re a great choice for vacationers who need to see as a lot of the area as potential.
Irrespective of the way you select to get to San Pedro de Atacama, it is very important plan your journey upfront and to be ready for the distinctive circumstances of the Atacama Desert. The city has a dry, arid local weather so replenish on water and ensure to decorate in light-weight clothes that can defend you from the solar and warmth. Oh, and be ready to be coated in sand. There’s quite a lot of sand.
The place to Keep in San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is the principle hub to discover the Atacama Desert of Chile. There are a number of choices for lodging. Listed here are some options for the place to remain in San Pedro de Atacama:
- Motels: San Pedro de Atacama has a wide range of inns to select from, starting from funds to luxurious. We stayed at Lodge Diego Del Almagro which has top-of-the-line places in San Pedro de Atacama. The lodge rooms are fundamental, however you may’t be the placement. Positioned proper within the heart of town, it was inside strolling distance to all the things. If you’re driving, it has free parking for friends and a swimming pool.
- Another common choices embody Lodge de Larache, Lodge Atacama, and Lodge Casa de Don Tomas. These inns provide a spread of facilities, together with swimming pools, eating places, and spas, and they’re situated within the heart of the city, close to the principle sq. and the principle vacationer points of interest.
- Hostels: If you’re touring on a funds, there are a number of hostels in San Pedro de Atacama that provide reasonably priced lodging.
- Some common choices embody Hostal La Casona, Hostal Atacama, and Hostal El Descanso del Viajero. These hostels provide shared dorms and personal rooms, they usually often have frequent areas, reminiscent of kitchens and dwelling rooms, the place you may socialize with different vacationers.
- Tenting: For those who favor a extra outside 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 provide fundamental services, reminiscent of bathrooms and showers, and they’re a great choice for vacationers who need to be near nature.
- Renting a trip house: If you’re touring with a gaggle or need more room and privateness, you may think about renting a trip house in San Pedro de Atacama. There are a number of choices obtainable, starting from residences to homes, and you will discover trip leases on Vrbo. Renting a trip house generally is a good choice if you wish to have your individual kitchen and dwelling area, and it will 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, it is very important ebook your lodging upfront, particularly through the excessive season, which runs from November to March. The city can get very busy throughout this time, and it’s best to ebook your lodging as early as potential to make sure that you’ve 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 principle vacationer points of interest.
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. Once you go to Chile, be certain that it’s added to your itinerary. It’s a visit that can create recollections to final a lifetime.