2026 Calama Travel Guide: must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transport & travel experiences (updated in July)

The Tatio Geysers are a geothermal field of volcanic origin where water and steam erupt violently from the depths of the earth. They are more than 4 thousand meters above sea level, making them the highest geysers in the world. They are located 90 kilometers from San Pedro de Atacama and have their peak time between 05:30 and 07:00 in the morning, when the height of the steam jets reaches 10 meters in height. In the early hours of the morning the temperatures are very low, even reaching -20°. On the way back, you can take advantage of the Puritama Hot Springs, which are natural water pools. You can also visit the Machuca town that has only 20 houses and a church. The families dedicate themselves to grazing llamas and making handicrafts that they sell to tourists. #tripblazers #mytripvlog #urbanexplorer #newyearadventure #beachlife #campingglamping #foodie #awesomepic #summervacation #nationalpark #2023travelwish #passionpassport

So much to see so many tours Loads of tour agents so shop around for the best price

The Atacama Desert is a vast, arid expanse along the western coast of South America, stretching roughly 1,000 kilometers from north to south between the Andes Mountains and the South Pacific coast. While it spans across neighboring countries like Peru, Bolivia, and Argentina, its vast main body is situated in northern Chile. Bidding farewell to Bolivia, I ventured south into northern Chile, arriving at the tourist hub of San Pedro de Atacama, right in the heart of the desert. Crossing the border into Chile, the roads noticeably improved—becoming much smoother and cleaner. The endless expanse of ochre deserts, canyons, and badlands presented a striking contrast to the Bolivian landscapes I had just left behind, and the climate instantly shifted to bone-dry and scorching hot. Despite the town being highly commercialized for tourism, it oozes charm and character. With its dusty, unpaved streets and whitewashed adobe houses, it feels like stepping straight onto the set of an exotic movie! The town itself is quite compact. The vast majority of visitors head out on day tours to nearby attractions and only return at night to crash, meaning the streets are practically deserted in the mornings. I spent a leisurely half-day strolling around, exploring the local church, the cemetery, and the archaeological museum. The intricate cactus-wood crafts sold in the local markets left a lasting impression on me! Stargazing tours are also incredibly popular here, thanks to the vast, flat desert terrain and lack of light pollution. There's even an astronomical museum in town, though it only opens its doors after dark. Eventually, completely defeated by the unforgiving sun, I retreated to my hostel to cool off in the pool... Learning from yesterday's sweltering heat, I decided to play it safe and book some guided tours. Persuaded by a remarkably silver-tongued local agent offering sweet discount tactics, I impulsively signed up for three different excursions in one go, plotting a laid-back itinerary of one attraction per day. Day one kicked off with a hike in the nearby Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley). The vivid crimson canyons and bizarre rock formations sculpted by wind erosion popped against the brilliant azure sky—the colors were so vibrant it almost looked like an artificial set! Unsurprisingly, this otherworldly landscape actually served as a filming location for the Star Wars movies! Next, we explored a natural salt mine where the ground was carpeted in salt crystals that sparkled brilliantly under the sun. At the guide's prompting, we pressed our ears in silence against the rock walls and could actually hear the sound of the salt crystals grinding against one another! We then hit up a few man-made, Instagrammable photo ops, including an abandoned bus, iconic desert signs, and panoramic viewpoints. The day wrapped up perfectly with a desert picnic, sipping Chilean red wine and snacking as we watched the sunset. On the second day, I went swimming in Laguna Baltinache. There are quite a few salt lakes scattered across the desert area, but I personally think this one is hands down the most stunning. Sadly, it is slowly drying up due to receding groundwater levels in recent years! So everyone is strictly limited to swimming for only 15 minutes. The striking contrast of the pristine white salt crystals against the deep azure lake water creates a dreamy, picturesque scene. That being said, soaking in it is actually far from comfortable—the highly concentrated saltwater makes your skin sting like crazy! But much like the famous Dead Sea, the extreme buoyancy lets you effortlessly float on the surface, reading a book or scrolling through your phone. It was an incredibly unique experience, though rinsing off the sticky salt crust and changing clothes in a water-scarce desert afterward proved to be quite an ordeal! My final tour took me back up to the high-altitude plateau at over 4,000 meters above sea level to witness Geyser del Tatio, the third-largest geyser field in the world. Since this meant driving all the way back toward the Bolivian border, pick-up was scheduled for a brutal 4:00 AM. Ridiculously enough, the guide forgot to pick me up—again! Fortunately, I had factored in a buffer rest day, so I rescheduled for the following morning. To make up for it, the agent promised a free ride to the airport after the tour so I wouldn't miss my afternoon flight! Up in the plateau area, the temperature plummeted. Basking in the glorious sunrise, the entire geyser valley was blanketed in billowing mist, looking like a mystical fairyland. After enjoying breakfast surrounded by this breathtaking scenery, we made our way back, stopping at a few lagoons to spot flamingos. We even crossed paths with a guanaco, a rather rare wild relative of the llama. Although I was initially fuming at the tour agent, soaking in all these magnificent natural wonders completely washed away every last drop of my frustration!

