Altiplanic Lagoons & Piedras Rojas Tour

Location: Los Flamencos National Reserve & Piedras Rojas, Atacama Desert, Chile

Spend a full day among the high-altitude lagoons and volcanic landscapes of the Chilean altiplano, from the flamingo colonies of Laguna Chaxa to the copper-red rock formations of Piedras Rojas, more than 4,000 meters above sea level.

Your private guide picks you up from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama for the drive to Laguna Chaxa, in the Los Flamencos National Reserve, where Andean and Chilean flamingos feed in the shallow waters of the Salar de Atacama. From there, the route climbs into the altiplano, passing through the small village of Socaire, at 3,500 meters, before reaching the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, two high-altitude lakes named after the volcanoes that tower beside them.

The larger of the two, Laguna Miscanti, spans roughly 13.4 km² at 4,120 meters above sea level, while Laguna Miñiques covers a smaller 1.5 km² at 4,115 meters — the pair separated by an ancient lava flow from the Miscanti and Miñiques volcanoes. Their intensely turquoise waters, set against golden altiplano grassland and snow-dusted peaks, form part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve and are home to flamingos, horned coots, vicuñas, and foxes.

The day continues to Piedras Rojas, near the Sico Pass, where copper-red volcanic rock — colored by iron oxidation — meets the white crust of the Salar de Talar and the deep blue of its highland lagoons, with snow-capped volcanoes completing the scene from a viewpoint above 4,000 meters.

Walks throughout the day are short and largely on flat or gently uneven ground, though the altitude calls for a relaxed pace. Your guide accompanies you throughout, with the private vehicle returning you to San Pedro de Atacama by early evening after a day spent among some of the highest and most colorful landscapes in the Atacama.