San Pedro de Atatcama is a town in Northern Chile. It is a very popular destination among chilean tourists and international visitors alike. Visitors come in large numbers to use the town as a stepping stone to the amazing landscapes around it. Prices in any of the laid back bars and restaurants compare with a normal western European city.

Plaza

Salar de Atacama

Laguna Miscanti

Valle de la Luna

El Tatio

Get in

There are several buses per day to Calama (2 hours) and onwards to Antofagasta (4 hours). At the Calama airport you may rent a car, hire a Taxi, or buy a ticket for the shuttle bus (about 14.00 USD).

Get around

See

Do

• Horseriding or cycling around San Pedro, but make sure you choose your ride leader from a stable and not one of the many agents in town. follow old Inca trails, sandstone canyons, cycle out to the valle de la luna
• Dozens of identical firms will offer to whisk you off in a transit van or jeep to "take pictures" of the landscapes. Watch out for campsite owners trying to over charge you.

Buy

Eat

Drink

Sleep

Get out

Day trips

The following day trips are being offered by all of the local agencies. These locations are worth a visit, and it's hard to get there if you don't have your own car, so paying to go there in the mini-van is an option.

• Salar de Atacama - a salt plain with flamingos, rather crowded because all minivans seem to arrive at the same time
• Lagunas Altiplano - trip to two beautiful lakes in the altiplano at 4200m altitude
• El Tatio - watch the sun rise at a geyser surrounded by the impressive andean landscape
• Valle de la Luna - most agencies offer trips at sunset where you can only spend a short time in this amazin area. You'd better rent a bike to get there.

By car

Alternatively, hire a car in the town one stop before San Pedro (forgotten the name, it's the town where you can catch a train to Bolivia ... that'll be Calama). With a 4x4 you can visit some very remote sites with live volcanoes, the salt plains, geysers and hot springs. Bring a spare.

By train

If the nearby salt plains appeal, take the 3 or 4 day train ride to Bolivia (bring warm clothes!). The amazing train is essentially a cargo train that carries a handful of Bolivian peasants between the coast and the altiplano, but it provides an incredible vista. Do it with someone you like