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Laguna Miscanti, San Pedro de Atacama region, ChileSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laguna_miscanti_panorama.jpg
Author: Archiesteel
San Pedro de Atacama is a small Chilean town in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, in northern Chile, near the border with Bolivia.
A street in San Pedro de AtacamaSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:San_Pedro_de_Atacama_%28street_view%29.jpg
Author: Entropy1963
San Pedro de Atacama has already been settled during pre-Hispanic times, even before the Incas ruled the area. The layers of different cultures have added to its rich tapestry, creating a charming indigenous town that still managed to retain its charm, even though it is today a tourist destination.
Located 2,407 m (7,900 ft) above sea level, San Pedro de Atacama experiences an extremely dry weather. Visitors may get a mild altitude sickness if they are not acclimatized properly. The town itself has terracotta-colored houses and dirt streets.
Iglesia San Pedro de AtacamaSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SanPedroAtacama-001.jpg
Author: Reinhard Jahn
San Pedro de Atacama is the base for exploring the landscape and archaeological sites of northern Chile. You can go hiking or follow a tour excursion of the area. The town overlooks the statovolcano Licancabur which straddles the border between Chile and Bolivia.
Visiting San Pedro de Atacama
You can take a bus to San Pedro de Atacama from major cities in the area such as Antofagasta, four hours away, or Arica, twelve hours away. You can also get there by bus from Uyuni in Bolivia.
Pukará de Quitor, ChileSource: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pukar%C3%A1_de_Quitor_2.jpg
Author: Lastutok
Sights & Attractions in San Pedro de Atacama
- Casa Incaica
The oldest house in San Pedro de Atacama built for the founder of Chile, Pedro de Valdivia. - Iglesia San Pedro de Atacama
A charming whitewashed adobe church dating to the early 1600s. - Laguna Miscanti
A brackish water lake in the altiplano of Antofagasta Region, part of Los Flamencos National Reserve. - Licancabur
The highly symmetrical stratovolcano on the horizon. - Museo Arqueológico Gustavo Le Paige
An interesting museum displaying ancient artifacts of the inhabitants of the area, such as thousand-year-old basket, earthern vessals and tools for ceremonial rites. - Pukará de Quitor
A red-stone pre-Incan fortification built in the 12th century, now in a state of ruins. Another four km north of here takes you to Catarpe, an Incan settlement and tambo (administrative center).
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