Experience the raw beauty of the Atacama Desert with authentic adventures across Chile’s most stunning landscape. Book tours at AtacamaChileTours and explore salt flats, geysers, and otherworldly valleys under some of the clearest skies on Earth. From unforgettable stargazing sessions to sunrise at high-altitude lagoons, our local guides create moments you’ll remember forever.
Our Atacama Desert tours deliver the hits: volcano climbs to 5,600 meters, sandboarding 400-foot dunes, canyon rappels into waterfalls, and biking ancient valleys to Devil's Throat. 3-4 day combos cram in geysers at dawn, floating salt lagoons, and stargazing sharper than anywhere, all with pickup and no crowds.
4-day San Pedro de Atacama adventure: Moon Valley sunset, professional stargazing, Rainbow Valley hike, floating in Laguna Cejar, Piedras Rojas + altiplanic lagoons, sunrise at El Tatio Geysers, with hotel pickup, meals and expert guides included.
Atacama highlights package from San Pedro: Moon Valley sunset, sunrise at El Tatio Geysers + Machuca village, floating in Baltinache’s hidden lagoons, airport transfers, 3 nights accommodation with breakfast and bilingual guides included.
Atacama highlights tour from San Pedro: sunrise El Tatio Geysers + flamingos, Piedras Rojas & altiplanic lagoons, Valle de la Luna sunset, floating in Baltinache’s hidden lagoons, daily hotel pickup, bilingual guides and all entrance fees included.
Our Atacama adventure tours pack volcano treks to live craters, sunrise geysers at 4,300 meters, swims in turquoise high-altitude lagoons, and stargazing sessions under the clearest skies on the planet. Full days, small groups, real desert, no filler stops.
Complete Atacama tour from San Pedro: Baltinache hidden lagoons, Valle de la Luna sunset, Piedras Rojas + altiplanic lagoons & Chaxa flamingos, sunrise at El Tatio Geysers, daily hotel pickup, bilingual guides, breakfasts, lunches and sunset drinks included.
Full-day guided climb to Cerro Toco summit (5,604m): panoramic 360° views over Atacama, moderate fitness required, trekking poles, helmet, trail snacks and hotel pickup included.
Full-day Atacama canyoning adventure: high-altitude hike + four rappels down waterfalls into clear pools, expert guides, all safety gear, snacks and hotel pickup included, small group max 15.
Mountain bike tour from San Pedro de Atacama: Catarpe Valley trails, Pukará de Quitor ruins, river oasis ride and exciting Devil’s Throat canyon descent, with bike, helmet, breakfast and small group max 6 included.
Sunrise hot-air balloon flight from San Pedro de Atacama: float above Moon Valley, Death Valley, Salt Mountains and lagoons with epic Licancabur volcano views, gourmet breakfast after landing, hotel pickup and intimate max 6-person baskets included.
2-hour horseback ride from San Pedro de Atacama: Salt Mountains to Dinosaur Valley fossils, Catarpe and Chulacao canyons, bilingual guide, hotel pickup, horse matched to your level and riding instruction included.
Our Atacama private tours run exactly how you want: start at 4am for geysers or sleep in and hit the salt flats at noon, linger at lagoons, skip the crowds. One vehicle, one expert guide, your schedule, zero group drama.
Intimate private romance package in San Pedro de Atacama: sunrise hot-air balloon with sparkling wine, private horseback ride through the Salt Mountains, soak in Puritama thermal pools, French champagne dinner, all transfers included.
Exclusive private El Tatio Geysers tour from San Pedro de Atacama: later start to escape crowds and cold, hidden hot springs + secret viewpoints, breakfast with epic Andes backdrop, private transport and dedicated guide for up to 6 guests with flexible hotel pickup.
Private Atacama tours from San Pedro: build your own itinerary and schedule, private vehicle + bilingual guide, secret sunset spots with cocktails and snacks, or join the multi-day Meditta desert meditation retreat.
Our Atacama stargazing tours put you under the world's clearest skies with massive 16-inch telescopes and pro astronomers who point out galaxies, nebulae, and planets you can't see anywhere else. 2-hour sessions in total darkness, hot drinks included, mind officially blown.
Small-group stargazing tour from San Pedro de Atacama: world-class telescopes at a remote desert observatory, expert astronomy guide, personal Milky Way photo souvenir, plus hotel transfers, hot drinks and snacks included.
Premium stargazing tour from San Pedro de Atacama: peer through 14-inch Skyquest telescopes with a 7+ year expert astronomer, get cosmic insights and a personal Milky Way photo, enjoy gourmet appetizers with wine/hot drinks, thermal blankets for comfort, and round-trip hotel transfers.
