Tourism in the City of Calama

Distance: 215 kilometers away from Antofagasta
Main Activity: Mining

A city located 215 kilometers from Antofagasta. It is surrounded by agricultural lands. It is considered the largest oasis of the mountain range. It is 2250 meters high.

This is the Capital of the province of Loa. A mining city by excellence, and from where, several trips to extraordinary places such as the picturesque ancient towns of Chiu-Chiu, Peine, Caspana, Toconao and Talabre can be taken        

Almost 20 Kilometers away, close to the river that cuts the canyon, there are innumerable prehistoric paintings done by indigenous peoples that inhabited Alto Loa 4.000 years ago.

Tourist Attractions:

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

Campamento Minero Chuquicamata (Mining Camp)
It is considered one of the biggest industrial facilities of the world (it has the size of a city), where the gigantic open copper mine runs. It is located 2850 meters over the sea level.

The mine can be visited only on weekdays. It is necessary to register at the central office of Chuqui. (José Miguel Carrera Avenue and Tocopilla Street) at 13:00.

Salar de Atacama (Salt lake)
It comprises the territory of great depressions.  It is composed by dry lands that are located to the west of the Domeyko range.

This land is surrounded by some oasis and it is enclosed by the Andes range and some snow- covered volcanoes.

Tatio Geysers - Atacama
It is located 48 kilometers away from San Pedro de Atacama.

The Tatio Geysers, a site of natural beauty where there are various springs that emerges from beneath the depths of the earth. The water presents a high pressure and a hot temperature; many thermal water lagoons are formed in the region.

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 that dates back to the XII century. This edification that climbs up a steep mountain is made of a great number of stones put together. It has an approximate surface of 2,5 hectares.

It was a key point for the Inca Culture.

Aldea de Tulor (village)
It is located 12 km from San Pedro de Atacama.

It is considered the oldest vestige of an ancient village (it dates back between 800 b.C and 500 a.C.) miraculously conserved and covered by sand.
Only the 10% of the village was discovered by excavations carried out in 1982.

General Information:

Buses to Peru:
Train to Calama - Uyuni, Bolivia
Wednesday departures: 23:00 / Standar Class
Site Attractions:

Reservations: Train Station of Calama - Balmaceda St. 1777 - Telephone 348900

Buses to Salta, Argentina - (around paso de Jama). From November to March.
Reservations: Geminis Bus - Antofagasta St. 2239 - Telephone 341993

Buses to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Reservations: Buses Frontera - Antofagasta St. 2041 - Telephone 318543