5-Day Atacama Desert Itinerary: Self-Drive Road Trip or Guided Tours
Visiting the Atacama Desert was hands-down our favourite experience in all of Chile—yes, even more than Patagonia—and easily one of the highlights of our entire Latin America travels. Set in one of the driest places on Earth, where some regions haven’t seen a single drop of rain in recorded history, the Atacama offers landscapes so surreal and otherworldly they feel straight out of another planet. With so many amazing things to experience, planning your days well is essential. After spending over 5 days exploring the region and researching every major activity and hidden gem, we’ve created the ultimate 5-day Atacama Desert itinerary.
This guide is perfect for travelers doing a self-drive road trip, with detailed tips on driving routes, how to organize your days, where to get tickets, and the best spots for sunsets and stargazing. That said, if you’re planning to explore via guided day tours, don’t worry—we’ve included tips and options for you too!
Quick Suggestions: Atacama Desert Itinerary
If you are short on time and want some quick suggestions for your Atacama Desert Itinerary, check out our recommendations below:
✅ Favourite Activities and Tours in the Atacama Desert:
🌠 Best Luxury Stargazing Tour
🌋 Piedras Rojas + Laguna Miscanti
♨️ El Tatio Geyser and Northern Route stops
🌊 Laguna Baltinache
🏜 Valle de la Luna and Sunset
🏨 Where to Stay in San Pedro de Atacama:
Budget Hotel: Inca Huasi Travelodge
Mid-Range: Terrantai Lodge Atacama
Luxury Hotel: Our Habitas Atacama
📆 Favourite Tour Booking Platform in Atacama (other than Viator): Denomades (local owned + cheaper)
📲 Recommended E-Sim: Airalo
🚌 Car Rental We Used in the Atacama Desert: QEEQ
🚑 Travel insurance we used: Genki Travel Insurance
Atacama Desert itinerary quick overview
- Day 1: Arrival in San Pedro de Atacama, visit Valle de la Luna, sunset at Mirador de Kari
- Day 2: Horseback riding in Catarpe Valley + Star gazing tour at night
- Day 3: Southern Route to visit Piedras Rojas, Laguna Miscanti, Laguna Miniques
- Day 4: Northern Route: El Tatio Geyser and all the amazing viewpoints along the way
- Day 5: Western Route: Laguna Baltinache + Sunset at Mirador Likan-Antay
How to Get to San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama is the heart of tourism in the Atacama Desert and serves as the home base for exploring the region’s many nearby attractions. However, it doesn’t have its own airport. If you’re flying in, you’ll need to land either in Calama (about a 1-hour drive away) or Antofagasta (roughly 3 hours away on the coast).
Another option is arriving from Bolivia, especially if you’re finishing a Salar Uyuni tour.
In our case, we were traveling from Colombia and managed to find a direct flight from Cali to Antofagasta — a huge time-saver compared to the alternative route through Bogotá, Santiago, and then Calama, which would have taken over 14 hours! So if you’re hopping between countries like we were, it’s definitely worth checking flights into Antofagasta and considering renting a car from there.
So in summary, to reach San Pedro de Atacama, you will have 3 main options:
How to Spend 5 Days in Atacama Desert
To make the most of your Atacama adventure, we’ve crafted an itinerary where each day trip dives into a different corner of the desert. Using San Pedro de Atacama as your home base, you’ll set out in all directions — north, south, east, and west — uncovering the region’s most stunning highlights. Each day is designed to pack the best sights of one area into an unforgettable and efficient day!
This itinerary is designed with the idea that you’ll be renting a car and exploring Atacama on a self-drive road trip. But don’t worry — if you’re not planning to rent a car, we’ve also included all the best options for taking Guided day tours instead.
🏛️ If you’re searching for a list of our best and hand-picked guided day tours for the Atacama Desert, check out our full Atacama Tours Guide.
