Let's be clear: San Pedro is kind of a weird place. The main tourist jumping-off point for the central Atacama, it clings tightly to a down-market, $5-a-day-backpacker image. The town offers essentially one long street of low-cost bars and restaurants, lounging stray dogs, energetic tour touts, cookie-cutter souvenir shops, and oddly expensive outdoor equipment dealers. In the evenings, all those backpackers kill time by walking up and down the street and looking for happy hour prices on beer. Happily, a block off one end of that peculiar mecca we found a calm oasis: the Pascual Andino. Nestled behind its high, blank adobe walls is an open courtyard surrounded by rustic-chic rooms, each with their own enclosed patios and access to a shared outdoor seating area and jacuzzi. The staff is solicitous and friendly -- and speaks excellent English. We had a rental car that they provided adjoining secure parking for with some prior coordination. Breakfast is more or less standard buffet fare, but was plentiful and good, and the one morning we set out before the breakfast room opened they boxed food for us to take with us. If you're going to use San Pedro de Atacama as a base -- and the sights within driving distance of it are most definitely worth it -- Pascual Andino is the place to stay.
