We receive many questions about what to bring to San Pedro de Atacama, in this place we have a very extreme climate, with one of the widest thermal gradients you can find in the world, with high temperatures in the evenings and very low at night. Solar radiation levels are also very high due to the altitude (San Pedro de Atacama 2,300 masl, Geysers del Tatio 4,200 masl).
Another feature that few people think they will find here is that there are many places where you can bathe, for example the salt lakes (Baltinache and Cejar), or the thermal pools (Geysers Blanco and Puritama), and also the waterfalls (Guatín and Cascada escondida).
It is necessary to consider that the seasons of the year are very marked and that it is necessary to understand and choose dates that adapt to each person’s preference. Below you will find a specific guide on what to bring at each time of the year.
Standard suitcase:
Regardless of the time of year, the things you should always be concerned about carrying in your backpack are:
Sunscreen, moisturizing skin cream (super dry weather), water bottle (super important in the desert), and comfortable walking shoes (no heels!).
Summer (December to February)
Between the months of December to February the weather is very hot, with temperatures reaching 30°C, in an arid climate, but at night the temperature becomes milder, reaching 15°C, for that reason you should also bring warm clothes, also considering that the high altitude tours (Geysers del Tatio, Piedras Rojas, Lagunas Altiplánicas, Rutas de los Salares, among others) always present colder climates. For this reason it is important to bring:
Hat and sunglasses, T-shirt, shorts, bathing suit, comfortable shoes, shawls and small backpack.
Already for the night and for the high altitude tours:
Woolen hat, jacket and sweater, woolen gloves, warm pants, thick socks and bandana (to protect the face in case of wind).
It is important to consider that in the summer months we have the famous phenomenon of the Altiplanic or Bolivian Winter, which can cause rains that intensify in February. So you should be more cautious and bring your rain coat (it is more effective than an umbrella) and also spare shoes.
Fall (March to May)
These are months of milder weather, considered transitional weather, where the days are gradually getting shorter. Also considering that the Altiplanic Winter may also extend into March.
With that in mind, the recommendations are very similar to the summer months, ie:
Hat and sunglasses, T-shirt, shorts, bathing suit, comfortable shoes, shawls and small backpack.
Already for the night and for the high altitude tours:
Woolen hat, jacket and sweater, woolen gloves, warm pants, thick socks and bandana (to protect the face in case of wind).
Winter (June to August)
These are the coldest months here in the desert. However, in the afternoons there will always be sun, so you should also take care to bring UV protection. Temperatures in the afternoons reach 20°C, but in the early morning we can have temperatures below zero. Thinking also of the tours, the Geysers of Tatio, for example, reach an impressive 20°C below zero (providing an unforgettable spectacle).
With that in mind, we recommend them:
Hat and sunglasses, T-shirt, shorts, bathing suit (in case you go to one of our thermal pools), comfortable shoes and small backpack.
Woolen hat, thick gloves, first layers top and bottom, thick jacket (hopefully down), thick pants and socks, bandana or balaclava.
Spring (September to November)
In spring we still have a cold weather, but with main attention for the months of September and October, where there are strong winds and sandstorms, but it stabilizes in November.
The recommendations are very similar to those of the winter, for that reason, the items follow:
Hat and sunglasses, T-shirt, shorts, bathing suit (in case you go to one of our thermal pools), comfortable shoes and small backpack.
Wool hat, thick gloves, first layers top and bottom, thick jacket (hopefully down), thick pants and socks, bandana or balaclava.
San Pedro de Atacama has the privilege of having a climate that allows visits all year round, so choose the most appropriate dates for your tastes and enjoy the most beautiful and complete desert in the world.