Museo Gustavo Le Paige:
(Calle Padre Le Paige (56-55) 851-002 Mon. - Fri; 9am - noon , 3pm - 7 pm, and Weekends 10 am - noon, 2 to 6 pm US$2.50, student discounts available) Excellent archaeological museum with additional exhibits on regional environment and ethnohistory. An outstanding museum containing almost 400,000 artifacts found around the reigon of San Pedro. It should not be missed.

Many people prefer to see San Pedro's desert sites by bicycle. If you bring camping gear, you can make a trip out to the El Tatio Geysers. If you have a van, you can spend about a week covering the entirety of the geyers and deserts.

For the intrepid traveler, there is a wonderful five-day hike leaving from San Pedro center leading to the River Valleys. Some guides will take you on horseback for the first half. An added bonus is the stop you will make at the Banos de Puritama.

Valle de la Luna:
15 km west of San Pedro on the old road to Calama, just south of the new highway. This place is and deserves to be the most visited of the sights in the area, not only because of accessibility but due to beauty as well. The ¨Valley of the Moon¨ is an interesting area of rock and sand formations left by millenia old flooding and winds in an array of soft desert colors. Imagine this against the backdrop of almost 6000 meter (19,800ft) volcanoes and you can see why this is a popular spot. It is especially incredible during sunset, when the richest desert colors are brought out by soft light. Because it is a part of a National Reserve, no overnight camping is allowed (too many lame people leaving trash). Can be visited with private car, horse, on foot (start early and bring lots of water), by bicycle, or by mini-van through a tour agent in town.

Termas de Puritama:
Located 30 difficult kilometers north of San Pedro de Atacama. These tranquil thermal baths are in the bottem of a narrow lush green canyon cut into the red rocks of the desert. It is a fantastic place to camp for a night, but be prepared for cold temperatures and no possibility of locating firewood. There are several steaming pools that are perfect for bathing, the only problem is that they are not as hot as one would wish (33 degree celcius). The water emerges from an underground river and flows through the canyon towards the lower altitudes of San Pedro, creating a microclimate along its banks that enormous clumps of pampa grass thrive upon. If you want to camp and do not have a private car it is possible to hitch a ride with a mining truck (if lucky) or have one of the tour agencies drop you off and pick you up the next day. Most of the companies that visit the Tatio Geysers stop at the thermas on their return trip.

El Tatio Geysers:
This geyser field is the highest in the world at 4300 meters (14,200ft) and is located 95 extremely difficult kilometers from the town of San Pedro. It does not offer geysers that shoot dramatic spouts many meters into the sky. Rather, it is a field of steaming fumaroles that, in the light of the newly risen sun, still provide a breathtaking sight. It is surrounded by tall peaks nearly reaching heights of 6000 meters (20,000ft). The entire area is being proposed for a national park, but some business concerns are still pushing to develop the geothermal energy potential of the area. If driving your own car, leave San Pedro by no later than 3:30 am in order to arrive for sunrise when the changing atmospheric pressures cause the geysers to erupt. Most tours leave at this time and cost around $20. Excercise caution when walking near the vents, because the crust surrounding the geysers can be thin and is prone to break. Be sure to bring a bathingsuit, as most tour companies will take you to a nearby pool. Some companies make a stop at the Baños de Puritama thermal water pools and waterfalls (if you go here without a tour, you must bring your own food and water).

Toconao:
This quiet desert oasis community of 500 people is said to be remeniscent of San Pedro twenty years ago. It is noted for its white volcanic stone architecture that comes from a quarry just outside of town. There is also a beautiful 18th century bell tower in the sleepy central plaza. Tocanao is located on the eastern edge of the Salar de Atacama at the base of the range of impressive volcanoes that nearly reach 6000 meters (19,800ft). The town is renowned for the incredibly high quality water that comes out of the Valle de Jerez to the east. This valley is a paradise. Amidst the bone dry reddish rocks of the Atacama a narrow canyon has been cut by innumerable years of water flowing from the aquafers underneath the volcanoes. In this canyon Incans settled and built terraces above the thin strip of meadow that supported their animals and food supply. Today, the citizens of Tocanao have their fruit orchards in the valley and produce much of the vegetables for the entire San Pedro region.
The Valle de Jerez is an incredible place for day hiking or camping overnight and bathing in the clear fresh water that cuts a stream down the canyon. Obviously, one must be careful not to use soap or other pollutants in the water, as it is the primary source of drinking water for the inhabitants of the town. It is wise to ask permission from one of the farmers tending his plants at the beginning of the valley for permission to camp overnight. There are a few simple places to stay in town for about $8 per person. Restaurants also offer simple chilean meals.

Pukara de Quitor:
Only 3 Km north of San Pedro, you'll find this partially-restored 12th century fortress, built into a steep hill on the bank of the Rio San Pedro. Another 4km up the road, you'll encounter the ancient ruins of an Inca Administrative center in Catarpe. However, these are less impressive.