Andes Campers Rental company category:Standard
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Andes Campers CalamaCalamaView map
Hiring a campervan in Calama starts your trip in the mining capital of northern Chile, an oasis of the Atacama Desert built on the banks of the Loa, the country's longest river. On the city's doorstep lies the Chuquicamata open-pit copper mine; upstream, the adobe villages of the upper Loa lead towards the El Tatio geysers, while Route 21 runs to the Ascotán salt flat and Ollagüe volcano, on the Bolivian border. 3 partner companies hand over campervans and 4x4 campers here: Andes Campers, Camper Travel and Holiday Rent RV.
3 rental partners
Where to pick up your vehicle in Calama?
Camper Travel Rental company category:Standard
Public rating of the rental company: 4.1/5 (30 reviews)
- Tripadvisor 4.1/5 30 reviews
Public ratings collected on October 28, 2026 from independent review sites.
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Camper Travel Chile / Rent a car TransvitalVía Parque Oriente St 334 / Segunda Región, CalamaView map
Holiday Rent RV Rental company category:Premium
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Holiday Rent CalamaCalamaView map
Observed prices
Rental prices observed in Calama
| Vehicle | Winter July | Spring October | Summer January | Autumn April |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Campervan | from €120/day median €249/day | from €143/day median €279/day | from €145/day median €283/day | from €122/day median €252/day |
Daily prices observed on October 20, 2026 for a 15-day rental: CoolDrive selling price, mandatory fees included, 3 rental companies compared. 0% of offers with unlimited mileage. Median excess: €2,000.
Road trip ideas
Road trips from Calama
1 The upper Loa to the El Tatio geysers
- Calama
- Chiu Chiu
- Pukará de Lasana
- Ayquina
- Caspana
- El Tatio geysers
- San Pedro de Atacama
Heading up the Loa, Chiu Chiu has one of the oldest churches in Chile, with whitewashed adobe walls and a ceiling made of cactus wood. Just beyond, the Pukará de Lasana, a pre-Inca fortress, overlooks a farmed canyon, then Ayquina and its hilltop sanctuary lead to Caspana, a terraced village tucked into a green ravine. A high-altitude track then reaches El Tatio, before the descent to San Pedro de Atacama, where the vehicle can be returned.
- Distance
- about 250 km
- Recommended vehicle
- 4x4 camper
2 Ascotán and Carcote salt flats to Ollagüe
- Calama
- Ascotán salt flat
- Carcote salt flat
- Ollagüe
- Calama
Route 21 follows the railway linking Antofagasta to Bolivia, still used by ore trains, and climbs onto the altiplano to the Ascotán salt flat, then the Carcote salt flat, whose white crust attracts flamingos and vicuñas. At the end, the border village of Ollagüe, at nearly 3,700 metres, faces the volcano of the same name, with fumaroles rising from its summit. The road is only partly paved: take your time.
- Distance
- about 420 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Heated 4x4 camper
3 The nitrate pampa to the Pacific
- Calama
- Sierra Gorda
- Oficina Chacabuco
- Baquedano
- Antofagasta
- La Portada
- Mejillones
- Antofagasta
Heading south-west, Route 25 descends the mining pampa via Sierra Gorda to Oficina Chacabuco, a 1920s nitrate workers' town, listed as a historic monument and used as a detention camp after 1973. The Baquedano railway museum then displays its steam locomotives, before you reach the coast at Antofagasta. North of the port, the La Portada arch and Mejillones Bay offer a last evening facing the ocean, before you return the vehicle in Antofagasta.
- Distance
- about 350 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or 4x4 camper
Weather and seasons
When to go in Calama?
Best time
Southern spring, September to November
September to November
highs 24 °C, lows 5 to 7 °C
From September to November it almost never rains in Calama and days bring twelve to thirteen hours of sunshine: the best time to combine the upper Loa, the salt flats and the altiplano. High-altitude tracks are generally clear, even if dawns remain cold. In early September, the religious festival of Ayquina draws thousands of pilgrims and costumed dancers.
High season
Summer, December to February
December to February
highs 24 to 25 °C, lows 8 to 10 °C
Chilean summer holidays and the end-of-year festivities make these three months the period of highest demand. Calama stays dry, with a few millimetres of rain in February, but on the altiplano the afternoon storms of the “Bolivian winter” can cut the road to Ollagüe or the El Tatio track: leave spare days in your schedule.
Autumn, March to May
March to May
highs 22 to 24 °C, lows 5 to 8 °C
Once Chilean schools go back in early March, the desert roads empty while afternoons stay warm and skies clear. High-altitude storms gradually die down, reopening the altiplano tracks. Night-time lows drop markedly in May: check the vehicle's heating before heading up to Ollagüe or El Tatio.
Winter
Winter, June to August
June to August
highs 21 to 22 °C, lows 3 to 4 °C
The southern winter leaves Calama with mild, almost always sunny afternoons, but the air cools very quickly after sunset. At altitude, in Ollagüe or at El Tatio, it freezes every night and snow can close the tracks. July, the month of Chile's winter holidays, pushes demand up again at the rental companies.
