What to see in Chile

San Pedro de Atacama

This green oasis located in one of the driest deserts of the planet is one of the main tourist destinations in the country. In this ancient highland town, the Atacameños settled more than 10,000 years ago, so it has a rich historical and archaeological heritage. With dirt roads, adobe houses and irrigation canals, it keeps alive its indigenous traditions. Its places of interest are the San Pedro Church, with cactus wood roofs of its buildings, the Central Plaza where the Andean Archaeological Museum is located, the Inca houses built with trunks, branches and straw and the main street Caracoles. The town has a peaceful atmosphere and is home to a range of craft shops, restaurants and cafes. Outside the centre, there are flocks of sheep and llamas grazing. Surrounded by one of the most spectacular places in the world, the village of San Pedro is the starting point many outdoor activities such as excursions to volcanoes, lagoons, hills, hot springs, salt flats, gorges and glaciers. 330 nights a year of clear skies allow visitors to admire with extraordinary clarity the brightness of the stars that twinkle overhead in this isolated place.