---
title: "Puritama Hot Springs: Natural Thermal Pools Near San Pedro"
date: 2026-10-08
canonical: https://tours-atacama.com/salar-de-atacama-lagoons-guide/puritama-hot-springs-guide/
---
A **puritama hot springs tour** takes you to a canyon of eight connected thermal pools fed by naturally heated mineral water, one of the few places near San Pedro de Atacama where green vegetation pushes up against the bare desert rock. I think it is the most genuinely restful half-day this desert offers, which is exactly why I would pair it with a more demanding excursion rather than book it alone on a trip with limited days.

I will explain why the transfer and the admission ticket are sold as two separate things, what the actual visit looks like, and which other Atacama day fits best right before or after this one. If you are still [pairing this with another San Pedro de Atacama excursion](/) to round out a day, I think the sequencing matters more here than the springs themselves.

## Why Are the Transfer and the Admission Ticket Sold Separately?

This specific product is round-trip transportation from San Pedro de Atacama to Puritama Hot Springs, not an all-inclusive package. The admission ticket to the springs themselves is NOT included and has to be bought separately before you book this transfer, and arriving at pickup without it means you will not be allowed to board the vehicle.

**My honest advice:** treat buying the admission ticket as the actual first step of planning this day, not an afterthought you sort out once transport is booked. I would secure it with enough lead time that you are not scrambling the morning of your transfer.

## What Makes Puritama Worth the Trip?

Eight connected thermal pools thread through a canyon of unexpectedly green vegetation that stands out sharply against the surrounding desert, with the water temperature varying slightly from pool to pool. Most visitors move between a few before settling into a favorite for the rest of their time there.

**I think this is one of the more underrated stops in the whole desert.** Everyone talks about Moon Valley and the altiplano lagoons, but Puritama gets less attention than it deserves simply because it does not photograph as dramatically, even though the experience of soaking here is genuinely one of the most relaxing things you can do on this trip.

## What Does a Visit Actually Look Like?

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 at an agreed time for the return trip, with the whole round trip running around 5 hours door to door.

**My honest take:** do not rush the bathing window. Two hours sounds generous until you are actually there moving between pools, and I would rather spend the whole window soaking than treat it as a quick stop to check off a list.

## How Much Does the Transfer Cost?

The round-trip transfer runs from around EUR 34.83 per person, covering pickup from your accommodation, shared transportation, and free time to bathe once you arrive. Admission pricing and booking channels for the springs themselves can change, so confirm the current process directly with the hot springs operator or your accommodation before your trip.

**I would compare this against renting a car or negotiating a private taxi for the same round trip.** A shared transfer at this price is noticeably cheaper than either alternative, and I think that gap alone makes the transfer worth booking even before you factor in not having to navigate unfamiliar desert roads yourself.

![Simple infographic showing a two-step journey: a ticket icon labeled admission purchased separately, followed by a van icon labeled round-trip transfer, flat design, generic labels only, puritama hot springs tour booking steps](/images/blog/san-pedro-de-atacama-puritama-hot-springs-guide-2.webp)

## What Should You Pack?

Swimwear underneath your clothes, sandals for walking on the rock surrounding the pools, and a towel, since all three make the visit noticeably more comfortable. Biodegradable sunscreen is worth using here specifically, since standard sunscreen can affect a smaller, more enclosed body of water like these pools more than it would a large open lagoon.

**My honest advice:** pack light otherwise. There is genuinely not much else you need for a few hours of soaking, and anything extra just becomes something to carry around a canyon that is mostly about sitting still.

## Is Puritama Suitable for Everyone?

Not quite. 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 genuinely is not suitable for everyone. I would take that guidance seriously rather than assume it only applies to edge cases.

**I think this is still one of the gentler excursions in the desert for most other travelers.** Unlike the altiplanic lagoons or El Tatio, there is no meaningful altitude gain here beyond San Pedro de Atacama's own elevation, which makes Puritama a reasonable pick even early in a trip.

