Calama, with a population of 123,000, is located 215 km north west of Antofagasta and 1,568 from Santiago, at an altitude of 2,250 m above sea level. Its importance is based on the fact that it is the neighboring city to the Chuquicamata copper mine.

It is the largest oasis of all the Andean foothills, as can be observed from the crops that grow round about. Commerce is particularly important, since the city functions as a dormitory town for the people who travel to work at the mine. It also has a big influx of tourists.

There are a number of tourist attractions, such as Parque Loa, the Iglesia Catedral San Juan Bautista and the Museo Arqueológico y Etnográfico.

There is a lot of activity in the evenings, particularly in the well-stocked shops of the Ramirez pedestrian precinct, with their merchandise piled up to the roof. On the pavements there are presentations of street art.

The town is the starting point for visits to the town of Chuquicamata, and, on the other side of the Cordillera de la Sal, San Pedro de Atacama.