Calama Airport Guide

Calama’s El Loa Airport (CJC) is the gateway to San Pedro de Atacama: a single two-level terminal about 6 km southeast of Calama, open 24 hours. LATAM, SKY and JetSMART fly there on domestic routes, mainly from Santiago, about 2 hours away. Inside you will find ATMs, Wi-Fi, three transfer counters, authorized taxis and eight rental desks. San Pedro is about 100 km and 1 hour 30 minutes away by road.

El Loa Airport at a glance

Flights and airlines

El Loa handles domestic flights only at present. Santiago is by far the busiest route, with LATAM, SKY and JetSMART all flying it in about 2 hours, and there are also flights to La Serena, Concepción and Antofagasta. Schedules change with the season, so check the airline before you plan transport.

Because there are no scheduled international flights, visitors from abroad normally clear immigration and customs at their first Chilean airport, usually Santiago, and arrive at Calama as domestic passengers. Domestic flights need an ID and ticket; foreign visitors use their passport as ID. Chile’s mainland is on summer time (UTC-3) from 6 September 2026 until early April 2027.

Inside the terminal

The terminal is small and easy to navigate. In the public hall on level 1 you will find the transfer counters and the Sabores del Desierto restaurant. Upstairs on level 2, airside, there is the OKRE restaurant and the Global Lounge, open 07:00 to 22:30. The airport lists:

• ATMs for Chilean pesos (cajeros automáticos)
• Wi-Fi internet access
• Device charging points
• A Cruz Verde pharmacy and a handful of shops, including Patagonia Chocolates and Sunglass Hut
• Assistance for passengers with reduced mobility
• Paid parking, with maintenance work under way in the car park

The airport does not list a currency exchange office, so plan to take pesos from the ATMs. The terminal is run by Sociedad Concesionaria Aeropuerto El Loa, led by Sacyr, under a concession that started in 2023, with an expansion planned.

Getting to San Pedro de Atacama

Most passengers continue straight to San Pedro de Atacama, about 100 km on Route 23. Your choices from the terminal:

• Shared transfer counters: Transfer Altiplánico, Transfer Pampa and Transvip sell seats right after baggage claim at the airport’s published fare of CLP 17,900 per person (from 1 April 2026).
• Pre-booked shared transfer: the Ruta Chile Calama Airport transfer cost $29.90 per person one way when we checked on 3 October 2026, rated 4.6 from 814 reviews, with the driver at the exit door holding your name. See our Ruta Chile breakdown.
• Private transfer: the Ruta Chile private transfer cost $95 per person for two from the airport. See private transfers.
• Authorized taxi: CLP 75,000 per car to San Pedro. The airport lists 41 registered taxi operators.
• Bus: none from the airport. Buses leave from Calama town, about 7 km away, for CLP 7,000.

Our full transport guide compares them all, and the cost guide lists every fare.

Car rental at Calama Airport

Eight companies have desks on the airport’s official list: West Rent a Car, Gama Rent a Car, Econorent, Salfa Rent, MITTA, Chilean, Europcar and AVIS. Fill the tank in Calama before you set off, as there is no fuel station on the road to San Pedro. Route 23 is paved, but Chile’s tourism board calls a 4x4 vital for the high-altitude Piedras Rojas, and most visitors leave the excursions to local tour operators.

The road to San Pedro

If you drive, Route 23 runs straight and quiet across the desert before climbing over a pass of about 3,400 m and descending to San Pedro at about 2,400 m. Expect heavy mining traffic, and roadworks between km 86.2 and 93.4 just west of San Pedro through 2026 and 2027.

Getting into Calama town

If you are staying in Calama, the town center is about 15 to 20 minutes away in light traffic. Authorized taxis charge fixed fares by district, from CLP 8,000 to CLP 15,000 per car, and shared rides into town cost CLP 7,000 to 10,000 per person (tariffs from 1 April 2026).

Practical tips

• Take pesos from the terminal ATMs before you leave; counters, taxis and buses want cash in pesos.
• Calama sits at about 2,300 m. Drink water and keep your first day light.
• Send your flight number with any transfer booking so a delay is covered.
• Arriving late? The terminal stays open, but shared counter shuttles thin out in the late evening. See our arrivals guide.
• Flying out, check in early: LATAM asks domestic passengers to arrive 2 hours before departure. See the departure guide.

Quick recommendations

• If you are heading straight to San Pedro → pre-book the Ruta Chile transfer.
• If you are three or four → compare the CLP 75,000 taxi on our transfer vs taxi page.
• If you want to drive yourself → reserve a car with one of the eight desks and fuel up in Calama.
• If you want tours from the moment you land → the 4-Day Magic Desert Tour starts at the airport; see our breakdown.