Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Enjoy the experience of a San Pedro de Atacama without boundaries!

The beautiful town of San Pedro de Atacama is named after its patron saint San Pedro (Saint Peter), and the word Atacama, which, according to the ancestors comes from “Accatchca” in the Cunza language and means Head of the Country. Over time, this term underwent many modifications until it arrived at today’s pronunciation. San Pedro de Atacama was conquered by the Incas in 1450 and then by the Spaniards in 1540 becoming a cabildo (a Chilean government seat) in 1555.


The town square from San Pedro de Atacama is without a doubt one of the main attractions of Chile’s archeological capital. There is nothing better than to watch time go by under its enormous pepper or molle trees which will cool you off in the summer evenings in San Pedro de Atacama.


On one side of the square you will find the San Pedro de Atacama Church; undoubtedly one of the most beautiful churches of the north of Chile. Its construction date is unknown, however, it served as a parish in 1641 and in 1951 it was declared a National Monument.  The walls are made of adobe and the ceilings are made of ChaƱar tree, locust tree, and clay, which were later covered with cactus wood. This one of the main attraction from San Pedro de Atacama.


Across from the square you will find the Municipality of San Pedro of Atacama, the police station, the post office, the Padre le Paige Museum (parto of the Archeological Tour you can make in San Pedro de Atacama) and the tourist information office (SERNATUR).

Downtown San Pedro de Atacama still preserves the structure and construction of the Spanish colonial influence, antique adobe houses with interior yards, and roofs made of clay and hay.


Today’s dirt streets from San Pedro de Atacama have been treated with vichufita, a product derived from salt, which allows them to retain the original look causing less pollution. Not all street from San Pedro de Atacama have this treatment,but you’ll enjoy them anyway.

The main street from San Pedro de Atacama is Caracoles, so named because in earlier days miners left from here to work in the Caracoles silver mine discovered in 1870 by Diaz Gana.

Now a days you can find nice restaurants, tourist agencies and stores in San Pedro de Atacama, which welcome tourists from all over the world.


One of the world’s most fascinating and exotic destinations, San Pedro de Atacama never fails to surprise and delight. Whether you favor high culture or high adventure sanpedrochile.com will guide your way into a fantastic experience. http://www.sanpedrochile.com/en/