San Pedro de Atacama | Chile
Survival Guide
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San Pedro
de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a laid-back oasis town
of San Pedro de Atacama that lies in the midst
of Chile’s Atacama Desert. It seems hardly big
enough to absorb the hordes of travelers that
are attracted by the desert, with little more than
a handful of picturesque adobe streets clustering
around a pretty tree-lined plaza and a postcardperfect church.
H
owever, the last decade has seen a
proliferation of hotels, guesthouses,
restaurants, internet cafés and tour
agencies wedging their way into its dusty
streets. The town has an addictively relaxed
atmosphere and an enormous array of
tours that can hook travelers for weeks.
San Pedro’s tiny, 3-by-4 street center has
a pleasant bohemian vibe. Although the
town has grown at a prudent rate this past
decade to cater to a growing number of
visitors, it has managed to maintain its
mellow charm.
T
he Atacama Desert. Replete with
bizarre land formations, giant sand
dunes, jagged canyons, salt pillars, and
boiling geysers, the Atacama Desert is
one of the most unique destinations on
Earth. The term ‘moonscape’ would suit
the area better than ‘landscape’, given
Atacama’s eerie geography. A paradise for
adventure seekers, Atacama offers myriad
options including hiking, mountain biking,
horseback riding, and even sandboarding.
Culture vultures will be happy too, as the
region was the principal center of the
Atacama Indian culture, and sites such as
Tulor, an ancient village estimated to have
been built in 800 B.C., still survive to this
day. There is also a fine museum of ancient
artifacts in San Pedro de Atacama, well
preserved by the bone-dry climate. Chile’s
desert is also blessed with the world’s
clearest skies and San Pedro provides
several vantage points from which to enjoy
an evening’s stargazing. Its location almost
exactly on the Tropic of Capricorn means
there are no drastic changes in the length of
daylight hours, and a stable climate make
any time of the year a good time to visit
here.
San Pedro de Atacama | Survival Guide
Getting There
What’s the nearest airport?
Calama (CJC) is the closest commercial
airport, approximately 99 kilometres (60
miles) west of San Pedro de Atacama, and
is where most people fly into before the
drive to San Pedro. There are around ten
daily flights between Calama and Santiago
with three carriers; LAN Airlines, PAL, and
Sky Airline.
LOCATION
Where is San Pedro de Atacama? 98km (61 miles) SE of
Calama, and 1,674km (1,038 miles) N of Santiago.
PERU
How else can I get there?
Alternatively, Antofagasta (ANF) is some 306
kilometres (182 miles) west of San Pedro de
Atacama, and as well as connecting the port
city with Santiago there is also a service to
Arequipa in Peru. Some guests combining
Chile with Bolivia or Argentina arrive
by road. The drive from Salta in northern
Argentina takes approximately 8 hours, via
the Paso Jama or Paso Sico border points.
The drive to the Bolivian border (Hito Cajón)
takes approximately 1 hour.
BOLIVIA
Calama
San Pedro
de Atacama
BRAZIL
PARAGUAY
Antofagasta
URUGUAY
Santiago
ARGENTINA
Chile
Is transportation available from the airport
to the hotel?
Transfers will be arranged exclusively
for Tristan 2013 participants and
accompanying guests from Calama airport.
Should you be unable to join one of these
transfers a limited bus service is available
through the ‘Licancabur’ company. Taxis are
expensive, approximately USD100 each
way, and few and far between.
N
San Pedro de Atacama | Survival Guide
About Atacama
Is June a good time of year to visit
Atacama?
Atacama enjoys a stable climate, making
it a true year-round destination. June is the
start of winter in Chile, and fans of Atacama
often say this is the best time of year given
the beautiful light.
What’s the weather like in general?
Many people expect far more extreme
conditions in Atacama than there are,
and are surprised at how comfortable the
climate actually is. Like all desert climates
there is a huge oscillation between daytime
and night-time temperatures. In winter (June,
July and August) the average maximum
temperature is 24°C during the day, but
can drop down to 0°C (or below) at night.
good idea to consult your doctor before
leaving home if you have a history of
cardiovascular illness or hypertension.
options. If you are looking for contrast,
Chile’s Lake District, Patagonia, and Easter
Island make for a dramatic combination.
What is a good combination with
Atacama?
Are there dangerous insects or bugs?
None at all. Altitude eliminates the presence
of venemous creatures.
For those with time to spare before or
after the event there are several ways to
combine Atacama with other destinations.
For a similar geography and a multi-country
experience, the combination of Atacama
with the north of Argentina and the Uyuni
salt flat in Bolivia are two breathtaking
What is the time difference?
Atacama is in the same time zone as the
rest of Chile (except Easter Island), which
is GMT -4 in the winter and GMT -3 in the
summer.
ALTITUDE CHART
Is altitude an issue?
San Pedro is 2,450 meters (8,000 feet)
above sea level, and some of the major
sights are above 4,000 meters (13,000
feet). Acclimatization is key, which is why
the first 24 hours should be very slowpaced. During the first day we would
recommend steering clear of heavy foods,
drinking alcohol only in moderation, and
not smoking. Hydration is important. Drink
plenty of water throughout the day, and the
local coca tea is excellent. It is always a
San Pedro de Atacama | Survival Guide
Staying
Connected
Will I be able to use my mobile?
