3-day Atacama tour: El Tatio, Cejar Lagoon, Moon Valley

Three days across the Atacama's strangest landscapes: geysers, salt lagoons and a valley that looks like another planet.

A 3-day guided tour from San Pedro de Atacama visiting El Tatio Geysers, Cejar Lagoon and Moon Valley, with a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese, hotel pickup included, and breakfast on the geyser day. The itinerary covers the three main attractions of the region in sequence: the geothermal field at 4,200 meters, the turquoise lagoons of the Salar de Atacama where you float like the Dead Sea, and the eroded rock formations of Moon Valley ending at sunset. Entrance fees to the parks are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Valley of the Moon tour

• Cross the Valley of the Moon
• Visit Tres Marías rock formations
• Explore the Canyon and Amphitheater
• Watch sunset at Licarantay viewpoint

Day 2: Lagoon visits and floating experience

• Visit Laguna Cejar and Laguna Piedra
• Enjoy floating bath in Laguna Piedra
• Visit Ojos del Salar freshwater wells
• Walk along Tebinquinche Lagoon path

Day 3: Tatio Geysers and Machuca town

• Depart at dawn to Tatio Geysers
• Tour geothermal field with steam columns
• Have breakfast near geysers
• Stop at Putana River for flora and fauna
• Visit Machuca town for local foods

The experience

You arrive in San Pedro de Atacama with a free afternoon or a morning to spare, and three days is enough to see the region's signature sights without rushing. Day one takes you to Moon Valley, where erosion has carved the landscape into formations called the Tres Marías, the Canyon and the Amphitheater. The tour crosses the valley transversally and ends at the Licarantay viewpoint for sunset, watching the desert shift color with volcanoes on the horizon.

Day two covers the lagoons of the Salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile. You swim in Cejar Lagoon and Laguna Piedra, where the salt content makes you float, then visit Ojos del Salar (two deep freshwater wells in the middle of the desert), and walk the shore of Tebenquinche Lagoon. The contrast between turquoise water and white salt and sky is the draw here.

Day three is the El Tatio Geysers tour, which departs at dawn and runs about 8 hours. You climb into the Andes for an hour and a half to reach 4,200 meters, where 80 geysers steam in the morning cold. Breakfast is included at the site. On the return to San Pedro, the route stops at the Putana River to see native plants and animals, then at the town of Machuca, where you can buy local food like flame anticuchos and empanadas. The geyser entrance fee and any travel insurance are separate from the tour price.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in San Pedro de Atacama.
• a live guide in your choice of English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• breakfast on the El Tatio day.
• and access to all three main attractions on the itinerary.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (14 to 80 years) · Under 14: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 44 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 48

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Travel Sum Chile

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you don't need a car or a ride to start each day. The guide collects you in San Pedro. This matters if you're staying in town without transport, or if it's your first time in the region and you want someone who knows the route and the timing.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What's the best time of day to see El Tatio Geysers?

The tour leaves at dawn because the geysers are most dramatic in the cold morning air, when steam columns rise highest. By mid-morning the effect fades as the temperature rises.

Can I actually swim in Cejar Lagoon?

Yes. Cejar Lagoon and Laguna Piedra both have high salt content that makes you float, similar to the Dead Sea. You'll experience the floating effect as part of the day-two lagoon tour.

What does Moon Valley look like?

Moon Valley is a landscape of rock formations shaped by erosion, salt deposits and layered colors. The named formations (Tres Marías, the Canyon, the Amphitheater) are the main stops, and the Licarantay viewpoint at sunset shows how the desert changes color with volcanoes in the distance.

Is breakfast really included, or just on one day?

Breakfast is included on day three, the El Tatio Geysers tour, served at the geothermal field. The other two days do not include meals.

Do I need to pay extra for the park entrances?

Yes. The entrance fees to El Tatio Geysers, Moon Valley and Cejar Lagoon are not included in the tour price and must be paid separately.