Fly to Calama, then continue by road
San Pedro de Atacama has no airport for scheduled flights. There is a small airstrip just outside town, but it serves private and light aircraft only, so a search for “San Pedro de Atacama airport” ends at El Loa Airport in Calama, code CJC. Calama is a mining city to the west, and San Pedro is a separate destination reached by road. The featured transfer lists a journey of around one and a half hours, with shared or private vehicle options.
Check your airline’s schedule and baggage terms directly, because route frequency and airfares change. Landing at Calama is not the same as arriving at your tour meeting point in San Pedro.
Calama airport sits at 2,326 m, a little below San Pedro at about 2,400 m, so most people feel fine on arrival. The tours that climb above 4,000 m are where altitude starts to matter, which is why the first day deserves care.
Plan your first days in the desert
For the first few days, compare sunset at Valle de la Luna, the El Tatio geysers at dawn, floating in Laguna Cejar and a night of stargazing.
Flights to Calama (CJC)
| Route (nonstop) |
Airlines |
Notes |
| Santiago (SCL) to Calama |
JetSMART, LATAM, Sky |
The main route, at about two hours in the air |
| La Serena (LSC) to Calama |
JetSMART, LATAM, Sky |
Useful if you combine San Pedro with the Elqui Valley |
| Concepción (CCP) to Calama |
LATAM (seasonal), JetSMART |
Fewer flights; check the current schedule |
| Lima, Buenos Aires, São Paulo or Salta to Calama |
None |
No nonstop flights; connect in Santiago |
These are the routes listed for El Loa Airport in October 2026. Schedules change by season, so check the airline’s own site before you plan around a flight.
Baggage on low-cost fares. The basic JetSMART and Sky fares include only a small under-seat bag. A cabin bag and a checked suitcase cost extra, so add them before comparing fares with LATAM if you travel with a full suitcase.
Which side to sit on. The Andes lie to the east. Sit on the right flying north from Santiago and on the left flying back for views of the mountains and salt flats.
Arriving from abroad. Leave at least three hours, or an overnight, between a long-haul arrival in Santiago and the Calama flight. Immigration and the SAG agricultural check at Santiago can be slow.
Reserve the correct transfer direction
For arrival, choose airport to accommodation and provide the flight number and exact hotel address. For departure, choose accommodation to airport and provide the departing flight details. A one-way reservation does not include both journeys.
Read our detailed Calama transfer guide for the meeting procedure, baggage allowance, the full comparison of shuttle, private car, taxi, bus and rental car, and a plan for late arrivals. The Calama Airport transfer (4.6/5 from 858 reviews) offers shared and private options; its minimum is a per-person starting price, not the total for a private vehicle.
Shared transfer, private transfer or rental car?
A shared transfer keeps the arrival simple but may involve waiting for passengers and several hotel stops. A private option can reduce the number of shared stops, subject to the actual service conditions. Neither can guarantee a flight will arrive on time or a road will be delay-free.
A rental car may suit an independent route, but you may be tired after flying, and you may not need a vehicle for the excursions you plan. You can cover the main sights without a car using organised day trips.
Buses within Chile
There is no bus from Calama airport itself. Buses to San Pedro leave from company terminals in Calama town, so you need a taxi from the airport first. Frontera del Norte, Atacama 2000 and Tur-Bus run that route during the day, Pullman runs from Antofagasta, and Tur-Bus runs long-distance services from Santiago, a very long overnight ride. Coming from Peru, cross at Tacna to Arica and continue south by bus or plane.
Bus frequency, fares and journey times are not listed here, because the published figures disagree. Check the carrier’s current timetable on its own site or on booking platforms such as Kupos, Recorrido or Busbud, and buy a few days ahead in Chilean holiday periods.
On long journeys the seat class matters: semi-cama reclines partway, salón cama reclines much further and premium is close to flat. On an overnight trip the upgrade is usually money well spent.
Crossing from Argentina or Bolivia
From Salta. Buses from Salta and Jujuy cross the Andes on the Paso de Jama, a pass above 4,000 m. Andesmar and Pullman run the route; check the current days and times with the carrier. Snow and strong wind can close the pass in winter and spring, sometimes for days, so check its status before you travel and keep a spare day in your plans. The best time to visit guide covers the seasons.
