Forms of Clay & Sand

This ceramics experience takes place just outside the adobe town of San Pedro de Atacama, in a quiet natural setting with views of volcanoes and the Martian-like plains of the world’s driest desert. A short 10-minute drive brings you to the outdoor workshop site, where host Antonia welcomes you with all the materials needed to create your own stoneware piece using ancestral Atacameño clay. Throughout the session, you’ll shape a personal keepsake inspired by the desert’s landscapes, plants, and animals—guided by Antonia, who shares insights into the cultural and historical roots of ceramics in the Atacama region. The workshop encourages a slower, more mindful engagement with place and craft. No previous ceramics experience is needed; Antonia offers step-by-step support. Afterward, your piece will be glazed and kiln-fired, then shipped to your preferred address. The session also includes a light breakfast shared with your host Antonia in this striking desert setting.

Set in the untamed Salt Mountain Range, nature sparks creativity and quiet reflection, while the surrounding silence deepens your connection to the landscape. Antonia has spent the past five years learning from the Licarantai community—studying their traditions and understanding the geological significance of the territory. During the workshop, she shares what she’s learned about this Indigenous group and how their reverence for Pachamama is expressed through their relationship with the land and their crafts. Antonia works with a type of clay unique to San Pedro de Atacama—formulated by her through adaptations of the ancestral clay once favored by the Licarantai people for its resilience. This clay carries a distinct hue and holds the essence of the world’s driest desert. As she guides you through the process, Antonia shares how each part of the practice—from sourcing the earth to shaping the form—is a quiet act of reciprocity and respect for Pachamama.

Antonia Del Pedregal is a ceramic artist based in San Pedro de Atacama. She has lived in the adobe town for six years, spending the past four creating sculptures and functional pieces inspired by the desert landscape. Antonia preserves Indigenous molding techniques while working with a local clay she has adapted to suit her own style and needs. Before following her heart north, Antonia briefly worked in advertising and later as a pastry chef in Puerto Varas. Although cooking remains one of her passions, she found her true calling in San Pedro after a chance encounter with ceramics and stoneware. Primarily self-taught, Antonia draws inspiration from the stark landscapes, resilient nature, and connections she has built with the Atacameño community. She is passionate about sharing her craft with visitors, offering a window into the land and traditions that shape her work.

Sun hat, sunscreen, and sunglasses. Bottled water. Light coat and layers in case it is windy.