You can visit and explore the San Pedro de Atacama area by yourself, of course, but for this trek, hike and drive tour, we'll base the schedule on what sample tour agency itineraries might be. Tours of the area can be between three - four days, or up to ten days.
Orient yourself with this interactive map from Expedia.
From Calama, after arriving from Santiago, you'll drive to San Pedro de Atacama, an old village near the Bolivian border built by the Spanish and called El Oasis for the rare, desert springs nearby that have supported life since the 11th century.
Depending on your time of arrival, you'll have the afternoon partially free to explore the village. You'll see the whitewashed church, the focus for the June 29 celebrations of the Feast of San Pedro and San Pablo. Later in the afternoon, hike along the Cordillera de la Sal up to Valle de la Luna, or Moon Valley, so named for its bizarre geologic formations, salt peaks and extensive sand dunes. Large photo by Tim Hilliard. From here you can see the 20,000 ft Lincancabur Volcano.
After watching a splendid, colorful sunset that turns the salt and hills into many colors, you'll return to San Pedro de Atacama for dinner. Valle de la Luna: Easy. Duration: ½ - 1 hour. Note: This exploration is only programmed for moonlighted nights.
