A practical guide for a road trip by car through the Atacama Desert!
The Atacama Desert is an extraordinary and stunning destination. It feels like you're on another planet. Stretching 970 kilometers (603 miles), it is the driest place on Earth, with less than 5 millimeters (0.2 inches) of rainfall per year. The desert boasts breathtaking landscapes, from salt flats and hot springs to massive sand dunes. The Atacama Desert is a remarkable and unique spot that you definitely shouldn't miss on your journey through Chile!
How many days do you need?
Where to stay?
We recommend staying in San Pedro de Atacama. This is a charming, touristy desert village with shops and restaurants. From San Pedro de Atacama, you'll be closest to the attractions.
How to get to Atacama?
There are several ways to travel to the Atacama Desert. We chose to fly to Calama, the airport near the desert, from Santiago. The flight takes about 2 hours, with multiple flights available daily. You can easily compare prices and book tickets through Skyscanner. From Calama Airport, it’s just over a 1-hour drive to San Pedro de Atacama. Buses also run from the airport to San Pedro de Atacama.
Traveling by bus to the desert is another option. Buses depart from various locations in northern Chile. If you plan to travel from Santiago by bus, keep in mind that you’ll need to transfer, and the journey is long. You can also travel to Atacama from Bolivia, with the bus from Uyuni taking approximately 10 hours. Tickets for your bus journeys can easily be arranged through Busbud.
What is the best time to visit?
The weather in the Atacama Desert is extreme. During the day, temperatures can reach around 77°F (25°C), but at night, it can drop to freezing. Strong winds are also common, making it feel colder. The weather is generally dry, warm, and windy. January, February, November, and December are the warmest months, with temperatures around 77°F (25°C). June and July are the coolest months, with temperatures around 55°F (13°C). The best time to visit is from March to May. We visited in February, experienced no rainfall, and enjoyed plenty of sunshine.
Transport
There are several ways to explore the attractions of the Atacama Desert, such as by car, bike, or joining a tour. We recommend renting a car during your visit to the Atacama Desert. A car provides the freedom to travel at your own pace. Additionally, some attractions are quite far apart, making a car or tour essential to reach them.
The downside of joining a tour is that you can't decide how long to stay at each spot and may often find yourself visiting attractions at the same time as other tours. However, a tour guide's local knowledge and insights about the area can be a big plus.
Cycling is another option, but it's only feasible for attractions close to San Pedro de Atacama. Keep in mind that biking under the intense sun, especially during the warmer months, can be quite challenging.
Renting a Car
We rented our car through Chilean Rent A Car, picking it up and dropping it off at the airport in Calama. Keep in mind that distances in the Atacama Desert are vast, and cell phone reception is not guaranteed everywhere. The remote nature of the region means you might not encounter other people for a while, so it’s essential to carry plenty of water and food.
Some roads are unpaved, and we unfortunately experienced a flat tire during our trip. Luckily, it happened near an attraction where others helped us replace it. Make sure to refuel at the gas station in San Pedro de Atacama, as there are no gas stations along the way to most attractions.
Tip: In Chile, an international driver’s license is recommended, though your regular driver’s license may be accepted in some cases.
Tip: Download an offline map via Google Maps or use the Maps.me app to navigate, as coverage can be unreliable.
Altitude Sickness
Some attractions in the Atacama Desert are at significant altitudes. San Pedro de Atacama itself is situated at 8,038 feet (2,450 meters) above sea level. Altitude sickness can occur from about 8,202 feet (2,500 meters). For example, the El Tatio Geysers are located at 13,779 feet (4,200 meters) above sea level, and you may feel its effects here. The air is quite thin at such heights, making you more easily short of breath. You may also experience headaches, nausea, or dizziness. It is important to drink plenty of water if you experience symptoms of altitude sickness. Since the air at high altitudes is dry, dehydration can occur quickly, and dehydration symptoms can worsen altitude sickness.
Do you need to book tickets in advance?
For some attractions, it is necessary to book tickets in advance. For example, tickets are required for Piedras Rojas and Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques. We booked the tickets through Socaire Chile. If you don't book a ticket in advance, you won't be able to enter. For Laguna Chaxa, Geysers del Tatio, Valle de Marte, and Valle de la Luna, you can buy tickets on-site. Mirador Laguna Tuyajto is a free viewpoint that doesn't require a ticket.
A nice 3-day road trip through the desert!
We went on a 3-day road trip through the beautiful Atacama Desert. We had an amazing time and enjoyed the unique and stunning landscapes. We stayed in San Pedro de Atacama every night and traveled from there to the sights.
Day 1: Mirador Laguna Tuyajto, Piedras Rojas, Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques, Laguna Chaxa
We started the road trip with sights that are close to each other. Google Maps says it's a 2-hour drive from San Pedro de Atacama to Mirador Laguna Tuyajto, the first attraction. However, we took longer than what Google Maps indicated. It took us about 3.5 hours, partly because we stopped a few times along the way to spot vicuñas. The mirador is the farthest point, and the other sights of the day are on the way back toward San Pedro de Atacama.
