Bike The Stunning Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama

The Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama Valley is a super diverse and worthwhile day trip that sits less than 2 miles from the heart of the oasis village of San Pedro de Atacama Chile. One of the best ways to discover this unique valley is to hop on a bike and take a self-guided tour. Although the Atacama Desert is one of the driest deserts in the world, the valley of Catarpe has some awesome highlights and points of interest.

In the Catarpe Valley, find an abandoned tunnel built in the early 1900’s that connected the village of San Pedro de Atacama with the city of Calama. The most impressive landscape of the valley has to be the Devil’s Throat, also known as the Chulakao Ravine. This twisty canyon can feel as if you’re walking on another planet. Finally, find the tiny San Isidro Chapel that sits spectacularly at the end of the bike route.

Here’s how to independently make a day trip through the Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama, a beautiful valley in the heart of the Atacama Desert.

Table of Contents

Disclosure: This is part of my Hikes & Adventures series, which means these treks can be strenuous and challenging. These are my experiences and I am not an expert. Please have all the proper equipment, verify the weather conditions, use professional resources, do your own research, be mindful of constantly changing trail conditions, and take into consideration your own physical abilities and/or limitations. These guides are for entertainment purposes only. Please see my full disclosure for more information here.

• Map & Overview of Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama by Bike
• Start the Route at the Quitor Fortress
• Entrance to Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama
• Highlights of Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama
• Total Cost of Day Trip of Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama
• Bike the Sunning Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama

Map & Overview of Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama by Bike

⁉️ If downloading the map, please verify that the map is correct and follows the waypoints. Oftentimes there are updates to the site, map platforms, and other things, which can cause a bug in downloading. This map is solely a planning tool. Please comment below if something doesn’t download right or email me here, as it helps me keep the maps up to date and maintained. I also love to check and plan my routes with useful tools like graphhopper.

A Quick Overview of Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama Bike Trail

Mileage distances are rounded to the nearest quarter of a mile.

• Out & Back Bike Trail
• Total Mileage: 8.5 Miles*
• One-Way Mileage: 4.25 Miles*
  • *Note About Mileage: This is just the basic bike route for the Catarpe Valley. This does not include the additional mileage through the Devil’s Throat or to reach the tunnel. Plan accordingly.
• A mostly flat trail along a dirt path
• Trail Markers: There are trail markers scattered along the trail for the main points of interest.
• It’s important to note that all cyclists are required to have a helmet upon entering the Catarpe Bike Path.
• There is little shade coverage along this bike route and don’t forget it’s one of the driest deserts in the world. Pack plenty of water, or a filter to replenish at the river flowing through the valley.

➯ Hey… don’t forget your Travel Insurance! I love SafetyWing

Tips on Bike Rentals in San Pedro de Atacama

In the town center there are multiple agencies that rent bikes for the day. The standard bike rental price for one day is around $8,000 CLP ($10.50 USD). The following items are usually standard with a bike rental: a tire kit (these roads are rocky and bumpy), helmet (required in most parks), and a reflective vest (mandatory on the highways).

Some hostels include FREE bike rentals.

Psst….I highly suggest Rey Lagarto Hostel, which has shared and private rooms, a nice outdoor patio, and free bike rentals for in-town usage, which includes the incredible Catarape Valley!

Start the Route at the Quitor Fortress

For the ultimate day trip, don’t actually start at the lovely Catarpe Valley, but rather, just across the river at the Quitor Fortress. This Pre-Inca Archaeological Park is less than a 5 minute bike ride from the entrance gate to Catarpe, and since it’s built along the slopes of the hillside, it’s unmissable.

The fortress is well marked and offers some incredible viewpoints. Along the way, find helpful information boards in both Spanish and English. Near the top of the old fortress, there are stunning vistas of Death Valley. The park has two entrances, but the admission tickets are valid for both sections of the archaeological site. The second entrance boasts two large head sculptures, one carved into the hillside and the other hanging from an arched doorway.

Quitor Fortress closes earlier than the Catarpe Valley, so I suggest starting early from here and then spending the rest of the day exploring the valley.

Quitor Fortress Logistics | Hours: Daily 8:30 – 17:00 | Cost: $3,000 CLP ($4 USD)

Entrance to Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama

Just across the river from the Quitor Fortress, is the entrance into the Catarpe Valley. To the right is the ticket office, which also sells a few cold beverages and snacks. Reminder: This valley has little shade coverage and no formal benches.

Catarpe Valley Logistics | Hours: Daily 8:30 – 19:30 | Cost: $3,000 CLP ($4 USD)

Highlights of Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama

Upon arrival, you’ll receive a pamphlet, available in English if needed, of all the highlights of the valley. The gatekeeper will also go over any temporary closures. Start along the path that follows casually along the San Pedro River. The route is well marked with signage for the main attractions.

