My Sky Airlines plane at Santiago's International Airport
Last May, I boarded a Sky Airline flight from Santiago to Calama, in northern Chile.
Calama is the nearest airport to San Pedro de Atacama, a small pueblo in the middle of the Atacama Desert.
The first flight took an hour and twenty minutes to go from Santiago to Copiapo. After a brief layover, we then flew another hour further north to Calama.
My flights delivered me from Santiago to Calama in two and a half hours, whereas the bus, though cheaper, takes 24 hours.
And from what I've heard, it's tedious and boring (you're driving through the desert after all), so do yourself a favor and spend the extra money to fly.
Taking off from Santiago was the only time in five days that I had this good a view of the snow-capped mountains surrounding the Chilean capital
My first flight landed halfway between Santiago and Calama, at the Chamonate Airport which services the city of Copiapo
The airport terminal's roof is shaped like waves, or perhaps they're meant to mimic sand dunes, as we were clearly in the desert by this point. A yellow sign toward the right spells “Atacama.”
Passing a snow-capped volcano as we near Calama in northern Chile
As our plane descended, along with the sun, the ground glowed a brilliant orange-red. It felt as though we were about to land on Mars.
The otherworldly Atacama desert landscape
As we approached the runway at Calama's El Loa Airport, the wings and engines transformed in a way I'd never seen before
Passengers walk off the Sky Airlines plane on the tarmac at El Loa Airport at sunset
My first sunset over the Atacama Desert, as seen from the tarmac at El Loa Airport in Calama
Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio, a food blog. He's been to 65 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Originally from New York, Dave now calls Austin, TX home. Read the complete story of how he became a pro travel blogger.
Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:
- G Adventures for small group tours.
- World Nomads for travel insurance.
- Hostelworld for booking hostels.
- Rail Europe for train passes.
Carrie
Monday 5th of September 2016
Fantastic photos! I'm currently planning my own South America trip, and will be doing this flight in reverse - Atacama to Santiago. My question is: how did you get from the town of San Pedro to the airport in Calama?
Dave
Wednesday 7th of September 2016
Thanks Carrie. I took the local airport shuttle. I can't recall if I arranged it through the hostel, but it wasn't a problem.
RB
Wednesday 4th of May 2016
Dave, I am currently in Vina Del mar. If you had 4 days (max) remaining before you had to fly out of Santiago, would you recommend using them for Atacama? Hopefully you get this quickly. If not there, where would you recommend in Chile. came in on Cruce De Los Lagos and saw the Puerto Varas area. Check out my blog http://www.richtrek.com ... and lm, cheers man!
Laurence
Sunday 6th of December 2015
Great pictures! Leaving to Calama on the 21st of December and have a question: do you remember how long it took you to get off the plane and collect your luggage?
Thanks!
Arthur Gilles
Wednesday 14th of August 2013
Really breathtaking image of Chilean mountain ranges. So much awesome. You must not miss the traditional events in Santiago like pattaraday festival, and the patupat in Bannawag, the station of the cross in balintokatok.
Robert
Wednesday 10th of July 2013
Looks like an amazing trip. Beautiful Photographs!