TOURISM IN SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Directions:

There are several ways to get to San Pedro de Atacama, then all alternatives are recommended.

Airlines that fly to Calama Lan Chile, Aircomet and Sky Airline.

Intercity Buses: Tur Bus offers a direct route to San Pedro de Atacama, or from any city of Calama. From Calama Tur bus, Atacama Frontera 2000 and made the trip. From Salta, Argentina, Geminis, and Pullman Bus are the companies that go directly to San Pedro de Atacama. The trip takes about nine hours.

From Bolivia there are no direct commercial transportation to San Pedro de Atacama, just do it by sending an email to reservas@mayurutours.com for us to make the transfer.

Location:

San Pedro de Atacama is located in the II Region of Chile, the world's driest desert, the Atacama Desert. The archaeological capital of Chile, is specifically pre-Altiplano depression to 2,438 m at the mouth of the Rio San Pedro (the largest river to reach the Salar de Atacama). This basin bounded on the west by the mountains of Domeyko and east by the pre-cordillera of the Andes and Altiplano Puna de Atacama.

Walking through the town of San Pedro de Atacama:

This beautiful town is named after the patron Saint Peter, and word Atacama, according to the ancestors, language comes Cunza "Accatchca"which means head of the country, the word eventually went through modifications to reach today's pronunciation. San Pedro de Atacama was conquered by the Incas in 1450 and then by the Spanish in 1540, becoming the council in 1555.

The square is undoubtedly one of the attractions of the Archaeological Capital of Chile, nothing better to spend time with their enormous pepper or pepper trees, trees that will cool off in the summer evenings.

On one side of the square is the Church of San Pedro de Atacama, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful in northern Chile, no known date of construction, however, and served as a parish in 1641, and in 1951 it was declared a National Monument . For its construction of adobe walls and wood chañar and carob, and clay roofs, which were covered with cactus wood.

Facing the square you'll find the municipality of San Pedro de Atacama, mail, Father Paige Museum and Tourist Information Office (www.sernatur.cl).

The town still preserves the structure and construction of the Spanish colonial influence, old townhouses with courtyards, built in adobe with thatched roofs and mud

Dirt roads today have been treated with vichufita, a product derived from salt, which preserves the original look, causing less pollution.

Its main street "Caracoles" due to its name once from this point that miners left to work in the Caracoles silver mine discovered in 1870 by Diaz Gana.

Today, this pedestrian street is provided with restaurants, tourism and shops that welcome tourists from all over the world.

Flora and Fauna Observation:

Due to climate and altitude that is the Atacama Desert, one can find a unique flora and fauna typical of the place that lives in salt lakes and wetlands at high altitude, this attraction also romueve the presence of tourists in the area, especially Los Flamencos National Reserve, divided into 7 sectors.

For its size can be seen in its flora: llareta, straw, kelp, etc. In its fauna includes flamingos, the vicuna, red fox, viscacha, among others. It is advisable to bring binoculars.

Recommended links:

• Laguna Chaxa: In this sector of the Reserve you can see three types of flamingoes and flamingoes and a variety of birds.
• Laguna Meñiques: In this sector the horned Tagua nests every year.
• Quebrada de Guatin: You can see an ancient forest of cactus, other plant species such as foxtail and Rica-Rica.
• Salar de Pujsa: In this sector you can find a variety of flamingos in different varieties.
• Vegas de Machuca: In this sector you can find birds such as duck Puna, Tagua giant Guallata, Pythian, among others.

Cuisine:

San Pedro de Atacama has a wide range of proposals to the time for lunch, dinner or just a cup of coffee reading a book or writing postcards.

Most restaurants for their elaborate dishes, mixing with international recipes recipes plateau. Most have a proposal and another vegetarian carnivore.

Service begins at 8:00 AM with a delicious breakfast options, run on schedule until 24:00 hrs.

Crafts:

"Testimony of an ancient culture"

Without doubt, the beauty of San Pedro de Atacama is a source of inspiration for artists and artisans. Stone, metal, ceramics, paper and wood have been since the dawn of this ancient culture.

Tour Valley of the Moon and Death.

