Days 1-2 – Arrival in San Pedro de Atacama
Your Atacama trip begins in San Pedro de Atacama, in the heart of the desert. The town lies on the edge of the Salar de Atacama, a dazzlingly white salt lake with the snow-capped Licanacabur volcano in the background. San Pedro is a pleasant little town, with sandy streets and a backdrop of volcanoes that glow red at sunset. Once you’ve settled in to your guesthouse, take some time to explore the town, which is just a short walk away. There is a great mix of simple local eateries and restaurants, alongside small shops selling handmade crafts, alpaca wool and desert-inspired souvenirs.
Day 2 – Visit Valley of the Moon
This morning is yours to take it slow. Venture back into town for a coffee and experience San Pedro’s quiet streets in the daytime, or if you’re up for something more active, head to the dunes for a bit of sandboarding. In the afternoon you’ll swap the village for wide-open desert as you head out in a small group towards Valle de la Luna. The landscapes here feel almost otherworldly, with jagged rock formations, sweeping dunes and salt-crusted valleys that look like they’re from another world. You’ll stop off at a few of the best viewpoints along the way before settling in for the main event.
As the sun begins to dip, the entire valley changes colour, warm reds and oranges fade into purples and soft blues. It’s a moment where everything goes quiet and you can simply soak it all in. As the light disappears, the moon often rises above the desert, adding a final touch to an already memorable evening.
Day 3 – Departure from San Pedro de Atacama
After one final breakfast, you’ll be ready to head onwards to your next destination in Chile. If you’re looking for a scenic, slow-paced roadtrip through the beautiful Chilean Lake District, you could fly to Temuco where you can pick up a hire car and journey south to Puerto Varas.
Accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we offer the following options
Upgrade to our In Style accommodation
For this bite-sized trip we have an alternative option available for your accommodation. Our In-Style version is something a bit more special or unique but still with lots of local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your accommodation for this bite-size trip select our In Style option below.
Atacama - Tatio Geysers trip
To see El Tatio erupt, the world’s highest geyser, you’ll need to leave before dawn at 4am. When you arrive at the Tatio geysers, around 7am, it’s still freezing cold, so you’ll need to wrap up warm. After a small breakfast you’ll go for a walk through the field of bubbling mud pools and steaming pools. There are a couple of thermal pools where you can wallow in the hot water, so if you fancy an al fresco swim, don’t forget your swimming gear. If you’d like to add this excursion we’ll also book an extra night in San Pedro as part of your Atacama tour.
Atacama - Sandboarding
For something more adventurous, grab a sandboard and glide down the red dunes of Valle de la Muerte on a sandboarding tour. Accompanied by an expert guide, you’ll learn the basics and spend the morning or afternoon cruising down the dunes and taking in the incredible views.
Atacama - Star Gazing
The desert sky is well worth looking up for, known as one of the best places on earth to spot stars. Alongside a local guide who knows this area like the back of their hand, you will take a peek through a telescope and learn all about the constellations, planets and galaxies. You will feel as if you’re standing in the middle of the Milky Way.
Llamas of the Atacama Moon - by hire car
Experience the dramatic landscapes of the Atacama Desert with the freedom of your own hire car. After arriving in San Pedro, take some time to settle into the town before heading out on your own desert drives, passing salt flats, rust-red valleys and distant volcanoes. The roads lead you in all directions, each one opening up a completely different side of the landscape. During your time here, you can choose how you spend your days from heading out early to explore high-altitude lagoons and spot flamingos, to driving to hidden viewpoints, having your own car gives you the flexibility to experience the desert at your own pace.