The Atacama people are part of the Andean culture, and as such, they consider that nature, man and Pachamama (Mother Earth) are a whole that live permanently related. Man has a soul, a life force, and so do all plants, animals and mountains, and since man is nature itself, he does not dominate, but rather coexists. The fundamental premise is to maintain a harmonious relationship with Mother Earth, the Tata Inti (Sun) and the ancestors (Grandparents) through reciprocity and respect. That is why a series of rites associated with maintaining this relationship of veneration and responsibility with the sacred are carried out.

In the Andean world, the worldview is closely linked to the celestial vault, where earthly life and the transcendent life of spirits are reflected. The Yatiris and Amautas (wise men of the Andean cultures) continue to this day their traditions according to the movement of the sky, especially in relation to the movement of the Milky Way. Most of the most important animals in the worldview and daily life of the Andean people are represented there, such as the llama, the partridge, the toad, the snake and the sheep. Thus, the movement of the constellations has shown for thousands of years, and to this day, the opportune time to sow, harvest, celebrate, pray, thank and pay tribute to the deceased. In this way, the sky provides Andean man with the necessary knowledge to live in the difficult desert environment, both at the level of agricultural activity and spiritual rituality, which are always closely linked.

Andean cultures had calendars and centers for observing stars and other bodies, called astronomical mirrors, located in lagoons and high peaks. These tools were fundamental within their social and ritual practice.