Commune · El Loa Province
# San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro de Atacama is a commune of Chile in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region. It had an estimated 10,818 people in 2022 on 23,611 km² (about 0.5 per km²). 62 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 380 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.
- 10,818 people (2022)
- 23,611 km²
- 380 mapped services
- 2,709 m typical elevation

## How many people live in San Pedro de Atacama?

San Pedro de Atacama had an estimated 10,818 people in 2022 — 5.3% of El Loa Province, 250th of 345 communes. There are 983 women for every 1,000 men (close to the El Loa Province figure of 986). Spread over 23,611 km², that is about 0.5 people per km², 325th of 345 communes.

19.1% of people are children under 15 and 7.7% are 65 or older; the median age is about 33 years (it is 33 across El Loa Province). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 37 children and older people.
- 0–4 690
- 5–9 703
- 10–14 678
- 15–19 486
- 20–24 703
- 25–29 1,305
- 30–34 1,339
- 35–39 1,129
- 40–44 832
- 45–49 747
- 50–54 555
- 55–59 431
- 60–64 387
- 65–69 280
- 70–74 207
- 75–79 153
- 80+ 193

Source: UNFPA and Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas de Chile (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2022 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO).

## Where is San Pedro de Atacama?

San Pedro de Atacama lies in El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile. It borders 3 other communes: Antofagasta, Calama and Sierra Gorda. By area it is the 4th largest of 345 communes in Chile. It covers 56.1% of El Loa Province. The centre of San Pedro de Atacama is about 1,155 km in a straight line from Santiago, the capital. It is about 145 km from Calama, the main town of El Loa Province. The centre point is at 23.3554° S, 67.9032° W.

Source: La Biblioteca del Congreso Nacional de Chile (BCN) via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO).

## Things to see in and around San Pedro de Atacama

OpenStreetMap lists 131 named sights in San Pedro de Atacama: 40 viewpoints; 32 attractions; 22 volcanos; 12 nature reserves; 11 archaeological sites; 4 ruins; 4 museums; 3 memorials; 1 monument; 1 gallery; 1 national park.
- Meteor Museum · museum
- Museo Arqueológico Gustavo Le Paige · museum
- Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos -Sector Laguna Chaxa · museum
- Valle de la Luna · museum
- Estancia Abulea · archaeological site
- Puerta del Sol · archaeological site
- Ruinas Incas Tata Maico Licanco · archaeological site
- Ruinas de Catarpe · archaeological site
- Sector Dos Petroglifos de Hierbas Buenas · archaeological site
- Sector Uno Petroglifos de Hierbas Buenas · archaeological site
- Taller Lítico Ghatchi · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 1A · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 1B · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 2B · archaeological site
- Yacimiento Lítico de Ghatchi 2C · archaeological site
- Los Flamencos National Reserve · national park
- Atacama Astronomical Park · nature reserve
- Atacama Large Millimeter Array Science Preserve · nature reserve
- Bien Nacional Protegido Laguna Lejía · nature reserve
- Reserva Elemental Puri Beter · nature reserve
- Reserva Elemental Puri Beter · nature reserve
- Reserva Elemental Puri Beter · nature reserve
- Reserva Natural Puritama · nature reserve
- Santuario de la Naturaleza Valle de la Luna y Sierra de Orbate · nature reserve
- Sitio Ramsar Salar de Pujsa · nature reserve
- Sitio Ramsar Salar de Tara · nature reserve
- Sitio Ramsar Sistema Hidrológico de Soncor del Salar de Atacama · nature reserve
- Tebenquiche Lagoon · nature reserve
- Acceso a Río · viewpoint
- Acesso Puerto Libre · viewpoint

…and 101 more.

Source: © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: San Pedro de Atacama
- Time zone UTC−3 (summer UTC−4) · America/Santiago
- Currency Peso (CLP)
- Country calling code +56
- Languages Spanish
- Plug types Type C, L · 220 V
- Driving side Right
- Postcode format 7 digits (#######)

### Nearest airports
- El Loa Airport (CJC) · Calama 140 km
- Andrés Sabella Gálvez International Airport (ANF) · Antofagasta 260 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Dec (about 13.6 hours, sunrise around 06:39) and shortest in Jun (about 10.7 hours, sunrise around 08:10, sunset around 18:52).

Source: GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-03; OurAirports (public domain).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in San Pedro de Atacama

Open gazetteers list 62 villages, towns and localities in San Pedro de Atacama. The largest with a recorded population: San Pedro de Atacama (10,960). Settlements here lie between about 2,309 m and 4,772 m above sea level (median 2,709 m).
- Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array
- Ayllu de Solcor
- Béter
- Camar
- Campamento Andino
- Campamento El Laco
- Catarpe
- Chaxas
- Checar
- Collo
- Compañía
- Condeduque
- Coyo
- Cuchabrache
- Cucuter
- Cúcuter
- Desierto
- Guatín
- La Banda
- Lagunita
- Larache
- Lever
- Licán
- Machuca
- Matancilla
- Orilla Solor
- Pajonales
- Peine
- Peñaliri
- Peñaloza
- Población Alto Jama
- Población Conde Duque
- Población El Carmen
- Población Licancabur
- Población Los Algarrobos
- Poconche
- Pocor
- Quitor
- Río Grande
- San Bartolo
- San Francisco
- San Pedro de Atacama
- Santa Rosa
- Sector Aduana
- Sequitor
- Socaire
- Solcor
- Solor
- Soncor
- Sólor
- Talabre
- Tambillo
- Tilomonte
- Tilopozo
- Toconao
- Tulor
- Turicapur
- Turipite
- Villa El Alto Mirador
- Villa Solor
- Yaye
- Zapar

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features; © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements.

