Audio Guide of the Atacama Desert Museum of Natural and Cultural History

The museum is open Tuesday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. It is closed on Sundays, Mondays, and public holidays. We recommend confirming opening hours by phone at +56 55 2345221 before visiting.

General admission costs CLP 1,500 (approximately USD 2). Children under 12 and older adults enter free of charge. No advance reservations are required for individual visits.

A full visit takes about 1 to 1.5 hours. The museum has 6 permanent exhibition rooms showing the natural and cultural history of the driest desert in the world.

It is the main repository of Atacama memory, with archaeological pieces more than 3,000 years old and exhibitions on the Lickan Antay culture. It preserves geoglyphs, textiles, and pre-Hispanic tools that are key to understanding this unique ecosystem.

It is ideal to visit between March and May and between September and November to avoid extreme temperatures. Visit in the morning (before 11:00 a.m.) when the weather is cooler. Avoid December to February because of the intense desert heat.

Yes, it has access ramps and adapted spaces in the main rooms. It is recommended to call ahead at +56 55 2345221 if you require special assistance during your visit.

Thirty minutes away you will find El Loa Park with its oldest church in Chile (1650) and the Valley of the Slabs. Forty kilometers away is the town of Chiu Chiu with its colonial architecture and geysers.

Bring water, sunscreen, and a hat, as Calama has a desert climate. Photos without flash are allowed. You can hire local guides at reception to learn more about Atacama history. More info at calamacultural.cl.