Fernwayer’s Atacama Tours

Unfurling around the adobe town of San Pedro de Atacama, the Atacama Desert is a place of extremes and superlatives. The world’s driest non-polar desert sits at such high elevations that the thin air can soon sap your energy—which isn’t ideal when the landscapes have already left you breathless. Ever-fluctuating weather conditions can play havoc with your comfort—yet it's those scorching rays of sun and harsh winds that shape the unbelievable scenery of this northern region.

The main challenge of visiting San Pedro de Atacama is finding the right tempo. Many travelers rush from valley to valley, not truly digesting the ecosystems, flora, and fauna or connecting with local life. Our approach builds in time to comprehend the lived experience of the Atacama’s people and its wildlife.

A photographer will frame those salty lagoons and steaming geysers, while contextualizing the significance of the phenomena to the Atacameños. A naturalist will guide you through geologically unique canyons and school you on local birdlife. A local couple will invite you into their custom-built home observatory to survey the night sky. A ceramicist will cultivate a mindful connection with Pachamama using clay and sand.

Our private tours in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, transport you to the most spellbinding natural wonders in Latin America’s southernmost country. This high-elevation adobe town is the gateway to the Atacama Desert—the world’s driest non-polar desert. Bursting with color, geological phenomena, wildlife, and impeccable stargazing, this remote region delights intrepid explorers seeking adventure. Travelers may experience the environment on a photographic safari, where the slower pace makes for a more immersive encounter with the landscapes. Back in the town, relish regional specialties and connect with artisans loyal to Indigenous techniques.

Explore our essential San Pedro de Atacama tours below and browse all Atacama Desert experiences here.

With three days in San Pedro de Atacama, you can ease yourself into the environment with an ancestral clay workshop on the edge of the desert and float in the salty, lower-elevation lagoons. Progress to the salt flats of the altiplano on the second day before culminating at high-altitude geysers. 

Five days in San Pedro de Atacama allow for a more gradual acclimatization. This duration is ideal for photographic safaris in the high valleys, naturalist-led hikes and birding excursions, and cultural exchanges with llama herders who maintain a traditional way of life. Downtime may be spent enjoying local delicacies in town and cooling off in thermal springs.

The Human Edit

Need help planning your trip? A Fernwayer curator takes your preferences and designs a custom travel itinerary that works. This is human-led travel planning — by someone who understands the art of travel itinerary design — built around your dates and preferences. Each personalized itinerary uses Fernwayer experiences as anchors and complements them with recommendations for flights, hotels, restaurants, and self-explore ideas.

Book a Human Edit

Photography Tours

Experience the Atacama Desert’s salt flats and surreal valleys through the eyes of an artist. Under the wing of a professional photographer, you will frame the hidden layers in the sediment deposits of the Tebenquonche Lagoon and juxtapose the blush of flamingoes against the Chaxa Lagoon. Visit the Rainbow Valley at a strategic time to capture the vibrant hues of these painted mountains. Create everlasting memories as you capture the dawn spectacle of the Tatio Geysers.

Nature Tours

Our Nature Tours encourage you to look closely at the landscapes and understand how they coexist. Consider yourself a bird nerd? Let a local conversationist show you where native species and migratory birds spend their days. Captivated by cacti and canyons? Follow a naturalist into a valley of giant species and learn what they contribute to this ecosystem. 

Culture Tours

Dunes and volcanoes may hog the limelight in the Atacama Desert, but that’s not to say the region is without its human culture. Spend a day acclimatizing to the environment over a ceramics workshop on the edge of the adobe town. For a well-rounded overview of how the Atacameños live, venture further afield where you’ll walk with llama herders and explore one of the largest pre-Columbian sites in the Americas. 

Atacama Neighborhood Guide

Valley of the Moon

The Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna) is the most famous site in the Atacama Desert. Lying just 8 miles west of San Pedro at the same altitude as the town, this valley comprises giant dunes, a natural amphitheater, and salt ridges. Some travelers choose to rent a bike and cycle to Moon Valley, although an adequate fitness level is required due to the high elevation. Surrounding overhangs attract a daily crowd at golden hour to enjoy the sunset over the Martian landscapes and the Andes mountains. Elevation: 2,400 m.a.s.l. Recommended experience: The Moon & The Rainbow

Atacama Salt Flat

The Salar de Atacama refers to a gigantic salt flat within Los Flamencos National Reserve that is surrounded by a sequence of isolated sub-flats. Lagunas Chaxa, Cejar, and Tebinquinche sit at the lowest elevation (2,300m), offering a variety of flamingo-spotting, wild swimming, and photography. Salars such as Tara and Quisquiro are more remote, with elevations reaching 4,500m. We recommended visiting these regions towards the end of your time in San Pedro de Atacama, after warming up at the lower-elevation flats. Elevation: 2,300-4,500 m.a.s.l. Recommended experience: Salt & Feathers

El Tatio Geysers

The pinnacle of a trip to the Atacama Desert, these geothermal fields, geysers, and fumaroles are among the highest in the world. This extreme elevation means they must be visited at the end of a stay in San Pedro. The geysers’ steam is most visible at dawn, although visiting later in the morning allows for a greater understanding of the geology and wildlife, with fewer crowds. A trip to the geysers can be followed with a soak at the Puritama Hot Springs. El Tatio Geysers Elevation: 4,320 m.a.s.l. Recommended experience: Geysers After Dawn

Where should I base myself? Stay centrally in San Pedro de Atacama—most hotels are located within walking distance of Caracoles Street, with outlying luxury lodges operating shuttle services. Staying further out of the town might appeal if you are staying for more than five nights or intend to eat most evening meals at the property. However, on a shorter visit, you’ll appreciate being able to walk to restaurants and ice cream parlors between excursions. 

