3-Day San Pedro de Atacama Tour: Geysers, Lagoons & Moon Valley

Three days crossing the Atacama's starkest landmarks, from geothermal vents to a salt lagoon you float in.

A 3-day guided tour of San Pedro de Atacama visiting El Tatio Geysers, Laguna Cejar, the Red Stones plateau, and Moon Valley, with all park entries, meals, guide and hotel pickup included. Tours run with live guides in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Children from age 5 are welcome. Lodging is not included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Cejar Lagoon and Astronomical Tour

• Pick up at accommodation 14:00
• Visit Laguna Cejar and lagoons
• End of Laguna Cejar ride 18:30
• Astronomical tour with guide and photos

Day 2: Red Stones and Highland Lagoons

• Pick up at accommodation 7:00
• Visit Laguna Chaxa and Piedras Rojas
• Explore Salar de Talar and viewpoints
• Visit Tropic of Capricorn and Altiplánica route
• End of ride 16:30

Day 3: Geyser del Tatio and Valley of the Moon

• Pick up at accommodation 5:00
• Visit Geyser del Tatio and breakfast buffet
• Visit Cactus Canyon viewpoint and Machuca
• End of morning ride 12:30
• Pick up for Valley of the Moon 15:30
• Visit Valley of the Moon and sunset with cocktail
• End of ride 20:30

The experience

The tour splits into three separate days, each built around a different corner of the Atacama. Day one pairs Laguna Cejar (a salt lagoon where you float without effort) with an evening astronomical tour that includes a professional photographer and two high-quality digital photos to take home. Day two runs a full day across the high plains, starting before dawn with breakfast, then moving through the Red Stones sector, the Salar de Talar salt flats, and a string of mountain lagoons along the Altiplanic route, ending back in town by late afternoon. Day three splits between the El Tatio Geysers in the early morning (where you eat a buffet breakfast in the geothermal field itself), and Moon Valley at sunset, where a geology and archaeology guide walks you through salt mines and the Three Marys rock formations, finishing with a cocktail as the light goes.

Hotel pickup is included each day, timed to your accommodation. All park entries are covered: Laguna Cejar, the Red Stones and highland lagoons, El Tatio, and Moon Valley. Meals on day two and the breakfast at the geysers on day three are included. Day one includes a snack and drink board with the astronomy tour. The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese depending on the group, and the tour suits all fitness levels, though days two and three start early and involve high altitude: the Red Stones run at over 4,000 meters and the geysers sit at 4,200 meters.

What’s included

• All four park entries: Laguna Cejar, Red Stones and highland lagoons, El Tatio Geysers, and Moon Valley.
• hotel pickup each day.
• a live guide in English, Spanish or Portuguese.
• full breakfast and lunch on day two and breakfast at the geysers on day three.
• a snack and drink board with the astronomy tour.
• two professional digital photos from the night sky session.
• and transportation between all sites.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Child (5 to 17 years) · Under 5: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 30 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Expediciones San Pedro

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English, Spanish or Portuguese, so book the language that matches your group. The tour runs the same itinerary regardless of language, but the commentary shifts with the guide. Choose the one your group understands best.

Traveler reviews

4.54★★★★★★★★★★

52 verified traveler reviews

5 ★43

4 ★3

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 17 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.

What's included in the 3-day tour price?

All four park entries are included: Laguna Cejar, the Red Stones and highland lagoons sector, El Tatio Geysers, and Moon Valley. Hotel pickup each day, a full breakfast and lunch on day two, breakfast at the geysers on day three, and a snack board with the astronomy tour on day one are also covered. The guide and transportation between sites are included. Lodging in San Pedro is separate.

How early do the pickups start?

Day one picks up between 2 and 2:40 p.m. for Laguna Cejar. Day two starts earliest, with pickup between 7 and 7:40 a.m. Day three picks up between 5 and 5:40 a.m. for the geysers, then a second pickup between 3:30 and 4:10 p.m. for Moon Valley. All pickups happen at your accommodation.

What happens at El Tatio Geysers?

El Tatio Geysers sit at 4,200 meters in the Andes and are active in the early morning when steam rises most visibly. The tour includes a buffet breakfast served in the geothermal field itself, a viewpoint at Cactus Canyon, and a stop in the village of Machuca. The visit runs from the 5 a.m. pickup until around 12:30 p.m.

What's the geology guide at Moon Valley like?

Moon Valley's guide specializes in geology and archaeology, walking you through the salt mines, the Three Marys rock formations, and the salt mountain range. The visit times sunset, and the tour ends with a cocktail as the light fades. Pickup is around 3:30 p.m. and the tour ends by 8:30 p.m.

Does the astronomy tour on day one include photos?

Yes. The astronomical tour includes a professional photographer who captures images of you under the night sky. You receive two high-quality photos in digital format to take home, along with a guide explaining the Andean and Atacameño perspectives on the stars and a snack and drink board.