Lagunas Altiplanicas | Atacama Explorer

High Plateau Lagoons Tour

Tour Start Time : Depending on the time of year, it varies between 8 and 9 am

Just a few minutes after sunrise over the mountain range, at approximately 8-9 am, we will begin our adventure south of San Pedro de Atacama, parallel to the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Salt Flat. After a little over an hour, we will begin ascending into the heights of the Andes Mountains, towards the Altiplano geological zone. Here, due to the more abundant rainfall, there is much more vegetation, biodiversity, and volcanoes of great beauty. This is also where the two main stops included in this tour are located, which are described below, although their order may vary depending on our schedule.

Stops

Red Stones : The unique red stones, shaped by erosion and so visited today, were named by the tourism industry around 2010 and are located on the shore of what is the "Salar de Talar", also called Salar de Aguas Calientes III, due to the presence of hydrothermal environments in part of the body of water that still remain in the area, despite the intense evaporation that the salt flat has had since the post-glacial era.

To reach the "Red Stones," we'll have to hike downhill for 1 km through a breathtaking landscape. From there, we'll see the turquoise waters of the salt flats below, surrounded by the red stones, the hills with their reddish hue, the typical yellow grasses of the high plateau, and an intense blue sky that completes the scene like a painting. If we're lucky, we might even spot vicuñas, foxes, vizcachas, and perhaps even flamingos.

Once at the red rocks, we can take photographs, listen to information about the geology, geography, and biodiversity of the area, and take some time to contemplate and enjoy this stunning scenery. Then we'll begin the most demanding part of the hike: the return to the parking lot. This time, we'll walk uphill, so we'll proceed at a leisurely pace to avoid unnecessary fatigue or altitude sickness.

High-altitude lagoons : As their name suggests, these two lagoons are formed by the accumulation of water from rainfall and snowmelt in the Andes. They are true gems nestled in the mountains, their landscape constantly changing depending on the season. In this area, we will take gentle walks of a few hundred meters, learning about the environment and its biodiversity.

Once the tour of the "High Plateau Lagoons" is finished and we are already on the way down from 4,000 meters above sea level towards San Pedro, we can enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the second largest salt flat in the world, the "Atacama Salt Flat", which will be located below in the central part of the Atacama basin at 2,430 meters above sea level.

We will also be able to clearly see the area where the Lithium mines are located in the Atacama salt flat, as well as the extensive system of terraces that the Incas made near the town of Socaire around 1500 AD.

Socaire Village: After midday we will stop at a beautiful and picturesque pre-Hispanic village called "Socaire", to learn about its ancestral agro-pastoral history and also to take the opportunity to replenish our energy and enjoy a delicious and very well prepared lunch.

Tropic of Capricorn Landmark and Toconao: After the "village of Socaire" and along the return journey to San Pedro de Atacama, we will make the last two stops of the tour, one at the "Tropic of Capricorn landmark" and the other in the pre-Hispanic village of "Toconao", where we will visit its plaza, the church of San Lucas and the museum shop of Mrs. Luisa, where we can meet her llamas, learn about typical products of the area, her quality handicrafts and enjoy some of her artisanal ice creams if you wish.

Recommendations:

Bring SPF 50 sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat and/or cap, hiking boots, warm clothing (several layers on top and bottom), gloves, and a hat. Drink in moderation and get plenty of rest the day before.

Updated Information