The Puritama Hot Springs transfer tour is exactly what the name says: round-trip transportation from San Pedro de Atacama to the Puritama Hot Springs, from EUR 34.83 per person, for travelers who already have their own admission ticket sorted and just need a reliable way to get there and back.

What the Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour actually includes

This is a transportation product, not an all-inclusive tour. The admission ticket to Puritama Hot Springs itself is NOT included and must be purchased separately before you book this transfer. If you arrive at pickup without your own admission ticket already secured, you will not be allowed to board the vehicle and you will lose the amount you paid for the transfer, so treat buying the entry ticket as the real first step, not an afterthought.

What makes Puritama Hot Springs worth the trip?

Puritama sits in a canyon carved by naturally heated mineral water, with eight connected thermal pools threading through unexpectedly green vegetation that stands out starkly against the surrounding desert. The water temperature varies slightly pool to pool, so most visitors spend their time there moving between a few before settling into a favorite for the rest of the visit.

What to expect on the Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour

Once your admission ticket is confirmed, a shared van collects you from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama for the roughly 40-minute drive to the springs. You then get free time, typically a couple of hours, to bathe at your own pace before the van meets the group for the return trip, with the whole round trip, including bathing time, running around 5 hours door to door.

Is the Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour worth it?

For the price, yes, if you already need transport and do not want to rent a car or negotiate a round-trip taxi fare. Puritama sits far enough from San Pedro de Atacama that walking or cycling is not realistic for most visitors, and a shared transfer is noticeably cheaper than a private taxi booked both ways.

How do I buy the Puritama Hot Springs admission ticket?

Admission is managed separately from this transfer, and prices and booking channels can change, so confirm the current process directly with the hot springs operator or your accommodation before your trip. Buy your ticket with enough lead time that you are not scrambling the morning of your transfer, since a missing ticket means the van cannot take you.

Getting there

Pickup is from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama; the springs sit outside town in a canyon that is not realistically reachable on foot. This transfer handles the full round trip, so once your admission ticket is sorted, logistics are otherwise simple.

Insider tips for the Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour

Pack your swimwear underneath your clothes and bring sandals, since walking barefoot on the rock surrounding the pools is uncomfortable. A towel is essential, and biodegradable sunscreen is worth using specifically here, since standard sunscreen can affect a smaller, more enclosed body of water like these pools more than it would a large lagoon. Children under 6, pregnant travelers, and anyone with high blood pressure should check with the operator before booking, since thermal water raises core body temperature in a way that is not suitable for everyone. Chile's official tourism board, SERNATUR, publishes general safety guidance for visiting the Atacama's natural thermal sites.

How does this compare to other Atacama lagoon and spring options?

If you want a salt-water float instead of thermal pools, the Laguna Cejar floating tour includes both transport and the experience itself in one price, without a separate ticket to manage. If scenery over soaking is your priority, the Baltinache Hidden Lagoons tour covers a different kind of water landscape entirely. Our San Pedro de Atacama tours comparison lists every water-based excursion side by side.

Who should not book this tour?

Anyone who has not yet secured a Puritama admission ticket should not book this transfer until that is sorted, since showing up without one means losing the fare. Travelers with high blood pressure, children under 6, and pregnant travelers should check suitability for the hot springs themselves directly with the springs operator before relying on this transfer.