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Here's everything you should need to know to travel to San Pedro de Atacama, or to Chile, for the first time. Wedding guests, take note!
San Pedro de Atacama
About San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro is an oasis town in a high valley formed by the crest of the Andes to the east and an inland mountain chain, the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountains), to the west. It is situated in the Atacama desert, the dryest desert in the world. San Pedro was the center of the Atacameño culture before the arrival of the Spanish colonists, and the desert has preserved many relics of the people who have inhabited the region for millenia. San Pedro sits at the edge of the third-largest salt flat in the world.
Today, San Pedro is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Chile, and it is a launching point for tours of the unique natural beauty of the altiplano and the crest of the Andes, such as the El Tatio geyser field amid the peaks at 13,000 feet; tours of the salt lakes populated by flocks of flamingos; visits to mountain villages with Inca-era farming terraces and historic churches; and much more. We are eagerly looking forward to sharing the beauty and majesty of San Pedro with you this month.
Although the desert may seem like a harsh environment, life perseveres everywhere. The earth reveals its bare essences, its history, everywhere you look. The vast skies, by day and night, impart a feeling of closeness to the cosmos, to oneself, to the great spirit. We were enchanted by the energy of San Pedro when we discovered it last year, and it was here, that we decided we wanted to celebrate our love and commitment to one another, in this place with all of you.
Travel
* Arriving in Chile for the first time
After getting off the plane, you will arrive first to the immigration area. Each United States citizen must pay a reciprocity fee of $100 to be eligible for a tourist visa. This fee cannot be paid in advance, only at a counter signed just as you enter immigrations.
On the plane, you will be given an information card to fill out for immigration. The immigration official will stamp the card and return a copy to you -- this receipt is your tourist visa, and you must have with you when you leave the country! Keep it with your passport and make sure it doesn't fall out.
After immigrations, you will next have to pick up your bags and go through customs. This is no problem, just don't bring any live plants or fresh fruit with you.
To catch your connecting flight to Calama, go up to the top floor of the airport after leaving the customs area. The attendants at the LAN desks can speak English.
* Getting to San Pedro from Calama
Several van services operate between Calama and San Pedro. We've made arrangements for shuttle vans for everybody arriving by plane. There will be someone holding a sign saying 'Rojas-Klopfenstein.' The van ride is an hour and a half and the driver will take you right to your hotel. Be sure to look out the window during the ride, you might see a fox or a vicuña.
Packing
* What you will need
* Clothes
San Pedro gets intense sun during the day, so for a few hours a day it's very hot outside. When the sun goes down, though, it can get very cold, due to the high altitude. It may freeze at night, but it will certainly be cold. A sweater and a winter jacket are highly recommended.
A sun hat is an absolute necessity and a warm wool cap is also good to have. These are sold at all the artesenal shops in San Pedro and make nice souvenirs.
The climate and the environment in San Pedro are very dusty, so fancy clothes are more effort than they're worth plus nobody else is wearing them, even for the ceremony will be informal. Bring things that are comfortable and layerable.
You should bring a swimsuit since we have an excursion planned to exceptionally beautiful thermal springs.
* Shoes
Comfortable, durable, closed-toe shoes for walking on rough terrain are a must. You might also get some use out of sandals.
* Sun protection
The ozone layer is much thinner over Chile than it is in the Northern Hemisphere. Due to this, as well as to the altitude, the sun hits much harder and you will burn much faster. You should bring protective gear, such as long-sleeved white shirts, a wide-brimmed hat, UV-blocking sunglasses and sunscreen. Sunscreen in particular is more expensive in Chile, so bring some from home!
* Personal hygeine items
Some items are hard to come across (like tampons) the rest are rather expensive and limited in variety
* Medication
There is no official pharmacy in San Pedro, so you should assume that you will not be able to find any medicines. There are emergency medical services available.
* Highly recommended
* A small or medium-sized backpack
* A canteen or water bottle
* Camera
* Binoculars
* Not recommended
* Dress clothes
* Jewelry
* Personal electronics (Electricity in Chile is 220V and converters are hard to find)
* High heels
* Cell phones
Things to do in San Pedro
We've scheduled several group tours and activities for the weekend, but we hope you'll have some time to explore San Pedro on your own during your stay. Here are some fun things to do in San Pedro:
* Tours
San Pedro is full of tour agencies offering inexpensive tours of dozens of areas accesable in the areas around San Pedro. There are hikes up mountains or through river valleys; guided sightseeing tours of the salt plain or the higher parts of the valley, where you can see wild llamas and flamingos; and excursions to archaeological sites. There are several spectacular lakes amid the peaks that you can visit, and mountain villages which sell artesanal goods.
* Bicycling
There are several places that rent good bicycles, and we will have some available for guests. The area is full of fun places to bike to, but you'l have to see it when you get there.
* Stargazing
Several observatories are situated in the north of Chile and it's easy to see why. The altitude, low humidity and extreme seclusion of San Pedro allows for some of the best stargazing in the world. Bring a winter jacket since it can get cold at night.
* Shopping
San Pedro is full of shops selling cheap handmade artesenal goods that you'll probably want to take advantage of.
* Gustavo le Paige Museum
The Gustavo le Paige Archaeological Museum is worth a visit. Their collection includes a number of mummies as well as local artifacts, and has signage in English.