San Pedro de Atacama is about 1,670 kilometers north of Santiago de Chile. The trip can be somewhat tiring, because the desert town has no airport.

A option to shorten the trip is to take a plane to the nearby city of Calama, located 103 kilometers away, to finish the trip on a prime quality highway.

By Land

- By bus from Santiago: the trip lasts an average of 20 hours. A number of firms cover this route, with comfortable vehicles of the sleeper, semi-sleeper and standard types. To consult on prices and timetables you may contact:

*Tur Bus
Web: www.turbus.com
Santiago Office: Terminal Tur Bus. Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 3750 / Phone (02) 270-7500
San Pedro de Atacama Office: Licancabur 294 / Phone: (55) 851-549
Calama Office: Topain 2125 -Villa Caspana / Phone (55) 314-745
Terminal Tur Bus Balmaceda 1852/ Phone (55) 316-699

*Pullman
Web: www.pullman.cl
Santiago Office: San Francisco de Borja 235 E. Central / Phone: (2) 560-3700
Calama Office: Balmaceda 4155 /Phones: (55) 319-665, (55) 330-832

- By car from Santiago: for those who enjoy adventure and taking their time "getting there", this route is a good chance to rent a vehicle and take the road up to San Pedro de Atacama. From Santiago you must take Route 5 or Panamericana Norte (North Pan American Highway). A stopover is recommended at Caldera or Bahia Inglesa, to continue on the following day to Calama, where you can buy essential items and, if necessary, do banking (there are no banks in San Pedro de Atacama).

We list some car rental agencies below:


*Avis Rent a Car
Santiago Office: San Pablo 990 / Phone: (56-2) 601-9747
Calama Office: Pedro León Gallo 1883 / Phone: (55) 363-120
Aeropuerto El Loa: Phone (55) 349-503
Web: www.avischile.cl


*Alamo
Central Office: Avenida Francisco Bilbao 2846 Providencia-Santiago
/ Phone: (56-2) 3439-860, (56-2) 2234-117
Calama Office: Félix Hoyos 2177 / Phone: (55) 364-539
Web: www.alamochile.com

*Budget
Head Office: Avenida Francisco Bilbao 1439 Providencia, Santiago
/Phone: (56-2) 3623-200
In Calama: (55) 361-072
At the El Loa Airport: (55) 346-868
Web: www.budget.cl

*Further details in Car Rental in Santiago and Car Rental in Calama

TRANSFERS IN SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

In order to move around the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama you are recommended to hire travel agency tour services that include transport. You can also rent comfortable cars in the different car rental agencies (See previous item)