🎯 If you want to first get an overall idea of all the best things to do in the Atacama desert, including our personal review of each so you can figure out which ones to prioritize, check out our Atacama Desert activities guide.
Day 1: Arrival in San Pedro de Atacama + Visit Valle de la Luna
Morning: Car Rental in Calama or Antofagasta
Once you arrive at either Calama or Antofagasta airport, we recommend renting a car directly from the airport to start your road trip. Normally we rent from DiscoverCars and have used them repeatedly in our travels but this time we found better pricing available through QEEQ. We had a small delay at the airport due to customs, but when we called the QEEQ customer service, they were incredibly helpful and quick to respond!
After picking up your rental car, you will either drive 1 hour from Calama or 3.5 hours from Antofagasta to reach the town of San Pedro de Atacama.
Pit stop at Chacabuco Nitrate mine
(if you are driving from Antofagasta)
If you will be driving the route from Antofagasta, make sure to stop by “Sitio de memoria Ex Oficina Salitrera y Campo de prisioneros Chacabuco” along the way. This fascinating historical site was once a bustling nitrate mining town and later became a prison camp during Chile’s military dictatorship. Walking through its abandoned streets and crumbling buildings gives you a haunting glimpse into two powerful chapters of Chilean history.
Afternoon: Arrival in San Pedro de Atacama
Upon arriving in San Pedro de Atacama, you’ll have some free time to check in to your hotel and get settled. Keep in mind that during midday, the sun can be intense, and at an altitude of 2400m above sea level, it’s easy to get sunburn. For this reason, we recommend scheduling your tours/excursions earlier in the morning or later in the afternoon, closer to sunset, when the temperatures are more manageable.
Late Afternoon: Visit Valle de la Luna
At Valle de la Luna, you will experience one of Atacama’s most iconic sights and will feel like you’ve landed on another planet. In fact, the landscape here is so arid and harsh that NASA tests their rovers and equipments here prior to space missions. We recommend visiting Valle de la Luna on your first day since it is located only a short drive from San Pedro de Atacama.
At Valle de la Luna, you’ll explore the otherworldly rock formations of Tres Marías, wander across salt-crusted landscapes, tackle a few short hikes to jaw-dropping viewpoints, and cap it all off with a climb up a Duna Mayor. Plan to spend around 2–3 hours in total for the full experience.
After exploring Valle de la Luna, make your way to Mirador de Kari for sunset. Access to this stunning viewpoint is included with your Valle de la Luna ticket. Just be sure to arrive before 7:30 PM, as the guards are very strict about closing times. To be safe, we recommend checking with one of the park rangers while you’re still in Valle de la Luna to confirm the latest closing hour (since it changes every season).
Valle de la Luna: Visiting Information
- Starting point: Valle de la Luna Information Centre, around 10 minutes drive from San Pedro de Atacama. Make sure to enter from here (eastern entrance) since you’ll need to buy/validate your ticket here before entering. The park rangers will also explain to you here how to visit the park and all the important times.
- Time needed to visit: Minimum of 2 hours, recommended 3 hours. We entered the park at 4pm and had around 2.5 hours to visit the park before needing to arrive at Mirador Kari before 7:30pm. Even with 2.5 hours, we had to cut short one of the hikes. The park rangers also tend to close the hiking trail a bit earlier than listed.
- Park Tickets: You can buy the tickets at the Valle de la Luna information centre or buy them ahead of time online. At the information centre, they have touchscreen computers where you can pay for your ticket. They accept credit cards.
- Opening Hours:
From September to March: you must enter the park between 9:00am to 5:00pm.
From April to August: you must enter the park between 8:00am to 4:00pm. - Our Recommendation: If you are doing self-drive, instead of following the regular order of visit, we recommend starting from the end at Tres Marias and then visiting the sites in reverse order. This will not only help avoid the tourist bus crowds since they all go in order, but you’ll also have a bit more time to explore since you’ll be close to the entrance by closing time.
