Tourism in Calama city

Distance: 215 kilometers away from Antofagasta
Main Activity: Mining

A city located at 215 kilometers from Antofagasta. Surrounded by agricultural land, it is considered the largest oasis of the entire precordillera. It is located at 2250 m.s.n.m.

Capital of the Loa province. A mining city by excellence, and from where several trips to places of extra-ordinary interest can be taken, such as: picturesque archaic towns as Chiu-Chiu, Peine, Caspana, Toconao, Talabre.

On a leg of almost 20 Kilometers and on both walls of the river cut canyon, there are innumerable prehistoric paints and engravings, done by the indigenous peoples that inhabited Alto Loa since 4.000 years ago before Christ.

Site Attractions:

· The Tatio Geysers
· Atacama Salt Pit- Salt Lake
· Valle de La Luna
· Pan de Azucar National Park

Campamento Minero Chuquicamata (Mining Camp)
Considered one of the biggest industrial facilities of the world (the size of a city) where the gigantic open copper mine is run. It is located at 2850 m.s.n.m.

The mine can be visited only on weekdays. Register at the central office of Chuqui Ayuda a la infancia desvalida (Av. José Miguel Carrera esq. Tocopilla) at 13:00.

Salar de Atacama (Saltlake)
It comprises the territory of the great arreica depressions- dry lands without water outlets- located west of the Domeyko range.

It is barren land surrounded by some oasis, enclosed by the Andes range and snow- covered volcanoes.

Tatio Geysers - Atacama
Located 48 kilometers away from San Pedro de Atacama.

The Tatio Geysers, site of natural beauty where there are numerous springs that emerge from beneath the depths of the earth. The water and high pressure and temperature steam reach high altitude and beauty jets, at their falling down thermal water lagoons are formed.

This wonderful spectacle has its zenith between 04:30 and 7:00 early in the morning, when its streams easily reach 30 feet high.

Pukara de Quitor
An impressive wall of earth that dates back to the XII century. This edificacion that climbs up a steep mountain is made of a great amount of stones put together. It has an approximate surface of 2,5hectars.

It was a key point of the inca culture

Aldea de Tulor (village)
Located at 12 km from San Pedro de Atacama.

Considered the oldest develling vestige of the salar (it dates back from between 800 b.C and 500 a.D.) miraculously conserved by being covered by sand.
Only 10% of the village is uncovered by excavations carried out in 1982.

General Information: