Andes Campers Rental company category:Standard
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Andes Campers San Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de AtacamaView map
Hiring a campervan in San Pedro de Atacama puts you at the heart of the driest non-polar desert in the world, in an oasis of adobe houses overlooked by the cone of the Licancabur volcano. Around the village, the Valley of the Moon, the Salar de Atacama and its flamingos, the El Tatio geysers and the high Andean lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques are all within a few hours' drive; further on, the Jama Pass opens the road to Argentina. 3 partner companies hand over their vehicles here: Andes Campers, Camper Travel and Holiday Rent RV.
3 rental partners
Where to pick up your vehicle in San Pedro de Atacama?
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 San Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de AtacamaView map
Holiday Rent RV Rental company category:Premium
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Holiday Rent San Pedro de AtacamaSan Pedro de AtacamaView map
Road trip ideas
Road trips from San Pedro de Atacama
1 The Valley of the Moon and the Salar de Atacama
- San Pedro de Atacama
- Death Valley
- Valley of the Moon
- Laguna Cejar
- Toconao
- Laguna Chaxa
- San Pedro de Atacama
About fifteen kilometres from the village, the Valley of the Moon lines up dunes, salt ridges and clay amphitheatres, best admired at sunset from its viewpoints; the nearby Death Valley (Valle de la Muerte) can be descended on a sandboard. To the south, Laguna Cejar lets you float in water saltier than the sea, then Toconao and Laguna Chaxa, in the Los Flamencos National Reserve, reveal the flamingos of the Salar de Atacama.
- Distance
- about 200 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
2 The El Tatio geysers and the Altiplano lagoons
- San Pedro de Atacama
- El Tatio geysers
- Machuca
- San Pedro de Atacama
- Toconao
- Socaire
- Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons
- San Pedro de Atacama
The El Tatio geysers, at over 4,000 metres, are seen at dawn, when the cold makes the columns of steam spectacular: set off in the middle of the night on the high-altitude road, partly gravel, that climbs north, then come back down via the hamlet of Machuca and its llama skewers. Another day, the road to Socaire leads to the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, a deep blue at the foot of snow-capped volcanoes.
- Distance
- about 400 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or 4x4 camper, depending on the roads allowed
3 From the desert to the Pacific, as far as Copiapó
- San Pedro de Atacama
- Calama
- La Portada
- Antofagasta
- Mano del Desierto
- Taltal
- Pan de Azúcar
- Bahía Inglesa
- Copiapó
This one-way trip leaves the oasis via Calama, a mining town next to the huge Chuquicamata copper mine, then heads down towards the ocean. After the sea arch of La Portada, Antofagasta comes before the Mano del Desierto, a giant hand rising beside the Pan-American Highway, and the small port of Taltal. Pan de Azúcar National Park and its Humboldt penguins, then the turquoise waters of Bahía Inglesa, lead to Copiapó, another departure city of our partners.
- Distance
- about 950 km
- Recommended vehicle
- Campervan or camper van
Weather and seasons
When to go in San Pedro de Atacama?
Best time
Southern spring and autumn
March to May, September to November
highs 21 to 27 °C, lows 5 to 11 °C
The in-between seasons, in a hemisphere where they are reversed compared with the north, are the most comfortable for exploring the area around San Pedro: crystal-clear skies, almost no rain from April to November and warm but not excessive afternoons. The gap between day and night remains marked, though, and the village is less crowded than in summer or July.
High season
Summer, December to February
December to February
highs 27 to 28 °C, lows 11 to 13 °C
The hottest and longest days of the year coincide with the year-end holidays and the Chilean summer break: the village and its campsites fill up. It is also the season of the "Altiplano winter": in January and especially February, afternoon storms break over the high ground and bring almost all of the year's rain.
Winter
Winter, June to August
June to August
highs 18 to 21 °C, lows 3 °C
The southern winter keeps mild days and an almost always clear sky in the village, but nights there are cold and become freezing at altitude, well below zero near the geysers and the lagoons. Check the vehicle's heating and bring warm sleeping bags. July, the month of the Chilean winter holidays, also brings crowds back.