Climate in Calama, month by month
Most pleasant months: All year round.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 °C | 9 °C | 2 mm | 13 h/day |
| Feb | 24 °C | 10 °C | 6 mm | 12 h/day |
| Mar | 24 °C | 8 °C | 1 mm | 12 h/day |
| Apr | 23 °C | 6 °C | 2 mm | 11 h/day |
| May | 22 °C | 5 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 21 °C | 4 °C | 4 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jul | 22 °C | 4 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day |
| Aug | 22 °C | 3 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 24 °C | 5 °C | 0 mm | 12 h/day |
| Oct | 24 °C | 6 °C | 0 mm | 13 h/day |
| Nov | 24 °C | 7 °C | 0 mm | 13 h/day |
| Dec | 25 °C | 8 °C | 1 mm | 13 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Stock up fully before the altiplano
After Calama there is no town of any size until the altiplano: this is where to make the most of supermarkets, hardware stores, gas refills and filling stations. Beyond, on Route 21 to Ollagüe as in the upper Loa, fuel pumps are almost non-existent. Fill the tank, drinking-water containers and supplies for several days, and check the gas level of the stove.
Mining trucks and afternoon wind
Around Calama, the roads to Chuquicamata, Radomiro Tomic and Sierra Gorda carry a steady stream of heavy trucks and miners' buses, especially at shift changes, early in the morning and in the evening. In the afternoon a strong wind often rises over the desert: it buffets pick-up campers and makes unfolding rooftop tents tricky, so pitch them somewhere sheltered.
Nothing on show in the cab
Thefts from parked vehicles are common in Calama, as in many mining towns. Choose guarded car parks at shopping centres or hotels, keep luggage and electronic devices out of sight in the cab, and avoid spending the night parked on the street.
A first night at 2,300 metres
Calama lies at about 2,300 metres above sea level, a moderate altitude that makes it a good acclimatisation stop before El Tatio or Ollagüe, much higher up. If you fly in from sea level, spend one or two nights in the city before climbing, drink plenty and avoid alcohol on the first evening.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in Calama
Where can I pick up a campervan in Calama?
Calama has a depot for each of our three partner companies, Andes Campers, Camper Travel and Holiday Rent RV. Camper Travel welcomes its customers on Vía Parque Oriente, while Andes Campers and Holiday Rent RV give the exact handover point in the booking confirmation. Allow a good hour on site: checking a fully equipped 4x4, with its living unit and camping gear, takes time.
How much does campervan hire cost in Calama?
In October 2026 we compared 56 offers from three companies, for 15-day rentals, mandatory fees included: observed prices start at €120 per day in the southern winter, departing in July, with a median of €249 per day. In summer, departing in January, they start at €145, median €283. Your own dates give the bookable rates.
Is it better to start from Calama or San Pedro de Atacama?
Our partner companies operate in both towns, about 100 km apart by road. Calama has the advantage of the airport, which saves the transfer to the village, while San Pedro puts the vehicle right at the foot of the sights. Picking up in one and returning in the other is possible: choose a different return city in the search, and the price shown includes any one-way fees.
Can you visit the Chuquicamata mine?
Chuquicamata, just north of Calama, is one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the world, operated by the state-owned company Codelco. For many years Codelco ran guided bus tours to a viewpoint over the pit and to the former mining town, evacuated in the 2000s. Check whether they have resumed and book ahead: you cannot enter in your own vehicle.
Which vehicles can I rent in Calama?
The offers observed are mainly 4x4 campers for two people, such as the Altiplano Camper 4x4 Comfort, the Andino or the Pucon Camper 4x4, and Maxus T60 pick-ups carrying a living unit, with single or double cab. For a family of four, two models fit: the Chiloé Camper 4x4 and the double-cab version of the Maxus T60. The MG ZS Rooftent, an SUV with a rooftop tent, drives like a car.
Can you cross into Bolivia at Ollagüe?
The Ollagüe border post opens onto Bolivia and, via long tracks, onto the Uyuni region. Many rental contracts, however, exclude that country. If your company agrees, you will need a written authorisation document, issued before departure, and insurance cover extended to Bolivia; also check the post's opening hours, as it is not open day and night.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in Calama with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
Fast service
K.
