Puritama Hot Springs Tours

Termas de Puritama are hot springs in a canyon 28 km north of San Pedro de Atacama, run by Explora, with a morning slot from 09:30 and an afternoon slot from 14:30. Entry costs about CLP 35,000–38,000 per adult, and there is no public transport. When we checked on 3 October 2026, the Feel Atacama trip with transport and the entry ticket started from $85 per person.

What Puritama is like

The springs sit in a narrow green canyon where the Puritama River runs through the desert, at about 3,500 m. Explora gives the water temperature as 28 to 31 °C, so think warm bath; it is not scalding. Entry covers the pools, lockers, toilets and parking. Feel Atacama’s listing mentions seven pools, shallow enough to suit children.

There are two blocks a day, seven days a week. The morning block lets you in at 09:30 and closes at 13:30; the afternoon block runs from 14:30 to 18:00. Leave the water 15 to 20 minutes before your block ends so you are out on time.

Tickets and prices

Buy entry online at termasdepuritama.cl. Places are limited and often sell out, especially in high season, so book as soon as your dates are fixed. You can change your date free of charge up to 8 days before; between 7 and 4 days before there is a 50% penalty, and from 3 days out no changes are allowed.

The adult price differs between sources: Chile’s official tourism site gave CLP 35,000 in May 2026, and a local agency listed CLP 38,000 in September 2026, which suggests a recent rise. Plan on about CLP 35,000–38,000 and check the current price when you book. Feel Atacama lists the ticket at CLP 38,000 and includes it in its tour price.

If you book the Feel Atacama trip, choose the AM or PM option to match the block you want, and the ticket comes with it. If you are going independently, buy the ticket first and plan your transport around the block on it, since you cannot enter outside your booked time. Pay by card online; you do not need cash for Puritama itself.

Getting there without public transport

There is no bus to Puritama and Explora does not run transport, so you need a tour, a car or a driver.

The Feel Atacama AM or PM trip is the simplest: hotel pickup in San Pedro, about 40 minutes north, a drop-off at the entrance with a pickup time set by the driver, and a ride back to the center of town. It has only 9 reviews (rated 4.2), so it is a small operation; the appeal is that the ticket, which is the hardest part to secure, comes with the booking. Our breakdown of the Puritama trip has the details.

Driving yourself works if you have a car. Eight rental desks operate at Calama Airport, covered in our Calama Airport guide, and the springs are 28 km from San Pedro on Route B-245 with parking included in the entry. You will need to buy the ticket online yourself first.

If you are crossing to Bolivia anyway, the 4-Day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour includes a dip in the Polques hot springs on day one. That is a different trip altogether; see our Uyuni tours page.

Where Puritama fits in your stay

At about 3,500 m, Puritama is higher than San Pedro’s 2,407 m but lower than the altiplanic lagoons and El Tatio. A good order is the low trips first, such as Valle de la Luna and the salt flat lagoons, then Puritama, then Piedras Rojas and the dawn trip to the El Tatio geysers. A morning slot leaves the afternoon free for Moon Valley or a nap; an afternoon slot pairs well with a stargazing tour that night.

Weather can close the site for short spells. Puritama shut briefly in August 2026 and reopened on the afternoon of 13 August, so check for notices if storms or snow hit the area.

Practical tips

• Go in your swimsuit and bring a towel, water and your passport or ID, as the listing asks.
• Pack a small snack; alcohol is not allowed on the Feel Atacama trip.
• Bring sandals for walking between the pools and sunscreen for the canyon sun.
• Book your Puritama date before your other tours, since the tickets are the scarce part.
• Leave valuables in the lockers included with entry, or at your hotel.
• Drink plenty of water. Warm pools at 3,500 m can leave you light-headed if you stay in too long.

Quick recommendations

• If you have no car → book the Feel Atacama Puritama trip, which includes the ticket.
• If you rented a car at Calama → buy entry online at termasdepuritama.cl and drive the 28 km yourself.
• If you are going on to Uyuni → the Polques hot springs on the 4-day Uyuni tour may be enough of a soak.
• If you want a relaxed day between two early starts → put Puritama after Moon Valley and before El Tatio; our things to do in San Pedro page helps you plan the rest.