Fact file
When's the best time to go to Atacama Desert?
San Pedro de Atacama is all-year destination, although its climate is influenced by the Bolivian Andes. Occasional strong rains in Jan-Feb can close visitor sites for a few days and, between Jun-Sep, snow can hinder the high-altitude crossings into Bolivia and Argentina. For almost all of the year, the sun shines and the night skies can be spectacular.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
What's the official language of Atacama Desert?
Spanish.
How do I get local currency in Atacama Desert?
Chilean Peso. Bring your local currency needs from a larger town, where notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs using a UK credit or debit card. Limits may be lower than your UK bank allows.
What's the time difference between Atacama Desert and UK?
GMT -4 hours. Sometimes daylight saving is observed in the summer, from Sep/Oct to early Mar.
What places combines well with Atacama Desert?
The Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, usually visited on a 3-day package by 4WD; La Serena and the Elqui Valley, 1.5 hours by air from Calama, a hour drive from San Pedro; Lauca National Park near the northern border, 800 km.
How do I getting to Atacama Desert?
Fly from Santiago to Calama (2 hours) then it’s a 2 hour road journey (104 km) to San Pedro.
What are the festivals and cultural events in Atacama Desert?
The feast day of Saints Peter and Paul: 24 Jun. The entire village of San Pedro joins in the celebrations with processions.
If you still have questions, please contact us and one of our Travel Experts will be happy to help.
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