San Pedro de Atacama

Bus & minivan tours

Meet your group at the meeting point and travel to Valle de la Luna, located 13 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama. Explore the lunar-like landscape which will mesmerize you with its colorful geology. Discover interesting rock formations composed of natural minerals, including Las Tres Marías created by wind erosion over many decades. See other sights such as the Grand Dunes, the Salt Cave, the Amphitheater, and the Coyote Stone. At the end of the day, admire the sunset from an exceptional lookout point overlooking the valley. Enjoy a panoramic view of the rugged beauty of the Atacama desert, and see the beautiful colors of the sky as the sun gradually sets.

Discover the third largest geothermal field in the world and the largest in the southern hemisphere in the Atacama Desert. At 4,200 meters (13,780 feet) above sea level, the Tatio Geysers are a natural marvel that will take your breath away, in more ways than one. Leave early in the morning, before sunrise, after pickup from your hotel. Arrive at the geysers early to have the opportunity to observe the contrast between the sunrise and the steam from the heat of the magma-affected waters. After sunrise, savor a complete breakfast with bread, cheese, ham, scrambled eggs, coffee, chocolate, milk, and jam. Once you've eaten, spend some more time exploring the 80 geysers around the national park. From there, ride through the Putana Valley. See endemic flora and fauna and stop at a lagoon to see flamingos before returning to your hotel.

Start or end your time in San Pedro de Atacama stress free with a reliable shared transfer service between your accommodation and the airport. Please confirm the departure time with your airline at least 24 hours before your service to avoid any delay, and keep in mind that the distance between Calama airport and San Pedro de Atacama is 1.5 hours. Some of the drivers speak little or no english, so please ask for assistance over the phone in case of any miscommunication. Upon arrival at the airport, your driver will be waiting by the exit door to greet you with a card that says your name. If you are traveling from your hotel to the airport, you will usually be picked up at least three hours before your flight departure. On the way between the airport and your hotel, enjoy comfortable and air-conditioned transport, listen to music, or ask your driver about things to do during your stay in San Pedro de Atacama.

Enjoy two different views of the night sky during your tour. The first will be the Western vision, which studies the universe, the brightness of the stars, and their planets. You can observe, with a telescope, objects in the solar system, deep space, and constellations. Learn about the cosmos and its formation.  Then, go on an ethnic astronomical journey to understand how the ancient inhabitants of the Andes interpreted the universe, the milky way, and the night sky. Many centuries before the arrival of the Spaniards, in the indigenous settlements of America, many wise observers of the universe interpreted the objects of the night sky. In all the black spaces, they observed figures that gave them information about their daily life including animals, water, rivers, schedules, and life after death. 

Be collected from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama around 6:30 AM. Your first stop, after an hour, will be at the Miscanti and Miñiques highland lagoons, located at 4,200 meters above sea level. In these lagoons, enjoy breakfast and admire the fauna and flora here.  The next visit is to the Salar de Talar, known as Piedras Rojas or purple stones. The beauty of this place will leave you speechless. Continue to your next stop at the Atacameño village of Socaire, where you can observe the terraces of cultivation and the village church. Then visit the Salar de Atacama, Chile's largest salt lake. Here are the national flamingo reserve and the Chaxa lagoon, which is home to three types of flamingos as well as other species. Return to San Pedro de Atacama around 5:00 PM. 

Meet your local host in the main street of San Pedro de Atacama to begin your experience. Heading towards the southeast of the desert taking the scenic route to the hidden lagoons of Baltinache. During the 1-hour drive, see all the rock and salt landscapes that make up the desert, and learn about why this area is believed to have been at the bottom of the ocean millions of years ago. Walk to the beginning of the track where you can visit all 7 lagoons. Be stunned by the crystal clear waters of the lagoons and wonder how such a thing is possible in the middle of nowhere. Since June 10, 2024, the lagoons are no longer suitable for swimming. Now it is only possible to observe and take photos of the lagoons. We also visit the valley of the abandoned bus, also known as the 'Magic Bus'. Iconic for its rustic look and picture perfect surroundings, you can take this time to capture your perfect shot. Finally, arrive back in San Pedro de Atacama where your memorable tour concludes.

Let the brilliance of the dazzling cosmos take your breath away with this stargazing tour from San Pedro de Atacama. Stare through telescopes, learn about the universe, and share a glass of wine or coffee. Meet at Mal de Puna in the city center of San Pedro de Atacama and climb aboard a comfortable van. Relax on the drive to the Atacama Desert in a climate-controlled van. Stop at a location that is far from the light pollution of the city, allowing you to experience the incredible night sky. Look through telescopes to get a closer view of the stars and planets. Learn about the objects that you spot with the help of your guide. Immerse yourself in local culture as you guide shares the Andean cosmovision philosophy with you over a glass of Chilean wine or a cup of coffee. Be dropped off at your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama with unforgettable memories of the breathtaking night sky. Take home 2 professional photos of your stargazing adventure.

