- Due to the wide range of daytime and nighttime temperatures in San Pedro de Atacama, you are recommended to bring with you light cotton clothing, T-shirts and shorts, bathing costumes, sunglasses, solar filter and caps for use during the torrid daytime, but also duffel coats, overcoats, anoraks, gloves, wooly stockings and other warm items of clothing to face the low nighttime temperatures.

- American dollars, travelers' checks and credit cards are all accepted without any kind of problem in the hotels and shops of San Pedro de Atacama, but in the smaller towns payments are usually made in local currency.

- You are recommended to carry out any financial transactions in Calama, since San Pedro de Atacama has no banks nor ATMs.

- In this city, electric power (220 volts) is supplied by a generator that only works until 2 a.m. Some hotels have generators of their own, extending the availability of light and power.

- In the event of any incident requiring the presence of police or other authorities, you can call number 133 without charge or contact the Chilean Carabineros (police). In San Pedro the police precinct is on Gustavo Le Paige street, facing the town's main plaza.

- San Pedro de Atacama has a newly inaugurated drinking water treatment facility. However, to avoid any possible inconvenience, we recommend you use bottled water, especially when visiting attractions that are at a distance from the town.

- General shop hours are from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 5 to 10 p.m., except for some restaurants and tour agencies, that open at 8 a.m. and attend past 10 p.m.

- It has become customary to leave a 10% tip for your meals in restaurants.

Additional Information:

- In San Pedro de Atacama there are several call centers that are attended by an operator. You can also find numerous public phone booths using coins or pre-paid phone cards (Telefonica, CTC, Bellsouth, ENTEL, etc...)

- Since San Pedro de Atacama is located below 2,500 meters altitude, it is an ideal place to "acclimatize" before visiting the attractions that are located at over 4,000 meters. Although the tour vehicles are equipped with oxygen tanks, you are recommended to consult your physician before traveling, especially if you have heart or respiratory ailments.

- Some of the hotels in San Pedro de Atacama are connected to Internet.