This tour includes a tour of the impressive Cordillera de la Sal, in it there is a geological phenomenon of enormous mineral sculptures formed by wind and rain. Will visit the Mirador, Death Valley and Valley of the Moon.

Death Valley:

Located 4 km from San Pedro de Atacama, their geological origin emerged is a lake where the ancient horizontal layers of sediment and rock, dating back 23 million years, were pushed and folded by the movement of the earth's crust up the Cordillera de los Andes, leaving some layers in vertical position.

The Cordillera de la Sal has been shaped over time by rain and wind, giving rise to enormous shapes and shiny minerals composed of hills of salt, gypsum and clay, spectacular natural sculptures of various colors from the minerals that make up this attractive.

Moon Valley:

Located 19 km from San Pedro de Atacama, declared a sanctuary of nature, is composed by a depression surrounded by small hills with impressive sharp peaks formed by the wind, such as the three Marys and the Amphitheatre.

This valley is beautiful for its lunar-like valley is located in the Cordillera de la Sal and the edge of the Salar de Atacama. It is an amazing geological spectacle of great beauty located to 2,550 meters, formed 22 million years ago, when folds rise formations and horizontal layers of sediment from an old salt, who converged horizontally due to constant movement and folding of the cortex land. Deposited on these folds are bits of rock and ash of the past volcanic activity. Today consists of sedimentary rocks with salt, gypsum, borate, and clay.

The wind and the atmospheric conditions have carved sculptural shapes with sharp ridges, mounds and hollows that make it a unique landscape, unique in our country. The absence of plant and animal life, the lack of moisture, make this the most inhospitable corner of the earth.

Rainbow Valley Tour.

The Tour includes a visit to Good Herbs, a place where you will find great variety of rock, then will cross the Rainbow Valley, noted for its hills and formations of multiple colors, the Tour finishes in a beautiful village known as Rio Grande height.

Hierbas buenas:

Located at 68 km from San Pedro de Atacama, and 23 Kms from the detour to Rio Grande, this place in pre-Hispanic times was used by the ancient caravan as a place to rest on their expeditions in search of trade in goods. The Atacameños messages carved in stone for the travelers within the shamanic forms and drawings include animals, mainly llamas, foxes and flamingoes.

Rainbow Valley:

Following the route and taking the turning Matancilla at Km 3.2 to the left you enter the Valley of the Rainbow, an area of multi-colored hills. Here you will find training ocher, green, tinged with black, purples, browns and lots of colors to delight the eye.

Río Grande:

In the Rio Grande Basin, 90 km from San Pedro de Atacama, Calama direction, this town with about 96 inhabitants, had a strategic location as a crossroad for caravans traveling between San Pedro de Atacama, Chiu Chiu . What can be seen through the surrounding archeological sites, petroglyphs of guanaco hunters in ancient times.

Today, its residents to cultivate corn, lettuce, alfalfa, potatoes, as well as raise sheep, llamas, birds, rabbits and goats, which are sold mostly in Calama. They also manufacture fabrics and crafts to a lesser extent.

The construction of Rio Grande, is characterized by the use of quarry stone on its walls, together with mud mortar, mud and thatch roofs with wooden beams of cactus and mesquite.

Geysers Geysers Tour.

One of the most impressive walks in the area, the tour includes a visit to the geothermal fields, a thermal pool and the beautiful highland town of Machuca.

Geysers Geysers:

Located in the Andes, are within 99 km of San Pedro de Atacama, at 4,320 m. The water vapor rises to the surface through fissures in the crust, reaching a temperature of 85 º C. At dawn, with temperatures below freezing, you can see an extraordinary and amazing, generated by the violent flow of steam that rise up to 10 meters. The geothermal field consists of 40 geysers, 60 springs and 70 vents in an area of 3 km2.

In 1960, CORFO launched a project to use this geothermal energy to generate electricity, but the results did not ensure economic efficiency, leaving only the camp is still intact to host scientists and tourists.

Thermal swimming pool:

After visiting the geysers can enjoy a natural hot spring pool in place there is no infrastructure.

