San Pedro de Atacama Transportation - Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips

San Pedro de Atacama is a Chilean town with many stunning sights, including geysers, volcanoes, salt flats, and hot springs. However, it's important to know the best ways to get around town. Read these tips to learn the best way to travel through San Pedro de Atacama.

Most people fly from Santiago into Calama, then take a plane into San Pedro, but you can also take a bus into town to save money. The distance from Santiago to San Pedro is just over 1,000 miles, so the journey takes quite some time. TUR BUS offers direct trips with included meals for about $30. There are many other bus lines, such as Pullman Bus, Libac, and Flota Barrios. While these bus lines are cheaper, they don't offer the same amenities as TUR BUS.

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San Pedro de Atacama is actually a very small town, and walking or biking are the most common forms of transportation. If you're going to rent a bike, expect to pay approximately $1.50 for an hour rental or $9 for an all-day rental.

Regardless of whether you decide to bike or walk, you need to take proper precautions for the weather. You're going to be exposed to a high level of UV radiation, so it's essential to bring strong sunscreen, sunglasses with UV-resistant lens, a hat, and water bottles to stay hydrated.

There are a variety of tours that let you see the city's sights. Geminis and Pullman are two reputable companies that offer an exciting trip through the Paso de Jama. The tour takes your from San Pedro to Salta, and then returns back to San Pedro the following day. As it's a lengthy trip, make sure you bring supplies, such as extra batteries for your camera or an extra cell phone battery, so you can capture many beautiful pictures and videos.

Editor's note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about transportation in San Pedro de Atacama.