Chile for Photographers : A photography destination guide

Why Chile is a Photographer’s Dream

A Land of Extremes and Contrasts

Few countries on Earth offer the sheer geographical range of Chile. Spanning over 4,300 kilometers from north to south, it is a country defined by its dramatic juxtapositions. In a single journey, a photographer can move from the sun-baked, mineral-rich terrain of the Atacama Desert—the driest non-polar desert in the world—to the immense, creaking ice fields of Southern Patagonia. This diversity isn’t just horizontal; it’s also vertical. The landscape rises abruptly from the Pacific coastline to the towering peaks of the Andes, many exceeding 6,000 meters. This constant interplay between desert and ice, ocean and mountain, creates a canvas of unparalleled photographic potential, where every region presents a new world to capture.

Unrivaled Astrophotography Opportunities

For those who point their lenses toward the heavens, Chile is a destination without equal. The Atacama Desert, in particular, is widely regarded as the world’s premier location for astrophotography. Its unique conditions—a combination of high altitude, exceptionally dry air, and near-zero light pollution—result in skies of astonishing clarity and depth. The Milky Way doesn’t just appear here; it casts a palpable glow. It is no coincidence that this region is home to some of the planet’s most advanced astronomical observatories, including the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) and the Paranal Observatory. Their presence is a scientific testament to the pristine quality of the night sky, offering photographers a rare chance to capture the cosmos in breathtaking detail.

A Spectrum of Photographic Genres

The variety of landscapes and cultures in Chile translates directly into a wide array of photographic disciplines. Whatever your niche, you will find compelling subjects here.

• Landscape: The opportunities are boundless. Frame the otherworldly dunes and salt flats of the Atacama, the perfect cones of snow-capped volcanoes in the Lake District, the vibrant autumn forests of Patagonia, the raw power of its glaciers, or the rugged, wave-battered coastlines that stretch the country’s entire length.
• Wildlife: Chile is a haven for unique fauna. In Patagonia, patient photographers can track the elusive puma, capture majestic Andean condors soaring on thermal currents, or photograph herds of curious guanacos. Further south, penguin colonies thrive, while in the high Andes, vicuñas graze against volcanic backdrops.
• Urban & Street: The country’s cities offer distinct visual narratives. Document the chaotic, colorful charm of Valparaíso’s hillside cerros, with their labyrinthine alleys, historic funiculars, and ever-changing street art. Contrast this with the sleek, modern architecture of Santiago, set against its dramatic Andean backdrop.
• Cultural: The human element provides a rich photographic tapestry. Travel to the world’s most remote inhabited island to capture the enigmatic Moai of Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Or, explore the island of Chiloé, with its unique culture, stilt houses (palafitos), and distinctive wooden churches, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Best Time to Visit Chile for Photography

Understanding a Country of Many Climates

Timing a photographic trip to Chile requires a regional mindset. Spanning over 4,200 kilometers from north to south, the country encompasses a vast array of climate zones. The “best” time to visit is entirely dependent on which part of this diverse landscape you wish to capture. While summer brings long days to Patagonia, it means intense midday sun in the Atacama. Conversely, winter can bring exceptional clarity to the desert skies while making much of the far south inaccessible. Understanding these seasonal nuances is the first step in planning a successful photographic expedition.

Spring (September – November)

Spring marks a period of awakening across Chile, offering a gentle re-emergence of life and color, often with fewer crowds than the peak summer season.

• In Patagonia, the landscape sheds its winter coat. Valleys are carpeted with emerging wildflowers, providing a vibrant foreground for peaks that are still generously capped with snow. The light is often soft, and you’ll share iconic viewpoints with far fewer people.
• Central Chile and the Lake District are particularly lush and green during these months. The air is fresh, temperatures are mild, and the landscapes around Santiago and the wine valleys are full of life before the drier heat of summer arrives.

Summer (December – February)

This is the high season for tourism, particularly in the south. The weather is at its most stable, and logistical access is at its peak, but this comes with trade-offs.

• In Patagonia, the primary advantage is the extended daylight. The sun rises early and sets late, providing ample time for long hikes and extensive shooting sessions. All trails and roads are typically open. However, be prepared for strong winds, which are a defining characteristic of a Patagonian summer, and the highest concentration of visitors at popular sites.
• The Atacama Desert experiences intense heat during the day, which can limit midday photography. However, the skies remain reliably clear, making it a consistent period for both daytime landscape work during the golden hours and nightly astrophotography.

