Featured - Hostal Inti-para Hostal La Ruca - Our friendly hostel is the perfect place to put down your backpack, relax with other travelers, and enjoy San Pedro de Atacama. hostal puriko - Looking for a warm bed and a friendly face on a backpacker's budget? You've come to the right hostel.
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Atacama, Chile |
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| Official Language: |
Spanish |
| Other Languages: |
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| Population: |
16,600,000 |
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| Currency: |
Chilean Peso (CLP) |
| Electricity: |
220V, 50Hz  |
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| Province: |
El Loa |
| Location: |
Latitude: 2254S
Longitude: 06812W
Altitude: 2 |
| City Size: |
tiny |
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| Local Time: |
GMT-4
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| Dialing Code: |
056 55 |
| Airports: |
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| Population: |
5,000 |
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| Main Tourist Attractions: |
 Scramble through the sand on a hike in Moon Valley in the beautiful Chilean desert. The beautiful views more than make up for the effort.
Experience a truly unique landscape roaming the Great Salt Desert, 3000 square km sandwiched in-between the Andes and Domeyko mountain ranges.
Live histort when you go to check out el Pukara de Quitor, a pre-Incan construction of rock walls that formed a defensive fortress for ancient civilizations.
30 km from San Pedro de Atacama pay a visit to the beautiful Lakes Cejas and Tebinquinche. Make sure to take a guide so you don’t get lost on the many paths that cris-cross the area. For a real ride rent a 4x4 to take you through the terrain.
A little further out from the city go see the magnificent Geisers del tatio, fissures fuming with steam created by the contact between volcanic magma and icy subterranean waters.
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| When to go: |
San Pedro de Atacama has a high altitude desert climate characterized by quick changes in temperatura, strong winds as well as sun, and little rain. Summers (Dec-Feb) are warm during the day but cool at night. Winters (JunAug) are relatively mild during the day but near freezing when the sun goes down. Strong winds prevail from September to November, making it the least ideal time to go. The rest of the year makes for a pleasant trip as long as you prepare for the weather at all times of day.
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| How to get there: |
There are various modes of transportation, but nearly all will bring you only as far as Calama, 100 km away. A cheap bus will cover the remaining trip. For travelers looking for the inexpensive option, buses can be taken from Santiago and other major cities to Calama. A variety of classes of bus travel are available, depending on your needs and your budget. For vacationers looking to save time rather than money, flights can be taken to the airport in Calama, where transfers are available to San Pedro de Atacama. Reservations are required ahead of time for those looking to transfer from a flight.
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| Visa Information: |
Visas are not required for citizens of most countries,, with the exception of New Zealand, Cuba, most African and some Eastern European countries. Travelers from other countries will be granted a 90 day tourist visa when they enter the country. When crossing into Chile at the Santiago airport, a 'reciprocity fee' may be assessed depending on the country of origin. This fee varies based on what the country of origin charges Chilean citizens for entering their county, but is around US$100 for US citizens, US$132 for Canadians, and US$30 for Australians. This fee is normally not assessed when crossing into Chile by boat or land.
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| Tipping: |
At restaurants the normal tip is 10%, though 15% is always appreciated for excellent service. Slightly less is generally given in bars and cafes, and porters generally receive an amount corresponding to 50 cents per bag. Taxi drivers are not tipped.
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bendito desierto - Relax during your travels at Restaurant Bendito Desierto. Enjoy a cocktail and delicious food with real Latin American flavor. Featured - bendito desierto |