Immerse yourself in the magic of the nocturnal sky with a guided stargazing excursion in San Pedro de Atacama. Acquire new knowledge about astronomy in an immersive experience with a professional. We drive 15 minutes away from the town center. Arrive at the observation site and receive a brief explanation, then begin your fascinating observation of the night sky with the naked eye. Sip on a welcome drink like red wine, pisco sour, or juice. Next, learn how to observe through telescopes and find objects such as planets, stars, binary stars, stellar clusters, nebulas, and galaxies, depending on the time of the year. Take some photos with the stars as a memory of the night and finish with a snack and hot drinks before the drive back.

Delight in 3 days of activities and discover the must-sees in the Atacama Desert, from San Pedro de Atacama. The natural attractions of Atacama, the driest and highest desert in the world, are scattered around San Pedro. Get ready to find conical volcanoes, blueish lagoons, steaming geysers, and rock formations that appear to be from another planet. Llamas, vicuñas, guanacos, foxes, and graceful flamingos can also be experienced in this unique wildlife environment. The 3-day pack will be a combination of the 4 tours below. The local partner will contact you before to coordinate the days on which you will attend each one. El Tatio Geysers Tour: Visit El Tatio Geysers to be mesmerized by the largest geothermal field in the southern hemisphere and the third-largest in the world. Ride through the Putana Valley, observe flora and fauna, and stop at a lagoon to see flamingos. Red Rocks & Altiplano Lagoons Day Trip: Discover the gems of the Atacama Desert on a guided day trip from San Pedro de Atacama with a hotel pickup. See the Tropic of Capricorn, Red Rocks or Piedras Rojas, and the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons. Valle de la Luna Sunset Tour: See sights such as the Three Sisters and the Grand Dunes before ending the day with an amazing sunset. Hidden Lagoons of Baltinache Tour + Magic Bus: Visit the hidden lagoons of Baltinache or Seven Lagoons, one of the secret places of the Atacama Desert. This is a wonderful landscape where you can admire and take fotos. (Since June 10, 2024, the lagoons are no longer suitable for swimming.) On this tour we also visit the valley of the abandoned bus, also known as the 'Magic Bus'. Iconic for its rustic look and picture perfect surroundings, you can take this time to capture your perfect shot. The order of the tours can be changed due to logistical reasons, we will always be in touch via WhatsApp.

Day 1 09:00 p.m. Bus La Paz to Uyuni Day 2 07:00 a.m. Arrival to Uyuni city Free Time 10:30 a.m. Tour Uyuni Salt Flats Day 3 Tour Uyuni Salt Flats + National Reserve Day 4 Tour Uyuni Salt Flats + National Reserve 10:30 a.m. Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. 2:00 p.m. Arrival time to San Pedro de Atacama Main Square DAY 1 Go to the bus office at 8:30 p.m. for the check-in, then bus departures at 9:00 p.m. Inside the bus, enjoy the service of Dinner (Meat and Vegetarian Option), Breakfast, a Bottle of Water, a Hot Drink, Heating, Toilets, a Polar Blanket, and First Aid Kit. DAY 2 Arrive in Uyuni City at 7:30 a.m. then go to our office 1 block away from bus station, Free time to buy snacks, water, and use toilets to refresh you. (we have a free time, because all companies and tourist points are available from 10:30 a.m.) Start your tour leaving Uyuni town at 10:30 a.m. from Perla de Bolivia's office. Visit: Train Graveyard, the small settlement of Colchani (salt miners´ workshops next to the salt flats), handicrafts made of salt, and textile art made of llama and alpaca fiber. Next, “Ojos de Agua Salada” (‘saltwater eyes’), a hotel-museum made completely of salt, Isla Incahuasi. Then, make sure you and your group pose for some fun perspective- and proportion-distorted photos, taken against the backdrop of the striking white surface of the salt flats. To end of the day, head to an open, spacious area for the unique experience of seeing a beautiful sunset, spreading its dazzling colors all over the salt flats, and finally arrive at Ajencha town to have dinner and night stay in the hostel. DAY 3 Start off at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast. Visit: Ollagüe Volcano lookout point, the rocky road “El Pasito Tuntun”, the famous: Cañapa, Hedionda, and Chiarcota Lagoons in which flamingoes can be seen. Finally in the day, enter “Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve”, Desert of Siloli, Rock tree, and the immense Red Lagoon to see more pink flamingos in their natural habitat. Stay the night at a hostel in Huayllajara. DAY 4 Get off to an early start around 5:00 a.m. to visit: Sol de Mañana Geyser, Hot Springs, Dali Desert, Green Lagoon, White Lagoon on the foot of Licancabur volcano. Then head back to the Bolivia-Chile border (Hito Cajon), A Guide will assist with your border crossing at 10:30 am, finally arrive at San Pedro de Atacama at 2:00 p.m. The drop-off point is at San Pedro de Atacama’s main square.