Autumn (March – May)

For many serious landscape photographers, autumn is the most compelling season to visit, especially for the southern regions. The country is bathed in a warm, golden light as the pace of life begins to slow.

• Patagonia undergoes a spectacular transformation. The Lenga and Ñirre forests turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow, creating a stunning contrast with the turquoise lakes and snow-dusted mountains. The weather becomes more dramatic and unpredictable, yielding moody skies and ethereal light. With tourist numbers dwindling, it is arguably the most rewarding time for contemplative landscape photography in places like Torres del Paine.
• The Wine Valleys of Central Chile are in their harvest season. The vineyards are a tapestry of warm colors, and the activity of the harvest provides excellent opportunities for documentary-style photography.

Winter (June – August)

Winter offers a different, more severe beauty, rewarding photographers who are prepared for colder conditions with uniquely dramatic scenes.

• The Andes Mountains, particularly in Central Chile near Santiago, are covered in a thick blanket of snow. This is the ideal time to capture stark, minimalist, and powerful mountain landscapes, with sharp, imposing peaks set against clear winter skies.
• The Atacama Desert is cold, especially at night, but the trade-off is exceptional atmospheric clarity. The winter air is often drier and more stable, leading to what many consider the absolute best conditions for astrophotography. The core of the Milky Way is well-positioned, and the crisp, cold nights yield incredibly sharp views of the cosmos.

Top Photographic Regions in Chile

The Arid North: Atacama Desert & Altiplano

The north of Chile presents a landscape that feels more Martian than terrestrial. This is a realm defined by immense silence, harsh, beautiful light, and a palette of vibrant mineral colors painted across the earth. Photographers are drawn here to capture the otherworldly textures of salt flats, the stark geometry of volcanoes, and the unparalleled clarity of the night sky. The challenge lies in translating the sheer scale and profound emptiness of this high-altitude desert into a compelling frame.

Valle de la Luna & Valle de la Muerte

Just outside the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama, the Valley of the Moon and the Valley of Death offer some of the most accessible and dramatic desert scenery. The golden hours are prime time here. At sunrise and sunset, the low-angled light sculpts the surreal rock formations and carves deep shadows across giant, wind-swept sand dunes. Focus your lens on the cracked, salt-crusted earth of the valley floor or find a high vantage point to capture the vast, panoramic views as the Andes glow in shades of pink and orange.

El Tatio Geysers

To photograph El Tatio, you must arrive in the freezing pre-dawn darkness. Situated at over 4,300 meters (14,000 feet), this is one of the world’s highest geyser fields. The photographic reward comes as the first rays of sun backlight the dozens of steaming fumaroles, creating ethereal columns of white against the deep blue of the high-altitude sky. Be prepared for the cold; your fingers will be numb and batteries will drain quickly. A key tip is to underexpose slightly to preserve the detail in the bright steam plumes.

Altiplanic Lagoons (Miscanti & Miñiques)

Venture deeper into the Altiplano to find the Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques. These high-altitude lakes are a startling, deep blue, set dramatically against the ochre-colored grasslands and the towering, snow-dusted volcanoes that bear their names. The thin, crisp air makes for incredible clarity. This is also an excellent area for wildlife photography, with herds of delicate vicuñas often grazing near the shores and, if you’re lucky, pink flamingos wading in the mineral-rich waters.

Astrophotography Hubs

The Atacama Desert is arguably the best place on Earth for stargazing, and by extension, astrophotography. The combination of high altitude, minimal cloud cover, and near-zero light pollution creates exceptionally transparent skies. The area around San Pedro de Atacama is a popular base. Further south, the Elqui Valley is another designated International Dark Sky Sanctuary. Here, you can capture breathtaking images of the Milky Way’s galactic core, create mesmerizing star trails over unique rock formations, or even photograph deep-sky objects with a telephoto lens.

Central Chile: Urban Color and Andean Peaks

The central region offers a completely different photographic experience, trading vast, empty landscapes for vibrant urban life, cultivated valleys, and the ever-present, dramatic wall of the Andes mountains. It’s a region of dynamic contrast between human culture and raw nature.