Yes. Chile has one of the most developed
mobile phone infrastructures in South
America, however in San Pedro de
Atacama service is limited to the village
only. Some cell phones may not operate.
Basically most mobile networks work in and
around San Pedro, but as you get further
away from town the signal becomes very
weak or non-existent particularly in more
remote areas of the desert.
Making phone calls to and from Chile
and within the country
• The country code for Chile is 56.
• The city code for Santiago is 2 and local
numbers have 8 digits, beginning with a
2. (Example 56-2-2123 4567)
• From land lines to cell phones, add 09
and then the 8-digit number.
• The local code for San Pedro de
Atacama is 55 and local numbers have
6 digits. (Example 56-55-12 34 56)
• From cell phone to cell phone you simply
dial the 8-digit number.
• Mobile phones use the prefix (0)9
followed by an 8-didit number that usually
starts with a 6, 7, 8, or 9, then the 7-digit
number.
How about Internet?
• For long distance calls, national or
international, you need to choose a
carrier (a company) such as 123, 165,
169 and 188.
The larger hotels in San Pedro offer internet
free of charge, either wi-fi (limited) or via an
Ethernet connection. There are also several
Internet cafés in San Pedro.
• From cell phones to a land line, a mark 0
followed by the city code then the phone
number.
CALLING FROM CALLING TO Any country A Santiago land line A San Pedro land line A Chilean mobile phone Carrier + 0 + Country code + Local code + Number Carrier + 0 + Country code + Local code + Number 1 + Local code + Number A Santiago land line + 56 + 2 + Number Carrier + 2 + Number 02 + Number A San Pedro land line + 56 + 55 + Number Carrier + 55 + Number 055 + Number A Chilean mobile phone + 56 + 9 + Number 09 + Number 09 + Number Any country San Pedro de Atacama | Survival Guide
Money
Matters
What is the currency?
The Chilean peso ($). The exchange
rates are roughly as follows:
1 US Dollar = $500
1 Canadian Dollar = $500
1 Euro (€) = $650
1 GB Pound (£) = $700
Is foreign currency accepted?
Not very often. Those establishments
that do offer payment in foreign currency
will give you an unfavourable exchange
rate. It is much better to carry local
currency.
Are credit cards accepted?
Hotels accept Visa, MasterCard,
American Express and Diner’s Club
cards. Some restaurants in the village
accept credit cards, but most stores do
not.
Where can I change currency?
There are several currency exchange
offices in San Pedro.
Where is the nearest ATM?
There is an ATM opposite the museum in
San Pedro de Atacama.
What about tipping?
As with the rest of Chile, tipping is
recommended in restaurants and bars.
Adding 10% to your bill is the norm,
or more if you feel you have received
particularly good service. A voluntary
gratuity is welcomed by drivers and
guides after excursions, either in USD or
local currency.
Emergency
Information
What happens if I am injured or
become sick?
The nearest clinic is in San Pedro de
Atacama, with two GPs and nine
paramedics. The nearest large hospital
is in the city of Calama, where more
serious problems would be dealt with.
Emergency contacts
Should you wish to provide family and
friends with an emergency contact
number, the hotel telephone number is
the best bet.
Coming
Prepared
What should I bring?
Temperatures oscillate dramatically at
any time of year in Atacama, so we’d
always recommend that visitors dress
“like an onion”, i.e. lots of layers. This
is more comfortable (and practical
for packing purposes) than carrying
heavier, thicker items. The following
checklist is a good guide.
APPAREL
• Backpack (20-35 litres) – Not urgent,
but certainly useful.
• A swimming costume.
Emergency purchases
The larger hotels have a limited stock of
equipment and clothing, but a slightly
better selection is available in San Pedro
de Atacama as well as medical supplies
at the local pharmacy.
• Some lightweight thermal clothing,
such as a good fleece.
• Long-sleeved tops – Asics and
The North Face both make great,
lightweight tops with added UV
protection.
• Trekking shorts or trousers with
detachable legs.
FOOTWEAR
• Light trekking shoes or boots.
• Waterproof sandals (Try Crocs and
Columbia).
ACCESSORIES
• Sun block, sunglasses and a sun hat.
• Lip balm.
• Gloves, hat and good quality jacket
for excursions at altitude.
• Camera.
• Binoculars.
• Water bottle.
San Pedro de Atacama | Survival Guide
Recommended
Reading Material
Longitude Books
(www.longitudebooks.com)
is a superb online store specializing in
travel literature. Here are some good ideas
for background reading prior to a visit
to Atacama or reference material to use
during your stay:
•‘Travels in a Thin Country, a Journey
Through Chile’ by Sarah Wheeler.
•‘A Wildlife Guide to Chile’ by Sharon
Chester.
•‘Desert Memories, Journeys Through the
Chilean North’ by Ariel Dorfman.
San Pedro de Atacama | Survival Guide
Map of
San Pedro de
Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is a very compact
town, with everything you may need within
walking distance. All the businesses are
clustered around the main square, with
most restaurants, shops, cafés, and bars
found on ‘Caracoles’ street.
ATM
Post Office
Handicrafts Market
Museum
Church
San Pedro de Atacama | Survival Guide