Puritama Hot Springs from San Pedro: Which Tour, and Do You Need One?
4 min read
Book a tour that lists the entry ticket and the return transport, and choose the smaller group. Puritama is a good way to rest after a high-altitude morning, but entry is limited and the last stretch of road is not for every car, so the booking details matter more than the soak.
What the official page says
Chile Travel places the springs in an Andean canyon 30 km north-east of San Pedro on route B-245, the road towards El Tatio, a drive of about 40 minutes. It gives the water as close to 33 °C and counts eight natural pools linked by wooden walkways. Entry has to be booked online in advance because places are limited, the final road is unpaved with a winding descent into the canyon, and it recommends a high-clearance or 4×4 vehicle if you drive yourself. Check the springs’ own website for opening hours before you go. Chile Travel’s San Pedro page also advises booking ahead in summer because of high demand.
One tour page counts seven pools and puts the springs at 3,500 m; Chile Travel counts eight pools, so take the tour figures as the operators’ own.
Four tours compared
| Tour | Length | Group | Ticket | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Puritama Hot Springs AM or PM | 4.5 hours | Up to 10 | Named in the list with its price, CLP 38,000 | Hotel pickup, drop-off in the centre; a driver, not a guide, takes you there and sets a pickup time; bring a snack |
| Puritama Hot Springs Sightseeing Tour | 4.5 hours | Up to 20 | Admission ticket listed | Starts at Caracoles; about 3 hours at the springs; guide in English and Spanish |
| Termas de Puritama Hot Springs | 4.5 hours | Up to 15 | Tickets listed | Not suitable for pregnant women or people with back or heart problems; smoking not allowed |
| Puritama Hot Springs Sightseeing Tour, 4 hours | 4 hours | Ask the operator | Not included: buy it yourself on the springs’ official website | Morning slot 8:00 am to 12:30 pm, afternoon 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm; bathrobes included |
Prices are €75.77, €45.51, €47.78 and €25.67, with 9, 13, 6 and 0 reviews. None has many reviews yet, so treat the ratings (4.2, 3.0, 3.1 stars for the first three) as early.
Reading the small print
Three pages name the ticket in their list; check on the booking page that it is shown as included before you pay. On the 4-hour tour you buy it yourself, and its page advises booking it early for the time slot of your tour. The same page lists one-way transport to the springs but also a drop-off on Calle Caracoles at the end, so confirm the ride back.
Two pages mention a light lunch in their highlights, but neither includes one in its inclusions list, so ask before you rely on it. The last tour’s page lists it as wheelchair accessible; the springs sit at the bottom of a canyon reached on wooden walkways, so ask the operator exactly what that covers before you book. A separate transfer-only offer on GetYourGuide marks the springs stop as extra fee, which is why it is not in the table.
Which to book
Most visitors will do best with the AM or PM tour: the group is capped at 10, smaller than the other two that state a limit, the page names the ticket with its price, and you choose the time of day. It is a transfer with a driver rather than a guided tour. Pack swimwear, a towel, a hat and water. Check all current Puritama tours, and read the El Tatio guide if you plan to combine the two.
