San Pedro de Atacama Travel Forum

Hey all,

Planning on arriving in San Pedro on the 5th of April. Collecting 4x4 from Calama.

Think it will be simple enough to get to San Pedro (just follow Route 23?). What I don't know is how easy is it to find the various sites. El Tatio Geysers for instance being 95km away. Is it easy enough to buy a road map in Calama or San Pedro? Should I just follow the tour 4x4s?

Thanks in advance,

Steve.

Hi,
Try to get a road map in Santiago, just in case. It could be easier (and/or cheaper).
It shouldn't be too difficult to find the sites by yourself, but as I remember the roads were pretty rough. Ask at the hotel, specially to go to El Tatio, since you have to start when it's dark to be there at sunrise.
To follow a tour minibus would probably be your best bet...
Good luck.

Let me know if you are going to Iquique or Arica... (they are 4 hours away to each other by car, by the way)
:-)

Cheers Baba.

Will try and pick a map up in Santiago. May be able to get one from the rental agency in Calama though... perhaps...
My other concern is getting fuel around San Pedro. Don't suppose you know if the town itself has a petrol station? Think I may need to find somewhere to buy petrol canisters as I doubt the rental vehicle will come with any...

Was originally going to head to both Iquique and Arica. Now though I've been tempted by the sights of Bolivia so will be dropping the 4x4 off in Calama, bus it back to San Pedro and the next morning take a tour to Uyuni.

Thanks again!

Steve.

Steve,
I actually don't remember seeing a gas station in San Pedro... (I didn't rent a car, so I wasn't looking for it), but the road map in the Turistel guide (a good guide, in Spanish though) has an icon of a gas station in San Pedro!!!
Go to http://www.turistel.cl/mapas_ruteros/rut_b_1.htm
So it seems you are lucky! It must be outside San Pedro.
A good road map would give you this information too, as you see.

One way or the other, it seems you are having a great trip. Have fun!

Thanks v much!

Should be a good trip. Shame I won't have much time in Santiago, Vina del Mar. Have to come back sometime and see Chile properly, patagonia an' all.

All the best,

Steve.

Regarding petrol, there is one gas station--a little off the beaten path, but you'll find it. Getting gas is not a problem. Have a blast in San Pedro. We did!

Thanks Gringal. One less thing to think about :D

You can get a map in Calama and even in San Pedro. The only dificult road is the one to the Geysers because you must do it at night.

For more information I recomend you the website www.sanpedrochile.com , it was very useful to me,

Have Fun!!!