Mirador Laguna Tuyajto
Laguna Tuyajto is an impressive saltwater lake at 13,123 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level, offering views of the surrounding mountains. From the mirador, you can admire the lake, but you can also walk a bit closer to get an even better view. The mirador is free, and you'll likely encounter very few other visitors.
Piedras Rojas
After Mirador Laguna Tuyajto, you drive about 15 minutes back to Piedras Rojas, also known as Aguas Calientes. Here, you can admire beautiful volcanic red rocks created by the area's volcanic activity. The red color creates a stunning contrast with the white salt flats and the bright blue sky. There is a hiking trail marked out for you to follow, allowing you to enjoy different viewpoints of the surrounding landscape.
Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques
From Piedras Rojas, it's at least a 1-hour drive to Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques. You also drive partly on an unpaved road, which is manageable as long as you drive carefully. Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques are two beautiful turquoise lakes near the Miscanti and Miñiques volcanoes. The lakes were formed by the melting water from the surrounding mountains. You can park the car at various spots near the lakes and take a walk around to enjoy the view.
Laguna Chaxa
From Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques, it's over 1.5 hours' drive to Laguna Chaxa. It's definitely worth the trip, as it's a breathtaking place. Laguna Chaxa is a salt lake right in the middle of the desert. Around the lake, you’ll find white salt formations that sparkle in the bright sun. You can spot flamingos in the water of Laguna Chaxa, making the place even more special. There's a walking route outlined so you can take your time to explore the area. From here, you’ll drive about 2 hours back to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 2: Geysers del Tatio (Machuca), Valle de Marte
On this day, we went in the opposite direction and drove north from San Pedro de Atacama. The Geysers del Tatio is listed on Google Maps as a 1.5-hour drive from San Pedro de Atacama. We took twice as long to get there, as we stopped a few times along the way to enjoy the stunning views. You also drive a large stretch on an unpaved road, which slows you down quite a bit. It is doable to drive over it with a car, but it’s a bumpy ride. It’s nice to make a stop in Machuca on the way there or back. This small desert village is on the way to the Geysers.
Geysers del Tatio
Most tours depart early to reach the geysers on time, as they are most active during the morning. The downside to this is that many people are there at once. We arrived around 11 a.m. and had the geysers almost to ourselves, which gave it a more remote feeling. They were still fairly active when we visited. The geysers are located at an altitude of 13,780 feet (4200 meters), so you may experience some altitude sickness. You can drive to the geysers and park in several parking areas. From there, you can walk to the geysers. There are also hot springs near the geysers where you can swim. We found it to be a very impressive spot.
After the geysers, we wanted to visit Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache. These seven bright blue lakes are very salty. The first and last lakes are open for swimming, so you can float and enjoy the surroundings. Unfortunately, we discovered at the geysers that our car tire was flat, so we had to replace it first. It would have been about a 3-hour drive to Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache, but we had lost too much time. Therefore, we decided to head back to San Pedro de Atacama and visit Valle de Marte instead.
Valle de Marte
From San Pedro de Atacama, it's about a 10-minute drive to Valle de Marte. Valle de Marte, also known as Mars Valley or Death Valley, has an impressive landscape that resembles the planet Mars. Water and wind have eroded the rocks into stunning formations. At the entrance, you'll receive instructions and an explanation about the different hiking routes you can take.
Day 3: Valle de la Luna
On this day, we flew back to Santiago in the late afternoon. Therefore, we decided to visit Valle de la Luna, as it's only a 10-minute drive from San Pedro de Atacama. From here, it's also easy to continue on to the airport.
Valle de la Luna
Valle de la Luna means Valley of the Moon, and the landscape resembles that of the moon. In the valley, you'll find various features, from rock formations and sand dunes to salt formations. At the entrance, you receive instructions and a map. You can then drive in with your car, and park at the points of interest before continuing on foot. There are also various walking routes to explore. A visit to Valle de la Luna takes about 3 hours. This was another incredible spot and a perfect way to conclude our road trip through the Atacama Desert.
Tip: After visiting Valle de la Luna, you can also visit Piedra del Coyote with your ticket. This is a beautiful viewpoint along the road to Calama.
What else to do in the Atacama Desert?
There are many other highlights in the San Pedro de Atacama area. If you only have a few days, it means you'll have to make choices, and unfortunately, you can't see everything. Other attractions include: Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache, Monjes de la Pacana, Puritama, Valle del Arcoiris, Laguna Tebinquinche, Laguna Cejar, Volcán Láscar, Salar de Tara, Pukará de Quitor, and Valle de Jere. The Atacama Desert is also the perfect place for stargazing. You can see quite a bit on your own, but for an even better experience, it's best to join a stargazing tour.
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