Your travel advisor in San Pedro de Atacama
Traveling to the Atacama? Let's design your ideal trip together
Backed by a travel advisor who lives in San Pedro. I'm Jerónimo: I plan each trip around who's traveling, the time available and acclimatization to altitude.
San Pedro de Atacama, 2,407 meters above sea level
Begin the ascentFrom 2,300 to 5,600 meters
Experiences are ordered by altitude, which is also the recommended order to enjoy them. Select the ones that interest you and receive a suggested itinerary at the end.
Prices per person, in Chilean pesos (CLP). Park entrance fees are charged together with the tour.
Multi-tour discount: 5% for 3 tours, 7% for 4 and 10% for 5 or more, on the tour price.
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2.300 m
Lagoons and salt flats
Cejar Lagoon
from 40.000 CLP + entrance fee 21.000 CLP
Feel what it's like to float in water so salty you can't sink, surrounded by vast desert scenery. The route also visits the mysterious Ojos del Salar and Tebinquinche Lagoon, where you end the day with the sunset.
- Schedule
- 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation, a snack and a pisco sour.
- Good to know
- Bring a swimsuit and a towel.
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2.400 m
Night sky
Stargazing Tour
from 35.000 CLP
Discover the clearest night sky on the planet in an experience that brings together modern astronomy and the Andean worldview. See planets and nebulae through professional telescopes and take home high-quality photos under the stars.
- Schedule
- 8:30 pm to 11:30 pm
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation, a talk on the Andean worldview, viewing through professional telescopes, star photos, a snack and a pisco sour.
- Good to know
- Desert nights are very cold: bring warm clothes.
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2.400 m
Lickanantay culture
Turi Kunza
from 50.000 CLP
Turi Kunza means “Our House” in Kunza, the local language. You walk with llamas through the ayllu, shape clay using the ancestral technique of Mami Isidora, learn about desert herbs and taste local maize, chañar, carob and quinoa.
- Schedule
- Morning: 9:00 am to 12:30 pm. Afternoon: 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm (earlier in winter).
- Includes
- Transport for groups of up to 12, llama walk, clay workshop, 3 high-Andean herbal infusions and a tasting of local products.
- Good to know
- Minimum 2 people. Travelling alone? We'll add you to a confirmed group.
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2.450 m
Premium experience
Hot-air balloon flight
from 290.000 CLP
Lift off at dawn and fly for 45 minutes to an hour over the desert, with the Andes on the horizon. Operated by Atacama Balloons, flying in the Atacama since 2017 under Chile's civil aviation authority standards.
- Schedule
- Pickup one hour before sunrise. About 3.5 hours in total.
- Includes
- Transport, coffee and breakfast before the flight, plus a sparkling-wine toast with sandwiches and a cheese board after landing.
- Good to know
- Minimum age: 6. Weather dependent: the date is confirmed with the wind forecast.
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2.450 m
Lagoons and salt flats
Baltinache Hidden Lagoons
from 45.000 CLP + entrance fee 12.000 CLP
One of the most sought-after landscapes in the desert: seven intensely colored saltwater lagoons in the middle of the Salt Mountains, where you float in a place few people know.
- Schedule
- Morning: 7:30 am to 12:00 pm. Afternoon: 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation. Breakfast on the morning tour, or a snack and a pisco sour on the afternoon tour.
- Good to know
- Bring a swimsuit and a towel.
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2.500 m
Classic
Moon Valley
from 40.000 CLP + entrance fee 10.800 CLP
Walk through a landscape that looks like another planet. Explore the rock formations, salt ridges and dunes of San Pedro's most iconic park, and end the day with one of the most spectacular sunsets in the desert.
- Schedule
- 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation and a sunset drink.
- Good to know
- Perfect for day one: it sits at almost the same altitude as town.
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2.500 m
Adventure
Vallecito
from 40.000 CLP
Explore canyons, dunes and wind-sculpted landscapes on a quiet, intimate route, with a stop at the Bus Mágico: an old bus left in the desert that's now a local attraction. Unique panoramic views and an unforgettable sunset in the silence of the desert.
