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Published in March 2023, San Pedro de Atacama, located in northern Chile, serves as the country’s northernmost tourist destination and a strategic base for exploring the Atacama Desert and Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni. Positioned at 2,700 meters elevation, the town sits approximately 200 kilometers from the Chilean coast and is accessible via El Loa airport in Calama, with connecting flights through Santiago and Madrid.
The Town and Its Character
San Pedro de Atacama conveys a relaxed, hippie atmosphere with a pacifist energy that draws street artists from around the world. The village is constructed entirely from ochre-colored adobe and stone, built using desert sand. Activity centers on Calle Caracoles, the main street lined with restaurants, souvenir shops, and tour agencies. The town is surrounded by imposing volcanoes, including Licancabur at 5,916 meters, considered sacred by the Inca and located on the Bolivia border.
Historical and Religious Landmarks
The Iglesia de San Pedro, situated in the main plaza, was rebuilt in the 17th century following the destruction of an earlier structure approximately 100 years older. The tower dates to 1964, replacing an original wooden tower. Designated a National Monument of Chile in 1951, the church is constructed in stone and adobe in Andean style and is recognized as the largest and most beautiful church in the region. The 2007 Tocopilla earthquake caused significant damage, leading to restoration work during which a painting of two angels was discovered beneath four layers of paint in the central niche. The church organ, dating to 1776, was partially destroyed in an 1838 fire and rebuilt in 1844.
Museums and Collections
The Museo del Meteorite houses a collection of meteorites found in the Atacama Desert, along with over 1,400 photographs documenting meteorite details and impact craters. The Museo Arqueológico Gustavo Le Paige, founded in 1963 by Jesuit priest Gustavo Le Paige, contains approximately 380,000 archaeological pieces from Atacameña culture and several well-preserved mummies. The Atacameña civilization established settlements in the region’s plateau and desert gorges more than 11,000 years ago.
Surrounding Natural Attractions
The area offers numerous geological and natural sites accessible by organized tours or rental vehicle. Valle de la Luna, the most famous location, presents otherworldly landscapes. Valle del Arcobaleno, 75 kilometers away, features colored mountains and prehistoric rock inscriptions. El Tatio Geyser represents the world’s third-largest geothermal area. Laguna Chaxa, a protected natural area within the salt flat, hosts multiple flamingo species. Additional sites include Lagunas Escondida de Baltinache (nine small lagoons), Piedras Rojas with its red rocks and milky-blue lagoon contrast, and Lagunas Miscanti y Miñiques, two lagoons separated by a lava strip. The Inca Trail at the Tropic of Capricorn provides an isolated landmark within the salt flat.
Frequently asked questions
How is San Pedro de Atacama reached?
Visitors fly to El Loa airport in Calama with connections through Santiago and Madrid, then travel to San Pedro de Atacama.
What is the elevation of San Pedro de Atacama?
The town is situated at 2,700 meters elevation in the Atacama Desert.
When was the Iglesia de San Pedro built?
The church was rebuilt in the 17th century following the destruction of an earlier structure; its current tower dates to 1964.