Machuca:

The return of Geysers Geysers, Atacama will visit this small town situated at 4000 mts virtually uninhabited due to the dramatic migration of families to surrounding towns, a situation that, thanks to various infrastructure projects of the Municipality of San Pedro Atacama to slowly reverse the situation with the return of some families, thus reactivating the agricultural, pastoral, cheese production and tourism. You can taste rich fried and Flame kebabs. Machuca is a small and beautiful wetland where small families live flamingos, ducks and gulls.

Archaeological Tour.

Journey through the history of the archeological capital of Chile, visiting Tulor (oldest housing vestige Salar) Quitor Pukara (pre-Inca construction defensive purpose) and Archaeological Museum (displays of developments atamenean).

Small village:

Located 10 km from San Pedro de Atacama, by clicking on the path leading to the Valley of the Moon, this pre-Columbian village is a clear example of how the sedentary lifestyle in this area. The visit may be on your own or through field trips in our travel agency. This is an ancient pre-Columbian village of about 2,800 BC In the time it was inhabited by about 150 to about 200 people, mainly devoted to ceramics, textile, agriculture and livestock. The architecture was given for construction of circular clay, these homes were attached to each other and are interconnected through courtyards and passageways. The rooms, whose foundations were built on previously excavated canals were built with adobe in an arched form that can reach nearly 2 meters high and surmounted by a conical roof affirmed by wooden poles.

This village was buried by sand and is now a museum on this site, reproducing the original homes with the same elements of the past. There is a viewpoint that allows us to observe from above the formation of the village.

Pukara Quitor:

This impressive building dating from the twelfth century, consists of blocks built with large stones alternating with smaller, ground together with mortar. Its construction techniques were used Terracing and retaining wall can be seen around 200 structures, some larger than others. Takes its name from pre-Hispanic agricultural group "Quitor Ayllu, whose fields are born at the foot of Pukará and fed by the San Pedro River. Its location and structure is mainly for defensive and strategic ancient route as busy later in the Inca period.

In 1540 it was invaded by the Spanish who rode horses and guns, the natives had never seen horses or metal helmets and firearms, which contributed to the Spanish took possession of the place and the native surrender. All the chiefs were beheaded.

Father Archaeological Museum Paige:

Named after the founder, a Jesuit who in 1955 arrives to take charge of the Parish of San Pedro de Atacama. This man performed an in-depth archaeological study various collecting indigenous objects. In 1958 he received the support of the Universidad Catolica del Norte, which has remained in charge today of the ongoing conservation and research, after the death of Father Le Paige. Today you can see an example of the evolution experienced by people atacameños and how they were influenced by the culture of Tiahuanaco, Inca and Spanish.

With a higher amount to 380,000 archaeological specimens include ceramic, clothing, precious metals, textiles and prints.

Highland Lakes and Salar Tour

On this tour you will visit small towns altiplano, then enter the Salar de Atacama, where there are several varieties of flamenco, then meet beautiful, high altitude lakes where ducks are endemic to the area.

Toconao:

This village is 38 km from San Pedro de Atacama at 2475 m. An oasis, whose waters are sweet, not arsenic, which allow it to be the people that grow all kinds of fruit such as pears, plums, quinces, and grapes as well as a large amount of vegetables. This pre-Hispanic people and belonging to the municipality of San Pedro de Atacama, has an interesting local liparita stone architecture, soft white volcanic rock, quarried 2 km.

Quebrada de Jere:

Another tourist attraction is the gorge of Jere, located at the foot of the quarry is a long canyon surrounded by vegetation where the water runs freely, the broken forms natural pools which are very popular for tourists summer season, the north side is a steep, rocky wall where you can find some petroglyphs. This creek has a special microclimate for fruit production.

Sector Soncor y Laguna Chaxa:

Located in the eastern sector of the Salar de Atacama, 62 km from San Pedro de Atacama at 2300 meters Soncor is a system of lagoons and wetlands. On the surface of the Salar de Atacama salt crusts can be observed caused by the accumulation of crystals produced by the evaporation of saline groundwater.

In this sector you can find cobalt chloride to 70 cm. high transition crusts in the shape of polygons sulfate crusts are smooth. In this sector can also be found in shallow muddy lagoons, which highlights the Laguna Chaxa beautiful lagoon where you can find Parinas or flamingos besides other types of birds such as the Puna Plover, Baird, and the Andean gull among others. These birds feed on microscopic forms such as unicellular algae and micro invertebrates.

