Chile Atacama Desert

The best time to visit the Atacama Desert depends on what you’re after. December to February offers warm weather and abundant wildlife, particularly flamingos. March to May and September to November provide comfortable temperatures with fewer crowds. June to August delivers the clearest night skies for stargazing, though nights are very cold. Each season has its draws; there’s no ‘wrong’ time to visit this remarkable desert.

Three to four nights in San Pedro de Atacama allows you to experience the region’s main highlights without feeling rushed. This gives time for key excursions like Valle de la Luna at sunset, a dawn visit to El Tatio Geysers, exploration of the salt flats and lagoons, and at least one evening of stargazing. Some visitors spend longer to venture further afield or simply to slow down and absorb the desert’s otherworldly atmosphere. Our Atacama tours will give you plenty of time to explore.

It’s the driest non-polar desert on Earth, with some weather stations never having recorded rainfall. This extreme aridity creates landscapes so alien they’ve been used to test Mars rovers. The region is home to world-leading astronomical observatories thanks to its clear skies and minimal light pollution. Geologically, it’s extraordinary. Active geysers, colourful lagoons, vast salt flats and moon-like valleys all within reach of San Pedro. Throw in pre-Columbian archaeological sites, and you have a destination unlike anywhere else on the planet.

Layering is essential regardless of the season. Even in summer, nights cool dramatically, while winter demands serious cold-weather gear. Essential items include:

• Sun protection: high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hat
• Warm layers: fleece, thermal underlayers, warm jacket (particularly for winter)
• Comfortable walking shoes or hiking boots
• Long trousers and long-sleeved shirts for sun protection and cool evenings
• Swimwear for hot springs and salt lagoons
• Reusable water bottle – staying hydrated at high altitude is crucial

When visiting the Atacma Desert in Chile you may want to conisder combinging your visit with the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, usually visited on a 3-day package by 4WD; La Serena and the Elqui Valley, 1.5 hours by air from Calama, a hour drive from San Pedro; Lauca National Park near the northern border, 800 km.

To get to the Atacama desert fly from Santiago to Calama (2 hours) then it’s a 2 hour road journey (104 km) to San Pedro.

The feast day of Saints Peter and Paul:  24 Jun. The entire village of San Pedro joins in the celebrations with processions.