Location: San Pedro de Atacama
Top Things to do in San Pedro de Atacama
Top Restaurants in San Pedro de Atacama
What to do and see in San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region: The Best Nature & Parks
Looking for an unusual and beautiful landscape? Sandstone canyons, flamingo-dotted salt flats, steaming geysers, hot springs, volcanic peaks and alien-looking rock formations are on offer all around San Pedro de Atacama. Hiking, biking and horseback riding are the preferred means of exploration. Death Valley here is surprisingly great for picnics.
Restaurants in San Pedro de Atacama
1. Lascar Volcano
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 351 reviews
Reviewed By melaniebC504MG - Vancouver, Canada
Worth the suffering Even for the bad road condition ( 4wd required ) and also to climb up this amazing Volcano We spend the night before at Laguna Lejia the view and the flamingo in the morning was a spectacular start of our day
2. Lagunas Miscanti y Miniques
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 5,676 reviews
Reviewed By 965ianf - Norfolk, United Kingdom
This trip to the lagoons at over 4000m altitude was to witness some truly unique and spectacular scenery. The blue lagoons with the backdrop of snow capped peaks and white salt terrain was breathtaking. This was a day trip from San Pedro and the excursion included an outdoor lunch in the sunshine. A great trip with a stop off on the way back at the point where we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn at Lat 23 degrees. A much over used word these days but the vista really was 'amazing'. A special place indeed.
3. Salar de Tara
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2,226 reviews
Reviewed By Birdsocks - Boston, United States
This was one of my favorite spots in the Atacama - partly because it is absolutely breathtaking, and partly because it was one of the less crowded spots I visited. It's location makes it impossible to access with a bus - so it is limited to a handful of sprinter vans and camp trucks like mine at any given time. This is accessed via the Monks (Monjes de Pacana) and there is no "road" leading to it. For those not part of a tour, who are looking for the Monks and Salar de Tara on their own - here's some important advise: There weren't any signs letting you know you were close to the Monks...or any signs for the site at all, on the road from San Pedro. The cartoony map from town had them in a slightly different spot on the curves of the road than where they were - we were worried we'd missed a turn off. But not to worry - they are there and you really cannot miss them - they're adjacent to the road and very recognizable. Side note: You will be sharing the curvy and mostly uphill road from SPdA to this location with LOTS of trucks transporting cars to Bolivia/Argentina (maybe from the coast?). They are super slow on the hills and you'll be often stuck behind them when the road is too curvy to pass. Once at the Monks - to get to Salar de Tara requires a 20-30min off road drive. There are lots of car tracks going every which way - some may lead to completely different places, so I would not suggest trying to find this on your own. Even with a GPS app, it is not a direct route, and tourists get lost in the area a lot trying to find the site. We followed one of the sprinter van tours from Monjes de Pacana, and then did the same thing to get back afterwards. The tour guides seem very kind and happy to lead the way so you don't get lost! At the Salar, there are lots of animals, a gorgeous landscape, a baño, and smaller crowds - definitely worth the drive! This is one of the higher altitudes in the area - the weather is super dodgy/undpredictable! We saw sun, rain, hail, and snow on our day trip to visit these. A guide advised that rain often starts in the area around 2 or 3pm, and suggested leaving by that time. He was spot on, as it started raining around 2pm as we headed out.
4. Cerro Toco
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 85 reviews
Reviewed By Iliketotravelexplore - London, United Kingdom
+ easy to reach from San Pedro + 2/3day tour (I used ‘Nortrek’ which was great) + Only a couple of hundred metres to climb in altitude to gain amazing views over the area including Vulcanos, Lakes, Alma Radiotelescopes - ensure you are properly acclimatised
5. Salar de Aguas Calientes
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 342 reviews
Reviewed By SophiaK - Athens, Greece
What an unbelievable spot. We did the Aguas Calients with Cosmo Andino tours and we drove on a perfect road from lakes Miscanti and Miniques. It is an amazing place, I can only compare it to a painting! The amazing colors of the lake, and the backdrop of high volcanoes, the freshness of the air, the calm and quiet. It is truly breathtaking!
6. Lagunas Altiplanicas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 238 reviews
Reviewed By G3719EIstephaniec - Bristol, United Kingdom
Simply a beautiful place to visit. Was lucky enough to see wild vicuñas grazing by the side of this lake. My iphone camera did not do justice to this perfect place.
7. Valle de Catarpe
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By NataliePatricia - San Francisco, United States
This place is great for adventurous independent travelers who have cabin fever with the large tour buses. Hire a bike from SPA (3000 CLP for half day) for an easy cycle out of town around 10km north of SPA. Be prepared for slightly bumpy dirt road with potholes and occasional slippery sand dunes. Fine for those comfortable on a bike and for beginner mountain bikers. Cross a river (locals may assist wit safe place to cross) and follow signs to Catarpe where you will pay a park fee 3000 CLP. Before you commit ask about river and weather conditions as there are a few more river crossings which may get knee deep if yeh park rangers decide to open the “river door”. Once you get past these you will enter the Devils throat (chulakao ravine) which is a fun twisted canyon with steep walks, low caves and interesting terrain and textures. There are a couple of spots you will need to carry your bike over boulders to continue but it’s worth the effort.
8. Valle De La Luna
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,339 reviews
Reviewed By ReadyForThisJelly - Washington DC, United States
Honestly, I was disappointed by the Atacama Desert. I found it was mostly a more expensive, less spectacular version of Bolivia's altiplano desert. But the Valle de la Luna/Valle de la Muerte was the big exception—there's nothing quite like this in Bolivia, and it's spectacular. It's getting harder to visit here without crowds, but it's still great. The valley was the highlight of our 5 days in San Pedro, and we visited three times—on a morning hike, by horseback ride, and sandboarding down the huge dunes. I highly recommend all three experiences.
9. Termas Banos de Puritama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,163 reviews
Reviewed By 716sachink - Plainview, United States
Puritama Hot Springs is a series of eight large pools of geothermal spring water located at the bottom of a canyon in the Atacama Desert, within a close driving distance from San Pedro De Atacama. One feels relaxed and refreshed after one takes a dip in one of the natural pools. Certainly worth visiting for those who seek some relaxation in the midst of several hectic activities revolving around San Pedro De Atacama.
