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CJC El Loa Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

El Loa Airport (CJC) serves San Pedro de Atacama, about 85 km northwest of San Pedro de Atacama. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATACJC
ICAOSCCF
ServesSan Pedro de Atacama
From centre85 km
Non-stop4
Airlines2
TimezoneAmerica/Santiago
Elevation2299 m

See on map ↗

The airport in numbers

El Loa Airport — facts & history

We pulled El Loa Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 898,730 passengers in 2022, against a peak of 1.4M in 2013.

Passengers / year
898,730
as of 2022
Peak traffic
1.4M
in 2013
Elevation
2299 מ׳
above sea level
Passengers per year, 2011–2022

Figures: Wikidata (CC0)

Airport to city

Getting from El Loa Airport to San Pedro de Atacama

The airport is about 85 km northwest of San Pedro de Atacama, about 90 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: No rail to Santiago's airport (SCL). Buses (Turbus / Centropuerto) to the centre, or a taxi.

Taxi & apps: An official taxi from a desk, or Uber/Cabify/DiDi (legal). Flat zone fares from the desks. Estimated fare to the centre: $67031–$106461.

Tipping: Round up.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~63 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~90 min$67031–$106461
Private transfer~90 minfixed upfront
Car rental~90 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Choose and book

Which way suits you from El Loa Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people. ~$67031–$106461 to the centre.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Calama ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from El Loa Airport

Non-stop flights to about 4 destinations, operated by 2 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Sky Airline · LAN Airlines

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at El Loa Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near El Loa Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Calama shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — El Loa Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near San Pedro de Atacama

Same country

Other airports in Chile

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from El Loa Airport to the centre of San Pedro de Atacama?
No rail to Santiago's airport (SCL). Buses (Turbus / Centropuerto) to the centre, or a taxi. The airport is about 85 km northwest of San Pedro de Atacama, about 90 minutes by road.
How much is a taxi from El Loa Airport to San Pedro de Atacama?
Roughly $67031–$106461 (at the local tariff). Many airports have a regulated flat fare — ask at the taxi desk.
Can I use a ride app from El Loa Airport?
An official taxi from a desk, or Uber/Cabify/DiDi (legal). Flat zone fares from the desks.
What's the cheapest way from El Loa Airport to San Pedro de Atacama?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. No rail to Santiago's airport (SCL). Buses (Turbus / Centropuerto) to the centre, or a taxi.
Can I get from El Loa Airport into town without a car?
Yes. No rail to Santiago's airport (SCL). Buses (Turbus / Centropuerto) to the centre, or a taxi. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from El Loa Airport?
About 4 destinations, including Santiago, La Serena, Copiapo, Antofagasta. 2 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is El Loa Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on El Loa Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at El Loa Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Calama city guide← Chile travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes · Getting-there notes: Around the World, checked 2026

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