Things to See in the Catarpe Valley

Besides the beautiful natural landscapes, the following are highlights of the the bike ride through Catarpe Valley.

1. The Tunnel: These tunnels were built in 1930 and were used to connect San Pedro de Atacama and Calama. The tunnel was abandoned in 1950 due to the constant flooding of the river.
2. Chulakao Ravine (Devil’s Throat): This is the main highlight and why most people bike Catarpe Valley. Ride the bike as far as possible and then hike around and explore this otherworldly ravine.
3. Tambo of Catarpe: Temporarily Closed
4. San Isidro Chapel: A small, but beautiful lone church that sits perfectly in the Catarpe Valley.

Closures

At the time I visited , the “Tambo of Catarpe,” another important and significant Pre-Inca fortress was closed to the public. Also, there was no access to the village of Cuchabrache, which is why this bike route finishes at the San Isidro Chapel.

The Tunnel

Sadly, due to time restraints, I didn’t manage to make it to the tunnels. However, they are the first highlight of the Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama. As you pedal along, look for the signage on the left hand side for the tunnels. Again, these are the most modern structures of the valley and were built 1930. They were no longer used by the 1950’s due to the continual rains which resulted in annual floods.

Devil’s Throat

One of the most incredible features of the Catarpe de San Pedro de Atacama is the Devil’s Throat. This canyon begins close to the little oasis near the river. In this area find a few leafy trees to rest under.

Look to the right for the wooden sign that leads you through this winding canyon. In the beginning of the canyon there is a place to lock-up your bike, but I suggest riding in a little bit further. The canyon is quite long and the heat can be draining.

I left my bike in a narrow side canyon, and I saw others doing the same. Keep in mind there are no more bike racks to lock up your bike. Only do this if you feel comfortable.

The route can get extremely narrow and there are even some sections that require climbing through tiny, almost cave-like openings. There is a main path to follow, but there are other small nooks and crannies to explore. The landscape of the Devil’s Throat feels otherworldly and is extremely interesting.

Continue through the canyon and take the uphill walk up to the mirador.

Mirador at the “End of the Throat”

The Mirador at the “end of the throat” offers stunning vistas of the canyon from a different angle. This little walking path takes around 30 minutes to climb up. Due to the narrow and rocky path, it’s impossible to take the bike up to the viewpoint. At the top are some incredible 360° views of not only the valley, but the towering mountains that surround the desert.

San Isidro Chapel

Further along up the road is the San Isidro Chapel. A little ways before the chapel on the right-hand side, pass by the Tambo of Catarpe, which is (for now) closed to the public.

However, this sections of bike path is lovely and follows along the river with views of the dusty mountainous cliffs. The San Isidro Chapel is small, but sits picturesquely in the valley. The chapel is locked, but it’s still a beautiful way to end a bike ride through the Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama.

Return to San Pedro de Atacama

After enjoying the small church, head back on the same road you pedaled in on. This self-guided bike ride makes a cheap, independent, and delightful day in San Pedro de Atacama.

Psst… Love San Pedro de Atacama? Here’s more charming villages in the Andes to inspire some serious wanderlust!

Total Cost of Day Trip of Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama

So how much did it cost me to explore the beautiful Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama? In an area where almost ALL of the point of interest requires a tour, it was refreshing to independently explore this interesting valley.

Prices on the table are rounded to the nearest 25¢

EXPENSE	CLP ($)	USD ($)
Bike Rental (Free from Hostel)	FREE	FREE
Entrance Ticket Quitor Fortress	$3,000	$4
Entrance Ticket Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama	$3,000	$4
TOTAL	$6,000	$8

This awesome day trip in the Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama cost me $8 and was so worth it!

More Bike Experiences in San Pedro de Atacama

If you loved biking the Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama, it’s possible to explore the popular Valle de la Luna, or Moon Valley by bicycle and a few gentle hikes. Warning, this is a tougher bike ride than the Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama. There are multiple tours that depart from San Pedro de Atacama, but if you’re up to the challenge to “bike on the moon,” start early, bring plenty of water, and enjoy this magical place without the many tour buses. Buckle up, it’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

Complete Guide | Discover the Valle de la Luna by Bike

Bike the Stunning Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama

In short, this is an overview on how to independently explore the stunning Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama by bike. Before starting this casual bike route, swing by the interesting Quitor Fortress. After that, start along the 4 mile bike route to find modern day structures, like old abandoned tunnels. One of most visual appealing landscapes of the valley is the Devil’s Throat, a twisting turning canyon that feels otherworldly. At the end of the bike route, appreciate the lone San Isidro Chapel. This little church is the “cherry on-top” of the charming valley.

This day trip from the cute village of San Pedro de Atacama can be explored independently for less than $10 USD.

Have you had the opportunity to visit the Catarpe San Pedro de Atacama? Did you bike the pleasant bike route through the scenic valley? What did you think of it? Let me know in the comments below!

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