San Pedro de Atacama Tours: Explore the Atacama Desert

San Pedro de Atacama is the perfect base for exploring some of northern Chile’s most remarkable landscapes. From this small desert town, travelers can reach moon-like valleys, geothermal fields, high-altitude lagoons, salt flats, colorful mountains and some of the clearest night skies in South America.

Our San Pedro de Atacama tours let you combine different experiences depending on how many days you have, the season and the kind of adventure you are looking for. You can explore the Atacama Desert, travel into the high Andes or continue across the border toward Bolivia and the Salar de Uyuni.

One of the classic experiences is the Valley of the Moon Tour from San Pedro de Atacama, where vast dunes, salt formations and the rugged landscapes of the Cordillera de la Sal create one of the most iconic scenes in the Atacama Desert. It is also an excellent choice for your first days in San Pedro and a favorite place to experience sunset.

For a completely different landscape, the El Tatio Geysers Tour from San Pedro de Atacama starts before sunrise and climbs into the Andean highlands. Steam columns, geothermal activity and dramatic mountain scenery make El Tatio one of the most distinctive day trips from San Pedro.

If you want a full-day experience, the Piedras Rojas and Altiplanic Lagoons Tour combines high-altitude scenery with lagoons such as Miscanti and Miñiques, salt flats, volcanic landscapes and areas where Andean wildlife can be seen.

Another interesting option is the Rainbow Valley Tour from San Pedro de Atacama, where mineral-rich mountains display shades of red, green, white and yellow. The journey also includes the Yerbas Buenas area, known for its ancient petroglyphs.

After sunset, the desert offers a completely different experience. A San Pedro de Atacama Stargazing Tour lets you discover the night sky with telescopes while learning about stars, planets and other celestial objects visible according to the conditions that evening.

Not every excursion reaches the same altitude, so the order of your Atacama Desert tours matters.

During your first days, you may prefer experiences such as Valley of the Moon, Rainbow Valley or a stargazing tour. Once you have had more time to adjust, you can continue with higher-altitude excursions such as El Tatio Geysers, Piedras Rojas and the Altiplanic Lagoons.

Planning your tours progressively can make the trip more comfortable while allowing you to experience very different landscapes.

With 3 days in San Pedro de Atacama, you can combine several major attractions, such as Valley of the Moon, El Tatio Geysers and one additional experience.

With 4 or 5 days, you have more flexibility to include Piedras Rojas, Rainbow Valley and a stargazing experience without packing too many activities into each day.

If you are still deciding how long to stay, our guide on how many days you need in San Pedro de Atacama will help you organize your itinerary according to your available time.

San Pedro de Atacama can also be the starting point for a journey across the Andes into Bolivia.

The San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni 4-Day Tour connects Chile and Bolivia through high-altitude deserts, lagoons and extraordinary Andean landscapes before reaching the Salar de Uyuni.

Travelers with more time can choose the San Pedro de Atacama and Uyuni 7-Day Tour, combining both destinations in a more complete journey through the Chilean and Bolivian Altiplano.

This route is ideal for travelers who want to experience the Atacama Desert and Salar de Uyuni as part of the same South American adventure.

There are many things to do in San Pedro de Atacama, and the best combination depends on your interests, available days and preferred travel pace.

You can focus on desert landscapes, high-altitude nature, astronomy and culture, or combine several tours from San Pedro de Atacama during the same stay.

If you are unsure which excursions fit your itinerary, our team can help you organize the experience around your travel dates and the places you want to discover.

What are the best tours in San Pedro de Atacama?

Some of the most popular experiences include Valley of the Moon, El Tatio Geysers, Piedras Rojas and the Altiplanic Lagoons, Rainbow Valley and stargazing tours.

How many days should I spend in San Pedro de Atacama?

Around 3 to 5 days gives you enough time to combine several major excursions at a comfortable pace. You will need additional days if you plan to continue to Salar de Uyuni.

What tour should I do first in San Pedro de Atacama?

Valley of the Moon can be a good first excursion because it stays at a lower altitude than several high-Andean tours.

Which San Pedro de Atacama tours reach high altitude?

El Tatio Geysers, Piedras Rojas and the Altiplanic Lagoons reach areas above 4,000 meters, so altitude adjustment should be considered when planning your itinerary.

Can I travel from San Pedro de Atacama to Salar de Uyuni?

Yes. Multi-day routes connect San Pedro de Atacama in Chile with Bolivia through the Altiplano before reaching Salar de Uyuni.