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- Destinations
- South America
- Chile
- San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama
The desert oasis village of San Pedro de Atacama, having been
continuously inhabited for 10,000 years, was prized by the Inca and
Tihuanaco empires for its mineral wealth and importance as a
stopover on the caravan trade routes. It sits at the northern end
of the Salar de Atacama, a vast salt lake that is home to a variety
of bird life.
Today San Pedro de Atacama is one of the major travel
destinations of northern Chile and an attractive, albeit touristy
village. A great base from which to explore the astounding natural
beauty of the region, the village has few real attractions of its
own. There is a small 17th-century church built with local
materials and a small well-organised museum with a good gift shop
that sells the only true locally-produced crafts in the town. There
are a number of restaurants and bars in town, however local
restrictions on liquor sales see the nightlife come to a halt at
11:30pm on weekdays and 2am on weekends.
There is plenty to see and do around San Pedro, however. The
town is close to archaeological sites, bird life of the salt flats
and Valle de la Luna, and lies within easy reach of the nearby
Lagunas Altiplanicas and the El Tatio Geysers. Outdoor activities
like mountain climbing and sandboarding are popular, or for a
relaxing time the hot springs of Puritama are not far away.
Information & Facts
Climate
San Pedro de Atacama is characterised by a desert-like climate
and experiences extremely dry weather with little or no rainfall
and weather averaging around 77°F - 86°F (25°C - 30°C) in the
summer months from December to January. During the winter months
from June to August, the temperature drops to 64°F - 77°F (18°C -
25°C) while average night-time temperatures in winter dropping to
below zero and can even reach as low as 14°F (-10°C). Many visitors
experience altitude sickness and travellers should take this into
account.
Language
The official language is Spanish.
Money
The local currency is the Chilean Peso (CLP), which is divided
into 100 centavos. Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and to a lesser
extent, American Express, are accepted in most large shops and
hotels. Travellers cheques, particularly in US Dollars, are welcome
in major towns, where there are banks and
cambiosoffering currency exchange services. ATMs are
widely available.
Time
Mainland is GMT -4 (GMT -3 from October to March). Easter
Island is GMT -6 (GMT -5 from October to March).