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A gateway, not a destination
Calama is where you land or step off the bus before continuing to San Pedro de Atacama, 100 km away by road. The main reason to stay is the Chuquicamata mine. If it does not fit your plans, pass through.
Chuquicamata
The mine tour is a guided visit with limited places, and it runs only on certain days of the week. Registration is by email only, not at the gate. Long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes are required: without them you do not get in.
Register before you arrive, and confirm the day when you do.
Two small museums
The Museo de Historia Natural y Cultural del Desierto de Atacama is in the city. The Museo Indígena Atacameño del Alto Loa is in the Lasana valley, outside it. Confirm the opening hours of both before you go, especially if your visit falls on a weekend or a public holiday. They are enough for a short visit and little more.
How to get there
From Santiago there is a direct flight to Calama. The airport, El Loa, is 6 km from the city. From Antofagasta there is a bus, 211 km away.
The place
Facts
- Area
- 34.38 km²
- Where it is
- Calama
- Official site
- municipalidadcalama.cl
- Full entry
- Calama, Chile
Source: wikidata.org · Checked on November 1, 2026
When to go
- Temperature
- Rainfall
- Best time
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- High
- 24°
- Low
- 9°
- Rainfall
- 0 mm
Itineraries
5-day route Iquique - San Pedro
From Iquique to San Pedro in five days, climbing from the coast to the desert: the nitrate works, Paranal Saturday and two long bus stretches counted for what they are.
What the route costs
Prices checked on Oct 5, 2026. They may contain errors, so confirm them at the source before you pay.
- Bus from Santiago to Calama
Lowest published fare, per passenger; it changes with date and seat type.
Unconfirmed at the source
from CLP 34,899
- Bus from Antofagasta to Calama
Lowest published fare, per passenger; it changes with date and seat type.
Unconfirmed at the source
from CLP 7,899
- Museo Indígena Atacameño del Alto Loa, valle de Lasana
Open Wednesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:00.
A reduced fare of CLP 500 applies; students, delegations and people of Atacameño descent enter free.
Closed on New Year's Day, 1 May, 18 September and Christmas.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 1,000
- Museo de Historia Natural y Cultural del Desierto de Atacama
Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 13:00 and from 15:00 to 18:30. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
A reduced fare of CLP 200 applies; student delegations and vulnerable institutions enter free.
Closed on New Year's Day, Good Friday, 1 and 21 May, 18 and 19 September, 31 October, 1 November and Christmas.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 500
- Chuquicamata mine tour
Open Mondays and Thursdays.
Free guided visit, with limited places.
Registration by email only, to visitas@codelco.cl. Long sleeves, long trousers and closed shoes are required.
Unconfirmed at the source
CLP 0
Keep exploring
See all the destinationsSan Pedro de Atacama
What to book before you leave, why you fly to Calama and who is not let into El Tatio.
Antofagasta and the Paranal Saturday
The city that the Saturday visit to Paranal, the Hand of the Desert, La Portada and the beaches of Mejillones all start from.
Iquique and the nitrate works
Beaches, a street of nitrate-era houses, and Humberstone and Santa Laura 47 km away: the coast from which you climb to the pampa.
Arica, the coast before the altiplano
The home of the Chinchorro culture: mummies in situ, the Morro and three beaches with lifeguards before the climb to the altiplano.
Putre, the night before the climb
The town at 3,500 m where you sleep before going up to Lauca, Las Vicuñas and Surire.
La Serena
A seven-kilometre seafront, Coquimbo and a cloud forest: what to do in La Serena and when to go to Fray Jorge.
