San Pedro de Atacama in 3 days

An adobe oasis in the world's driest desert, ringed by volcanoes, geysers and salt flats. Best time to visit: April-May and September-November (mild shoulder seasons). Average daily budget: $60 to $140 USD.

Day 1, Get oriented

Base: Village Centre, The compact adobe core around Caracoles street, with tour agencies, restaurants and the church.

Morning: Visit the El Tatio geysers. Rise before dawn for the high-altitude geyser field steaming in the cold air.

Afternoon: Explore Village Centre, The compact adobe core around Caracoles street, with tour agencies, restaurants and the church.

Evening: Watch sunset in Valle de la Luna. See the surreal lunar landscapes glow at dusk in the Valley of the Moon.

Eat: Quinoa dishes and Andean grains

Day 2, Go deeper

Base: Caracoles Street, The main artery lined with tour operators, craft shops, cafés and eateries.

Morning: Explore the Altiplanic Lagoons. See flamingos and turquoise lagoons against the Andean volcanoes.

Afternoon: Explore Caracoles Street, The main artery lined with tour operators, craft shops, cafés and eateries.

Evening: Stargaze in the clearest skies. Join an astronomy tour under some of the darkest, clearest skies on Earth.

Eat: Llama or local meat stews

Day 3, Hidden side

Base: Plaza de Armas, The small central square beside the historic white adobe Iglesia de San Pedro.

Morning: See the Salar de Atacama. Walk among the salt flats and their pink flamingos at Laguna Chaxa.

Afternoon: Explore Plaza de Armas, The small central square beside the historic white adobe Iglesia de San Pedro.

Evening: Float in the Cejar lagoons. Bob in the hyper-saline lagoons set within the salt flat.

Eat: Fresh empanadas from village bakeries

Hidden gems

Sunset over the Valle de la Muerte from a quiet dune.
The Rainbow Valley (Valle del Arcoíris) with its mineral-streaked hills.
Petroglyphs at Yerbas Buenas on the way to the Rainbow Valley.
Stargazing from your lodge away from the tour groups.

Getting around

San Pedro de Atacama village itself is tiny and entirely walkable, you can cross it in minutes on foot. The desert's attractions, however, are spread across huge distances and high altitudes, and the standard way to reach them is via organised tours, which almost every visitor books through the many agencies on Caracoles street. These include transport, guides and timing for sunrise geysers or sunset valleys. Renting a car or bike gives independence for closer sights like the Valle de la Luna, but many high-altitude excursions are better done with experienced guides. The nearest airport is in Calama, about an hour and a half away, reached by transfer.

Safety

San Pedro is a safe, laid-back village with very low crime; the real risks here are environmental. Altitude is the biggest concern, the village sits at 2,400m and many excursions climb above 4,000m (El Tatio geysers reach around 4,300m), so acclimatise gradually, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol early on, and ascend slowly to prevent altitude sickness. The desert sun is intense, so use strong sun protection, and nights and dawn excursions are bitterly cold, so bring warm layers. Drink plenty of water in the extreme dryness. Follow your guides on remote excursions. Solo travellers feel very comfortable; just respect the altitude and harsh desert conditions.

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