Overall itinerary: Santiago Airport – Calama Airport – Pick up a rental car and drive to San Pedro – Lunch – Check-in and settle in – Stroll around town and pack dinner – Stargazing and photography in the open space of the homestay.
[BalloonR]
[Since my wife is pregnant, our overall itinerary was designed to be relaxed and unhurried, skipping many popular but potentially strenuous attractions.]
[BalloonR]
We touched down in Santiago, Chile, early in the morning and then boarded a connecting flight to Calama at noon. After collecting our luggage, we made a beeline for the car rental counter. Having done our homework by checking Google reviews, we knew that car rental services here didn’t always get glowing feedback.
Thankfully, the company we chose proved to be dependable on the day we arrived. The customer service representative, who spoke basic English with enthusiasm, handled everything efficiently. In no time, we completed the paperwork and were led to a nearly brand-new Nissan 4WD pickup truck. We couldn’t have been more pleased with its condition—it was perfect for the adventure ahead.
[BalloonR]
Tip: It’s highly recommended to book directly through the car rental company’s official website. Compared to platforms like Rentalcars, the prices tend to be better. Most Spanish-language barriers can be easily overcome using Google Translate. For this trip, we opted for Chilean Rent a Car, which served us well. If you’re only visiting the most popular local attractions, a 2WD compact car might suffice.
[BalloonR]
Before we left, the thoughtful representative asked about our destination and kindly advised us to steer clear of Calama’s city center. He warned us that it wasn’t particularly tourist-friendly, mentioning that smashed car windows were not uncommon there—a piece of advice we appreciated immensely.
[BalloonR]
As I reacquainted myself with manual transmission, I drove cautiously out of the airport. The road from Calama Airport to San Pedro de Atacama exceeded our expectations—it was smooth, fully paved, and surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, easing any concerns we had about navigating the Atacama Desert.
[BalloonR]
After over an hour of driving, we reached San Pedro de Atacama. We enjoyed a leisurely lunch, checked into our homestay, exchanged some money, stocked up on supplies, and even picked up half a roasted chicken from a local barbecue shop to enjoy back in our room.
[BalloonR]
Our homestay, Casa Ckelar Atacama, was run by an incredibly warm and friendly couple. Despite language differences, communication flowed smoothly thanks to a combination of Google Translate and gestures. Their hospitality made us feel right at home.
It’s worth highlighting that the location of our homestay perfectly catered to our amateur stargazing aspirations. Surrounded by minimal light pollution, simply stepping behind the bungalow reveals an open space where nearly all artificial light sources are obscured. Here, under the vast night sky, the breathtaking Milky Way and countless stars come into full view.
Of course, “breathtaking” can mean different things to different people—but for me, this was the first time I witnessed the Milky Way with my naked eye, fulfilling a long-cherished dream. Using the 30-second shutter feature on our iPhone, we captured several awe-inspiring photos. This experience left us feeling content enough to skip the stargazing tour we had initially planned; the chilly night air made us cautious about tiring out my pregnant wife.
(Photos are currently being curated and will be added shortly.)
