Crystal Hunting in San Pedro de Atacama

A May 2005 trip to San Pedro de Atacama by Jadeski

San Pedro 01 Photo - San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Quote: San Pedro is an oasis in a barren desert surrounded by volcanos. While the town can feel like a bit of a tourist trap, wandering outside the town on foot can provide a serene escape in the desert.

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Crystal Hunting in San Pedro de Atacama

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Overview

Quote:

San Pedro de Atacama is located in the dead of the Atacama Desert. Traveling by bus for hours through brown nothingness, I thought I was hallucinating when we arrived at the green oasis of San Pedro. The town lives off tourism due to its proximity to spectacular natural destinations, like flamingo filled lakes and steaming geysers. We signed up for a 3-day Jeep tour leaving San Pedro and ending in Uyuni, Bolivia. With a day or two to spare in the town, we didn't find much to wet our appetite for adventure besides drinking at the numerous, expensive watering holes in town. It was a beautiful day, so we started walking and found ourselves leaving the community and entering the desert. There are many hills surrounding the San Pedro and it can be an exciting day trip to wander through and around them. We found crystals of all shapes and sizes, embedded in the layers of sand and rock which make up the hills. Sandy, waterless beaches provide an excellent arena for relaxing, taking in the sun, and admiring the spectacular view of San Pedro, a blob of green in an endless brown desert, surrounded by volcanos. When the sun goes down, head back to San Pedro for some pisco sours. If you don't have the funds or the want for guided tours around San Pedro, then explore the town's rich surroundings by foot. It's impossible to get lost, San Pedro is hard to miss with all its vegetation in sight for miles.

Quick Tips:

Don't drink the water. Unlike Santiago and other cities in Chile, San Pedro's water is not potable. And don't forget to bring lots of Chilean pesos. There are no ATMs in the town and things can be pricy for South American standards. The closest ATM is an hour and a half bus ride to Calama. Some tour companies accept credit cards, but most hostels, hotels, and restaurants do not.

Best Way To Get Around:

The best way to get to San Pedro is by bus from Calama or by a 3-day Jeep tour from Uyuni, Bolivia through the salar and desert. The town itself is so small that there is no need to travel by anything but your own two feet. Read Less