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San Pedro de Atacama on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
It is possible, but tours make it hard to keep costs low; cycling to the nearby valleys and choosing two or three tours helps most. A realistic minimum is about CLP$80,000 a day per person sharing a room — around CLP$25,000 for a bed, CLP$20,000 for food, CLP$30,000 for tours and entries, and CLP$5,000 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | CLP$25,000 | CLP$55,000 | CLP$150,000 |
| Food & drink | CLP$20,000 | CLP$40,000 | CLP$80,000 |
| Sights & tickets | CLP$30,000 | CLP$60,000 | CLP$120,000 |
| Local transport | CLP$5,000 | CLP$10,000 | CLP$30,000 |
| Per person, per day | CLP$80,000 | CLP$165,000 | CLP$380,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our San Pedro de Atacama day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walking the village and the Iglesia de San Pedro
- The main square under the pepper trees
- Views of Licancabur volcano from the village edge
- Sunset over the Cordillera de la Sal from the outskirts of the village
- Naked-eye stargazing from the edge of the village on moonless nights
- Browsing the craft stalls near the main square
Cheap eats
- Empanadas from a bakery — about CLP$2,500–4,000
- Set lunch menu — about CLP$10,000–15,000
- Sopaipillas from a stall — a few hundred to a thousand pesos
- Cazuela (meat and vegetable stew) at lunch — about CLP$8,000–12,000
- Self-catering from village supermarkets — the cheapest option
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in hostels in the village, about CLP$35,000–60,000 for a double, with shared kitchens and cheaper dorm beds. Book ahead for January, February and holidays.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the village and rent a bicycle (about CLP$10,000–15,000 a day) for Pukará de Quitor, Valle de la Muerte and Valle de la Luna. From Calama airport, shuttles cost about CLP$15,000–25,000. Most other sights need a tour or a shared rental car.
A sample budget day
- Morning: bicycle hire (about CLP$12,000) and the ride to Pukará de Quitor (small entry fee)
- Lunch: set menu (about CLP$12,000)
- Afternoon: rest in the heat, then cycle to Valle de la Luna (about CLP$12,000 entry)
- Evening: empanadas and a simple dinner (about CLP$8,000), and stars from the village edge
- Total: about CLP$80,000 including a shared hostel room (about CLP$25,000 per person) and a few fees
More ways to save
- Group tours for El Tatio and the lagoons on consecutive days and ask agencies for a package price.
- Check the lunar calendar; stargazing tours around the full moon are cancelled or less rewarding.
- Bring a refillable bottle and buy large water bottles.
- Pack warm clothes from home rather than buying them in the village.
- Travel outside January, February and Chilean holidays for cheaper rooms.
- Share a rental car with other travellers for Laguna Cejar and the lagoons.
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Common questions
Can you visit San Pedro on a budget?
Yes, with care. Cycle to the nearby valleys, eat set lunches and choose two or three tours. Plan on about CLP$80,000 a day.
Can I visit Valle de la Luna without a tour?
Yes, by bicycle or car, with an entry ticket bought online for a time slot.
How do I get from Calama to San Pedro cheaply?
Take a shuttle or bus, about 1.5 hours, for about CLP$15,000–25,000.