The quaint oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama sits in the driest desert in the world – Atacama – and is the main base for explorations in the area. This region was the principal center of the Atacamanian Indian culture, and relics such as Tulor, an ancient village estimated to have been built in 800 B.C., and the superb archaeology museum that boasts hundreds of artifacts that have been well preserved by the desert’s arid climate can be found here. But it is perhaps San Pedro’s intangible magic that captivates its visitors in the end. San Pedro’s streets have a pleasant, artistic, bohemian vibe, and its adobe buildings maintain a certain charm and unique character.

Weather: Min: 1°C (34°F) Max: 27°C (81°F)

Best Time to Visit: All year round

High Season: From September to April

• Calama Airport: Daily domestic flights from Santiago.

• Culture
• Outdoors
• Trekking
• Relaxing

• Uyuni Salt Flats (Bolivia): 11 hours drive from Atacama.

Recommended Stay

3 nights

Sand Boarding

The world’s driest desert makes the perfect scenery for sand boarding. Slide your way through the steep heights hidden in the Mars Valley on your board.

Expert Tips
• Although we all love a full moon, it is a good idea to avoid it if you’ve come for stargazing.
• Drinking water will help your acclimatization.
• Take the excursions to highest altitudes on the last days, once you are all acclimatized.

Did you know that…

* NASA and ESA tested the Mars Rover in the Atacama Desert, due to its similarity to the rugged and arid surface on Mars. *