Tour to visit Valle de La Luna
This 5 hour Valle de la Luna Sunset Tour will bring you through the main highlights of Valle de la Luna including Tres Marias, the hiking trails, and end with the sunset viewpoint at Mirador de Kari. This is perfect for those who are not renting a car to explore the Atacama Desert.
Day 2: Horseback riding in Catarpe Valley + Star Gazing Tour
Today, you’ll begin your morning horseback riding through the arid valleys of Atacama, then enjoy a relaxing afternoon. As night falls, you’ll set off on a stargazing adventure and experience a sky lit up with stars like you’ve never seen before!
Day 2 does not require a rental car at all since you’ll be joining 2 guided tours.
Morning: Horseback Riding
Embark on a 2-3 hour horseback riding tour to discover the hidden valleys of the Atacama desert and learn more about the tribes that once lived there. We joined this tour and were brought through the winding red rock valleys of Catarpe where we also got to see one of the ancient settlements there. It’s a thrilling way to explore the Atacama Desert while keeping things relaxed — perfect for your second day to ease into the high altitude without overexerting yourself.
We booked our tour through Instagram with La Marca Cabalgata. Alternatively you can book with this tour that brings you to Dinosaur Valley, Catarpe Valley, and Chulacao Ravine.
Evening: Star Gazing Tour
The Atacama Desert is known to be one of the World’s Dark Sky Zones where due to the very low light pollution and excellent atmospheric conditions, you get to see the sky full of stars clear like never before. So while visiting San Pedro de Atacama, a Star Gazing Tour is an absolute must.
There are countless tours out there but after extensive research we ended up booking with this company.
What made this star gazing tour stand out is that the experience is made to be more exclusive, with your own comfortable cushioned sitting area with heated blankets, where you can snack on charcuterie and sip on wine, while the guide explains to you the cosmos.
The telescopes they use are also of higher quality, which is crucial so as to get the best view of the stars. This tour really blew our mind about how we think of the galaxy. At one point, the guide pointed towards a star and to the naked eye, it looked like a tiny faint speck. But under the telescope, it revealed that it was in fact a cluster of likely over a million stars!
The vastness of the galaxy is truly beyond comprehension.
Day 3: Southern Route to visit Piedras Rojas, Laguna Miscanti, Laguna Miniques
Today, you’ll embark on a journey along the Southern route of the Atacama Desert, one of our absolute favourite experiences during our Atacama Desert Itinerary.
The Southern route brings you to Salar de Aguas Calientes Piedras Rojas where you’ll get to witness the incredible red volcanic rock landscape surrounded by dramatic volcanoes and shimmering lagoons. Along the way, you’ll also visit two hidden high-altitude lagoons where you can also spot flamingos!
What made this day truly unforgettable was that the drive itself was part of the adventure. The road winds its way up to over 4000m above sea level, passing by majestic volcanoes with black and crimson ash that you can see up close.
But the real highlight was Piedras Rojas, one of the most surreal and otherworldly landscapes we have ever seen, where the the crimson red bubble-like volcanic rocks are sharply contrasted by the soft blue salt lagoons. It’s a sight unlike any other!
Ticket and Itinerary for Southern Route to Piedras Rojas
For the Southern Route, we recommend starting your adventure with a visit to Piedras Rojas (about 2 hours from San Pedro de Atacama), then backtracking to explore Laguna Miscanti and Miniques. This route requires a bit of planning, so be sure to follow these steps.
First, purchase your ticket online here and aim for the earliest time slot, ideally 9am.
On the day of your visit, you’ll need to arrive in the town of Socaire an hour before your reservation time (so by 8am for a 9am booking) to check in. Socaire is located about an hour from San Pedro de Atacama, and it’s along the route to Piedras Rojas.
After the check-in, you can then head straight to Piedras Rojas which should be about another 1 hour drive. Plan to spend around 2 hours exploring Piedras Rojas, and then head over to Laguna Miscanti and Miniques.
