Home to the driest place on Earth, San Pedro de Atacama is a small rustic town with excellent museums, beautiful churches and ancient landmarks. The surrounding region reveals volcanoes, geysers, salt flats and blue lagoons best seen on trekking adventures.

Things to do

San Pedro de Atacama’s Meteorite Museum highlights 4.6 billion years of history and offers an incredible opportunity to go stargazing and touch some of the meteorites. If you’d rather see the stars for yourself, go on an astronomy tour under the clearest night skies in the region.

Visit Pukara de Quitor, an ancient fortress dating back to pre-Columbian times. History enthusiasts will also want to see Aldea de Tulor, an ancient village home to 1,000-year-old native settlements.

Take a day trip outside of San Pedro de Atacama’s city centre to discover the region’s most impressive natural wonders. Lose perspective at Salar de Atacama, the region’s snow-white salt flats, or explore the Miscanti and Miniques turquoise lagoons in the middle of the Atacama Desert.

Outdoor enthusiasts will also want to put Tatio volcano on their itinerary, as guided tours offer sunrise views of boiling geysers and a thermal pool. If you want to see the region’s famous pink flamingos, venture 50 kilometres south to Chaxa Lagoon.

Getting around

El Loa Airport in Calama is 100 kilometres away, where you can take a 90-minute bus or private car to reach San Pedro de Atacama. In town, most sights are within walking distance of the city centre, while a hire car is best for exploring further afield.