- Schedule
- 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation and a sunset drink.
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2.500 m
Adventure
Sandboarding in Death Valley
from 50.000 CLP
A lesson with an instructor and several descents down the dunes of Death Valley, in the heart of the Salt Mountains. An intense experience without gaining altitude.
- Schedule
- Morning or afternoon. About 3.5 hours.
- Includes
- Transport, instructor and full equipment.
- Good to know
- Minimum age: 14. The valley entrance fee is not included in the price.
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3.000 m
Trekking and hot springs
Purilibre Trek
from 40.000 CLP
Adventure and relaxation along the Puritama River. Hike beside the water through desert canyons until you reach natural hot-spring pools, where you enjoy an hour and a half of bathing in a completely natural setting.
- Schedule
- Morning: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Afternoon: 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation and trail snacks (cereal bar, fruit and juice).
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3.500 m
Classic
Rainbow Valley
from 40.000 CLP + entrance fee 10.000 CLP
A route through red, green and white hills, with a stop at the Yerbas Buenas petroglyphs, carved into the rock by the desert's ancient inhabitants.
- Schedule
- 7:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation and breakfast.
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3.500 m
Wellness
Puritama Hot Springs
from 30.000 CLP + entrance fee 38.000 CLP
An oasis of rest: a private complex of 8 natural hot-spring pools between 33 °C and 35 °C, surrounded by canyons. The perfect plan to recharge body and mind.
- Schedule
- Morning: 8:00 am to 1:00 pm. Afternoon: 1:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
- Includes
- Round-trip transport from your accommodation.
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4.200 m
High plateau
Red Rocks and High-Andean Lagoons
from 75.000 CLP + entrance fee 28.800 CLP (foreigners) or 20.300 CLP (Chileans)
A full day on the high plateau: the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons at the foot of the volcanoes, the red formations of Piedras Rojas beside the Aguas Calientes salt flat, and the flamingos of Chaxa Lagoon.
- Schedule
- 7:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
- Good to know
- It reaches 4,200 m: best done after a few days of acclimatization.
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4.300 m
High plateau
Salt Flats Route
from 60.000 CLP
A route across the high plateau near the border: the Monks of Pacana, the Quisquiro and Aguas Calientes salt flats and views of Licancabur, through landscapes few travelers ever see.
- Schedule
- 7:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation, breakfast and lunch.
- Good to know
- Goes above 4,000 m. Minimum age: 9.
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4.320 m
High plateau
El Tatio Geysers
from 45.000 CLP + entrance fee 15.000 CLP
One of the most impressive geothermal fields on the planet. You arrive at first light to see the steam at its peak, and on the way back you stop at the village of Machuca and the Putana River wetlands.
- Schedule
- 5:00 am to 11:00 am
- Includes
- Pickup from your accommodation and breakfast.
- Good to know
- Temperatures drop below freezing: dress very warmly.
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5.592 m
High mountain
Láscar Volcano
from 140.000 CLP
A demanding ascent to the crater of one of the most active volcanoes in northern Chile, with fumaroles in sight. For those looking for the biggest challenge of the trip.
- Schedule
- 5:00 am to 4:00 pm approx. 3–4 hour climb.
- Includes
- Breakfast, trail rations, transport, mountain guide, trekking poles and helmet.
- Good to know
- Minimum age: 14. Requires good fitness and at least 2 prior nights of acclimatization.
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5.604 m
High mountain
Cerro Toco
from 100.000 CLP
The most accessible summit in the area: the climb starts near 5,000 m and in 2 to 3 hours you reach the top, among ice penitentes and views over the whole high plateau.
- Schedule
- 7:00 am to 2:00 pm approx.
- Includes
- Transport, mountain guide, trail rations, trekking poles and helmet.
- Good to know
- Minimum age: 14. Requires at least 2 prior nights in San Pedro.