Valparaíso: A Canvas of Street Art

Valparaíso is a chaotic, beautiful labyrinth for the street photographer. The city is built upon a series of steep hills, or cerros, each a jumble of brightly painted houses connected by winding staircases and historic funicular elevators. The true subject here is color and character. Spend your time wandering, capturing the world-class street art that adorns nearly every wall, the weathered textures of corrugated metal homes, and the candid moments of daily life unfolding against the backdrop of the busy port below.

Santiago & The Andes

Chile’s capital, Santiago, provides a compelling juxtaposition of sleek, modern architecture and the rugged, snow-capped Andes that form a constant, stunning backdrop. For a classic shot, find a viewpoint like Cerro San Cristóbal to capture the cityscape at dusk as the lights begin to twinkle and the mountains fade into silhouette. A short drive from the city, the Cajón del Maipo gorge offers a quick escape into the mountains, with opportunities to photograph roaring rivers, glaciers, and dramatic alpine scenery.

The Wine Valleys (Casablanca, Colchagua)

The fertile valleys between the coast and the Andes are Chile’s wine country. Photographically, these areas are at their best in autumn (March-May) when the vine leaves turn brilliant shades of red, orange, and yellow. The graphic, repeating lines of the vineyards create strong compositions, especially when set against the rolling hills. Beyond landscapes, this is a great place for documentary-style photography, capturing the harvest and the traditional winemaking process at the local viñas.

The Lake District & Chiloé Island

South of Santiago, the landscape becomes progressively greener and wetter. This is a region of fairytale-like scenery, with conical volcanoes, ancient forests, and a mystical archipelago shrouded in legend and mist.

Volcanoes and National Parks

The Lake District is dominated by the presence of perfectly shaped, often snow-covered volcanoes. The iconic shot is of Volcán Osorno, whose symmetrical cone reflects perfectly in the waters of Lago Llanquihue on a calm day. Nearby, the turquoise waters of the Petrohué Falls crash over volcanic rock, offering excellent opportunities for long-exposure photography. The national parks here, like Huerquehue and Vicente Pérez Rosales, protect lush, temperate rainforests filled with pristine lakes and ancient trees.

The Mystical Island of Chiloé

Separated from the mainland by a channel, Chiloé has a culture and atmosphere all its own. The island is famous for its unique wooden churches, 16 of which are designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Their distinct architecture and bright colors make for wonderful subjects. In towns like Castro and Dalcahue, you can photograph the iconic palafitos—vibrant stilt houses built over the water. The island’s often grey, moody weather adds to the atmospheric, almost mythical, quality of its coastal and forest scenes.

Patagonia: The Ultimate Landscape Frontier

This is the Chile of legend. Patagonia is a raw, untamed wilderness at the end of the world, a place where the elements reign supreme. For the landscape photographer, it is a pilgrimage site. Here, you will find jagged granite peaks that tear at the sky, colossal glaciers that calve into turquoise lakes, and weather that can shift from serene to savage in a matter of minutes. It is a land that demands respect and rewards the patient photographer with images of profound power and beauty.

Torres del Paine National Park

The crown jewel of Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine is an icon of mountain photography.

• The Classic Sunrise: The quintessential shot is capturing the first light of dawn hitting the granite spires of the Torres or the iconic “Horns,” the Cuernos del Paine. This alpenglow moment, when the peaks turn a fiery red-orange, is what photographers travel across the world to witness.
• Glacier Grey: A boat trip or long hike to Glacier Grey is essential. The goal is to convey the immense scale of this river of ice and capture the intense, compressed blue hues within its crevasses and floating icebergs.
• Fauna Photography: The park is rich with wildlife. Herds of guanacos are common subjects, often posing elegantly on ridges with the mountains behind them. Look to the skies for the massive Andean condor, and for the ultimate challenge, hire a local tracker to seek out the elusive puma.
• Pehoé Lake: The view across the impossibly blue waters of Lago Pehoé towards the Cuernos is one of the most famous and beautiful mountain vistas in the world.

The Carretera Austral

For photographers who prefer the journey to the destination, the Carretera Austral (Southern Highway) is a dream road trip. This largely unpaved route winds its way for over 1,200 kilometers through the heart of Patagonia, offering an endless succession of photographic opportunities. Key highlights include the swirling, water-sculpted patterns of the Capillas de Mármol (Marble Caves), the breathtaking sight of the Queulat Hanging Glacier, and the jagged peaks of Cerro Castillo, which rival those of Torres del Paine.

