Atacama Desert Tours & Trips
4.5 stars on(7,695 reviews)- Choose from 27 Atacama Desert tours
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Table of contents
- The best Atacama Desert tour packages
- What people love about Atacama Desert Tours
- Travel Atacama Desert your way
- Best tour companies for Atacama Desert tours
- Discover Atacama Desert tours for every budget
- Atacama Desert tours for every group
- Top Atacama Desert travel itineraries to fit your plans
- Demographics
- Best time to visit Atacama Desert
- Contact our Atacama Desert travel experts
- What our customers ask about Atacama Desert Tours & Trips
The best Atacama Desert tour packages
Compiled by
MelissaAtacama Desert travel expert at TourRadar
Stark beauty stretches from Calama to San Pedro de Atacama. Valle de la Luna's moonscape, Death Valley's mineral sculptures, and Las Tres Marías formations create natural art. Watch sunset transform La Gran Duna while learning about desert geology from expert guides.
Duration 4 days Destinations Calama, San Pedro De Atacama Age Range 3 to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Receptivo Aborigen Tours From
- US$799
Atacama Desert Route 7D
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“It was an amazing trip, the agent was perfect, always available for any quesfiin and provided all the support needed.”
Fanny, traveled in April
San Pedro provides the perfect base for exploring the world's driest desert, featuring Valle de la Luna's moonscape and Rainbow Valley's kaleidoscope hills. Float in Cejar Lagoon's saline waters and watch Tatio Geysers' steam displays. Professional guides and 3-star accommodation included.
Duration 7 days Destinations San Pedro De Atacama Age Range 9 to 75 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Ecuador Galapagos Travels From $1,850
8% Off- US$1,700You save $150
Atacama Desert, An unforgettable 4 days journey
1 Review by TourRadar travelers“The tour was a unique and excellent idea in the natural outdoor environment.”
Yoshiko, traveled in October
La Casa de Don Tomas serves as your Atacama Desert haven. Float in Laguna Cejar's salt waters, watch El Tatio's 80 active geysers at sunrise, and walk through Moon Valley's amphitheater and 'Tres Marías' formations with expert English-speaking guides.
Duration 4 days Destinations Calama, San Pedro De Atacama Age Range 8 to 70 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Signature Tours From
8% Off- US$1,130
4-Days Discovery @ Atacama Desert
10 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“Such a beautiful and well-preserved area. Amazing amount of cultural knowledge and adventure.”
George, traveled in November
Casa Don Tomás in San Pedro opens doors to the world's driest desert. Three flamingo species grace Chaxa Lagoon, while Mars-like Moon Valley formations astound, and dawn geysers steam. Professional guides reveal Atacama's hidden treasures.
Duration 4 days Destinations Calama, San Pedro De Atacama Age Range up to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Signature Tours From
8% Off- US$1,540
4 Days Unique Experience @ Chilean high Plateau (Chilean Altiplano)
4 Reviews by TourRadar travelers“An excellent itinerary. Our guide was highly professional at all times.”
Rubben, traveled in February
Coastal Arica to high-altitude Putre reveals Atacama's varied landscapes. Candelabra cactus canyons, ancient geoglyphs in Lluta Valley, and desert wildlife at Lauca National Park's wetlands create unforgettable scenes.
Duration 4 days Destinations Arica, Socoroma, Lauca National Park Age Range 12 to 99 year olds Operated in English, Spanish Operator Signature Tours From
8% Off- US$1,630
What people love about Atacama Desert Tours
- 3-days Discovery @ San Pedro de Atacama
An unforgettable trip. It is a very complete package with meals and accommodation. It is an excellent service. The guide we had in the city tour was very friendly and with excellent English.
It was an amazing trip, the agent was perfect, always available for any quesfiin and provided all the support needed. Highly recommend this trip and this agency
Atacama Desert Route 7D
- 4-Days Discovery @ Atacama Desert
Such a beautiful and well-preserved area. Make sure you get there! Brilliant tour that covered some off the beaten path destinations. The guides and drivers were a highlight on their own. Amazing amount of cultural knowledge and adventure.
Travel Atacama Desert your way
Our explorer tours of the Atacama run 5-8 days and really capture what makes this place special. Starting from San Pedro de Atacama, you'll join local guides who know exactly when and where to take you. The night sky viewing is a highlight - you'll use professional telescopes while guides point out nebulae, star clusters and galaxies you'd never spot on your own. The itinerary takes you through Moon Valley with its unique salt formations, up to the Tatio Geysers at 4,300 meters where steam bursts from the earth in the early morning light, and out to Chaxa Lagoon to see flamingos in their natural habitat. The mineral-colored rocks of Rainbow Valley are pretty incredible too. Our travelers consistently tell us how much they appreciate the guides' deep knowledge of the geology, wildlife and ancient history that makes each site come alive.
