How much does it cost to travel to San Pedro de Atacama?
You should plan to spend around $59 (CL$56,227) per day on your vacation in San Pedro de Atacama. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $14 (CL$13,645) on meals
- $9.15 (CL$8,730) on local transportation
- $64 (CL$61,091) on hotels
A one week trip to San Pedro de Atacama for two people costs, on average, $825 (CL$787,172). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to San Pedro de Atacama has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is San Pedro de Atacama expensive to visit?
San Pedro de Atacama is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Chile, which is a moderately priced country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It is in the top 10% of cities in the country for its affordability. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within South America, San Pedro de Atacama is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Lake Titicaca (Puno) or Manaus.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is San Pedro de Atacama Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to San Pedro de Atacama?
The average San Pedro de Atacama trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these San Pedro de Atacama travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
|
Category
|
Cost
|
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
CL$61,091
($64)
|
|
Local Transportation 1
|
CL$8,730
($9)
|
|
Food 2
|
CL$13,645
($14)
|
|
Entertainment 1
|
CL$19,762
($21)
|
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
CL$2,142 -
6,426
($2 - 7)
|
|
Alcohol 2
|
CL$2,355 -
7,064
($2 - 7)
|
Accommodation Budget in San Pedro de Atacama
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama is $32 (CL$30,546). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in San Pedro de Atacama is $64 (CL$61,091). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in San Pedro de Atacama? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in San Pedro de Atacama
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in San Pedro de Atacama is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $9.15 (CL$8,730) per person, per day, on local transportation in San Pedro de Atacama.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$9.15
CL$8,730
How much does it cost to go to San Pedro de Atacama? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in San Pedro de Atacama will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Food Budget in San Pedro de Atacama
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in San Pedro de Atacama can vary, the average cost of food in San Pedro de Atacama is $14 (CL$13,645) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in San Pedro de Atacama should cost around $5.72 (CL$5,458) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in San Pedro de Atacama is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$14
CL$13,645
Typical prices for Food in San Pedro de Atacama are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in San Pedro de Atacama, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
-
Empanadas
CL$1,200
-
Lunch
CL$10,000
-
Dinner
CL$10,500
-
Drink
CL$900
-
Empanada
CL$5,000
Entertainment Budget in San Pedro de Atacama
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in San Pedro de Atacama typically cost an average of $21 (CL$19,762) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$21
CL$19,762
Typical prices for Entertainment in San Pedro de Atacama are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in San Pedro de Atacama, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in San Pedro de Atacama
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average cost for Tips and Handouts in San Pedro de Atacama is $4.49 (CL$4,284) per day. The usual amount for a tip in San Pedro de Atacama is 5% - 15%.
-
Tips and Handouts1
For guides or service providers
$4.49
CL$4,284
Alcohol Budget in San Pedro de Atacama
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $4.94 (CL$4,709) on alcoholic beverages in San Pedro de Atacama per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$4.94
CL$4,709
Typical prices for Alcohol in San Pedro de Atacama are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in San Pedro de Atacama, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Water Budget in San Pedro de Atacama
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.52 (CL$1,453) on bottled water in San Pedro de Atacama per day. The public water in San Pedro de Atacama is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.52
CL$1,453
San Pedro de Atacama On a Budget
Atacama, Chile
San Pedro de Atacama is a gateway to northern Chile. It is a good jumping off point for exploring the area's impressive landscape, most of which is included in the Los Flamencos National Reserve. It is popular with both Chilean and international tourists, and because of its popularity, it is a relatively expensive destination, with many prices comparable to what you might pay in Santiago.
The town is small, with about 5,000 residents. It is at an elevation of 7,900 feet and is located about 60 miles southeast of Calama. It looks out over the Licancabur Volcano.
The town's climate is dry and mild. The daytime temperatures are usually between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer months and 64 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months. Winter lows can drop below freezing at night. Summer is bewteen the months of December and February and winter is between the months of June and August.
Sights
There are a handful of major sights that you must see in San Pedro, in addition to other smaller sights around the area. Popular sights include Geysers del Tatio, Valle de la Luna, Lagunas Altiplanicas, Laguna Cejar, Puritama, Salar de Tara, and Valle del Arcoiris.
Geysers del Tatio has some of the highest geysers in the world. This area is about 100 kilometers outside of San Pedro. Valle de la Luna, or "Moon Valley," is part of the Salt Mountain Range and has some absolutely beautiful rock formations and impressively barren landscape. The area has the most dramatic sunsets, so do ensure you'll be here at the right times. Lagunas Altiplanicas is a tour that usually includes the village of Toconao, Laguna Chaxa, Miscanti and Miniques lagoons, and Socaire, where you can grab a quick lunch. There is no shortage of sights you can visit around San Pedro, many of which are easily visited in a tour which can be arranged on arrival in San Pedro.
Neighborhoods
San Pedro is a small town. The downtown area has twelve small blocks that are contained by Domingo Atienza and Toconao from west to east and Licancabur and Caracoles from north to south. Caracoles is the main street and a pedestrian zone. Riding a bike on this street is forbidden as well. Almost everything you need will be in the downtown area. There are hotels located on the outskirts of town, but it is best to stay closer in.
Activities
In addition to visiting the many sights in the areas around San Pedro, there are also some interesting activities that you can enjoy. Sandboarding has become a popular activity given the town's desert location. There are plenty of dunes and sand banks where you can sandboard. Sandboarding tours will take you to the most popular place, Valle de la Muerte.
Mountain climbing is also a popular activity. There are mountains that cater to all skill levels and a few tourist agencies that specialize in mountain climbing. Confirm in advance that the tour operator will provide all of the necessities and equipment that you need.
Food and Dining
The cheapest option at most restaurants is the set meal, or "menu". There are a variety of good restaurants around town. Some of the most popular are Cafe Adobe, Blanco, La Estaka, and La Casona. They can be expensive and the quality can vary. For vegetarians, a good option is Todo Natural, on Caracoles. The food is good and the prices are reasonable.
Transportation
You can reach San Pedro by bus from Salta and Jujuy in Argentina, as well as most other places in Chile. The closest commercial airport is in Calama, which is about an hour and a half away. There are frequent buses that travel between Calama and San Pedro. It's also possible to rent a car at the airport but the prices are quite high and an international driving permit is required.
After you arrive at San Pedro you can walk to most places worth visiting in town, including restaurants and bars. There are a handful of hotels located on the outskirts of town, so it is worth confirming the location of your hotel before booking. The downtown area of San Pedro is approximately twelve blocks in size. There are a good number of places around town where you can rent a bike to reach more distant destinations.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.