How to Explore Atacama Desert on a Budget: Best Chile Travel Tips

The Atacama Desert in northern Chile is known for its extreme aridity, rich mineral deposits, and clear skies, making it a unique desert worth visiting. It not only offers an ideal location for astronomy enthusiasts to stargaze but also provides adventurers with desolate and magnificent landscapes. If you are interested in extreme natural environments or minerals and astronomy, you should not miss this place. Below are some tips that I hope will be helpful

[PlaneR] Flights
Choose Calama, airport code CJC. The flight from SCL takes 2 hours, and round trip costs RMB500+, very convenient.

Airport to Town Transportation
Book at the airport arrival counter or on the Transfer PAMPA website.
One way costs 15,000 pesos, round trip 26,000 pesos, taking 80-90 minutes.
When booking, provide your flight and accommodation information; customer service will suggest a departure time, usually 4 hours before the flight, so check your email.

Self-Drive or Tour Agency
The attractions are scattered, far apart, and the terrain is complex. For food, lodging, and daily life, you rely on one small town, where various tour agencies are available. It’s recommended to join a tour directly.

Accommodation
It’s suggested to stay near the main street, Caracoles, which is convenient for dining, shopping, and being picked up by tour agencies.

[Shopping CartR] Tour Agencies
You can book on the Denomades website, but local tour agencies in the town are cheaper. Two recommendations, see P9 & P10 for details of programs and prices, the circled ones are what I booked, mix and match as needed.
Alabalti atacama – similar to [same styleR], 20% discount for more than two activities or 10,000 pesos off for a single activity.

Friendly and patient, recommended!
Atacama Magic – recommended by many, 5,000 pesos off per activity for more than two, no introduction but pressured me to make a decision, not liked.

Restaurants
Adobe – a bit expensive, good food, nice ambiance, live band
La troja Atacameña – recommended! Vegetable pie, pork chop, see P11
La picada Del Indio – recommended by locals, has been around for a long time, average
Babalu – must-try, bar ChelaCabur

Sample Itinerary
Day 1 Afternoon 13:13~15:22 Arrival
Check-in + stroll around town + book tours
Dinner La picada del indio
Day 2 Full day
Red Stone Beach – breakfast sandwich + lunch box
Dinner Adobe
Day 3 Full day
Geysers – breakfast in the wilderness
Lunch La troja Atacameña
Moon Valley – snacks
Dinner Pork chop
Stargazing
Day 4 Morning
Rainbow Valley – breakfast
Stroll around town Lunch
Bus to the airport
20:46～22:50 Return to the capital