How do I move around effortlessly? Most of San Pedro de Atacama is walkable. Although it’s very flat, the high elevation means that even walking a distance of 10 minutes can be tiring. We recommend always carrying a bottle of water and moving at a slower pace than usual. As the streets are dusty and sandy, you may wish to carry a scarf to cover your mouth if the conditions bother you. Most Fernwayer Experiences include pick-up and return to your hotel. 

Should I rent a car? As tempting as it is to hire a car and embark on a thrilling road trip through the high desert, we do not recommend this. The terrain is challenging to navigate, with many roads being unpaved and littered with potholes. Cell service is limited, which is problematic in the case of an emergency. Distances are vast and wildlife is known to appear on the road with little notice. Altitude can cause headaches, nausea, and dizziness. 

How do I get to my hotel in San Pedro de Atacama? La Loa International Airport in Calama is a one-hour drive from San Pedro. For the smoothest arrival, we recommend pre-booking a private transfer via your hotel. Otherwise, there is a kiosk in the arrivals hall where you can arrange a private or shared transfer on the day. During the high season, you may have to wait —hence our recommendation to book in advance. 

How can I acclimatize? San Pedro de Atacama sits at an elevation of 2,500 meters above sea level. The high elevation, combined with the arid environment, can cause altitude sickness. Travelers are recommended to pace activities according to elevation—spend your first few days visiting low-lying valleys before progressing to the geysers and altiplano. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and walk at a slower pace than usual. Coca leaf tea and candies—available at most hotels and convenience stores in San Pedro de Atacama—support with altitude sickness. If you are known to suffer from altitude sickness, your doctor may be able to prescribe medication to take ahead of travel. 

How many days do I need? Three days is the bare minimum to stay in San Pedro de Atacama. You will need at least 24 hours to acclimatize before tackling high-elevation wonders or trekking expeditions—perhaps 48 hours. We recommend allocating four to five full days in San Pedro and the Atacama Desert. 

What should I pack? San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to some of the wildest, harshest, and most remote places in the world. The weather is variable and you will find yourself removing and adding layers throughout the day. We recommend natural fiber garments (such as merino wool and light thermals) paired with t-shirts and outer layers. As a guideline, the following items are essential: sturdy walking boots with good grip, windbreaker jacket, down jacket, beanie hat, polarized sunglasses, suncap, and high-factor sunscreen. Convertible trekking pants/shorts are recommended. Bring swimming attire for your hotel pool, swimming in the salty lagoons, or bathing in the hot springs.

Is San Pedro de Atacama safe? San Pedro de Atacama is one of the safest places in Chile. You will need to exercise the usual precautions with your personal items—petty theft is a concern anywhere—however, crime is rare in San Pedro.

Do I need to speak Spanish? As one of Chile’s major tourist destinations, English is widely spoken in San Pedro de Atacama. Major hotels employ bilingual staff who can help you get around the town and book restaurants. Servers will not always speak English but they will go out of their way to help you—Google Translate and DeepL are beneficial for non-Spanish speakers. 

How far ahead do I need to book restaurants? Popular restaurants in San Pedro de Atacama get very busy in the evenings and fill up during the summer months (December through March). Make reservations in advance via WhatsApp or ask your hotel to make recommendations and reservations at check-in.

What should I eat? Llama and alpaca meat is a specialty in San Pedro de Atacama. It is served grilled (a la parilla) and in stews. Quinoa and goat cheese (queso de cabra) are local staples in the Atacama Region. You will also find typical Chilean dishes such as pastel de choclo (sweet corn and minced meat casserole) and meat/fish served “a lo pobre” (with French fries, rice, salad, and a fried egg) are very popular in San Pedro. All restaurants stock Chilean wines and beers alongside the beloved Pisco Sour cocktail. However, alcohol will have a stronger effect at this elevation, so do take care to stay hydrated.

When should I visit to avoid crowds? Chile’s high season falls in the Southern Hemisphere summer months: December, January, and February. These are the busiest months in the Atacama Desert. The region experiences a short-lived rainy season during summer, usually at the end of January/early February, which can impact tours. Outside of summer, tourism is steady, with many travelers favoring the spring months of October/November and early fall months of March/April. Winter (June-August) is quiet in San Pedro de Atacama, with the added bonus of bringing the clearest skies and increased chance of seeing the Milky Way. Temperatures are significantly colder at night during winter.

How can I pay for items? There are a few ATMs near Caracoles Street. However, these carry high fees and low withdrawal amounts—plus, they tend to run out of cash at weekends and during busy periods. We recommend withdrawing cash at Santiago or at Calama Airport, or carrying USD notes to exchange in town. Most hotels and restaurants accept credit/debit card payments. Artisan shops and small cafes may prefer cash payments. A small surcharge sometimes applies to foreign credit cards. 

Should I leave a tip? Paying servers an optional tip of 10 percent is customary throughout Chile. When settling the bill, you will be asked if you wish to pay the “propina”—this amount is then added to the card payment. As an all-inclusive marketplace, tipping is never expected on Fernwayer’s wallet-free experiences in San Pedro de Atacama.

Should I worry about earthquakes? Due to Chile’s position on the Pacific Ring of Fire, earthquakes are a common occurrence throughout the country—especially in the Antofagasta Region. Most are classified as temblors (small earthquakes), with terremotos (big earthquakes) being rare. Chile is subject to robust building codes, which means tremors are buffered and the risk of damage is low.