Casa Atacama is part of the town of San Pedro. Explore its streets, shops, restaurants and culture as a true local citizen. You are now part of the archeological capital of Chile.
Keep in mind | Highlights |
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San Pedro de Atacama is 100 km (62 mi) from Calama Airport | The spacious suites with private terrace and yard |
Some excursions requires altitude acclimatization, so it is recommended to stay 2 nights before heading to the Altiplano | The restaurant and its dishes prepared from local organic farms |
Season: All year round. Best time to travel: November to April | A relaxation massage at the Spa |
AMENITIES
Spa El Chañaral
Whether its after an exhausting day of excursions or to begin your day, give yourself a treat with our exclusive treatments at El Chañar spa.
Servicies:
Relaxation massage
Deep tissue
Sport massage
Hot stone massage
Aromatherapy massage
Reflexology
Lymphatic drainage
Tired leg maddage
Body scrub and moisturizer with karite
Body wrap
Shock hydration facial
“La Romería” Restaurant
Thousands of years ago, the people of Atacama knew how to grow food using the desert’s scant water resources.
Because fertile land was scarce, crops were considered sacred and eating became a highly anticipated and respected ritual. It’s time for you to experience it.
Each meal is prepared fresh for you. Enjoy cocktails like the Rica-Rica Sour and dishes such as beet gnocchi, Mediterranean potatoes and other local specialties, all made from locally grown, artisanally havested produce from small organic farms.
AN OASIS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT
San Pedro de Atacama is located 100k km (60 mi) from Calama Airport, and it is the point of departure to wander the surroundings.
There are more than 7 daily flights from Santiago to Calama, which last about 2 hours.
San Pedro de Atacama features a significant archeological museum, a church, handcraft stores and restaurants offering gourmet dishes, made from local products, such as a Quinoa Risotto or a Rica Rica Sour (cocktail drink).
The area offers not only impressive natural attractions, but also pre-Columbian vestiges and a rich cultural heritage dating from before the Incas period.
Due to the lack of humidity, high altitude and low light pollusion, the skies of San Pedro de Atacama are among the clearest ones in the world, allowing to observe the stars and constellations at night like nowhere else.
HIGH ALTITUDE
San Pedro de Atacama lies at an average of 2,400 meters above sea level (7,900 feet), and people not used to high altitudes often experience mild altitude sickness such as dizziness, lethargy and headaches.
Before heading to the higher altitudes (such as El Tatio Geysers) it is recommend to stay 2 nights in San Pedro de Atacama for acclimatization. Coca tea is often recommended for travelers in to prevent altitude sickness.
THE ATACAMA DESERT
The desert has an extension of 105,000 sq km (41,000 sq mi) and it is mainly composed by salt flats, sand and silisic deposits. Atacama is famous for being the driest place in the world and in some parts of the desert, there are no records of significant rains during 400 years!
The aridity of the area forces us to keep ourselves hydrated, so do not forget to carry on a bottle of water during your excursions and explorations.
HIGHLIGHTS
Moon Valley
Arcoiris Valley
Atacama Salt Flat
Chaxa Lagoon
Cejar Lagoon
San Pedro de Atacama Church
Toconao
Chiu Chiu
Caspana
Tara Salt Flat
Altiplanic Lagoons
Pukará de Quitor
Puritama Hot Springs
CLIMATE
In the Chilean northern region of Atacama, the desert dominates the landscape, with a climate characterized for its extreme weather conditions. Both the coastline and the valleys are warm with generally cloudy skies in the morning, which turn sunny by midday.
The inland region has an average diurnal temperature that rise above 30ºC (86°F). In the Altiplano they usually drop below 0ºC (32°F) during the night.
The best season to visit Atacama is from April to November avoiding the Altiplano winter.
Google Map!
Acommodation Options
All-inclusive: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Enjoy the flavors and dishes from the experienced hands of our chefs.
Bed & Breakfast: Enjoy a buffet-style breakfast, including a selection of hams, cheeses, breads, natural juices, preserves and sweets.
Sustainable House
The ecological design of its energy system is the result of the main concept of Casa Atacama: to be a complement to the town of San Pedro, along with its cultural surroundings.
From the design, having in mind how much water can be consumed, the preservation of electrical energy, clean water, and heated water thanks to the solar energy; along with a conscious use of the amenities that are placed in reusable containers, helping to reduce the thousands of plastic bottles that are usually used a month.
On the other hand, the lighting in the rooms and the hotel are of low consumption and are also connected to the solar panels. The same goes for the heating system.