## Landscape and landmarks of San Pedro de Atacama

Named natural and historic features inside San Pedro de Atacama, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

28 rivers and streams; 16 lakes.
- Estero Cueva Pintada
- Estero Poquis
- Estero de la Cueva Blanca
- Laguna Barros Negros
- Laguna Brava
- Laguna Chaxa
- Laguna Hedionda
- Laguna Helada
- Laguna La Punta
- Laguna Lejía
- Laguna Miscanti
- Laguna Miñiques
- Laguna Sico
- Laguna Tebinquiche
- Laguna Trinchera
- Laguna Tuyajto
- Laguna Verde
- Laguna de Aguas Calientes
- Laguna de Cejas
- Quebrada Chuschul
- Quebrada Coichimayo
- Quebrada Corichico
- Quebrada Corrales Blancos
- Quebrada Delgada

…and 20 more.

### Coast and islands

6 lagoons.
- Laguna Baltinache
- Laguna Chita
- Laguna Colorada
- Laguna Grande
- Laguna Zapaleri
- Lagunita

### Hills and mountains

119 mountains; 12 mountain passes; 3 hills; 2 valleys.
- Cerro Acamarachi · 6,024 m
- Cerro Pajonales · 5,935 m
- Cerro Lejía · 5,777 m
- Cerro Aguas Calientes · 5,775 m
- Cerro Miñiques · 5,743 m
- Cerro Colorado · 5,735 m
- Cerro Pajonales · 5,653 m
- Cerro Purico · 5,621 m
- Cerro Colachi · 5,619 m
- Cerro Lena · 5,604 m
- Cerro Tumisa · 5,585 m
- Cerro El Chascón · 5,578 m
- Cerro Toco · 5,573 m
- Cerro Miscanti · 5,559 m
- Cerro Chiliques · 5,557 m
- Cerro Leoncito · 5,554 m
- Cerro El Cerrillo Chajnantor · 5,552 m
- Cerro Rayado · 5,494 m
- Cerro Laguna Verde · 5,432 m
- Cerro Putas · 5,407 m
- Cerro Overo · 5,376 m
- Cerro Losloyo · 5,367 m
- Cerro Pili · 5,326 m
- Cerro Alitar · 5,321 m

…and 112 more.

### Getting around

2 airports; 1 airfield.
- Misnal Airport
- Peine
- Salar de Atacama Airport

Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features.

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in San Pedro de Atacama and the best time to visit

Using the climate of El Loa Province, the warmest month is Jan (average 20 °C) and the coolest is Jul (13 °C), after allowing for this place being about 503 m lower than the climate reference point (about 6.5 °C per 1,000 m). About 33 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Feb (9 mm) and the driest Jun (0 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are January to December.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
| Month | Average °C | Rain mm |
| Jan | 20 | 8 |
| Feb | 20 | 9 |
| Mar | 19 | 6 |
| Apr | 17 | 1 |
| May | 15 | 2 |
| Jun | 13 | 0 |
| Jul | 13 | 1 |
| Aug | 14 | 1 |
| Sep | 16 | 0 |
| Oct | 18 | 0 |
| Nov | 19 | 1 |
| Dec | 20 | 4 |

Source: NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29.

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Pedro de Atacama
| Need | Nearest mapped | Distance | |
| Hotel | Hotel Comunitario Tockolen · San Pedro de Atacama | 21 km | Map |
| School | Escuela Basica Talabre · San Pedro de Atacama | 7.7 km | Map |
| Police station | Reten Fronterizo Toconao · San Pedro de Atacama | 22 km | Map |

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Hospitals, banks and other services in San Pedro de Atacama

Places mapped inside San Pedro de Atacama in open map data, by type.
- Hospitals 1
- Banks 1
- ATMs 2
- Petrol pumps 2
- Hotels 226
- Schools 12
- Pharmacies 3
- Restaurants 126
- Police stations 7

Source: Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Other communes in El Loa Province
- Calama
- Ollagüe

## Quick answers
- Where is San Pedro de Atacama? In El Loa Province, Antofagasta Region, Chile
- What is the population of San Pedro de Atacama? 10,818 (2022 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Pedro de Atacama? About 33 years (2022 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Pedro de Atacama? About 0.5 people per km²
- What borders San Pedro de Atacama? Antofagasta, Calama and Sierra Gorda
- What is there to see in San Pedro de Atacama? Acceso a Río, Acesso Puerto Libre, Achaches, Aldea de Tulor
- What time zone is San Pedro de Atacama in? UTC−3 (summer UTC−4)
- What currency is used in San Pedro de Atacama? Peso (CLP)
- What language is spoken in San Pedro de Atacama? Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Pedro de Atacama? 62 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Pedro de Atacama? Settlements lie between 2,309 m and 4,772 m
- What is the highest point in San Pedro de Atacama? Cerro Acamarachi (6,024 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit San Pedro de Atacama? January to December
- How many hospitals are in San Pedro de Atacama? 1 mapped
- How many banks are in San Pedro de Atacama? 1 mapped
- How many ATMs are in San Pedro de Atacama? 2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in San Pedro de Atacama? 2 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Pedro de Atacama? CL02203 (OCHA common operational dataset)

At a glance
- Type: Commune
- Area: 23,610.5 km²
- P-code: CL02203
- Province: El Loa Province

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Canonical: https://wherepedia.org/chile/antofagasta/el-loa/san-pedro-de-atacama/ · Updated 2026-11-03 · Data: national censuses and statistics offices (sources named in each section); © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL); Overture Maps; GeoNames; NASA POWER.