Select from our extensive range of 16 fully guided tours to enjoy a worry-free experience through Atacama Desert with our expert guides leading the way.
Best tour companies for Atacama Desert tours
Discover Atacama Desert tours for every budget
Looking for good value in the Atacama? Our 3-4 day budget tours hit all the essential spots without unnecessary extras. You'll travel with local guides to see Moon Valley's strange rock formations at sunset, watch the Tatio Geysers shoot steam at dawn and explore the colorful minerals at Red Stones. Our travelers really like how these tours mix guided activities with free time to wander San Pedro de Atacama. You'll stay at places like Casa Don Tomás - comfortable and well-located but not fancy. Most tours include breakfast and some throw in lunch during full-day trips, which helps keep your costs down.
Atacama Desert budget tours
Atacama Desert tours for every type of group
Who are you traveling with?
Group
18 tours in Atacama DesertExplore a wide diversity of group tours through Atacama Desert. We have 18 adventures that vary from 3 days to 15 days. With the greatest number of departures in February, this is also the most popular time of the year.
Small Group
13 tours in Atacama DesertThe Atacama Desert small-group tours run 3 to 6 days, giving you direct access to the most fascinating desert sites. On 4-day trips, you'll head out early to watch steam rise from Tatio Geysers at sunrise, and later float in the mineral-dense waters of Cejar Lagoon. Our travelers often tell us how their guides blend friendly group dynamics with expert knowledge, particularly when exploring the geological wonders of Moon Valley. If you opt for 6 days, you'll get night sky sessions where professional telescopes reveal nebulae and distant galaxies, plus time in traditional villages like Machuca, where daily customs remain largely unchanged. The pace stays balanced - there's time to capture photos of salt formations, soak in mineral pools and also explore San Pedro de Atacama independently. According to our customers, those early starts make perfect sense, especially when viewing the geothermal fields in temperatures from -6°C to 24.5°C, while sharing breakfast with your group as active geysers create nature's backdrop.
Private / Personalized
6 tours in Atacama DesertWant more flexibility? Our private Atacama tours let you set the pace over 4 days with your own guide and driver from Calama Airport. You'll stay at upscale spots like Hotel Cumbres and time your visits perfectly - like seeing Cejar Lagoon when the light's just right and having drinks served at Licarantay Lookout for sunset. Our customers tell us having their own guide makes a huge difference, especially when learning about local geology and spotting wildlife. The 7-day option adds some special touches like the secluded Baltinache Lagoons and warm soaks in Puritama's thermal pools, with plenty of time to take photos and really explore each spot.
Top Atacama Desert travel itineraries to fit your plans
Seven days lets you really get to know the desert's hidden corners. Along with the main sites, there's time to swim in Cejar Lagoon's salty water and explore Rainbow Valley with its colorful mineral-streaked hillsides. Our travelers tell us they love having a full day at Puritama Hot Springs - you can move between eight thermal pools running 28-31°C which feels amazing halfway through the trip. The longer schedule includes night photography sessions where guides help you capture both the Milky Way and distant galaxies. Several routes take you to less-visited places like Baltinache Lagoons and Vallecito that quick trips often skip. With a week to explore, you can properly check out the ancient rock art at Yerbas Buenas and take walks spotting native wildlife in the Andean foothills.
Demographics
Our 4-day Atacama tours work really well for solo travelers - the guides go out of their way to create a welcoming group atmosphere that our customers mention again and again in their feedback. You'll head out to spots like Chaxa Lagoon where flamingos gather in the shallow waters and catch the truly remarkable sunset at Moon Valley with people who quickly become friends. The night sky tours are a particular highlight; there's something quite special about learning about the constellations together in what scientists say are the clearest skies on Earth. We include airport pickups and hotels in San Pedro de Atacama, which solo guests tell us feels just right - safe to explore on your own between the guided parts of the tour.
The 5-day active tours pack in plenty for younger travelers who want to really experience the desert. You'll get your heart racing sandboarding down massive 200-meter dunes, then jump in a buggy to tackle desert trails that wind through rivers and up hillsides - perfect for social media shots that'll make everyone back home jealous. Our travelers particularly love taking electric bikes out to Cejar Lagoon, riding through green oasis patches before testing out the water that's so salty you float without trying. For something different, we time the Salt Mountain Range night walks with full moons when possible. The mix of early morning geysers and daily activities gives you a proper desert experience, with enough time to take it all in properly.