Piedras Rojas and Laguna Miscanti: Visiting Information
- Site: Salar de Aguas Calientes Piedras Rojas, Laguna MIscanti, Laguna Miniques
- Location: Piedras Rojas is around 2 hours drive South of San Pedro de Atacama, then you’ll drive 40 minutes back towards San Pedro de Atacama to reach Laguna Miscanti. To return to San Pedro de Atacama from there, it’ll take 1.5 hours.
- Ticket: This part requires some planning so make sure to pay attention to each step. You need to buy your tickets online from here ahead of time, and then go to the town of Socaire 1 hour before your scheduled time to do your check-in. Socaire is located around an hour from San Pedro de Atacama but on-route to Laguna Miscanti and Piedras Rojas. After doing the check-in, you can then head to Laguna Miscanti and Piedras Rojas.
- Opening hours: The first appointment time for Piedras Rojas is 9:00am, meaning your check in at Socaire will be at 8am. The latest appointment is at 1:00pm.
- Time needed to visit: We recommend spending at least 1.5 hours in Piedras Rojas and around an hour at Laguna Miscanti and Miniques. However, if you are like us and love taking photos and really taking in the scenery, we actually ended up staying a good 2-2.5 hours at Piedras Rojas.
Tour to visit Piedras Rojas + Laguna Miscanti
We recommend checking out this Piedras Rojas and Laguna Chaxa Tour from San Pedro. This is perfect for those who are not planning on renting a car and would like to join a group tour! They’ll bring you to Piedras Rojas, Laguna Miscanti, and also the flamingo lagoon of Laguna Chaxa all in one day!
Option of Laguna Chaxa
After visiting Piedras Rojas and the two lagunas, it is possible to also include Laguna Chaxa on the way back to San Pedro de Atacama. Laguna Chaxa is known to be an excellent spot to see flamingos but we had mixed feelings about our experience there. If you’re curious about our experience there and why we suggest possibly skipping it, check out our full review in the Atacama Activities Guide.
Evening: Stargazing for free at Mirador Likan-Antay
If you have a rental car, you can visit one of our favourite sunset and night time star gazing spots, Mirador Likan-Antay.
The best part? It’s completely free and has no restrictive opening hours.
We had come here for sunset one of the evenings and loved it so much that we returned the next day to do some free star gazing. This is also the perfect spot to try your hand at star photography!
Just check out the incredible view in the photos below!
This post is part of our series about the Atacama Desert. If you want to learn more about the Atacama Desert and other amazing Chilean attractions, check out the guides below:
Day 4: Northern Route: El Tatio Geyser + Viewpoints
The Northern Route to El Tatio Geyser turned out to be one of our favourite experiences in the Atacama Desert. It totally surprised us since the Geyser itself didn’t appear very impressive in the photos online, but what really made the day stand out was all the incredible sights you’ll see along the way!
Similar to how the Southern route brought you to incredible volcanic viewpoints, the Northern route takes you through stunning lagunas, vast colourful landscapes, and an abundance of animals!
El Tatio Geyser
The drive to El Tatio Geyser takes around 1.5 hours but there will be countless places that you won’t be able to resist stopping to admire. Most tours will visit El Tatio geyser super early (like departing at 4-5am kind of early) in order to see the maximum amount of fumes coming out of the geysers, however if you have your own car, we recommend going later in the day.
The reason is that you’ll be able to see so much more clearly the landscape in broad daylight, and there is also significantly less tourists at that time (we bumped into 4 in total). We arrived around 1pm and to our surprise, there was still a decent amount of fumes!
🎯 If you do have your own rental car and want to see all the specific viewpoints we stopped at that made this day trip one of our favourites, check out our Best Things to do in Atacama Guide.