## What's the Best Day to Pair This With?

I would pair Puritama with something physically demanding rather than another relaxing stop, since the contrast is what makes the sequencing work. The [Salar de Atacama and Altiplanic Lagoons combo](/salar-de-atacama-lagoons-guide/) or an early morning at El Tatio both leave you genuinely tired, and Puritama the following day works as a real recovery stop rather than just another excursion.

**My honest take:** I would not book Puritama on the same day as either of those, since the driving alone would make for a long, tiring day with none of the restfulness Puritama is actually good for. Give it its own slower day instead.

## How Does This Compare to Laguna Cejar?

Differently entirely, even though both involve soaking in water. [Laguna Cejar](/salar-de-atacama-lagoons-guide/laguna-cejar-floating-guide/) is a cold, intensely saline lagoon where buoyancy does the work, bundled with transport, a guide, and a sunset cocktail in one price. Puritama is warm, mineral-rich, and sold as transport only, with the admission handled separately.

**I would not choose between them.** They sit at genuinely opposite ends of the water experience this desert offers, and I think most visitors with more than a couple of days end up doing both rather than picking one over the other.

## What Time of Day Is Best to Visit?

Midday through early afternoon tends to work best, since the canyon's air temperature is at its warmest then, which pairs well with the already-heated pool water rather than leaving you cold stepping in and out between soaks. An early morning visit can feel genuinely chilly getting in and out of the water, even though the pools themselves stay warm.

**My honest take:** I would avoid booking the earliest available transfer slot if you have a choice, simply because the ambient temperature around the pools makes a real difference to how comfortable the whole visit feels, not just the water itself.

## Can You Visit Puritama Independently Without This Transfer?

Technically yes, with a rental car and your own admission ticket, but I would not recommend it for most visitors. The roads out to the canyon are manageable but not always clearly marked, and a shared transfer removes the hassle of navigating them yourself after a day that is supposed to be about relaxing rather than concentrating on an unfamiliar route.

**I would only consider the independent route if you are already renting a car for other reasons** during your stay and want the flexibility to set your own schedule rather than meeting a shared van's return time.

## Does Group Size Affect the Experience Here?

Less than you might expect, since the pools themselves spread the group out naturally rather than forcing everyone into one shared space the way a smaller attraction might. Even on a busier day, moving between the eight pools usually means finding a quieter one is realistic rather than hoping for a lucky gap.

**My honest take:** I would not pay extra for a private version of this transfer purely to avoid crowds, since the canyon layout already does most of that work for you. Save a private booking for a situation where you specifically want a different pickup time than the shared schedule offers.

## My Honest Recommendation

Buy your Puritama admission ticket first, then book this transfer once that is confirmed, since showing up without a ticket means losing the fare. Pack swimwear, sandals, and biodegradable sunscreen, and budget the full bathing window rather than rushing it. I would schedule this the day after a more demanding excursion like the altiplanic lagoons, not back to back with one. For a different kind of water experience entirely, my [Laguna Cejar floating guide](/salar-de-atacama-lagoons-guide/laguna-cejar-floating-guide/) covers the cold salt-water alternative. Chile's official tourism board, [SERNATUR](https://www.sernatur.cl), publishes general safety guidance for visiting the Atacama's natural thermal sites.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is the Puritama Hot Springs admission ticket included in this tour?**
No. You must buy your own admission ticket separately before booking this transfer, or you will not be allowed to board the vehicle.

**What does the Puritama Hot Springs Transfer Tour actually include?**
Round-trip transportation from San Pedro de Atacama and free time at the springs. It does not include the entry ticket, food, or towels.

**How long does a visit to Puritama Hot Springs take?**
Around 5 hours total, including roughly 40 minutes of driving each way and a couple of hours of free bathing time.

**Is Puritama Hot Springs suitable for children?**
The operator advises against it for children under 6, along with pregnant travelers and anyone with high blood pressure.

**Is Puritama a good pairing with the altiplanic lagoons tour?**
Yes, as a recovery day afterward rather than on the same day, since the lagoons tour is far more physically demanding.