Tulor Village
The basics
Only about 10 percent of the village, a cluster of circular adobe structures, has been excavated. You can explore the village’s structures independently, but you’ll learn more about the site’s history, and enjoy a richer experience, if you visit on a guided tour. Tulor is a popular day trip from San Pedro de Atacama, often combined with visits to such other top destinations such as Pukará de Quitor, the Valley of the Moon, and El Tatio Geysers.
Things to know before you go
- Tulor is a must-visit for those interested in Chile’s pre-Columbian history.
- There is an entrance fee.
- Spanish-speaking attendants are on hand at the site.
How to get there
Pukará de Quitor is just 6.5 miles (10.4 kilometers) south of San Pedro de Atacama, where you can rent a car or bicycle, San Pedro's small airport has regular flights to Santiago.
Trip ideas
When to get there
Due to the heat in the arid desert, it is best to visit Tulor early in the morning or in the late afternoon. Photographers will find the enigmatic earthworks a tempting subject, particularly in the morning or late afternoon.
Pukará de Quitor
Just seven miles (11.6 kilometers) from Tulor, Pukará de Quitor National Monument is an easy add-on. The former fortress was built by the Atacameño people to defend themselves from the Incas, then used by the Incas to defend themselves against the Spanish. Today, it’s one of Chile's most important archaeological sites.
- El Tatio Geysers
- Rainbow Valley (Valle del Arcoiris)
- Church of San Pedro de Atacama
- Institute of Archaeological Research and R. P. G. Le Page Museum (Instituto de Investigacio
- Atacama Desert
- Pukara de Quitor
- Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna)
- Tebenquiche Lagoon
- Toconao
- Ojos del Salar
- Los Flamencos National Reserve (Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos)
- Atacama Salt Flats (Salar de Atacama)
- Puritama Hot Springs (Termas Baños de Puritama)
- Cejar Lagoon (Laguna Cejar)
- Chaxa Lagoon (Laguna Chaxa)