The longest day in the desert, and the one with the deepest review record of any full-day tour.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before it starts
- Duration10 hours
This is the long one: ten hours south and up, taking in Piedras Rojas, the altiplanic lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques at 4,140 m, and the Salar de Atacama with its flamingos on the way back. It carries 4.7 from 786 reviews, the deepest record of any full-day product in this inventory. It also goes higher and for longer than anything else on offer short of the Bolivia crossing, and the operator publishes an unusually frank list of who should not be on it.
Compare Atacama ToursKey facts
full-day high-altitude circuit- Duration
- 10 hours
- Meeting point
- Collected in San Pedro de Atacama early; the operator confirms the time when you book
- Price
- CLP 84,942 per person
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before it starts
Included
- ✓ Hotel pickup in San Pedro de Atacama
- ✓ Local expert guide
- ✓ Breakfast and lunch
Not included
- ✗ Entry fees: approximately 29.000 CLP
- ✗ Tips
- ✗ Drop off in the center of San Pedro
What the day covers
Piedras Rojas, the red mineral shore on the Salar de Talar, is the photograph everyone has seen. Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques sit at 4,140 m, separated by a lava flow, and you walk only on the marked paths because the shores are a flamingo breeding site. The Salar de Atacama comes on the return, usually at Laguna Chaxa.
The altitude, stated plainly
4,140 m is higher than anything except El Tatio. The operator does not recommend the tour for pregnant travellers, people with back problems, hypertension or serious health conditions, children under 7, or adults over 70 — because of the altitude, not the walking. Take it after a day or two acclimatising, not before.
The flamingos
Three species feed on the salar: Andean, Chilean and James's. Laguna Chaxa is the reliable place to see them and the light is better late in the day, which is when this tour arrives. They are wild birds on a working salt flat, so nothing is guaranteed.
The temperature swing
Cold enough to need a jacket in the morning at the lagoons, hot on the salar in the afternoon. Bring layers, water, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses — the operator lists all of them, and at 4,000 m the sun is not filtered the way it is at home.
What is not included
The community fees at Piedras Rojas and the CONAF fee for the lagoons. CONAF publishes Miscanti and Miñiques at CLP 8,000 for a foreign adult and CLP 4,000 for children, students and over-60s. These are collected on the spot.
Who should not book this
- Anyone who arrived yesterday
- Pregnant travellers and people with hypertension or heart conditions, per the operator
- Children under 7 and adults over 70, per the operator
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Triple tour: Red stones, highland lagoons and Chaxa Lagoon
CLP 835104.73 from 305 reviews and names Laguna Chaxa explicitly, so take this one if the flamingos are the reason you are going.
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Altiplano Lagoons, Chaxa, and Piedras Rojas
CLP 76448Cheaper and covers the same ground, but has no review history yet.
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Check prices & dates
Book your tickets in advance: popular time slots sell out.
Compare Atacama ToursHow to book
The button opens the operator's GetYourGuide listing, where you pick a date and pay them directly. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Bring cash in Chilean pesos for the fees collected along the way. This site earns a commission at no extra cost to you.
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Frequently asked questions
How high does it go?
4,140 m at Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques. That is high enough to matter and the operator's own guidance is explicit about who should avoid it.
Will I see flamingos?
Usually, at Laguna Chaxa on the Salar de Atacama. Three species feed there. They are wild birds, so it is likely rather than certain.
Is ten hours too long?
It is a genuinely long day with a lot of driving. If you only have one full day and have not acclimatised, a half-day tour is the better use of it.