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The Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth, sees simply 4 inches of rain…… each thousand years. The desert spans over 600 miles from southern Peru to Chile’s central Pacific Coast and maybe the most famous city to go to lies someplace in the center of all this (aka in the center of nowhere). It’s a bit city known as San Pedro.
These days tourism has actually taken off, each a professional and a con (an important financial enhance for the Atacamanians however after all a much less genuine illustration of desert life). Regardless, there’s a sure attract to the dusty streets with canine roaming freely, and folks lazily meandering the facet streets.
The city itself is kind of charming and deserves at the least a day of your journey time, but it surely’s the surrounding areas that actually draw vacationers right here to the center of the driest place on earth. There are the El Tatio Geysers (the third largest in the world), Salar de Atacama (the world’s third-largest salt flat), Moon Valley, Loss of life Valley, Cactus Valley, the Milk Manner…… numerous is an understatement.
Visiting San Pedro
Time Required: 3-5 Days
When to Go: 12 months-round
Finances: 30-60$ a day
Getting Right here & Away: To right here (or from right here) you’ll be able to go to the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia, or for those who’re persevering with your travels in Chile you’ll be able to catch a bus to Calama (1.5 hours) and catch a flight onwards from there. Buses can be found to quite a lot of different Chile locations similar to Antofagasta, La Serena, and Santiago.
Issues to do in San Pedro de Atacama
Salar de Atacama
For about $25-30 you’ll be able to come to see the third largest salt flat in the world. Whereas it gained’t be as spectacular as these discovered in Uyuni, Bolivia, it’s nonetheless value seeing (and also you get to see flamingoes!!!).
Tatio Geysers
The Tatio Geysers are the third largest in the world and are actually a should see while in city. You’ll must be up early, although! The excursions begin round 4-5am as the Geysers are most energetic in the morning. You’ll pay anyplace between $35-80 for a tour, relying whether or not you add the sizzling springs or a go to to a close-by village to your tour.
Moon Valley
Whether or not you rent a rental bike or go by tour bus for round $15-20, you merely should do the day journey to the Moon Valley. It’s very near city and presents the finest sundown in city.
Horse Driving
There are a selection of tour operators providing horse driving as it’s a widespread exercise out right here in the desert. To keep away from regrets, pay a bit further and ebook a tour with Turis Excursions – the high quality of the tour and the horses is value just a few further bucks with out query.
Star Gazing
In case you’re visiting throughout a full moon you gained’t get a lot of an opportunity for star gazing (as was the case for me), however for those who’re visiting some other time you’ll be able to’t miss the likelihood to stargaze at one in all the clearest skies in the world!
Atacamanian trinkets
You’ll discover loads of Atacamanian trinkets and treasures right here in San Pedro – for vacationer costs, after all. Simply keep in mind that you’re giving again to the group and your cash is effectively spent!
Iglesia San Pedro
San Pedro can also be residence to the second oldest church in Chile – Iglesia San Pedro. The intense white church dates again to 1640, and is a real testomony to ‘making do’ out in the desert. The church is made predominantly with cactus wooden and certain along with llama leather-based – spectacular!
The place to Keep, Eat, and Drink
I stayed at the all-inclusive Explora Atacama lodge – together with my room charge, three meals per day, snacks, drinks, skilled guides, transfers to and from Calama airport, and night instructional talks on astrology, wildlife, and so forth.
In case you’re on a finances there are an important vary of hostels and cheaper lodges out there on Expedia with dorm beds beginning at $20 per evening (I nonetheless swear by them for my resort bookings). It could come as a shock that San Pedro is just not low-cost – however when you have a look round you’ll discover it gained’t be anyplace close to these costs inside a decade as tourism right here is actually taking off.
Chilean meals is notoriously bland, notably in comparability to neighbouring Peru and Argentina. However surprisingly, the meals choices in San Pedro are very good and plentiful! There’s even a vegetarian/vegan restaurant in city – a rarity in South America!
See extra of my adventures on Instagram.
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