Day 6 started with Valle del Arcoiris — a dusty rainbow valley I hiked all morning. By the time I got back to San Pedro in the afternoon, my shoes were full of sand and my legs were done.

But the day wasn’t over yet.

If you’re planning a trip to San Pedro de Atacama and wondering what to do with your afternoon — there’s an old dome in the middle of town that most people walk past without a second look. Inside: over 6,000 meteorites, NASA-certified, containing DNA bases. The organic compounds that may have seeded life on Earth.

Still looking for accommodation? Book through trip.com — San Pedro is a small town and the good spots fill up fast.

Before I Touched a Meteorite, I Had to Eat

Back at the hostel, the first priority was food. The kitchen was fully stocked — stove, pans, the works. I dug through what was left in the fridge from a Chilean supermarket run and made something that loosely resembled a meal. Couldn’t name it, but it was edible and filling.

Restaurants in San Pedro de Atacama are expensive — noticeably more so than other towns in Chile. It’s the main tourist hub for the entire Atacama region, and prices reflect that. If you’re here for more than a couple of days, staying somewhere with a kitchen will save you more than you’d expect over the course of the trip.

Browse accommodation in San Pedro with kitchen access at trip.com

The Best Chocolate of the Trip — Gone by the Time I Came Back

After eating, I walked over to Emporio Andino — the same chocolate shop from the first day in town. The plan was simple: buy more of the one that was genuinely good. Good enough to bring back as a gift.

Sold out.

I picked up something similar instead. Fine, but not the same. The lesson: if you find something exceptional in San Pedro, buy it on the spot. Stock is limited. That said — Emporio Andino still has the best chocolate I had on this entire trip.

The Old Dome Everyone Walks Past — 6,000 Meteorites, NASA-Certified, Inside

From the chocolate shop, a short walk brought me to a dome I’d walked past every single day since arriving in San Pedro. No dramatic signage. No grand entrance. Just an old-looking building that blends into the street.

I finally walked in.

The Meteorite Museum San Pedro de Atacama (Museo del Meteorito) holds one of the largest private meteorite collections in the world — over 6,000 pieces recovered from the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Because rainfall here is virtually zero, meteorites that fell thousands of years ago are still in excellent condition. Every piece in the collection is certified by NASA, UCLA, and CEREGE.

But the number isn’t what surprised me. It was this: these meteorites contain DNA bases.

DNA bases — or nucleobases — are the organic molecules that form the foundation of DNA and RNA. Scientists found these compounds inside meteorites from Atacama and believe they may have arrived from space as the building blocks of life on Earth billions of years ago. More at NASA Astrobiology. I actually got to hold one. Hard to describe the feeling — like holding something that might be part of the reason any of us exist. (okay that’s a stretch, but still)

Don’t want to plan it alone? Book a guided tour of San Pedro de Atacama at GetYourGuide

If You Find a Strange Rock in the Desert — How Do You Know It’s From Space?

The staff here was genuinely great. Instead of just pointing at exhibits, he walked me through exactly how to identify a meteorite in the field — useful if you’re planning to hike in the Atacama and happen to pick something up. Three things to check:

1. A glassy, smooth outer skin Called Fusion Crust — as a meteorite burns through Earth’s atmosphere, its surface melts and re-solidifies. The result is a thin, glossy coating that regular rocks simply don’t have.

2. Unusually strong magnetic pull Most meteorites have high iron and nickel content. Hold a magnet against it — if it sticks with surprising force, that’s a strong indicator.

3. Heavier than it should be Pick it up and you’ll notice immediately: it feels too heavy for its size. Meteorites are dense in a way that catches you off guard.

All three together? Very likely not from Earth.

The Most Expensive Souvenir of the Trip — A Fragment of Space Rock With a Certificate

Before leaving, I browsed the shop inside the museum. The Meteorite Museum sells authentic meteorite fragments — each piece comes with its own authentication certificate. Pricing varies by size and type.

Not a fridge magnet. An actual piece of space rock that may contain the organic compounds responsible for life on Earth. If you collect things with a story, this is worth a look.

A 5-Minute Drive for the Best Sunset in Chile

After the museum, I drove out to Mirador Likan-Antay — the closest sunset viewpoint to San Pedro de Atacama, just a few minutes from the center of town. Having a rental car made this effortless. You can browse options at DiscoverCars.

When the sun started dropping, the light changed everything. Mountains that looked plain and brown all afternoon turned deep orange fading into pink across the entire horizon. No filter needed. Then the sun disappeared — and the temperature dropped immediately. I was back in the car fast.

Arrive at least 20–30 minutes before sunset to get a good spot before it fills up.

Ended the Day I Touched a Space Rock With Pineapple Pizza

Late dinner: pineapple pizza. After days in the desert, I needed something that felt even remotely close to Asia. Pineapple pizza counts. The cheese here was noticeably good. No regrets.

One day: morning at Valle del Arcoiris, afternoon touching a meteorite that may have seeded life on Earth, evening watching the mountains turn orange, dinner with pineapple. That’s a full one.

Next up: heading to one of the highest-altitude locations on the planet. Bring an extra layer — you’ll need it.

Meteorite Museum San Pedro de Atacama: Practical Info

For your San Pedro de Atacama trip:

• 🏨 Accommodation in San Pedro — trip.com
• 🚗 Car rental for Atacama — DiscoverCars
• 📱 Airalo eSIM Chile — signal coverage in town
• 🗺️ San Pedro de Atacama tours — GetYourGuide
• 🌌 Stargazing tours San Pedro — GetYourGuide

FAQ — Meteorite Museum San Pedro de Atacama

Q: Where is the Meteorite Museum in San Pedro de Atacama? A: It’s 3 blocks north of the Main Square — about a 10-minute walk from the town center. Search “Museo del Meteorito San Pedro” on Google Maps. Check opening hours before you go since it’s closed on Mondays.

Q: Where do the meteorites at the Meteorite Museum come from? A: They were all recovered from the Atacama Desert, one of the best natural preservation environments on Earth. Because it almost never rains here, meteorites stay intact for thousands of years after impact. The collection has over 6,000 pieces, certified by NASA, UCLA, and CEREGE.

Q: What are DNA bases in meteorites? A: They’re nucleobases — the organic molecules that form the structural core of DNA and RNA. Scientists found these compounds in meteorites from Atacama and believe they may have arrived from space, potentially contributing to the origin of life on Earth. This field is called astrobiology.

Q: How do you identify a real meteorite? A: Look for three things: 1) Fusion crust — a thin, glassy outer coating from atmospheric entry. 2) Strong magnetic pull due to high iron-nickel content. 3) Unusual density — heavier than any rock of that size should feel. All three together is a very strong indicator.

Q: Can you buy meteorites at the Meteorite Museum? A: Yes. Authentic meteorite fragments with individual authentication certificates are available in the shop. Prices vary by size and type.

Q: Is Mirador Likan-Antay worth visiting for sunset? A: Absolutely — and it’s the closest viewpoint to San Pedro, just a few minutes’ drive from the center. The mountains turn a deep orange-pink that photographs beautifully. Arrive 20–30 minutes early. Rent a car here if you don’t have one.

Q: What is there to do at night in San Pedro de Atacama? A: Stargazing. San Pedro sits at high altitude with extremely dry, clear air — making it one of the best places on Earth to observe the night sky. Multiple tours run every night. Book in advance at GetYourGuide.

Atacama Series — Day 6:

• ← Day 6 Morning: Valle del Arcoiris — The Rainbow Valley Your GPS Won’t Find
• ← Day 5: Laguna Cejar — The Salt Lake Where You Float Without Trying

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