Easter Island (Rapa Nui): An Enigmatic Outpost

Located thousands of kilometers from any continent, Easter Island is one of the most isolated and mysterious places on Earth. Its allure for photographers lies in its unique cultural artifacts and stark volcanic beauty.

The Moai Statues

The monolithic human figures, or moai, are the island’s defining feature. Each location offers a different mood and photographic opportunity.

• Ahu Tongariki: This is the definitive location for sunrise. Capturing the sun rising behind the platform of 15 massive moai is a truly unforgettable experience.
• Ahu Tahai: Close to the main town of Hanga Roa, this is the best spot for sunset. The moai here are perfectly positioned to be photographed as dramatic silhouettes against the colorful Pacific sky.
• Rano Raraku: Known as the “nursery,” this is the volcanic quarry where the moai were carved. Here, you can photograph nearly 400 statues in various stages of completion, some still attached to the bedrock, offering a fascinating look into their creation.

Volcanic Landscapes and Coastline

Beyond the moai, the island’s landscape is a subject in itself. Hike to the rim of the Rano Kau crater to photograph the spectacular view of its crater lake and the nearby ceremonial village of Orongo, perched precariously on the cliff edge. The island is ringed by a dramatic, rocky coastline pounded by Pacific waves, and the interior’s rolling green hills are often dotted with wild horses, adding a dynamic element to your landscape compositions.

Essential Photography Gear for Chile

Chile’s diverse environments demand a versatile and durable photography kit. From the fine dust of the Atacama to the unpredictable downpours of Patagonia, your gear will be tested. Packing thoughtfully ensures you can capture the full spectrum of opportunities without being weighed down or caught unprepared.

The Core Kit

The foundation of your pack should consist of a reliable camera and a trinity of lenses that cover a wide range of focal lengths. This setup will prepare you for the grandest landscapes and the most fleeting wildlife encounters.

• Camera Body: A camera with good dynamic range is beneficial for handling the high-contrast scenes common in Chile. A weather-sealed body is highly recommended, if not essential. The wind, dust, and sudden rain showers, particularly in Patagonia and the Altiplano, can be unforgiving on sensitive electronics.
• Lenses: While one could bring an entire collection, three specific types of lenses will cover nearly every photographic situation you’ll encounter.
  • Wide-Angle Zoom (e.g., 16-35mm): This is your primary landscape lens. It’s indispensable for capturing the immense scale of the Patagonian massifs, the sprawling salt flats of the Atacama, and the star-filled skies at night.
  • Standard Zoom (e.g., 24-70mm): The most versatile lens in your bag. It’s perfect for street photography in Valparaíso, environmental portraits, and general documentation when you want a natural field of view that’s closer to what the human eye sees.
  • Telephoto Zoom (e.g., 70-200mm or 100-400mm): This lens is crucial for two key purposes. First, for wildlife photography, allowing you to capture pumas, condors, and vicuñas from a respectful distance. Second, it’s a powerful tool for landscape photography, enabling you to compress distant mountain ranges and isolate compelling details within a vast scene.

Must-Have Accessories

Beyond the camera and lenses, a selection of well-chosen accessories is critical for technical execution and protecting your equipment. These items often make the difference between a simple snapshot and a thoughtfully crafted image.

• Sturdy Tripod: A tripod is non-negotiable for serious photography in Chile. It’s essential for sharp low-light shots during sunrise and sunset, for long exposures of waterfalls and coastlines, and for all astrophotography. In Patagonia, ensure your tripod is wind-resistant; a flimsy model will be useless against the region’s powerful gusts.
• Filters: A small filter pouch can dramatically enhance your images in-camera.
  • Circular Polarizer (CPL): An essential filter for managing reflections on glacial lakes and rivers. It also deepens the blue in skies, adding contrast and saturation to your landscape shots, particularly useful in the bright sun of the Atacama.
  • Neutral Density (ND) Filters: These are used to reduce the amount of light entering the lens, allowing for longer shutter speeds. They are ideal for creating a silky, ethereal effect on the water at Petrohué Falls or capturing cloud movement over the Torres del Paine.
• Extra Batteries & Power Bank: Cold weather, especially in the Andes and Patagonia, drains battery life at an accelerated rate. Always carry at least two spare, fully charged batteries. A portable power bank is also invaluable for recharging batteries and other devices while away from a power source.
• Lens Cloths & Cleaning Kit: The Atacama is one of the dustiest places on earth, and the southern regions are prone to sea spray and rain. A rocket blower, a brush, and multiple microfiber cloths are necessary to keep your lenses and sensor clean.
• Weather-resistant Camera Bag: A comfortable, high-quality camera bag with a built-in rain cover is your gear’s first line of defense. It will protect your investment from dust, moisture, and the bumps of travel on unpaved roads.

