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The Salar de Atacama, which occupies an area of ​​100 kilometers long by 80 wide. The salar is the product of the outcrop of groundwater that, saturated with salts, evaporates, leaving crusts rich in salt and minerals. The rivers fed by the Andean snows, run through the area allowing the configuration of multiple oases. This is the setting where the Atacameño culture developed.



The air here is extraordinarily dry, which gives it perfect transparency. So much so that with the naked eye it is easy to see the other end of the salt flat, about 70 kilometers away. This very clarity, however, makes it difficult to judge distances.

Under the salt flat there is a lake, hidden by a thick and rough crust of salt ´´tizada´´ with desert dust, which contains one of the largest reserves of lithium in the world, a mineral used in some high-tech industries and that It is exploited in the southern sector of the salar.

















San Pedro de Atacama is located 1,670 kilometers north of Santiago, the capital of Chile. To get to San Pedro you have to go to Calama, the closest city, linked to San Pedro by an excellent paved road with a beautiful desert landscape.



By bus:

The trip takes 20 hours from Santiago. There is a good level of service and comfort in buses with semi-bed seats.



You can check the value of tickets and departure times on the following bus lines that offer the route in semi-bed and standard buses: Tur Bus, Pullman Bus, Géminis.



By plane:

It is the fastest way to access Calama and then to San Pedro de Atacama (98 kms.).



From Santiago there are 5 daily frequencies on weekdays and 3 daily frequencies on weekends through Lan Chile.



By car:

For those who venture to arrive by car from Santiago, you should take Route 5 - Panamericana Norte.



It is recommended to make the trip in 2 sections, stopping in Caldera (870 km.) Or Bahía Inglesa and then continuing the next day direct to Calama (800 km. More), where you can stock up on everything you need to take to San Pedro.





The great wonder that the Salar de Atacama offers, a huge lake or in the middle of the desert with its three species of flamingos unique to the area and the small and unique town of Toconao with its typical crafts.

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