Calama Transfer Costs

A Calama Airport transfer to San Pedro de Atacama costs $29.90 to $29.99 per person one way for a shared seat booked online, and $56 to $59.99 round trip, when we checked on 3 October 2026. A private transfer for two cost $95 per person. At the airport counters a shared seat is CLP 17,900, an authorized taxi CLP 75,000 per car, and the bus from Calama town CLP 7,000.

Every price at a glance

Online prices are on GetYourGuide for two adults; prices can change with dates and group size. Peso fares are left in pesos, so convert them at the rate on your travel day.

Shared transfers: $29.90 to $29.99

Two shared transfers dominate the online listings. The Ruta Chile Calama Airport transfer cost $29.90 one way when we checked, rated 4.6 from 814 reviews, the most of the four Calama Airport transfers we found on GetYourGuide. The price includes taxes and handling charges and one suitcase plus one carry-on per person; tips are extra. See our Ruta Chile breakdown.

The DMC Latam shared transfer cost $29.99, rated 4.6 from 315 reviews. In practice the two are the same price; the deciding factors are the review count and how each one handles your booking details. Our shared transfer guide compares them on waiting and luggage.

Round trips: a little cheaper than two one-ways

Both shared transfers sell a return. Ruta Chile’s round trip cost $56 per person against $59.80 for two one-way seats, and DMC Latam’s cost $59.99 against $59.98, so the saving is small on DMC Latam. The real benefit of booking both legs together is that your ride back to the airport is settled before you land. See round-trip transfers.

Private transfer: $89 to $95 per person for two

The Ruta Chile private transfer is priced per person. For two travelers it cost $95 each from the airport and $89 each from San Pedro back to the airport when we checked, so $190 or $178 for the pair. It is rated 4.8 from 8 reviews. You pay for a vehicle with only your party and no waiting for other flights. Read our private transfer breakdown or the private transfers page.

Airport counters and the taxi

The airport publishes its own tariffs, valid from 1 April 2026. A shared seat to San Pedro from the counters of Transfer Altiplánico, Transfer Pampa or Transvip costs CLP 17,900 per person. An authorized taxi to San Pedro costs CLP 75,000 per car, which is CLP 37,500 each for two, CLP 25,000 for three and CLP 18,750 for four. Shorter airport runs into Calama town cost CLP 8,000 to 15,000 per car by taxi or CLP 7,000 to 10,000 per person by shared ride, depending on the district.

The counter fare works out lower than the online price. What the online booking adds is a fixed seat before you fly, your flight number in the operator’s hands, and free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Our transfer vs taxi page works out the break-even.

Bus: CLP 7,000 plus the ride into town

The bus with Frontera del Norte or Atacama 2000 costs CLP 7,000, but it starts in Calama town, about 7 km from the airport. Add CLP 8,000 to 10,000 per car for a taxi to central Calama and the bus route costs a solo traveler about CLP 15,000 to 17,000, close to a counter seat. See transfer vs bus.

Packages that include the transfer

Some multi-day tours fold the airport transfer into the price. 3 Perfect Days in Atacama + Airport Transfer cost $280 per person when we checked, with shared transfers both ways plus astronomy, Baltinache, Moon Valley and El Tatio; entrance fees and accommodation are extra. The 4-Day Magic Desert Tour from Calama cost $310 per person, starting with a pickup at Calama Airport, and asks you to book a flight landing before 10:00. Compare them on our tours with airport transfer page.

Practical tips

• Budget in two currencies: online bookings in dollars, counters, taxis and buses in Chilean pesos.
• Withdraw pesos at the airport ATMs; the airport does not list an exchange office.
• Optional tips for drivers are not included in the online prices.
• Extra luggage beyond one suitcase and one carry-on may cost more on shared vans, so declare it when you book.
• Book the return at the same time as the arrival to lock in the round-trip price.

Quick recommendations

• If you want the best value for one or two people → book the Ruta Chile transfer round trip at $56.
• If you are four people → compare four counter seats with one CLP 75,000 taxi.
• If you land late or travel with children → the private transfer is worth its price.
• If you are booking tours anyway → price the packages that include the transfer.