Chile · Mar 2025
Trustpilot
I have already written a review on the company that Cooldrive Nomad conveyed. You can look up this rare case including pictures at Tripadvisor-Camper Travel Chile-Martin G. The Sales Manager of Cooldrive M. answered to our complaints that she is not obliged to ...1) look at reviews on the internet concerning the company she conveys (CamperTravel Chile). Out of 26 reviews, 5 are rated "horrible," and all customer complaints deal with the same issues: stalling, no replacement car or no car at all, low maintenance, no refund, and zero respect towards customers. 2) M. is not obliged to check if the countries a customer chooses to drive are reachable (which they were not in our case – a border crossing from Chile to Peru with a rental car is not possible), so she may sell you a trip to the moon – with the car. It’s not her duty to check whether this is possible or not. "Every client is responsible for organizing his trip and ensuring its feasibility." 3) She is not obliged to help a customer in any case of a problem. So she did not give support in getting a replacement car, she did not inform herself about any other possibility to cross the border to Peru (other companies issue a notarial authorization for a colleague in Arica and he then drives across the border with the clients), she did not help us in getting a full refund. Actually, she prevented a full refund. 4) She is not obliged to inform herself about the agents she is dealing with. The Sales Manager of Camper Travel Chile S. was terminated at his last company as he "did not comply with company standards." Cooldrive is dealing with Holiday Rental on a regular basis. 5) M. is not obliged to check the companies she is dealing with. That is the customer's responsibility. She writes, "You can do your research about them (the rental company) BEFORE booking (at Cooldrive)." There is no way I may check the rental company before I sign (and pay) the contract with Cooldrive. Simply because Cooldrive does not tell you until you pay. 6) She is not obliged to verify the arguments of the customer, in this case just to check the pictures. ("...countless arguments readers cannot verify") and videos. We have sent her a Dropbox link in the beginning, verifying all our arguments. Included is a video in which S. of Camper Travel assures us of a full refund in the event of a second engine failure (which happened). 7) On the contrary, when asked several times what she would do being in our shoes, she said she would wait for another repair. Counting the repairs already done in Calama (leaking rooftop window, loosened bench, broken lights, broken protection of the fresh water tank), the second engine repair would be the 4th repair altogether... 8) Furthermore, she seems to be obliged to indicate that the customer filled water in his own diesel tank (!), paying voluntarily for the car and full board at a hotel (?). The car was standing 10 days at the mechanic (no cooking, no sleeping in the car possible). 9) Cooldrive seems also to be obliged to indicate "the customer voluntarily chose to interrupt his journey" (there was no reason for doing this?). I think that exactly in these (rare) cases, when a car breaks down several times and you are forced to stay put for 10 days and you were treated badly and your holidays are ruined anyway, one would need an intermediate to support you in getting at least a full refund if not more. We paid 6040.94 € for 1.5 hours of driving AND had additional costs. Obviously, Cooldrive has a different opinion. It sees no obligations at all for receiving a commission. I see no reason to rent a car through Cooldrive.
M.
Chile · Jun 2024
Trustpilot
They have always responded quickly to all my requests and their website is very functional!
G.
Chile · Sep 2025
Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in Calama
Is mileage unlimited when renting in Calama?
No: among the offers we observed for Calama in October 2026, not one included unlimited mileage, even though distances are long in northern Chile: a return trip to Ollagüe alone exceeds 400 km. Add up the stages of your route, then check how many kilometres each offer includes and what each extra kilometre costs.
What excess should I expect, and does the insurance cover gravel roads?
Among the offers observed in Calama, the median excess is around €2,000. In northern Chile, gravel tracks and flying stones are a frequent cause of damage: read which roads the insurance covers, whether the windscreen and tyres are included, how the excess is secured, and whether there is an option to reduce it.
How do I get from Calama airport to the depots?
El Loa airport, linked to Santiago by several flights a day, almost touches the city, to the south-east. By taxi or transfer, the trip to the depots is short. Give the company your landing time to agree on the handover time, and prefer a morning flight: getting to know a 4x4 camper after dark is far from convenient.
What licence do I need to drive a 4x4 camper in Chile?
In Chile you drive on the right. A foreign visitor must be able to show their national licence and, in addition, an international driving permit, which the carabineros sometimes ask for at checkpoints. The 4x4 campers and pick-up campers rented in Calama can generally be driven on a car licence; the required age and years of driving experience vary from one company to another, see the offer.
Where can I sleep in a campervan around Calama?
Campsites are rare in Calama itself: people tend to sleep in a guarded car park, then on the road, away from mining areas, which are off-limits. In the upper Loa, Chiu Chiu, Ayquina and Caspana belong to Atacameño communities: you may park there for the night only with their consent. On the altiplano, never drive or park on the fragile crust of the salt flats.
How far in advance should I book in Calama?
Departures during the Chilean holidays, from Christmas to the end of February and in July, are booked several months in advance, because the fleet of 4x4 campers in northern Chile is small and the family versions go quickly. Outside these periods, booking a few weeks ahead is usually enough to choose among most models.
About us
Why start a campervan trip from Calama
Calama lacks the charm of an oasis village, but it is an ideal crossroads for exploring the Atacama Desert: as soon as you leave town, three directions open up. Up the Loa, adobe churches and geysers; to the north-east, flamingo salt flats and the volcanoes of the Bolivian border; to the south-west, the nitrate towns and the Pacific. Few cities in Chile open onto such varied landscapes within a single day's drive.
At Andes Campers, Camper Travel and Holiday Rent RV, the fleet consists mainly of 4x4 campers and pick-up campers, built for desert tracks, with prices observed from €120 per day in October 2026. The dry climate allows travel in every season, as long as you prepare for cold nights as soon as you gain altitude.