How to: BE Amazing in the Atacama Desert (& UYUNI ROADTRIP)

Chelsey’s Backpacking Edition: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile & INFO ABOUT THE UYUNI ROAD TRIP

TOP TIPS WHEN TRAVELING IN CHILE (some points apply to only USA citizens):

• USE WESTERN UNION FOR CASH PULLOUTS
• CHARLES SCHWAB DEBIT CARD (NO FOREIGN TRANSACTION FEES AND YOU GET THE ATM FEE RETURNED)
• T-MOBILE CELLULAR PLAN (INCLUDES UNLIMITED INTERNATIONAL PLAN)
• TAP WATER IS DRINKABLE IN ALL OF CHILE (except EASTER ISLAND)
• Must try: Completo (Chilean hot dog with everything on it), dulce de leche on/with anything, pisco sour, empanadas, terremoto (wine cocktail with pineapple ice cream), local beer

Welcome to Mars on Earth and one of the driest places! Top 5 spots I’ve been to!! Make sure you lather yourself in coconut oil every night because you will DRY UP. My time here was enlightened with amazement, alignment, laughs, connection, earthy vibes, exploration, and volunteer work.

General Notes:

• The are only two ways to get to San Pedro de Atacama; you can fly or bus to Calama and from Calama take a bus to San Pedro. OR you do the Uyuni-Atacama road trip that finishes in the city of San Pedro.
• THERE ARE BUSES GOING EVERY SINGLE DAY FROM CALAMA TO SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA. DO NOT FRET. YOU WILL MAKE A BUS TO THE ATACAMA THE DAY YOU ARRIVE.
• Do not pre-book excursions before getting to San Pedro de Atacama. You will get insanely ripped off and there are enough companies that you will do everything you dream of!
• There is so much to do in this wonderful little town! I stayed here for four weeks as I was volunteering. Chile is one of the most expensive countries, so volunteering is the best thing you can do for your wallet as a backpacker.

Place of stay (and probably the best place to stay/volunteer at in the Atacama):

• Casa Voyage: 10/10 stars. As a volunteer, you are always able to gauge a different viewpoint. Because I was volunteering, I was that much more connected to the staff, and environment, pushing me to be of great service and a new friend to the incoming guests. At this hostel, you work around 25 hours a week.

I typically had 3-night shifts a week, 11–8 am :(, and cooked lunch once a week for the other staff and volunteers. I would also help the other volunteers when it came to cooking because if you help, you eat for free :) Free lunch is provided for the staff and volunteers every day. This is not a big hostel but it is secluded/guarded in its own private unit.

This hostel now provides exclusive tours, bike rentals, and dinner every night for the guests (costs a very small amount.) There is a gorgeous pool and they host BBQs every week, with hammocks, couches, and seating areas everywhere. It is not a party hostel but there is always something brewing. It is more of a beer-drinking, smoking, and local music party vibe than anything else.

Volunteering or not, I would stay here. I seriously met the MOST amazing people while working here. The hostel fills up pretty fast so I would book at least a week to two weeks in advance. Tell Pati and Nico Chelsey sent you!

other volunteers I fell in love with!❤

Activities:

How to book tours: Book through the hostel or walk the main road and start bargaining. There is one main road (Caracoles) with every other shop being a tourist shop. All the companies offer the same thing but the prices and luxury of the van/tour guide experience will vary. If you book multiple tours and have cash, you will get a better rate. Do not book anything over WhatsApp. Go to the company store in the town to bargain.

1. Star gazing (Atacama Magic Tour company): TOP PRIORITY IF YOU ARE NOT STAYING LONG. San Pedro de Atacama is known for its blazing and celestial night skies. Take a tour, receive snacks and a cocktail, and experience the sky like you never have before

• Valle de la Luna (Turismo Chile Tours): One of my favorite tours. Valle de la Luna is gigantic and is absolutely soul-shaking. The ridging on the mountains, the depth, the vastness…It will blow your mind. Amazing history lesson as well as an afternoon treat. Do this in the afternoon because you go to a gorgeous cliff for sunset after the Valle. If you want to bike this, you must enter the park before 9 am. Other parks do not have this time constraint.

• Bike to Gargantua del Diablo (Devil’s Throat): Another top priority sightseeing experience in San Pedro. Would recommend doing this with a few friends if the tour costs are starting to add up. There is a small fee to enter the park but it is well worth it. When you reach the end of Gargantua del Diablo, make sure to take the 15-minute hike to the top. There will be times you need to get off your bike and put it over and rocks but don't stop till you reach the end! The views are striking. Bring a lot of water and pack a snack!

