San Pedro de Atacama
The glow of its softly lit streets, the conversations and laughter that float out of stores and restaurants as you explore the town, and the sheer joy of being far away from civilization, combine to make San Pedro a magical place.
The place has existed for 13,000 years, since the indigenous people of these lands gave birth to the Atacama culture, which celebrates life through color, dance and music that permeate every corner of this vast desert. Every aspect of the culture has been preserved for millennia, and now you are here to bear witness to it.
San Pedro de Atacama is located 1670 km north of Santiago. Its cobblestone streets are lined with adobe houses, ancestral churches, squares, craft stores, restaurants, bars and a museum. Just a few blocks from the downtown area, you’ll find your home away from home, Casa Atacama.
San Pedro is surrounded by the imposing La Sal and Domeyko mountain ranges. The Puritama, Purifica and Vilama rivers flow around the outskirts of San Pedro, forming majestic ravines and giving life to this desert oasis. Without them, San Pedro would be uninhabitable.
San Pedro, considered the archaeological capital of Chile, is home to some 2,500 residents, and is surrounded by some of the highest peaks in the Andes, including the Licancabur and Saciel volcanoes.