Our multi-day Atacama tours suit seniors who want both comfort and discovery, with 8-day itineraries built around proper hotel accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama. You'll have time to get used to the altitude naturally, starting at Moon Valley before moving up to higher spots like Tatio Geysers. Our travelers tell us how much they value the guides, who share detailed geology and wildlife knowledge while keeping things at a relaxed pace. The tours usually feature expert-led stargazing with professional telescopes, comfortable transportation between locations, and also well-timed stops at Puritama Hot Springs. You can expect a mix of easy walks through salt formations, scenic drives to lagoons where flamingos gather and guides who adjust the schedule based on how everyone's feeling. For those seeking extra comfort, private tour options come with stays at upscale properties like Hotel Cumbres, giving you more flexibility, personalized service and also exclusive attention.
- Solo Travelers19 tours
- Couples5 tours All tours for Couples
- Seniors (50+)11 tours
Best time to visit Atacama Desert
- Spring 2025
Spring tours in the Atacama combine active exploration with prime stargazing opportunities. The multi-day adventures pack quite a bit in, from sandboarding massive 200-meter dunes to cycling Cejar Lagoon on e-bikes, and exploring the Salt Mountain Range by buggy. If you opt for 7 days, you'll have time to discover secluded spots like the Baltinache Lagoons and also Vallecito, which shorter visits tend to skip. Our travelers appreciate how these spring itineraries balance early morning geyser visits, with temperatures spanning -6°C to 24.5°C, and afternoon explorations of Moon Valley and also Rainbow Valley. The 5-day active programs draw younger guests seeking both physical challenge and astronomy - you'll use professional telescopes to observe nebulae and distant galaxies under some of the planet's clearest skies. The guides coordinate everything meticulously, timing Salt Mountain Range walks with full moons, and choosing strategic shaded rest spots between excursions.
- popular 21 tours
- 21 tours
- 17 tours
- Summer 2025
Summer in the Atacama brings nicer temperatures for exploring. Our customers love heading out early to Tatio Geysers when temperatures run from -6°C to 24.5°C - it's just right for walking around the geothermal field and having breakfast outside. Lots of tours include a stop at Cejar Lagoon where the salt content is so high you float without trying; it feels great on a warm day. The extended tours take you to Rainbow Valley and Red Rocks where guides explain all about the colorful minerals and ancient rock art. Our travelers say they like how the summer schedule works - active mornings, relaxed afternoons and plenty of chances to cool off in the shade and grab some water.
- popular 17 tours
- Fall / Autumn 2025
People who've traveled with Signature Tours really seem to love what they're getting - it's clear from TourRadar feedback that they've got their logistics sorted out nicely. The guides are consistently mentioned as a highlight, with special shoutouts going to Ariel who apparently brings both solid English skills and a good sense of humor to his tours. Their Atacama Desert trips are getting particular praise for going beyond just the typical tourist spots. Our travelers keep mentioning how the guides share interesting cultural details and take them to some less-visited but equally amazing locations. The hotels they use tend to be well-placed and comfortable, which makes a big difference after long days of exploring. One practical heads-up though - if you're flying into Santiago Airport, you might want to give yourself some extra time to navigate around. Several customers have mentioned the signage could be clearer, especially if you're new to the area or don't speak Spanish. It's not a major issue, but it's worth knowing about when you're planning your arrival timing. The feedback we're seeing suggests Signature Tours has found a good balance between keeping things running smoothly and making sure everyone's having a good time. They seem to understand that top-notch organization and friendly service go hand in hand.
- popular 15 tours
Contact our Atacama Desert travel experts
Nadine
Expert in Atacama Desert at TourRadar
Nadine is one of our seasoned Atacama Desert Travel Experts. Reach out to us to get all your questions about Atacama Desert tours answered!
- Choose from 27+ Atacama Desert tours
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+1 844 311 8331What our customers ask about Atacama Desert Tours & Trips
How Do You Get Around the Atacama Desert?
While you can rent a car for flexibility the challenging terrain and high altitude routes make guided tours your best bet really. TourRadar's guides get great reviews like Ariel who speaks excellent English on the 8-day San Pedro & Easter Island tour and Mariela who's not just knowledgeable but brings fun energy to the experience.
How Long Should You Stay to See the Best of Atacama?
You'll want 3-5 days to hit the must-sees like El Tatio geysers Valle de la Luna and the incredible salt flats. If you've got time the 7-day Atacama Desert Route lets you dig deeper into spots like Rainbow Valley and those stunning high-altitude lagoons. One traveler mentioned the 4-day Discovery tour was perfect as a quick trip to catch all the highlights.