Climate in San Pedro de Atacama, month by month
Most pleasant months: All year round.
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28 °C | 13 °C | 19 mm | 12 h/day |
| Feb | 27 °C | 12 °C | 34 mm | 12 h/day |
| Mar | 27 °C | 11 °C | 6 mm | 12 h/day |
| Apr | 24 °C | 8 °C | 2 mm | 11 h/day |
| May | 21 °C | 5 °C | 2 mm | 11 h/day |
| Jun | 18 °C | 3 °C | 6 mm | 10 h/day |
| Jul | 19 °C | 3 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day |
| Aug | 21 °C | 3 °C | 1 mm | 11 h/day |
| Sep | 24 °C | 6 °C | 2 mm | 12 h/day |
| Oct | 26 °C | 8 °C | 0 mm | 12 h/day |
| Nov | 27 °C | 10 °C | 0 mm | 13 h/day |
| Dec | 28 °C | 11 °C | 6 mm | 13 h/day |
Averages 2016–2025 computed from Open-Meteo data (ERA5 reanalysis).
Practical tips
Everything to know before hitting the road
Fill up before every outing
Petrol stations are scarce in northern Chile and fuel supply in the village is limited. Fill up in Calama before arriving, then again before each long outing: the round trip to El Tatio or the lagoons passes no pump at all. Towards Argentina, the first station after the Jama Pass is a long way off: leave with a full tank.
Drink bottled water
Tap water in San Pedro, heavily loaded with minerals, is not recommended for drinking. Fill the vehicle's tank for washing up and washing, but buy water in large containers for drinking and cooking, enough for several days, as nothing is for sale on the Altiplano roads.
Sleeping around San Pedro
Several campsites in the village welcome campervans and motorhomes, with toilets and showers and sometimes electricity. Overnight parking is not allowed at the sites managed by CONAF and the Atacameño communities, such as the Valley of the Moon, the lagoons or El Tatio. Elsewhere, check local rules and respect community land.
Plan your site entries
The Valley of the Moon, the lagoons and the geysers set their own opening hours, entrance fees and sometimes a limited number of visitors. Buy tickets online whenever possible, especially for the Valley of the Moon at sunset, and check closing days, as some sites close one day a week.
Parking in the village
The centre of San Pedro, around Caracoles street, is a maze of narrow dirt lanes, partly pedestrian and very lively in the evening. Leave the vehicle at your campsite or on the outskirts and get around on foot. The village grocery shops are small: do your main shopping in the supermarkets of Calama.
What travellers ask
Your questions about a road trip in San Pedro de Atacama
Where can I pick up a campervan in San Pedro de Atacama?
Three partner companies each have a depot in San Pedro de Atacama itself: Andes Campers, Camper Travel and Holiday Rent RV. Starting from the village saves you the drive from Calama and puts the vehicle a few minutes from the Valley of the Moon. The exact address and handover point are in your booking confirmation.
How much does it cost to hire a campervan in San Pedro de Atacama?
The price varies with the season, the length of hire and the vehicle chosen, with higher demand over the year-end holidays, in January and in July. Run a search with your dates to compare the available offers from our partner companies: prices are shown per day, mandatory fees included, and can be booked straight away.
Can I cross into Argentina via the Jama Pass?
Yes, if the rental company agrees: it then provides a written authorisation for the vehicle to leave the country, often notarised, in the drivers' names, and insurance valid in Argentina, to be requested when booking. The paved road crosses the Andes and then descends towards the Salinas Grandes, Purmamarca and Salta. Chilean exit formalities are handled at the border post in San Pedro itself.
Can I drive to the Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia?
Rarely with a campervan: the nearby Hito Cajón border post opens onto the sandy, corrugated tracks of the Eduardo Avaroa reserve, with no petrol station or assistance until Uyuni. Many contracts exclude Bolivia anyway: check the countries allowed. The usual solution is to leave the vehicle in the village and take a 4x4 tour with a driver, via Laguna Verde and Laguna Colorada.