Intimate stargazing experience with Bajo la Noche de Atacama: heartfelt sky stories, telescope and naked-eye viewing, professional astrophotography souvenir, gourmet snacks with reserve wine and hot drinks, campfire vibes and hotel transfers included.
Our Atacama hidden wonders tours take you to steaming geyser fields at sunrise and secret high-altitude lagoons in blazing turquoise, places most visitors never reach. Small vans, early starts, flamingos, total silence, pure desert magic.
Half-day tour to Baltinache’s 7 hidden turquoise lagoons from San Pedro de Atacama: short scenic hike, swim in one ultra-salty lagoon (open since March 2025), epic Cordillera de Sal views, hotel pickup, brunch/snacks and pisco sour included, small group only.
Full-day Atacama highlights tour from San Pedro: Piedras Rojas red rocks, high-altitude Miscanti & Miñiques lagoons, flamingos at Chaxa salt flat, Socaire & Toconao villages, Tropic of Capricorn stop, with hotel pickup, breakfast, lunch and all entrance fees included.
Sunrise El Tatio Geysers tour from San Pedro de Atacama: watch 80+ steaming geysers at 4,300m altitude, breakfast among Andean volcanoes, quick stop in charming Machuca village, with early hotel pickup and round-trip transport included.
Full-day small-group Atacama highlights tour (max 14 guests): Piedras Rojas red rocks, high-altitude Miscanti & Miñiques lagoons, flamingos at Chaxa Lagoon, Socaire village, with gourmet breakfast, snacks, bilingual guide and hotel pickup included.
Half-day Cejar & Tebenquiche lagoons tour from San Pedro de Atacama: float Dead-Sea style in turquoise Laguna Cejar, swim in Ojos del Salar pools, sunset pisco sour + snacks at Laguna Tebenquiche, small group (max 12), hotel pickup included.
Half-day tour to Baltinache’s 7 hidden turquoise lagoons from San Pedro de Atacama: float Dead Sea-style in ultra-salty waters, explore dramatic salt flats, hotel pickup, bilingual guide, snacks and shared transport included.
Our Atacama scenic tours cover the unreal stuff: moon-like Valle de la Luna, endless white salt flats, red rock canyons, rainbow hills, and 360-degree desert views that look fake but aren't. Half or full-day drives with stops for photos and short walks, no rush.
Full-day Atacama three-park tour from San Pedro: Piedras Rojas red rocks, Miscanti & Miñiques highland lagoons, flamingos at Chaxa Lagoon, Toconao & Socaire villages, breakfast + lunch, all fees and bilingual guide included, max 12 guests.
Half-day Vallecito & Magic Bus adventure from San Pedro de Atacama: explore abandoned hippie bus village, colorful desert canyons and hidden oases, hotel pickup, guide, snacks and off-the-beaten-track vibes included.
Sunset Cordillera de la Sal tour from San Pedro de Atacama: lunar dunes, photo stop at the iconic Magic Bus, sunset pisco sour + wine and appetizers, hotel pickup and small group max 18 included.
Half-day Puritama Hot Springs escape from San Pedro de Atacama: soak in seven natural thermal pools (28-31°C) with waterfalls in a lush Andean canyon, hotel pickup, entrance fee and shared transport included.
Afternoon Vallecito + Magic Bus tour from San Pedro de Atacama: explore dramatic rock formations, the famous abandoned Magic Bus, short hikes and sunset pisco sour in the Salt Mountains, with hotel pickup and English-speaking guide included.
Evening Valle de la Luna tour from San Pedro de Atacama: wander lunar dunes and salt caves, climb Gran Duna for epic views, visit Tres Marías and Piedra del Coyote, hotel pickup, guide, snacks and park entry included.
Up in northern Chile sits the driest desert on the planet, and somehow the most alive one too. Red valleys crack open to salt flats bigger than cities, geysers shoot steam at 4,300 meters while volcanoes watch, and at night the sky dumps so many stars you forget what light pollution even feels like. Float in lagoons that hold you up like the Dead Sea, chase sunrise over dunes that look stolen from Mars, then drink ricoto coffee while flamingos ignore you completely. Atacama Chile Tours takes you straight into the middle of all that, no filler days, just the raw stuff that makes people shut up and stare.
Discover some of the world's clearest night skies where galaxies, nebulas, and countless stars reveal themselves with stunning clarity.
Explore vast salt flats, moon-like valleys, and colorful rock formations that look like they belong on another planet.
Visit steaming geysers at dawn, turquoise lagoons, and volcanic peaks in the dramatic Andean highlands.
Witness the spectacular El Tatio geysers at sunrise, where steam columns erupt from the earth at over 4,300 meters above sea level.
Our expert team has been helping travelers from the US and Canada discover and book Atacama Desert tours for over a decade, making sure your adventure is seamless with everything arranged before you arrive.
