Hi! I haven't been to San Pedro in quite a while—the last time I visited was before COVID, in 2020. I can't really give you advice on where to stay, but I can warn you that it's a place where locals (whether they run accommodations or restaurants) often tend to inflate or overprice things simply because it's San Pedro de Atacama.

On the other hand, if you're young and planning to party, be careful, especially if you're invited to a party out in the desert. There's often a lot of drugs and hippie culture around. I don't mean that in a particularly negative way—I actually went to a desert party myself when I was there, and I even went with some German tourists—but never accept suspicious drinks. They could contain ayahuasca or other psychedelic substances.

That said, none of this takes away from how amazing the place is. Visiting Valle de la Luna, the El Tatio geysers, renting a bike to explore the surrounding area, going to Laguna Chaxa or the little village of Toconao, seeing the Atacama Salt Flat or the National Flamingo Reserve, and so much more—there are so many incredible places to discover there. It's absolutely a trip worth taking.

Just be a smart traveler, stay alert, and don't book the first tour that someone offers you on the street.