Chile-Specific Photography Tips & Techniques

Mastering the Light

Light in Chile is a subject of its own. The country’s extreme geography creates unique lighting conditions that demand both patience and quick reflexes. In the Atacama Desert, the midday sun is intense and unforgiving, casting harsh shadows and washing out the subtle desert colors. Success here lies in dedicating your efforts to the golden hours. The hour after sunrise and before sunset bathes the landscape in a soft, warm glow, sculpting the dunes of Valle de la Luna and igniting the mineral-rich mountains with vibrant hues.

Patagonia, on the other hand, offers a different challenge and reward. The light here is famously dramatic and fleeting, governed by weather systems that sweep in from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. A single afternoon can cycle through brilliant sunshine, dark storm clouds, and rainbows. The key is to be prepared for these rapid changes. This “Patagonian light” can create spectacular moments, such as sunbeams spotlighting the Cuernos del Paine against a dark, cloudy sky. Be ready to shoot at a moment’s notice.

Composition and Scale

The sheer scale of Chile’s landscapes can be difficult to convey in a two-dimensional image. A photograph of a vast glacier or a towering Andean peak can appear flat without a proper reference point. To communicate this immensity, actively look for elements to include in your frame. A lone hiker on a trail, a vicuña grazing on the Altiplano, or a vehicle on the Carretera Austral can transform a beautiful scene into a breathtaking one by providing a crucial sense of scale.

To add depth and guide the viewer through your images, make use of leading lines. Chile’s environment is rich with them. Look for the S-curve of a river winding through a valley, a rustic fence line in the Lake District, the path of a trail ascending towards a viewpoint, or the tire tracks in the sand of the Atacama. These lines create a natural pathway for the eye, drawing the viewer deeper into the composition and connecting the foreground to the background.

Technical Advice

Beyond composition, certain technical approaches will help you capture Chile’s most iconic scenes effectively.

• Astrophotography Settings: The skies in the Atacama and Elqui Valley are among the clearest on Earth. To capture the Milky Way, start with these settings and adjust as needed: a wide-angle lens at its widest aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or lower), an ISO between 3200 and 6400, and a shutter speed of 15-25 seconds. Use a sturdy tripod and a remote shutter or 2-second timer to ensure sharpness.
• Long Exposure for Water: To capture the silky, ethereal look of Chile’s powerful waterfalls and coastal waves, you’ll need a Neutral Density (ND) filter. An ND filter reduces the amount of light entering your lens, allowing for much slower shutter speeds in daylight. Experiment with shutter speeds from 0.5 seconds for some texture to 30 seconds or more for a completely smooth, misty effect at places like Petrohué Falls.
• Bracketing for High-Contrast Scenes: Many Chilean landscapes, particularly at sunrise and sunset, feature an extreme range of light from bright sky to dark foreground. Your camera may struggle to capture detail in both areas in a single shot. Use exposure bracketing to take a series of photos at different exposures (e.g., -2, 0, +2). These can be blended together later in post-processing to create a single, perfectly exposed image with detail throughout the highlights and shadows.

Ethical Wildlife Photography

Chile is home to incredible wildlife, from pumas and condors in the south to flamingos and vicuñas in the north. Photographing these animals comes with a responsibility to protect them and their habitats. Adhering to ethical practices ensures that wildlife remains wild and undisturbed.

