Who Are the Atacameños?

An Ancient Legacy

The Atacameños, or Lickan Antay, are an Indigenous people who have inhabited the Andean highlands for over 11,000 years. Their ancestral territory stretches from the Atacama Salt Flat to areas of Argentina and Bolivia. Today, much of the community is concentrated in San Pedro de Atacama and surrounding villages like Toconao, Socaire, and Talabre, which still preserve their cultural identity.

The Lickan Antay maintain a deep connection with the land, water, and stars. This worldview is reflected in their rituals, their relationship with nature, and their community organization.