To get from Chile to Bolivia, I decided to fly to Calama and then take a bus to Uyuni. This was cheaper than flying to La Paz and then on to Uyuni, and it also kept the journey linear. The flight was excellent, with views of the snow-white peaks of the Andes. Upon arrival, I was able to easily order an Uber. The ride to the hotel cost me 6,000 Chilean pesos. The car is the red one in the photo. I stayed at the Modular Express Calama Hotel, which I booked on trip.com, along with my flights. The room cost about $40 USD. It was clean and had a shower. Breakfast was also included. A good value for the money. I had no plans to sightsee in the city. I went out to eat, and the dish in the photo and tea cost me 15,000 Chilean pesos. I was also considering getting a haircut—it costs 5,000 pesos—but by the time I finished dinner, which was around 9 PM, everything was already closed. After buying supplies for the trip at the nearest store, I went to bed. Keep in mind that it gets quite cold at night. While it might be 19-20 degrees Celsius during the day, it was around 2 degrees Celsius at night. My bus departed at 6 AM. Breakfast started at 5:30 AM. I ate in 10 minutes and had no problem calling a taxi to my departure point. By bus. The journey to Uyuni took a total of 10 and a half hours. The road is a desert with mountains and volcanoes, some of which even emitted smoke. For some unknown reason, we spent three hours at the border. After it opened, everything went smoothly. On the Bolivian side, there's no paved road up to Uyuni, but on the Chilean side, there's a decent paved road to the border crossing. That's how I got to Uyuni🚌✈️ #Calama #Chile #Bolivia #Santiago #Uyuni

If you're planning on going from Calama to Uyuni, it's quicker to go straight overland across the Chile-Bolivia border than to take the long detour by air. The most popular way to travel this distance is not to take a bus from Calama to Uyuni, but to take a three-day, two-night tour from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni. Naturally, this is more expensive than the bus, but you'll be treated to some spectacular scenery. However, we'll provide bus information for those who want to keep costs down and still get to Uyuni directly. After some research, we found that there are three bus companies that will take you from Calama to Uyuni by bus. ・Trans Salvador → 6:00 AM departure, CLP 30,000 ・Cruz del Norte → 6:00 AM departure, CLP 25,000 ・Trans Ricardo → 6:00 AM/7:00 AM/9:00 AM departure, CLP 30,000 *All fares are as of January 2026

