San Pedro receives the Green Destinations Silver Award 2026
The international certification recognizes progress in the destination’s sustainable management. According to Chile’s Undersecretariat of Tourism, San Pedro de Atacama is the second destination in Chile to reach Silver status and the only one in the country certified in the program’s international category.
An international certification for destination management
Chile’s Undersecretariat of Tourism reported that San Pedro de Atacama obtained the Green Destinations Silver Award 2026. The recognition ceremony took place on June 3 and brought together national, regional and municipal authorities alongside representatives connected to local tourism.
Green Destinations evaluates destinations using sustainable-tourism criteria aligned with international standards. Reaching Silver status does not mean every challenge is solved; it means the destination’s management has been assessed and recognized as making progress within that framework.
The official statement highlights that San Pedro is the second Chilean destination to reach Silver status, after Puerto Puyuhuapi, and the only destination in Chile certified within the program’s international category.
The process reflects coordination between the municipality, public services, communities and tourism operators. That collective dimension matters: the recognition is awarded to the destination, not to any single company.
International recognition, local responsibilities
San Pedro attracts visitors for its landscapes, skies and heritage, but its tourism growth also requires protecting water, ecosystems, cultural sites and quality of life.
It makes evaluated management visible
The recognition provides an external reference for the destination’s sustainability work, beyond a marketing claim.
It reinforces the need for continuity
A certification is a milestone, not a finish line. Maintaining and improving standards requires ongoing follow-up and collaboration.
It connects tourism and territory
The visitor experience depends on communities, ecosystems and local services. Caring for them is part of the destination’s value.
What visitors to San Pedro can do
- Respect trails, opening hours and signage: orderly access protects both visitors and the site.
- Do not remove salt, rocks, plants or remains: a small souvenir repeated by thousands of visitors is no longer small.
- Reduce waste and unnecessary water use: you are visiting an extremely arid territory.
- Value local heritage: ask permission before photographing people or ceremonies and follow each community’s rules.
- Book formal, accountable services: check inclusions, conditions and responsibilities before reserving.
The certification alone does not change how people travel. Its value grows when institutions, businesses and visitors turn sustainability criteria into concrete decisions.
Statement from Chile’s Undersecretariat of Tourism
This article was prepared based on the official announcement published on June 3, 2026.
Get to know San Pedro beyond the headline
Explore its landscapes, the role of altitude, the communities that manage different areas, and the choices that help you visit responsibly.