El Tatio Geysers: Visiting Information
- Site: El Tatio Geyser
- Location: 1.5 hours drive from San Pedro de Atacama
- Ticket: You can buy the tickets once you arrive on site. Tickets cost 15,000 CLP
- Opening Hours: 6:00am to 4:00pm
- Time needed to visit: We easily spent around 2-3 hour there exploring the whole Geyser field. Also, at the time we went in the early afternoon, there was absolutely nobody there so we spent time just basking in the tranquility.
Tour to El Tatio Geyser
If you do not have a rental car, we highly recommend taking this specific El Tatio Geyser tour from San Pedro de Atacama since they also make stops at the incredible wetland and laguna viewpoints along the way (our favourites on the Northern Route). The tour does start at 4:30am, and will last a total of 7 hours.
Day 5: Laguna Baltinache + Sunset at Mirador Likan-Antay
Laguna Baltinache offered one of those rare, “first-time ever experiences” that’s hard to put into words. Surrounded by a vast, seemingly endless salt flats, we found ourselves floating effortlessly in a crystal-clear turquoise pool, thanks to the high salinity of the water. I mean, this is something that feels completely like it was on a different planet!
Laguna Baltinache
Laguna Baltinache is located around 45 minutes west of San Pedro de Atacama and can be done independently or as part of a guided tour. One thing to note is that the road leading to Laguna Baltinache is mostly rough gravel, in not the best condition, and some travelers reported getting a flat tire or having difficulty with a sedan.
We had no issues with our compact SUV, though the ride was bumpy toward the end (the last ten minutes). If you prefer a more relaxed experience or aren’t comfortable navigating gravel roads, there are excellent tour options available, which include pickup in comfortable, high-clearance vehicles like Mercedes SUV vans.
Once you arrive at Laguna Baltinache, you’ll check in at the front office. After, you will drive in to the first parking lot to see the first 3 lagoons. Then, you’ll drive your car to the second parking lot where you’ll find the lagoon in which you can actually swim in. There is only one lagoon where swimming is allowed. Then you can explore the other 4 lagoons in the area.
Before leaving, you can rinse off at the showers at the entrance.
Laguna Baltinache: Visiting Information
- Site: Laguna Baltinache
- Location: 45 minutes drive from San Pedro de Atacama, located here. Many reviews online said that the road conditions leading there are terrible and that an SUV is required. Overall, the road is loose gravel and a bit bumpy but definitely manageable in a sedan. Also, the worse part of the road is just the final 10 minutes.
- Time needed to visit: We recommended spending around 2 hours here. Although you can only swim for 20 minutes, the site itself is absolutely stunning. We really enjoyed just sitting by some of the salt pools and just soaking in the whole ambiance.
- Entrance: Buy your tickets at the entrance. They accept credit cards. The cost is 12,000 CLP.
- Opening Hours: 9:00am to 5:00pm. Online it shows that they are closed from 1:30pm to 2:30pm but we arrived around noon and left at around 3pm and they had no issue with it. I asked the ranger and she said they close at 5:00pm.
Tour of Laguna Baltinache
This 5 Hour Baltinache Lagoons from San Pedro de Atacama tour is perfect for those who do not have a rental car, or are hesitant to drive along the bumpy roads, but want to experience the incredible hidden lagoons! You’ll be picked up at your hotel in a comfortable shared transport, see the Lagunas Baltinache, and also get to visit that secret abandoned school bus!
Evening: Sunset at Mirador Likan-Antay or another nearby spot
Remember how we mentioned Mirador Likan-Antay as an amazing spot to do star gazing for free?
Well, its also one of the best free spots to watch the sunset. You can return there or if ever you want something a little different, one of our other favourite spots is located here.
It provides you an incredible view of the road leading towards San Pedro de Atacama, surrounded by the jagged red rock valley and perfectly aligned with the snow-capped volcano in the background. Best part? This spot is also completely free of charge!
