San Pedro de Atacama Unique Things to Do (After the Three-Day Uyuni Tour)

If you’re arriving in San Pedro de Atacama from Bolivia via the three-day Uyuni tour, you may struggle being excited about the attractions on the Chilean side of the border—but fear not, there are unique things to do there!

I initially regretted planning for three days in San Pedro when I realized the points of interest in the Atacama Desert were similar to what I already saw on my tour from Uyuni. And the price tags on the tours in Chile are much higher than in Bolivia. (Which is why I recommend traveling north to south when traveling through Bolivia, from Peru and into Chile).

But you can still find interesting options around San Pedro de Atacama that are unique and won’t feel like a repeat of your three days on the Uyuni tour.

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How much time to spend in San Pedro de Atacama after Uyuni tour?

Like I said, I originally thought three days were too many, since everything looked similar to what I already saw on my way from Uyuni and I was running out of time before my flight home. But I think two to three days is a good amount in San Pedro Atacama after the Uyuni tour.

If you’re extremely tight on time in your South America itinerary, you wouldn’t be missing out terribly if you flew out of Calama the same night you finished the Uyuni tour. A girl from my tour did that. She had enough time to wander the cute little desert town, grab lunch and then head to the airport. And with lots of time to spare.

Tip: However, keep in mind your three-day Uyuni tour may get delayed depending on road conditions in wet season, so you may arrive in San Pedro de Atacama later than expected.

On the other hand, if you have time to spare and want to relax (trust me, you will after three packed days on the Uyuni tour), then two to three days is perfect for your time in San Pedro de Atacama. This will give you a day of relaxing in town and one or two days of exploring the unique offerings of the Atacama Desert.

How to travel from San Pedro de Atacama to Santiago?

Because San Pedro de Atacama is so remote, the best way to travel to Santiago is to fly. The nearest airport to San Pedro de Atacama is over an hour’s bus ride away in the city of Calama. The flights to Santiago are cheap, especially if you book in advance.

To get there on the cheap, buy a ticket at the bus station in San Pedro. The local bus didn’t go directly to the airport, but I managed getting an Uber from where I got dropped off. Just make sure to take this budget-friendly route with lots of time to spare, as my bus was delayed and the Uber took longer than I expected.

If you’d rather avoid the hassle of relying on the local bus, you can book a private taxi (quite expensive) or book a shared van transfer (much more affordable).

Unique Things to Do in San Pedro de Atacama

The following things to do in San Pedro de Atacama are unique, meaning that you won’t feel like you’re getting a repeat of what you did on the three-day Uyuni tour. Even though the landscape and wildlife is similar, you can still be wowed by the Atacama Desert.

While this list doesn’t include all the things to do in the Atacama Desert, these are the most unique.

Stargazing Tour

Stargazing was the main reason I wanted to stay overnight in San Pedro de Atacama after completing the three-day Uyuni tour. The Atacama Desert is internationally renowned as perhaps the best place in the world for star gazing.

I already saw amazing starry skies while hanging out in the hot springs the last night of the Uyuni tour, so I wasn’t sure if it would be worth paying lots of money for an astronomical tour in San Pedro. But I think it was.

Many companies offer astronomical tours from San Pedro. These tours offer a look through telescopes at planets, something you don’t get on the three-day Uyuni tour. Also, you can get a photograph of yourself with the starry sky above you, which is pretty cool.

This star gazing tour is great because it gives an explanation of how the ancient inhabitants of the Andes viewed the night sky. This is something I wish my tour focused on more rather than just the Western constellations I’m already familiar with.

Visit the Meteorite Museum

Want to enhance your astronomical experience in the Atacama Desert? San Pedro de Atacama has a small and affordable museum with meteorites.

Not only will you learn about meteorites, but you can actually touch some of the meteorites in the collection.

Sunrise from Hot Air Balloon

So you’ve seen the other-worldly landscape already on your three day Uyuni tour. But you haven’t seen it from a bird’s eye view.

This Atacama Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride is certainly a unique way to see the desert and the Andes, and it’s a great way to start your day!

Cycle Through Other-Worldly Valleys

Chances are you’re tired of sitting in a car after three long days traveling from Uyuni, so renting a bicycle is a top recommendation I have in San Pedro.

The great thing about cycling around San Pedro de Atacama is that you can access amazing landscape within just 15-30 minutes by bicycle.

I thought Devil’s Throat was the coolest place to cycle through. It does require some fitness to lift your bike through some tight spots and to hike up to a viewpoint. Neither the bike ride or hike were particularly long, but the altitude did make it a struggle for me.

Mars Valley (Valle de Marte, also known as Death Valley, or Valle de la Muerte) was nice for sunset. You can also see Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna) in the distance from the viewpoint, and it’s a much less crowded option for sunset than Valley of the Moon.

I rented through Ciclo Aventura Atacama and would recommend them.

Sandboarding Tour

Staying at San Pedro de Atacama gives you the unique chance to sand board. This is a great option for anyone ready for adrenaline after three days of sightseeing.

While you can rent a sandboard in town, I’d recommend going on a sandboarding tour. You’ll receive transportation to sand dunes, instructions and safety instructions.

Swim in Laguna Cejar

While you’re probably a bit tired of seeing lagunas after the Uyuni tour, Laguna Cejar is unique because you can swim in it. Because of high levels of salt in this laguna, you will effortlessly float in it.

Laguna Cejar is a bit too far to cycle to in my opinion (factoring in the altitude and heat of the days), so I’d recommend going on a tour there. This Laguna Cejar tour also includes snacks and a cocktail while viewing sunset at another beautiful lagoon. So this is a great option for anyone looking for relaxation.

Stroll Through the Town

The town of San Pedro de Atacama is really nice. In fact, it was quite jarring arriving there after roughing it the last three days. The center is very small so quite walkable.

If you get hungry or thirsty, there are tons of restaurants, bars and cafes to choose from. I highly recommend Heladeria Bablu, which has great ice cream with unique native desert flavors.

Where to Stay in San Pedro de Atacama after the Uyuni three-day tour?

You probably want to chill by the pool after your 3 days of sightseeing on the Uyuni tour by the time you reach San Pedro de Atacama. That’s why Casa Voyage Hostel was a great choice. Besides chilling poolside, I also enjoyed hanging in the hammocks.

However, for the rest of my trip I moved to Hostel Copart, as the location was right in town so made it easier for exploring. I highly recommend their breakfast!