From Uyuni. Most travellers come over the Hito Cajón border (about 4,480 m) at the end of a multi-day salt-flat tour, which reaches San Pedro around midday on the last day. Do not book a same-day flight out of Calama. A Uyuni expedition is not interchangeable with a simple cross-border transport ticket. Check where it starts and ends, how long it takes and whether its highland overnights suit your wider journey. Direct buses between Uyuni and San Pedro also run, but reviews of their reliability are mixed, so reconfirm the day before.
- Chile. Many Western passport holders, including those from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia and EU countries, enter visa-free for up to 90 days. Keep the PDI entry record until you leave.
- The SAG declaration. Every traveller fills in Chile’s agricultural and customs declaration, again at each land re-entry. Fresh fruit, meat, dairy, seeds and coca leaves are the usual problem items. If in doubt, declare it, because fines for undeclared goods are steep.
- Bolivia. Since 1 December 2025, US citizens can enter Bolivia without a visa for up to 90 days, as the Associated Press reported. UK, Canadian, Australian and most EU passport holders were already visa-free. Check the current rule for your passport before the Uyuni leg.
Driving yourself
- The road. The highway from Calama to San Pedro (Ruta 23-CH) is paved. Many attractions beyond town are on gravel, so take insurance that covers tyres and glass.
- Fuel. Fill up in Calama. San Pedro has limited fuel at higher prices, and the villages on the lagoon route have little or none.
- The car. A crossover or small SUV handles the main routes; you need a 4x4 only for rough side tracks.
- Requirements. Rental firms in Chile usually ask for a minimum age and an international credit card, and an International Driving Permit is recommended. Check the terms with your rental company.
- Book early. Rent at Calama airport, where the desks are in the arrivals hall. San Pedro has few rental options and they sell out in peak season.
- Crossing borders. Taking a rental car into Argentina or Bolivia needs a special permit from the rental company, arranged well ahead, and many companies do not allow it.
Cash, taxis and night arrivals
- Cash. San Pedro has only a handful of ATMs, and they can run dry on busy weekends. Withdraw what you need at El Loa Airport. Hotels and larger agencies take cards; small businesses and some site fees want cash.
- Taxis. There are hardly any street taxis in San Pedro and no ride-hailing apps, so book your return transfer before you arrive.
- Night arrivals. Late flights have fewer shared transfers. If you land late, book a private transfer or stay a night near Calama airport and travel in the morning. The transfer guide has the full plan.
- Where to sleep. A central hotel keeps transfers and tour pickups simple; our where-to-stay guide compares the areas.
Keep the first afternoon flexible
An early flight can still be delayed, and the shared transfer has its own logistics. If you reserve Moon Valley for arrival day, leave enough time to check in, eat and reach the departure. Ask about the cancellation terms before buying a tour that depends on a tight connection. A first-night stargazing tour is an easier fit, because it starts after dark.
Do not make El Tatio your automatic first-morning booking after a late arrival from low altitude. Read the altitude guide and make the first part of your stay less demanding. The tour comparison shows which trips stay low.
Protect the departure day too
The transfer supplier usually collects passengers at least three hours before their flight, according to the selected listing. Follow your confirmation and the airline’s guidance for the actual timing. Avoid planning a full-day excursion immediately before a flight based only on an estimated return, and leave a buffer day after El Tatio or a Uyuni crossing.
When deciding how many days to stay, count the full touring days between these arrival and departure stages. Counting every calendar date as a sightseeing day overstates the time you have.
Common arrival mistakes
- “We waited ages at the airport.” Shared transfers wait for enough passengers, especially at night. Book a private transfer, or choose a flight that lands in the daytime.
- “The taxi quoted a huge price.” Pre-book a fixed-price transfer. If you do take a taxi, agree the fare before the car moves.
- “The shuttle would not go to our cabin.” Drop-off zones are limited. Check whether your lodging is inside the operator’s zone, and if not, which meeting point you will use.
- “The Uyuni bus never came.” Reconfirm the day before and keep a buffer day, or cross on a multi-day tour.
- “We flew to the wrong Atacama.” Copiapó (CPO) is in the Atacama Region, but it lies hundreds of kilometres south of San Pedro. Book Calama (CJC).