Termas de Purtitama/Purilibre (Casa Voyage): A wonderful hike on rocks and through trees to end up at hot springs in the middle of the Atacama. A nice relaxing treat! The water is crystal clean!

• Piedras Rojas (Turismo Chile Tours): This is an ALL day tour. You do see a lot of the Atacama but I would not say this tour is insanely recommended if you are on a timed schedule. It's gorgeous, you learn a lot, but it could be quite similar to some parts of the Uyuni road trip (if you do it.)

Sandboarding (Taito Aventura Agencia de Turisco): FOR SURE RECOMMENDED if you have never done this before. Had a blast at this activity. I did the afternoon shift and the tour guide brought his kid. It was adorable playing with him on the mountain and if you’re a good snowboarder, it's quite easy and fun to do…

• Laguna Cejar (Dead Sea) (Turismo Chile Tours): This was a great experience as well. Floating in one of the two swimmable “dead seas” in the world is iconic!

• Bike Valle de la Muerte: THIS PLACE IS MARS ON EARTH. An amazing multi-hour bike ride through an incredible mountain region. You go in one way and out another. Halfway through there is a part to stop and take a small hike to view the entire mountain region. Pack lunch and a ton of water as it is hot hot hot! From here you can continue biking and get back on Highway 23 taking you right back into downtown San Pedro.

Mercado Blanco: There are a ton of artisanal markets but this one was by far my favorite. Especially, the company Altiplanic Craft. Gorgeous little market with a cafe attached in case you need a nice little pick me up while shopping.

• Kratter Club Tattoo: Feeling frisky? I got my second tattoo at this shop with @elmotogarcia and it was a fun experience! Little shop in a little town with great music playing and very talented artists.

Cafes/Restaurants:

• Roots: I think I sat here every day during my time in San Pedro. My favorite cafe before you enter the main road. Never went for food but always went for the iced latte and lemon pie. It has sunny back patio seating with great chill music. Wifi never failed me.

• Emporio Andino: Another great cafe at one of the corners of the main road. Has a boatload of different kinds of food. They are known for having the best empanadas in the city and I would agree with this statement!

• TuKsa Sushi y Comida Oriental: The sushi was pretty fire or maybe it was because I needed a change up of food desperately!! I sent other guests from the hostel there and they enjoyed it as well. 50 pieces of sushi for 20 USD.
• La Franchuteria: The best bakery in town no doubt. On some tours, they will use La Franchuteria’s bread for the sandwiches. Pretty delicious brunch spot.
• Jardin Meraki: This great dinner spot is recommended by a ton of locals. Has a variety of food! You can’t go wrong here!

Others necessities:

• Emporio Tanti: A healthy small grocery store with nuts, tea, and other vegan products. Cheaper to buy nuts here because they sell by weight versus at the bigger supermercado
• Supermercado San Vicente: Biggest supermarket in town
• Western Union
• ATM

UYUNI ROAD TRIP:

From San Pedro de Atacama, I took the 3-day, 2-night Atacama-Uyuni, Bolivia road trip (all meals and accommodation included in the three days)

Amazing road trip to the most iconic salt flats in the world. Traveling in a 4x4 Toyota jeep with a personal guide and four other people in the car, you get to see the best spots in the salt flats and overall receive a warm welcome into Bolivia. They split people up by language which is super helpful. If you’re with friends, you will all be together. There are a ton of cars and companies that all do the exact same thing. So don’t worry about booking with any company, just make sure you find the right price for you. I paid 160 USD (discounted because I was working at the hostel) and booked through my hostel Casa Voyage.

DOCUMENTS NEEDED: USA CITIZEN CROSSING THE BOLIVIAN BORDER (2024 UPDATE)

1. Bank statement
2. 2-page visa form filled out (the guide will send you)
3. 160 USD cash
4. Copy of passport
5. Photo for your visa form IN COLOR (I copied my license photo and used that

• You need to enter Bolivia with Bolivians which you can get anywhere in San Pedro de Atacama.
• DO NOT TAKE THE 4 DAY 3 NIGHT. Get dropped off and stay dropped off. You won't want to circle back through the loop you just did.
• Keep in mind there is nothing to do in Uyuni. I really recommend leaving that day or night for another city. The day we got to Uyuni, we took a night bus to La Paz. You can take buses from Uyuni to Potosi (for the mines), Sucre, La Paz, or anywhere that calls you.

To all the connections I've made and to all the connections that have helped me grow ❤ Thank you San Pedro for making my heart brighter and lighter.

xoxoxo, chellllly ❤

BTW, you can always reach out to me via this platform or Instagram: @chelseyjacobs with any questions or assistance!