Piedras Rojas & Altiplanic Lagoons tour from San Pedro de Atacama

You walk to copper-colored rocks at 3,800 meters and see flamingos the same day.

A full-day tour from San Pedro de Atacama visits Piedras Rojas, the Altiplanic Lagoons of Miscanti and Meñiques, and Chaxa lagoon, with stops at the Tropic of Capricorn and Socaire. The route climbs to 3,800 meters elevation. A one-hour-fifteen-minute walk reaches the red-rock formations and surrounding salt flats. Breakfast and a box lunch are included, along with bilingual guide (Spanish and English) and hotel pickup from the urban area. The itinerary may be reordered on the day of the tour.

The experience

Piedras Rojas (also called the Aguas Calientes salt flat) sits high enough that the drive alone takes you through some of the Atacama's most visited terrain. Once the vehicle reaches 3,800 meters, you walk for an hour and fifteen minutes to see the copper-colored rocks and the lagoons and salt flats around them. The guide explains the flora and fauna that survive at that altitude, which is sparse but real.

After Piedras Rojas, the tour moves to the Miscanti and Meñiques Altiplanic Lagoons, where the guide gives more detail about what lives there. Then comes Chaxa lagoon, where flamingos gather. You also pass through Socaire and stop at the Tropic of Capricorn for photographs. Breakfast is provided before the day starts, and a box lunch is included during the route, so you eat without leaving the tour.

The shared vehicle picks you up at your accommodation in the urban area of San Pedro de Atacama. A bilingual guide (Spanish and English) leads the group throughout. The order of stops may shift depending on conditions on the day you travel, so the experience can adapt to weather or other factors.

What’s included

• Breakfast and box lunch.
• hotel pickup from your accommodation in the urban area.
• shared transport.
• bilingual guide in Spanish and English.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (18 to 67 years) · Under 18: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 23 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Agencia GuiasTours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to cover three lagoons and Piedras Rojas in one shared day trip with bilingual guide and transport included from your hotel.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

How high does the tour climb, and what is the walk like at Piedras Rojas?

The vehicle reaches 3,800 meters elevation. From there, you walk for one hour and fifteen minutes to reach the copper-colored rocks and see the lagoons and salt flats around them. Moderate physical fitness is recommended for the altitude and distance.

What animals will I see on this tour?

Flamingos gather at Chaxa lagoon, which is a main stop on the route. The guide also discusses the flora and fauna that live in the Altiplanic Lagoons region, though sightings depend on the day and conditions.

What's included in the meals on this tour?

Breakfast is provided before the tour departs, and a box lunch is included during the route. Both are part of the tour price.

Does the tour visit the Tropic of Capricorn?

Yes, the tour passes through the Tropic of Capricorn and makes a short stop there so you can take photographs.

Can the order of the stops change?

The itinerary may be reordered on the day of the excursion depending on conditions, so the sequence of Piedras Rojas, the Altiplanic Lagoons, Chaxa lagoon, Socaire and the Tropic of Capricorn may vary.