Alternative activities in the Atacama Desert
Above we have provided what we consider the ideal 5 day itinerary in the Atacama Desert, visiting the most impressive sights the desert has to offer. However, there are also some other attractions which may be of interest to you so we have included them below:
- Puritama Hot spring or PuriLibre: hot springs
- Laguna Cejar (alternative to Laguna Baltinache)
- Valle de Acoiris: Rainbow valley
How many days to visit Atacama Desert
We recommend spending at least 4 nights in San Pedro de Atacama.
We stayed for 5 nights ourselves and found it to be the ideal amount of time to hit the main highlights without feeling rushed. If we had one more day, we would’ve explored further east toward Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos—but even without it, we left feeling really fulfilled by everything we saw.
In fact, our experience in the Atacama Desert ended up being our favourite in all of Chile – yes, even more than Patagonia – and possibly one of our top highlights in all of Latin America so far!
Keep in mind that San Pedro sits at 2,400 meters above sea level, and the desert climate can be pretty intense. The air is extremely dry, the sun is strong, and there’s a good chance you’ll feel some effects of the altitude.
That’s why we think 4–5 days strikes the perfect balance: enough time to acclimate, soak in the scenery, and experience the magic of the Atacama—without overdoing it.
Pro tip: put on sunscreen even though it doesn’t feel hot. At that high altitude, you can get burned very quickly and easily, and since the air is rather cool, you won’t feel it until it is too late! We learned this the hard way!
3 Day Atacama Desert Itinerary
If you only have 3 days in the Atacama Desert, then we would recommend organizing your itinerary this way:
- Day 1: Visit Laguna Baltinache in the morning, rest in the afternoon, then visit Valle de la Luna for sunset
- Day 2: Southern route to Piedras Rojas and Laguna Miscanti/Miniques, then Star Gazing tour at night.
- Day 3: Northern Route to El Tatio Geyser and the amazing stops along the way
In this way, you will be missing out on Laguna Chaxa, and the horseback riding activity. Your itinerary will be more jam-packed than the original 5 day Atacama Desert Itinerary, but all the attractions included in the 3 day itinerary above are not to be missed.
Should you self-drive road trip or join a tour in Atacama Desert
One of the main decisions we had to make when planning our trip to San Pedro de Atacama was whether to explore independently with a rental car or to join guided tours. We typically lean toward self-drive road trips, as we love the freedom to explore at our own pace and chase the best lighting for photography without being tied to a schedule.
This is our preferred method of travel when possible, and we’ve done countless road trips like going through the safaris in Namibia Africa, Cappadocia in Turkey, and the National parks in Utah.
In the end, we chose to explore the Atacama Desert by self-driving, and we truly believe it’s the best way to experience the region—many of our favourite memories came not just from the destinations themselves, but from the incredible landscapes we encountered along the drive.
However, San Pedro de Atacama is one of those spots that is exceptionally well-serviced by tour companies, making it easy and convenient to join day trips. For a list of our hand-picked Atacama Day Tours, check out our Atacama Tours Guide.
In fact, most of the travelers we met opted for tours and had fantastic experiences. One advantage we did notice with guided tours is that most of them seem to provide pretty elaborate lunches/meals during their tours, which removes the hassle of needing to pack food for your day.
Atacama Park entrance Tickets
When planning your trip to the Atacama Desert, one important factor to consider is reserving your park entrances. If you will be doing guided tours, then don’t worry as the tour company will handle it all for you.
However, if like us, you’ll be exploring independently, then some prior planning is necessary.
