2-Day San Pedro de Atacama Tour: Tatio Geysers & Moon Valley

The geysers steam at high altitude while the temperature drops below freezing.

This 2-day tour from Calama covers the Atacama Desert's two signature sites: El Tatio Geysers on the morning of day two, and Moon Valley on the afternoon of day one. The itinerary includes round-trip airport transfers from Calama, one night's accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama, both guided tours, breakfast, and a bilingual driver-guide. Shared or private transport is available depending on your option. Arrival flights must land by 11:20 AM and departures must leave at 5 PM or later (6 PM for international) to fit the schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and Moon Valley tour

• Pick up from Calama airport
• Drive to hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
• Visit Moon Valley in Flamencos National Reserve
• Explore Salt Mountain Range and salt caves
• See Las Tres Marias clay formations
• Admire dusk at Kari Lookout or Great Dune
• Return to San Pedro de Atacama

Day 2 — Tatio Geysers and departure

• Early morning pick-up from hotel
• Visit El Tatio Geysers geothermal field
• Enjoy picnic-style breakfast
• Stop at Machuca village and Putana River wetlands
• Drive to Calama Airport

The Experience

The tour starts with a 90-minute drive from Calama airport to San Pedro de Atacama, where you'll spend the night. In the afternoon, you head into the Flamencos National Reserve to explore Moon Valley—a landscape of clay and salt formations that resembles the lunar surface. You'll walk the Salt Mountain Range, descend into salt caves, visit the rock formations called Las Tres Marías, and watch the light change from a viewpoint along the route (the Kari Lookout is currently closed for safety, so the guide will select an alternative spot based on conditions that day).

Day two begins around 5 AM with a pickup from your hotel for the drive to El Tatio Geysers. At 4,320 meters above sea level, the geothermal field produces steam plumes that rise up to 10 meters in the cold mountain air. You'll walk the trails to photograph the geysers, then sit down to a picnic-style breakfast. On the return journey, you'll stop briefly at Machuca village and the Putana River wetlands before heading back to San Pedro de Atacama. From there, it's another 90 minutes to Calama airport for your departure flight.

The tour operates with a bilingual driver-guide in English and Spanish. Shared or private transport is your choice at checkout—both options include the same sites and timing. Moon Valley entrance is not included in the price, nor is the Tatio Geysers entrance fee. Bring loose change for bathroom facilities in small towns along the way, and plan not to eat before reaching the geysers. You'll need to complete a risk acceptance form before the tours begin.

What’s included

• Round-trip airport transfers between Calama and San Pedro de Atacama.
• one night's hotel accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama (category depends on your option).
• both guided desert tours with a bilingual driver-guide in English and Spanish.
• breakfast on day two.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Say Hueque Travel

Is this one for you?Choose the private option if you're traveling with family or a small group and want the schedule to stay on your pace; the shared option works well if you're traveling solo or with one other person and want to meet other travelers. Either way, the fixed timing is what makes both desert sites fit into two days without cutting the experience short—the early morning start at the geysers and the afternoon light at Moon Valley are built into the schedule, not left to chance.

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Top questions

What's the altitude like on this tour, and who shouldn't go?

El Tatio Geysers sits at 4,320 meters above sea level, where altitude sickness is possible. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers, people with poor cardiovascular health, hypertension, edema or embolism, or those without at least moderate physical fitness. Travelers should be at least 12 years old.

Do I need to book my flights around the tour schedule?

Yes. Arrival flights to Calama must land by 11:20 AM to leave time for the Moon Valley tour in the afternoon. Departing flights must leave at 5 PM or later (6 PM for international flights) so you can tour the geysers in the morning. The 90-minute transfers to and from the airport are included.

What's included in the 2-day tour, and what costs extra?

The tour includes round-trip airport transfers, one night's hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, both guided tours, breakfast, and a bilingual driver-guide. Entrance fees for Moon Valley and El Tatio Geysers are not included. You'll also need to bring cash for bathroom facilities in small towns.

Can I choose between a shared tour and a private one?

Yes. At checkout you'll select either shared or private transport for both the airport transfers and the desert tours. The sites, timing and inclusions are the same; the difference is group size and vehicle type.

What happens if weather or traffic changes the schedule?

The itinerary times and order of attractions are estimates and may shift due to traffic, weather or other conditions. The guide will adapt the day—for example, selecting a safe sunset viewpoint in Moon Valley if the usual spot is closed, as it currently is.