Do I need a 4x4 around San Pedro de Atacama?
Not for the Valley of the Moon, the salt flat, Calama or the Jama Pass, served by tarmac or good tracks. The climb to El Tatio, with its gravel and corrugated stretches, can be done carefully in a campervan, but a 4x4 is reassuring on the Altiplano's minor tracks and after a snowfall. Check in the contract which roads the insurance covers.
Can I return the vehicle in another city?
Our partners also rent from Calama, Antofagasta, Copiapó, Iquique, Arica and even Valparaíso, on the central coast. Returning the vehicle in Arica or Copiapó saves you driving the long desert straights again in the opposite direction. Enter your return city when searching: any one-way fees are then included in the displayed price.
Verified customer reviews
They rented in San Pedro de Atacama with CoolDrive Nomad
4.3
818 reviews
They have always responded quickly to all my requests and their website is very functional!
G.
Chile · Sep 2025
Trustpilot
Fast service
K.
Chile · Mar 2025
Trustpilot
The booking process is very smooth. I had very good communication with the Cooldrive team. As for the follow-up, it will be seen on site during the vehicle pickup.
J.
Chile · Feb 2025
Trustpilot
Frequently asked questions
FAQ — Campervan and motorhome hire in San Pedro de Atacama
How can I avoid altitude sickness around San Pedro?
The village lies at about 2,400 metres, and both El Tatio and the lagoons are above 4,000 metres. Spend two or three days in San Pedro before going higher, drink plenty, avoid alcohol and exertion at altitude, do not sleep up high and go back down at once if you have a severe headache, nausea or shortness of breath. Ask a doctor for advice before leaving if you have a heart or breathing condition.
How do I get to San Pedro from Calama airport?
El Loa airport in Calama, linked to Santiago by daily flights, is the closest. About 100 km of paved road across the desert separate it from San Pedro, a drive of just over an hour. Shuttles and private transfers run to the village, where the depots are: give the rental company your flight time to arrange the vehicle handover.
What documents do I need to drive in northern Chile?
Chile drives on the right, and an international driving permit alongside your national licence is strongly recommended, especially for crossing into Argentina or Bolivia. On desert roads, the carabineros often check licences, vehicle papers and speed. Each rental company also sets a minimum age and a minimum number of years of driving, shown in the offer conditions.
Can I stargaze from my campervan?
Yes: the Atacama sky is among the clearest on the planet, and the vehicle lets you get away from the village lights, on authorised ground. Guides and small observatories offer stargazing evenings, ideal around the new moon. The ALMA observatory, on the Chajnantor plateau, also opens its base facilities on certain days to visitors who register in advance.
Do high-altitude roads sometimes close?
Yes: in winter, snow and wind regularly close the Jama Pass and sometimes the road to the lagoons, while in January and February the storms of the Altiplano winter cut tracks and close El Tatio. The authorities publish the status of the border passes every day: check it the day before each outing and keep a spare day before returning the vehicle.
When should I book a campervan in San Pedro de Atacama?
Several months ahead for Christmas, New Year, January and February, and for July, which combines the Chilean winter holidays with the northern hemisphere summer: with three depots in the village, the number of available vehicles is limited. In the southern spring and autumn, a few weeks are often enough, with a wider choice.
About us
Why start a campervan trip from San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama brings together, within a few dozen kilometres, the most striking sights of northern Chile: dunes and salt ridges, turquoise lagoons full of flamingos, steaming geysers and snow-capped volcanoes. In a campervan, you wake up right next to the sites for the dawn light and head back at your own pace, far from the timetables of minibus tours.
Three partner companies, Andes Campers, Camper Travel and Holiday Rent RV, hand over their vehicles here, and five other departure cities in the north, from Calama to Arica, make long one-way trips to the Pacific possible. The Jama Pass, for its part, opens the road to north-western Argentina. The climate suits travel all year round, with twelve to thirteen hours of sunshine a day from October to March: just take the time to acclimatise to the altitude.