We have provided extensive details about each of the main attractions and those that require park entrances in our Atacama Desert Activities Guide, but to make it more convenient for you, we will also provide the summary here:
- Valle de la Luna Entrance ticket: you can buy it on-site at the information centre here, or you can buy it online
- Mirador de Kari Entrance: Included in your Valle de la Luna ticket, so make sure to go the same day (as per our itinerary)
- Piedras Rojas and Laguna Miscanti: Buy it online here. Remember that you need to check-in at Socaire 1 hour before your reservation time
- El Tatio Geyser: Buy ticket on-site. They accept credit card
- Laguna Baltinache: Buy ticket on-site. They accept credit card
- Laguna Chaxa: Buy it online here, even if you show up on-site, they will still ask you to buy the ticket online
Where to stay in San Pedro de Atacama
The town of San Pedro de Atacama is the ideal base to explore the Atacama Desert. There is a huge variety of accommodation options there, ranging from very budget hostels to luxurious lodges with beautiful rooms and pools. The town itself is compact, with most restaurants and amenities concentrated around the central area.
We stayed in the northern part of town and found it easy to get around by car, but on foot it’s about a 20-minute walk to the center. So, if you won’t have your own vehicle, we recommend staying closer to downtown for convenience.
If you plan on joining guided tours, nearly all of them include hotel pickup, so location isn’t a concern in that regard.
With so many options available in San Pedro, we’ve put together our top recommendations below to help you choose the right place to stay:
Budget: Inca Huasi Travelodge
Just a 10-minute walk from downtown San Pedro, this cozy adobe-style lodge offers comfortable rooms and cabins with private bathrooms and kitchens. Guests enjoy a fresh homemade buffet breakfast daily and access to BBQ areas and terraces.
Incahuasi, led by the owner Sandra, also offers all-inclusive packages with meals, airport transfers, and guided tours to Atacama’s top sights. Sandra has a wealth of information about all the activities in the area and can help you organize your day trips!
Mid-Range: Terrantai Lodge Atcama
Terrantai Lodge is a charming 4-star hotel ideally located in the heart of San Pedro de Atacama. It features a tranquil shaded garden, a refreshing swimming pool, a wellness spa, and elegantly styled rooms.
The design draws inspiration from the region’s ancestral heritage, incorporating natural elements like adobe, river stones, and aged wood to create a warm, earthy atmosphere. Guests can also enjoy unique experiences offered by the lodge, including wine tastings, astrophotography sessions, and guided tours to the Atacama Desert’s top attractions.
Luxury: Our Habitas Atacama
Our Habitas Atacama is a beautifully designed eco-luxury lodge located just a 10-minute walk from the heart of San Pedro de Atacama. It is surrounded by the dramatic landscapes of the desert, offers 51 thoughtfully decorated rooms, a tranquil pool, wellness space, and vibrant communal areas. One of the standout features is the serene pool and lounge area, complete with cushioned sunbeds perfect for relaxing under the desert sun.
The on-site restaurant focuses on seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and native herbs, reflecting the unique flavours of the Atacama. With experiences like immersive stargazing, guided hikes, paragliding, and cultural excursions, Habitas offers a truly exclusive experience.
Using WISE card in Chile
When taking cash out of an ATM while abroad, you will most likely be charged both a foreign exchange fee and a foreign transaction fee by that country’s ATM. With my Canadian card, this can easily be 3-4$ + 2.75% + a markup on the exchange rate charged by my bank, and then another 3-5$ charged by the foreign ATM.
This can be really costly. For this reason, we recommend using WISE card which has only minimal fees and just about no foreign currency exchange markup. This helps me save at least 5-7$ every time I take out money from an ATM. If you want to see our full review of the card showing exactly how WISE can help you save, check out our WISE Travel card Review post.
Summary: Atacama Desert Itinerary
With this 5-day Atacama Desert itinerary, you’ll have everything you need to plan the perfect adventure—whether you’re tackling it as a self-drive road trip or joining guided day tours. After traveling to over 40 countries, we can confidently say the landscapes here are some of the most surreal we’ve ever seen—truly otherworldly—and this journey remains one of our most unforgettable experiences in all of Latin America. If you’re looking for more awe-inspiring adventures in Chile, make sure to check out Torres del Paine, the Chilean Patagonia!
Floating in a Salt Pool in Atacama Desert
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