With deep knowledge of the Atacama Desert, partnerships with trusted local operators, and a passion for creating unforgettable experiences, we're committed to making your desert adventure truly extraordinary. From your first inquiry to your last tour, we're here to support you every step of the way.
Recognized by travelers and industry leaders alike
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice
2024
Booking.com Guest Favorite
Chile Tourism Excellence
TrustPilot Top Rated Service
Sustainable Desert Travel Award
2023
For most visitors, we don't recommend renting a car. The Atacama's vast, remote terrain features unpaved roads, unreliable GPS, extreme conditions, and long distances that make self-driving challenging, especially if you're unfamiliar with desert navigation. Guided tours provide expert local knowledge, proper timing for attractions like geysers and salt flats, transportation, safety equipment, and cultural insights—making your experience stress-free and far more rewarding than attempting to explore independently.
April to October offers the best conditions with clear skies, comfortable temperatures, and minimal rainfall—perfect for stargazing and exploring salt flats and geysers. December to March brings warmer weather and occasional highland rain, but you might witness the rare "desierto florido" (flowering desert) phenomenon. For the ultimate experience, visit May to September for crisp days, cool evenings, and some of the clearest night skies on Earth.
Yes, the Atacama Desert is very safe to travel to. Chile has strong tourism infrastructure, and San Pedro de Atacama is a well-established, tourist-friendly town with low crime rates. The main safety considerations are environmental—high altitude (2,400m), extreme UV radiation, and temperature swings—so acclimatize properly, use sunscreen, stay hydrated, and book with reputable tour operators who provide experienced guides and safety equipment for remote excursions.
San Pedro de Atacama ranges from moderate to expensive, with accommodation from $15-30 for hostels to $300+ for luxury lodges, and tours costing $30-150+ depending on duration and destination. Food spans all budgets ($8-40 per meal), though prices reflect the remote location. Book tours in advance online and visit during shoulder season (April-May or September-October) for better rates—the Atacama's otherworldly landscapes make it worth every penny!
No, the Atacama has very few dangerous animals, and most wildlife you'll encounter—like vicuñas, flamingos, and viscachas—are completely harmless. While spiders, scorpions, and venomous snakes exist, they're rarely seen and avoid humans; just shake out shoes and stick to marked trails. The biggest "danger" is the environment itself—extreme sun, high altitude, and temperature swings—so follow your guide's instructions and wear proper sun protection for a safe, worry-free adventure.
We recommend 3-4 days in San Pedro de Atacama to experience the region's highlights—Valley of the Moon, El Tatio Geysers, salt flats, high-altitude lagoons, and world-class stargazing—while allowing time to acclimatize to the altitude. If you have 5-7 days, add experiences like Piedras Rojas, Rainbow Valley, hot springs, or even the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia. Two days minimum works if you're short on time, but remember that tours start very early (3-4 AM) or return late, so the longer you stay, the more you'll appreciate this extraordinary desert destination.
Stay in or near San Pedro de Atacama town center for easy access to restaurants, tour operators, and shops in this compact, walkable village. Accommodation ranges from budget hostels ($15-50) and mid-range hotels ($60-150) near Caracoles Street to luxury lodges ($200-500+) just outside town with desert views and premium amenities. Book well in advance during peak season (June-August, December-February) as the best properties fill up quickly!
San Pedro sits at 2,400m (7,900 ft), but excursions reach much higher—El Tatio Geysers at 4,320m (14,170 ft) and high-altitude lagoons up to 4,600m (15,100 ft). To minimize altitude sickness, arrive a day early to acclimatize, stay hydrated, avoid alcohol, and consider coca tea; most people adjust within 24-48 hours. Tour operators monitor guests and carry oxygen on high-altitude excursions, so with proper preparation, the altitude is manageable and won't stop you from experiencing the Atacama's incredible beauty!
While you can explore San Pedro town center and nearby sites independently, we strongly recommend guided tours for the desert's main attractions. Top sites like El Tatio Geysers, high-altitude lagoons, and salt flats are hours away on unmarked roads where GPS fails, require specific timing (4 AM geyser departures), and involve extreme conditions at altitudes up to 5,000m. Expert guides provide safety, proper equipment, permit access, and fascinating insights about geology, archaeology, and local culture that dramatically enhance your experience.
The Atacama experiences dramatic temperature swings between day and night. Daytime temperatures range from 20-30°C (68-86°F) depending on season, but nights drop to 5-10°C (41-50°F) in summer and -5 to -10°C (23-14°F) in winter, with early morning geyser tours feeling bitterly cold. Pack layers—t-shirts for warm days plus warm jacket, long pants, gloves, and beanie for cold mornings and evenings, as temperatures can drop 20-30°C from afternoon to night.