Multi-day journeys
Cross into Bolivia over the high plateau to the Uyuni Salt Flat. Best done at the end of your stay, once you're acclimatized.
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+5.000 m
Journey to Bolivia
Uyuni Salt Flat, 3 days
from 240.000 CLP
- Schedule
- Departs 6:00 am on day 1. Arrives in Uyuni on day 3 at 3:00 pm.
- Includes
- Transport, guide, meals and accommodation.
- Good to know
- Reaches about 5,000 m. Bolivian park fees are paid separately.
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+5.000 m
Journey to Bolivia
Uyuni Salt Flat, 4 days
from 280.000 CLP
- Schedule
- Departs 6:00 am on day 1. Back in San Pedro on day 4 at 1:00 pm.
- Includes
- Transport, guide, meals and accommodation.
- Good to know
- Reaches about 5,000 m. Bolivian park fees are paid separately.
All excursions include pickup from your accommodation and end in downtown San Pedro. Times are approximate and change with the season: Jerónimo confirms every detail before you book.
Start planning
Every journey begins by getting to know the traveler
I live and work in San Pedro de Atacama. I started out in the administration of local travel agencies, and today I'm a sales agent at Pukarumi Travels, the largest agency in San Pedro. I know every excursion from the inside, and I use all of that to advise you and put your plan together, in the Atacama and for the crossing to Uyuni too.
In the desert, altitude shapes the experience: the same excursion can be the highlight of your trip or ruin the days that follow, depending on when you do it. That's why I plan every itinerary around acclimatization, from lowest to highest altitude, so altitude sickness doesn't get you. And I don't just sell you a tour: I'm with you for your whole stay.
Beyond tours, I can help you with:
- What to see in town and where to eat well.
- Hotels and hostels to suit your budget.
- Round-trip transfers to Calama airport.
- Which excursions suit you best, based on what you've already seen on other trips.
What travelers say
Jerónimo is a travel advisor at Pukarumi Travels. These are the Google reviews left by travelers who explored the Atacama with the agency.
Plan your trip
Five short questions to suggest a day-by-day itinerary, ready to send on WhatsApp.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book?
You can plan your trip on this page or contact Jerónimo directly on WhatsApp. Before booking, he will confirm availability and the details of each outing.
What is altitude sickness and how do I avoid it?
San Pedro sits at 2,400 meters and several tours go above 4,000. The most common symptoms are headache, tiredness and shortness of breath. It helps to start with the lower tours, drink plenty of water and skip alcohol for the first few days. If you have a health condition, check with your doctor before traveling.
What should I bring on the tours?
Layers, because it's below freezing at dawn and hot at midday. Sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, water and your ID. For lagoons and hot springs, a swimsuit and towel.
Do tours include hotel pickup?
Yes. All excursions include pickup from your accommodation in San Pedro and end in the town center. Each experience lists what else is included.
Booking and policies
Are prices per person? Are there discounts?
Yes, all prices are per person and charged in Chilean pesos. Park entrance fees are charged together with the tour. Book 3 tours and get 5% off; 4 tours, 7%; 5 or more, 10%. The discount applies to the tour price, not to entrance fees.
How do I book and pay?
With a 50% deposit and the rest when you arrive in San Pedro, or 100% upfront. You can pay by card, Wise, Pix or cash.
What if I cancel?
Cancel 24 hours or more in advance and you get a 100% refund. With less than 24 hours' notice there's no refund, unless you present a formal medical certificate.
What if the weather doesn't allow the tour?
If a road closes because of snow or wind, the tour is rescheduled, swapped for another available one, or fully refunded.
What do I need for Uyuni?
Citizens of Mercosur countries only need their national ID; everyone else needs a passport (if you have one, bring it anyway). You'll also need the PDI slip (Chilean immigration) you received when entering Chile. The journey is run by Sajama or Uyuni Premier, two of the best operators, depending on availability.
Which languages do you speak?
Spanish, Portuguese and English.