Jorge Sanchez, architect of Casa Atacama, says the design is sustainable because of the way the hotel is built, for a better use of energy, along with the type of materials used for the construction of the hotel that keep it cool and lets it have an agreeable temperature throughout the year.
Casa Atacama is one of the first sustainable hotels in the north of Chile, where we promote an ecologically responsible tourism, taking care of the natural resources as well as promoting recycling and a proper use of electrical energy among our guests.
“El Emporio”, Gourmet products from San Pedro
Dating back to 1860, this shop offers local specialty foods from the millennia-old Atacama culture.
From the moment you arrive at El Emporio, you’ll understand that this isn’t just any ordinary shop. Its colorful atmosphere and unique products will transport you back to a bygone era. One taste of the native organic seeds, local preserves, jams made from homegrown fruit, and oils made using age-old techniques, and you will know your Atacama experience has begun.
Once you come to feel at home in San Pedro, you will learn how to pick the best local specialty items. Try some “Cochayuyo al escabeche” (pickled seaweed) or choose from the array of brightly decorated glass jars, which hold San Pedro’s best-kept gastronomic secrets.
TREKKING
Cuchabrache
Machuca / Río Grande
This excursion immerses us in the landscapes of the High Plateau, a pleasant hike along rivers where we´ll discover an old shepherd route where you can still see the vestiges of human occupation, with its crop terraces, the world of shepherds and llamas.
Guatín – Puritama
The Guatín-Puritama hike combines the charm of walking along lush riverside vegetation with the treat of bathing in the thermal waters of the magnificent Puritama Hot Springs.
Kari Gorge
This excursion allows us to discover the fascinating mineral world of the Valley of the Moon. The area is renowned for its geological formations, high clay walls, caves, and spectacular salt, gypsum and clay formations. It’s also notable for its faults and bends, eroded by wind and water. Here, the silence is only interrupted by the crunch of salt underfoot.
Chus-Chul
An easy, enjoyable walk along various rivers. Notable for its rich variety of petroglyphs.
Guatinka
In Guatinka, you can discover the charms of a fun hike, with a certain degree of physical exertion. Admire the contrasts between the aridity of the gorge and its cacti (which serve as a kind of local sentinel), the abundant green of the vegetation by the river, and a host of rocky formations.
Cornice
From the cornices, you can discover impressive geological formations unique to the Salt Mountain Range, and take in a panoramic view of the area. You can also enjoy the fun of descending a 100-meter-tall dune.
SCENIC
Tatio Geysers
To many, a visit to the Tatio Geysers is an essential part of San Pedro. Marveling at the towering spouts of steam before sunrise is an unmatched spectacle.
Toconao / Chaxa Lagoon
We will visit the town of Toconao and tour its orchards, main square and church, and Chaxa Lagoon, where we can admire the flocks of flamingoes.
High Plateau Lagoons
We´ll discover magnificent high plateau landscapes, as well as remote and solitary spots. We will also enjoy a gourmet lunch outdoors, with a terrific view of a truly wild destination, where you feel the force, the calm and the silence of the mountains.
Hierbas Buenas / V. Arcoíris / Río Grande
This excursion allows you to visit some of the area´s lesser-known parts, mixing cultural ancestry with spectacular landscapes. In Hierbas Buenas, you’ll get to see fantastic petroglyphs and learn about the Likanantai culture. The Valle Arcoíris (Rainbow Valley) is known for its unique rock formation and colorful hills, while the town of Río Grande is a traditional Andean town, where life moves at its own pace.
Ancestral Caravan in Covo
A walk along side llamas through historic landscapes reliving the paths that the native Likan Antai people would use during their journeys, searching for the best land to settle.
Tara Salt Flat
A spectacular place reverberating with the energy of the remote and wild high plateau. Here, we´ll discover typical local landscapes, including pampas, salt flats and the surrounding Andes Mountains, as well as unique rock formation like the Monjes de la Pakana (Monks of the Pakana) and the Catedrales de Tara (Tara Cathedrals).
BIKING
Cejar Lagoon
Biking provides a pleasant way of reaching the Cejar Lagoon, where we can enjoy its salty waters and impressive landscape.
Pucará of Quitor
A classic, light excursion that allows us to discover a beautiful part of the oasis, the Quitor Ayllu, and its famed archeological monument, the Pukará.
MOUNTAIN
Toco Mountain
We depart by van from Casa Atacama, heading east toward the Jama Pass (which connects with Argentina and Bolivia), until we reach the mountainside, at 5,300 meters of altitude. There, we’ll begin our ascent.