Socaire:

Located 100 km from San Pedro de Atacama and belonging to the municipality, is the last village Atacama bouncing to tourists who come to Salta-Argentina by step Sico. Lee was formerly important for its gold mines that were close to the border. Today is characterized by its typical cuisine Atacama. This village has about 380 inhabitants who are mainly engaged in agriculture and non-metallic mining.

Miscanti and Meñiques:

This beautiful landscape is located 110 km from San Pedro de Atacama at 4,000 m The beauty of the place is given by two beautiful lakes surrounded by high mountains and a spectacular view of the Salar de Atacama, is one of the circuits that the tourist should not miss. This area forms part of Los Flamencos National Reserve and is managed by the indigenous community of Socaire. The landscape was different, the snowmelt waters from the volcanoes and Meñiques Miscanti freely down to the Salar de Atacama, however, due to the eruption of Meñiques 1 million years ago resulting in the stagnation of water, leading to the creation of these two lakes of deep blue waters and white shores. In this area there are archeological site pottery shards, arrowheads and 40 circular stone buildings, which shows the occupation of this place for 4000 - 3000 years BC

The bird is made up mainly of Tagua horned species in danger of extinction, which nest here in winter.

Salar de Tara Tour

This tour takes you to one of the most stunning scenery of the Altiplano. Accessed through the route leading to Jama step in Kilometro 100 are the monks of the Pecan and hence it takes the track to the Salar and Cathedrals of Tara by a road suitable for 4x4.

Belongs to the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos 100 km from San Pedro de Atacama and at an altitude of 4,300 meters. The salt is in the midst of volcanoes where the fertile plains, rivers and lakes, which is common to see llamas grazing Atacamanean families.

In this sector are volcanic structures and rolling plains, slopes caused by erosion east of the salar. Allows observation of forms shaped by the wind of great beauty, as are the Guardians of the Pecan, huge stone pillars that rise vertically and lonely on the sand of the desert, or the Farallon de Tara, a large carved rock wall the wind.

It has an area of 3 to 25 km ², depending on the season. It feeds Zapaleri River, a river which rises in Bolivia. The lake helps sustain the life of the flora and fauna. Be sure to visit the cathedrals of Tara, huge weathered stone sculptures that resemble a large castle.

Spa Tour Puritama.

This tour includes a trek through the gorge of Guatin, where you can see the beautiful flora of the place and an ancient forest of cactus, then enjoy a relaxing hot spring bath in the river Puritama.

Road to the Puritama is Guatin the ravine, a rocky canyon where it crosses a river of warm water (due to the binding of river water Puritama thermal and cold water Purify) ideal for cool summer days. In this area you will see typical flora of the area (pad of old, rich, rich, foxtail, etc.) and an amazing forest of cacti and cactus millennial impressive height.

Taking a detour to the right of way to Machuca and continuing up a hill is the river of thermal water, with constant fluid between 25 ° C and 30 º C. Puritama Los Baños, located 30 km from San Pedro de Atacama, these hot springs bathing a deep drawer rock, forming poson, one after another. Of hot spring waters contain minerals that possess qualities for curing rheumatic diseases and therapeutic baths.

Lagunas Cejas and Tebinquiche.

Located in the northern sector of the Salar de Atacama, 30 km from San Pedro de Atacama. Access is via a sandy path, very difficult because of the number of roads that cross it, for this reason it is not advisable to go led to the wrong road.

The first gap being accessed is the Laguna Cejas, is an intense emerald edged salt crystals, you can swim and enjoy the gravitational effect from the condensation of salt, the body float easily produces a large relaxation. You should not walk barefoot because the edge is very sharp salt ridges that cut through the skin, it is also necessary to carry jugs of water to remove salt from the body after bathing.

Continuing along this road you reach the lagoon Tebenquiche, which has similar characteristics to the lagoon Chaxa depend on melt water and rainfall of the year. Here you can see flamingoes, foxes and birds in small quantity. Access to the shore of the lake is difficult because of the presence of large pastures and wetlands near the lagoon are Tebenquiche eyes, eyes less saline water with a deep background.