San Pedro De Atacama, Chile. Tours, Hotels and prices. Reviews from tourists. Excursions and attractions. Travel photos and videos

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San Pedro De Atacama

Chile, Antofagasta Region, El Loa Province

About San Pedro De Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a small town located in the Antofagasta Region of northern Chile, situated on the arid high plateau of the Atacama Desert. It lies approximately 100 kilometers southeast of the city of Calama. The town serves as a major tourist hub and is notable for its unique adobe architecture, its proximity to otherworldly desert landscapes, and its rich cultural heritage tied to the Atacameño people. It is a primary gateway for exploring the geysers, salt flats, volcanoes, and lagoons of one of the driest deserts on Earth.

Basic information

The settlement's origins trace back to pre-Columbian times as an oasis for the Likan Antai (Atacameño) culture. The Spanish established a formal village in the 16th century. Its key architectural features are low-rise buildings constructed from adobe, a traditional building material made of earth and straw. The town center is organized around a historic plaza and a whitewashed church, Iglesia de San Pedro, which dates from the 17th century and is a designated National Monument. Its current primary purpose is to serve as a commercial and administrative center for the surrounding area and to accommodate tourism.

Location

The nearest major city and primary transit point is Calama, which hosts the El Loa Airport (CJC) with regular flights from Santiago. From Calama, a paved highway (Route CH-23) leads directly to San Pedro de Atacama, a journey of approximately one hour and forty-five minutes by car or bus. The town itself has a developed tourist infrastructure with hotels, restaurants, and numerous tour agencies offering excursions. Road access to the surrounding natural attractions varies from paved to rough dirt tracks, often requiring 4x4 vehicles. Access to certain high-altitude sites may be limited for individuals with health conditions, and some roads can be temporarily impassable during rare summer rainfall events.

Nature

San Pedro de Atacama exists in an extreme desert climate characterized by very low annual rainfall, intense solar radiation, and significant temperature fluctuations between day and night. The landscape is dominated by arid plains, salt flats (salares), and the Licancabur volcano. Vegetation is sparse and consists mainly of hardy shrubs and cacti adapted to xeric conditions. Wildlife includes lizards, foxes, and flamingos that inhabit the nearby saltwater lagoons. The environment is highly preserved due to its remoteness and harsh conditions, though human influence is concentrated in the town's oasis and tourist sites.

Story

The area has been continuously inhabited for over 11,000 years, first by hunter-gatherers and later by the sophisticated Atacameño culture, which developed agriculture and complex social structures. It was conquered by the Inca Empire in the 15th century and subsequently by the Spanish in the 16th century, becoming a stopping point on the route between the silver mines of Potosí and the Pacific Ocean. For centuries, it remained a quiet agricultural and trading village. Its modern significance emerged in the late 20th century with the growth of astronomy and adventure tourism, transforming it into an internationally recognized destination.