San Pedro de Atacama
Go for the El Tatio geysers at sunrise, the salt flats and clear night skies in the Atacama Desert.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
San Pedro de Atacama is a small adobe town in Chile's Antofagasta Region, set in the Atacama Desert at about 2,400 meters (7,900 feet) above sea level. Most travelers use it as a base for the desert's main sights: the red sandstone formations of Moon Valley, the Salar de Atacama salt flats, the El Tatio geysers and high Andean lagoons. The Atacama is one of the driest places on Earth, so most nights are clear, and many people come for the stars.
Plan three to four nights. Tours leave before dawn for the geysers, and Valle de la Luna is close enough for a late afternoon visit. The town is small and walkable. April to May and October to November suit most travelers for clear, mild days. Nights are cold all year and can be near or below freezing in winter. January and February bring storms to the high Andes, which can affect the roads to the altiplano.
San Pedro de Atacama in five
- Carry Chilean pesos in cashSome tour operators and small restaurants take cash only. Withdraw pesos in Calama or in town before your first tour.Money and costs
- Dress for El Tatio's freezing dawnTours leave town before dawn to reach the geysers at sunrise, when the steam shows best. At about 4,300 m, the air at dawn is near freezing, so pack a warm jacket and gloves.
- Rest your first day at 2,400 mSan Pedro sits at about 2,400 m, and the geysers and lagoons are higher still. Take it easy on arrival, drink water, and skip heavy drinking.
- Carry sun protection and a warm layerUV is very strong at this altitude, and the desert tracks give little shade. Nights turn cold quickly, so one warm layer is needed even in summer.
- Book the transfer from Calama airportCalama airport is about 1.5 hours by road from San Pedro. Book a shuttle or transfer before you land.Getting around
Things to do in San Pedro de Atacama
See all attractions in San Pedro de Atacama
Need to know
- Currency
- Chilean peso (CLP)
- Entry
- Visa-free for many passports; check your passport on the official site Read more
- Emergency
- 133 police, 131 ambulance, 132 fire
- Tipping
- About 10% in restaurants; check the bill for a tip already added
- Time
- UTC-4; UTC-3 during Chile's daylight saving months
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryClear3 rainy daysHigh26°Low13°Summer stormsJanuaryClear
Poor
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 20 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Summer storms
- FebruaryClear6 rainy daysHigh25°Low13°Storms, roadsFebruaryClear
Poor
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 37 mm
- Rainy days
- 6
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Storms, roads
- MarchClear2 rainy daysHigh25°Low12°Clearing skiesMarchClear
Good
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clearing skies
- AprilClear1 rainy dayHigh23°Low9°Clear, mildAprilClear
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 9°
- Precipitation
- 3 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, mild
- MayClear1 rainy dayHigh20°Low6°Clear, coolerMayClear
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, cooler
- JuneClear1 rainy dayHigh18°Low4°Cold, dry nightsJuneClear
Mixed
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 4 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, dry nights
- JulyClear1 rainy dayHigh19°Low4°Cold, very dryJulyClear
Mixed
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, very dry
- AugustClear0 rainy daysHigh20°Low4°Cold, clearAugustClear
Mixed
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 1 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, clear
- SeptemberClear0 rainy daysHigh23°Low6°Clear, warmingSeptemberClear
Good
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 2 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, warming
- OctoberClear0 rainy daysHigh24°Low8°Clear, warmOctoberClear
Best
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Clear, warm
- NovemberClear0 rainy daysHigh25°Low10°Warm, dryNovemberClear
Best
- High
- 25°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 0 mm
- Rainy days
- 0
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, dry
- DecemberClear1 rainy dayHigh26°Low11°Busy, warm daysDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 6 mm
- Rainy days
- 1
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Busy, warm days
Average daily high and low in San Pedro de Atacama, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in San Pedro de Atacama
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
25
- Feels like
- 21°
- Humidity
- 4%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
San Pedro de Atacama
05:43 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today28°8°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 28°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue28°9°0%Tuesday: Partly cloudy. High 28°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed29°9°0%Wednesday: Partly cloudy. High 29°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu30°12°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri30°12°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 30°, Low 12°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat30°13°0%Saturday: Cloudy. High 30°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun31°13°0%Sunday: Partly cloudy. High 31°, Low 13°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 02:41 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 990.8 CLP
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- El Tatio geysersabout 1.5 hours by road, leaves before dawnGeysers at sunrise, at about 4,300 m, when the steam is most visible.
- Valle de la Lunaabout 30 min by roadSalt ridges and dunes, best seen from the viewpoints around sunset.
- Laguna Chaxaabout 1 hour by roadFlamingos on the shore of the salt flat, with short trails to walk.
Before you go to San Pedro de Atacama
Rules for San Pedro de Atacama, checked
- Declare fresh food, plants and animal products at Chilean borders; the agricultural service SAG checks them closely.Source
- Stay on marked trails in Los Flamencos National Reserve, which CONAF manages. Do not take rocks, sand or plants from the sites.
Plan around San Pedro de Atacama
Regions, flights, entry rules and money
Read the guideWhere to stayBases in the centre, along Caracoles and at the edge of town
Read the guideMoney and costsPaying in pesos and what a day here costs
Read the guideGetting aroundFrom Calama airport and between the desert sights
Read the guideVisas and entryWho can enter visa-free and what to check before you fly
Read the guidePhones and eSIMData for maps and tour apps in the desert
Read the guideSan Pedro de Atacama FAQ
Is San Pedro de Atacama worth visiting?
Yes, for two or three days. The main sights lie outside town: the El Tatio geysers, Valle de la Luna and the salt flats. Town is where you sleep and book tours.
How many days do you need in San Pedro de Atacama?
Three nights cover El Tatio at dawn, Valle de la Luna and the salt flats. Add a fourth night if you want a slow day or a longer tour.
How do you get to San Pedro de Atacama?
Fly into Calama, then take a shuttle or transfer about 1.5 hours by road. Buses also run from Calama to San Pedro.
Do I need a tour to see the sights?
El Tatio and the salt flats are too far to walk and need a tour or a hired car. Valle de la Luna is closer and is easy to visit on your own.
When is the best time to visit San Pedro de Atacama?
April to May and October to November have clear, mild days. June to August is dry and cold with very clear skies at night. January and February bring storms on the altiplano.