• Maintain a Respectful Distance: A long telephoto lens (e.g., 100-400mm or longer) is your most important tool for ethical wildlife photography. It allows you to fill the frame without encroaching on an animal’s personal space, which can cause stress and alter its natural behavior. If an animal changes its behavior because of your presence, you are too close.
• Never Feed the Animals: Feeding wildlife is incredibly harmful. It habituates them to humans, can make them ill from unnatural food, and can lead to aggressive behavior. Keep all food secured and observe animals from a distance as they forage naturally.
• Hire Local, Certified Guides: For tracking elusive species like the puma in Torres del Paine, hiring a local guide is invaluable. They are trained experts who understand animal behavior, can read tracks and signs, and know how to conduct a safe and respectful encounter. Their involvement ensures the welfare of the animals and directly supports local conservation efforts.

Practical Travel Logistics for Photographers

Navigating a country as long and varied as Chile requires careful planning. From crossing vast deserts to winding through Patagonian fjords, your logistical choices will directly impact your photographic opportunities. Here’s how to approach the practical aspects of your journey.

Getting Around

Chile’s geography dictates its transportation methods. While major cities are well-connected, reaching the most photogenic remote locations often requires more rugged transport.

• Vehicle Rental: For regions like the Atacama Desert and the Carretera Austral, renting a 4×4 or a vehicle with high clearance is highly recommended. Many of the best locations are accessed via unpaved roads (ripio), and having a capable vehicle provides the freedom and security to explore off the main routes and chase the best light.
• Domestic Flights: The sheer length of the country makes flying a necessity for any multi-region trip. LATAM, Sky Airline, and JetSMART are the primary domestic carriers. Key routes for photographers include Santiago to Calama (for the Atacama), Santiago to Punta Arenas (for Torres del Paine), and Santiago to Balmaceda (for the Carretera Austral). A separate flight is required to reach Easter Island from Santiago.
• Self-Drive vs. Guided Photo Tours: The choice between independence and expert guidance depends on your comfort level and objectives.
  • Self-Drive Pros: Complete flexibility over your itinerary, the ability to wait for perfect light, and the thrill of discovery. It can also be more budget-friendly for small groups.
  • Self-Drive Cons: Requires significant research, navigation in remote areas, and dealing with vehicle logistics. You might miss local knowledge about hidden spots or optimal timing.
  • Guided Tour Pros: All logistics are handled for you. You benefit from a guide’s expertise in finding the best locations at the right time and often gain access to private areas. It’s an excellent way to learn and focus solely on photography.
  • Guided Tour Cons: Less flexibility, a fixed schedule, and generally a higher cost.

Accommodation

Chile offers a wide spectrum of lodging, from basic campsites to luxury all-inclusive lodges. Your choice will depend on your budget and proximity to your photographic subjects.

• Advance Bookings are Essential: In high-demand areas, particularly Torres del Paine during the peak season (December to February), it is crucial to book accommodation months, or even a year, in advance. This includes everything from park campsites and refugios to hotels.
• A Range of Options: In Patagonia, you can find remote estancias (ranches) that offer an authentic and isolated experience. The Atacama and Lake District have a mix of boutique hotels and comfortable hostels. Major cities like Santiago and Valparaíso provide a full range of international-standard hotels. Planning ahead ensures you can secure lodging that is strategically located for sunrise and sunset shoots.

Safety and Preparedness

A successful photography trip is a safe one. Chile is generally a safe country for travelers, but its wild environments and urban centers require specific precautions.

• Protecting Your Gear: The elements are your equipment’s biggest threat. In the Atacama, fine dust can penetrate lenses and camera bodies; keep your gear in a sealed bag when not in use. In Patagonia, be prepared for sudden rain and gale-force winds; a waterproof camera bag and rain cover are non-negotiable.
• Personal Safety: In larger cities like Santiago and Valparaíso, exercise standard urban awareness. Avoid displaying expensive camera gear ostentatiously, especially in crowded areas or at night. Keep a firm hold on your camera bag, and be mindful of your surroundings to prevent opportunistic theft.
• Altitude Acclimatization: When visiting the Altiplano in the north (including El Tatio Geysers and the high-altitude lagoons near San Pedro de Atacama), you will be at elevations exceeding 4,000 meters (13,000 feet). To avoid altitude sickness, plan to spend your first day or two acclimatizing at a lower elevation (San Pedro is at 2,400 meters). Stay well-hydrated, avoid heavy meals and alcohol, and ascend slowly. Listen to your body and do not push yourself too hard on the first few days.