Piedras Rojas, Atacama Salt Flats & Altiplano Lakes Trip

Discover the volcanic landscapes of Piedras Rojas (Red Stones) in the Chilean altiplano, including the Atacama salt flat and mountain lagoons above 4,000 meters (13,000 feet).

Piedras Rojas, Atacama Salt Flats & Altiplano Lakes Trip

The tour begins with hotel pickup, followed by breakfast en route. The first stop is Toconao, an indigenous village with traditional white adobe buildings, where you will learn about the Toconao people's history and visit the 18th-century Church of San Lucas and its bell tower.

Weather permitting, we will visit Chaxa Lagoon, a scenic area with flamingos. Following this, a one-hour hike along the Piedras Rojas trail will lead us to the impressive salt flat and the highland lakes of Miscanti and Miñiques, along with opportunities to see endemic fauna like vicuñas, foxes, and flamingos.

A lunch break will occur en route or at a restaurant, featuring a main course and drink. After lunch, we will visit Piedras Rojas, noted for its surreal scarlet-toned landscape due to iron oxidation. Here, you will also see the emerald waters of the lagoon of Salar de Aguas Calientes. The return to San Pedro de Atacama is expected 12-13 hours later.

Hotel Pickup

Pickup is available from hotels within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of San Pedro de Atacama, with options to pick up closer (up to 2 kilometers) or further away. Note that pickups from Ayllus, Solor, Cucuter, and Toconao are not included. For more remote stays, alternative meeting points will be provided in reservation vouchers.

Itinerary Changes

The order of visits in the itinerary might change due to planning purposes.