[Two days and three nights, departing from Santiago Friday night and returning to Santiago Sunday night.] This is a long read, estimated to take about 10 minutes. The following are the four parts: clothing, food, accommodation, and transportation. PS: 💰 You can exchange money in advance in the capital. The exchange rate on October 3rd was 958 pesos to 1 US dollar. For information on withdrawing money with a domestic bank card, please refer to other users' posts. (I didn't exchange money at the airport or in any small towns.) Exchanging money is mainly for paying cash when booking tours, as it's cheaper and you can get a discount. Credit card payments incur an additional 5% fee. You can pay by card for most meals, and small shops also accept 1-2 US dollars. 👔Clothing: (Dates 10/3-10/5) Temperatures range from 5-26 degrees Celsius, strong UV radiation, and intense sunshine. There's a large temperature difference between day and night. You'll need a windproof jacket, down jacket, and thermal underwear in the mornings and evenings. Shorts and short-sleeved shirts are needed at midday. Bring sunscreen/hat/gloves/moisturizer/lip balm/wet wipes and all necessary wind and sun protection. Hats and gloves can be bought locally for around $2-5 as souvenirs. 🍽️Food: (Caution needed for high-altitude diet) There are many restaurants in town, catering to all budgets. Set meals are around $6, and individual meals can cost around $25. Many recommendations on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book) vary in quality. Try to avoid red meat; chicken or easily digestible foods are preferable, as discomfort is common at high altitudes. Drink as little alcohol as possible and drink plenty of water. Sports drinks and apples are recommended. Remember to buy local altitude sickness prevention drinks; they are sold in pharmacies. Drink them the day before setting off for altitudes above 3000 meters to alleviate altitude sickness. Many recommend Pilpil dishes, such as Pilpil chicken and Pilpil shrimp. A local soup in the evening is also a good choice—warm and comforting! 🏠Accommodation: The town is small, but for convenient dining, especially after a tiring day of sightseeing, it's recommended to stay near the main street. Budget varies, but I think $40-50 for a private bathroom is about right. I stayed at Hotel Parina, a 10-minute walk from the main square, which was acceptable. The price was reasonable, the service was excellent, and the owner was very welcoming! ✈️ Santiago - Calama: 2 hours. Multiple airlines available. 🚗 Calama - San Pedro: 1.5 hours. I booked in advance on TrasPampa. I also considered Trasvip, but the price was similar, so I went with TrasPampa. Go to their website, enter the required information, and after booking, you'll receive an email. Click the link in the email to pay. You'll see someone holding a sign to pick you up at the airport. I recommend booking both the round trip. Remember to book the shuttle bus in advance and specify your hotel address. The pick-up and drop-off is directly at your accommodation and then back to the airport. 🧳 Tour Itinerary: Arrive at 11 PM on Friday. Just grab a bite at one of the few restaurants open until the early hours. Bring water and snacks. No washing your hair or showering to prevent headaches. (Please be careful if you have a cold, menstruation, etc.) Saturday 9:00 AM Tour booking (not recommended to book on-site during peak season, as good travel agencies sometimes don't have seats). After reviewing many recommendations and comparing several popular tours offline, I finally chose Zoom. The price was reasonable, and the young man who greeted me, David, was very enthusiastic and explained the itinerary very clearly. I booked three tours in total, and the final cash quotes are as follows: (Roughly converted to US dollars for easy reference, using 1 US dollar to 1000 Chilean pesos) Vallecito: US$25, including tea break (Changed to Valle de la Luna, same price, requires an additional US$12 entrance fee) 3:30 PM - 7:30 PM, hiking, recommended to wear a short-sleeved shirt, as it can get windy and chilly in the evening, requiring a jacket. Tour Stargazing: US$25, includes 4 photos, snacks, and a seat to listen to live music. 21:00-23:30 Remember to avoid the 1st and 15th of the lunar month, as the full moon makes for a poor stargazing experience. Remember to be prepared for the wind, and research how to photograph the starry sky beforehand. The guide suggests wearing bright-colored clothing for better photos. You can bring hot water to warm up. The Piedras Rojas day trip costs $75 USD, including entrance fees, breakfast, lunch, and three attractions: flamingos, two lakes, a hike in Red Rock Park, and a visit to the Tropic of Capricorn. 6:00-16:30 Be sure to dress warmly and protect yourself from the wind; your shoes must be comfortable. The hike will be at an altitude of nearly 5000 meters, so prepare for altitude sickness in advance. You can bring some food, energy bars, and plenty of water. Two days and three tours are not very tiring or rushed. It is recommended to acclimatize to the altitude in the second half of the day before starting the tour. After booking the tour, at 10:30 am, stroll around town, buy souvenirs, have coffee, and have lunch. Afterward, return to your accommodation to pack your bag. After resting for an hour after the afternoon tour, we headed out for stargazing; make sure to pack your clothes in advance. After the daytime tour on Sunday, we had coffee and some food (or tookout) before leaving town for the airport at 5:30 PM. That's it! #travel2026 #ChileTravel #SouthAmericaTravel

#holidayitinerary Calama in Antofagasta is a small city that serves as a practical and welcoming base for exploring Chile’s Atacama Desert. The city itself has a relaxed and casual vibe, with wide streets, local markets, and cafés that offer a glimpse into everyday life in the region. While it is not as tourist focused as nearby towns, Calama has its own charm, especially in its plazas and historical landmarks that reflect its mining history. The nearby Chuquicamata copper mine is one of the largest in the world and provides insight into the area’s economic significance. From Calama, travelers can easily reach spectacular desert attractions, including salt flats, geysers, and unique rock formations. The city’s calm atmosphere, combined with its convenient location, makes it a comfortable and practical stop for those exploring northern Chile.

#cityplaybook #stunningview Rising over 4,300 meters (14,000 feet) above sea level, the El Tatio Geysers are one of the highest and most awe-inspiring geothermal fields in the world. Located in the heart of northern Chile’s Atacama Desert, this natural wonder is at its most breathtaking at sunrise, when plumes of steam rise from the frozen earth, glowing gold in the early light. A pre-dawn journey from San Pedro de Atacama brings you to this otherworldly site just in time to witness dozens of geysers, boiling mud pools, and steaming fumaroles come alive. The contrast of cold desert air and hot geothermal activity creates a mystical atmosphere unlike any other. Besides the spectacular geothermal display, the area is also rich in Andean wildlife, including vicuñas, foxes, and flamingos. For the brave, there’s even a hot spring pool to take a quick dip—perfect for warming up in the crisp morning air. 📍 El Tatio Geysers, near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile 🕘 Best time to visit: Sunrise (tour departs around 4:30 AM) 🎟️ Entrance fee required #ElTatioGeysers #AtacamaAdventure #GeothermalWonder #ChileTravel #SunriseEscape #CityPlaybook #HighAltitudeMagic

#aprilblooms #chile San Pedro de Atacama is a charming adobe town nestled in Chile's high desert, serving as a gateway to the Atacama's surreal landscapes. During my visit, I explored the Valle de la Luna at sunset, marveled at the steaming El Tatio geysers at dawn, and floated effortlessly in the salty Laguna Cejar. Stargazing under the crystal-clear skies was a highlight, revealing constellations with stunning clarity. Tour options abound, from multi-day adventure packages to specialized excursions like astronomy tours and visits to altiplanic lagoons. San Pedro's unique blend of natural wonders and cultural richness made my trip truly unforgettable.