Valle de la Luna
Dry valley of wind-carved ridges, sand dunes and salt-streaked rock that looks like another planet. Visitors come at the end of the day to watch the colours change.
San Pedro de Atacama
Close to the Valley of the Moon, geysers and salt flats, this desert oasis town has night skies that rank among the clearest.
Attractive locations
Salar de Atacama
Vast salt flat with a crusty white surface surrounded by volcanoes. Lagoons scattered across it attract flamingos, and the sunsets are strong.
Laguna Chaxa
Shallow lagoon on the edge of the salt flat, where several flamingo species feed. It is part of a protected reserve, so visitors stay on the marked paths.
Laguna Cejas
Salt lagoon in the desert, so salty that visitors float easily in the water. Surrounded by rolling dry hills, it is a good place for a quiet swim.
Pukará de Quitor
Ruins of a pre-Inca hilltop fortress with stone terraces and walls, looking over the green valley of the San Pedro River. A short, easy climb leads to the best views.
El Tatio Geysers
A high-altitude geyser field in the Andes where steam jets rise from the ground at dawn. Visitors usually go on pre-dawn tours, and the cold can be intense.
Laguna Miscanti
A deep blue lake high on the altiplano, backed by volcanoes and surrounded by golden grass. Flamingos and vicuñas can sometimes be seen, and it forms a pair with neighbouring Laguna Miñiques.
Airports
El Loa Airport CJC
It is about 86 km in a straight line from San Pedro de Atacama.
Scams and safe taxis
Weather by month
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
- Jan17.4 °C7 mm
- Feb17.0 °C8 mm
- Mar16.3 °C4 mm
- Apr14.0 °C1 mm
- May10.7 °C2 mm
- Jun9.3 °C0 mm
- Jul8.8 °C1 mm
- Aug10.3 °C0 mm
- Sep12.2 °C0 mm
- Oct14.3 °C1 mm
- Nov15.8 °C1 mm
- Dec16.9 °C4 mm
Driest months: Jun, Aug, Sep. Wettest months: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Costs
Prices here are about 48% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Who can help
Emergency
Police 133. Ambulance 131. Fire 132.
local government
Carabineros de Chile emergency line 133
Helps with: Chile's national police emergency line, for crimes, robberies, assaults, traffic accidents and other incidents that need immediate police action. The page says it is open every hour of every day.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Chile reporting an emergency that threatens people's safety. The page calls the service free and confidential.
Phone: 133
local government
TurismoAtiende (Sernatur, National Tourism Service)
Helps with: Help line of Chile's national tourism service for travellers. It gives advice by phone, WhatsApp or email. The tourism site says to also tell your embassy if you lose your passport.
Who qualifies: Visitors travelling in Chile, including foreign tourists.
Phone: +56 2 2731 8337
Email: turismoatiende@sernatur.cl
ngo
Cruz Roja Chilena (Chilean Red Cross)
Helps with: Chile's national Red Cross society. Its website lists local branches, volunteering, blood donation and a training centre. The page shows only head office contact details.
Who qualifies: People in Chile who need the Red Cross; contact the head office or a local branch listed on its site.
Phone: +56(2) 2783 4100
Email: contacto@cruzroja.cl
Address: Avda. Santa María 0150, Providencia
un agency
International Organization for Migration (IOM) Chile
Helps with: The UN migration agency, working in Chile since 1954. It supports migration management and crisis response, including help for people displaced by wildfires.
Who qualifies: Migrants and displaced people in Chile, and government partners. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +56 2 296 33 710
Address: Matilde Salamanca 736, Providencia, Santiago de Chile
embassy
Foreign consulates in Chile (official list)
Helps with: For a lost passport or serious trouble, contact your own country's embassy or consulate. The Chilean foreign ministry's online consulate site links to a list of foreign consulates in Chile by country flag.
Who qualifies: Citizens of each country, through their own embassy or consulate.
local government
National Service for Disaster Prevention and Response (SENAPRED)
Helps with: Chile's national disaster agency, responsible for earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and volcanic eruptions. The number listed is its citizen service office, not an emergency line.
Who qualifies: Anyone in Chile wanting information about disaster risks or alerts. For urgent danger call the police on 133.
Phone: 600 586 7700
Address: Av. Beauchef 1671, Santiago