The day to the altiplanic lagoons and Piedras Rojas is the longest and highest trip from San Pedro de Atacama: eleven hours, down the edge of the salt flat and up past 4,000 metres. This guide is for you if you are weighing whether to give it a whole day. It covers which tickets to buy and from whom, when in your stay to go, what the weather does up there, and who should take the shorter version.
Who runs each stop
The stops on this day sit inside the Los Flamencos National Reserve and on land of the Atacameño communities, and each one has its own ticket. Knowing who sells which saves a scramble the night before.
- Laguna Chaxa is run by the community of Toconao, which sells entrances online through its own platform.
- Miscanti and Miñiques, and Piedras Rojas, are run by the community of Socaire, which also sells online. Piedras Rojas is also known as the Salar de Aguas Calientes Sur.
None of these entrances are in our price. Buy them in advance for your date, and have them with you on the day.
When to go, in the year and in your stay
Go late in your stay, not on arrival. San Pedro sits at about 2,400 metres, and the lagoons are more than 1,600 metres higher. The medical advice is to spend two or three nights at around 2,450 to 2,750 metres before going higher. Fitness does not protect you, and children are as likely to be affected as adults. Avoid alcohol for your first 48 hours at altitude.
In the year, winter is the risk. The surroundings of Miscanti and Miñiques can be under snow, and access to them can be closed. When that happens, some tours go to another high lagoon, such as Tuyajto, instead. We check before the day and tell you. In January and February the altiplanic winter brings more rain and storms to the region, and in 2019 summer rains damaged the church at Toconao badly enough to close it until it was rebuilt and reopened in December 2022. Ask us about road conditions if you travel in either season.
The morning matters for the birds. At Chaxa, sunrise is feeding time, and the site opens at 08:00. Our arrival at around 08:00 puts you there for the first hour of it.
How the eleven hours fit together
The route runs south from San Pedro on Route 23, the main road to the high lagoons, and the day climbs and comes down in stages. You are collected at 07:00.
- Chaxa, about 08:00. A shallow, very salty lagoon in the middle of the Salar de Atacama, and the main nesting site for flamingos in the reserve. With luck you see all three of Chile's species: Andean, James's and Chilean. They feed on a tiny brine shrimp that lives in the water. Walking trails lead along the shore.
- Socaire, about 09:30. A short stop in the village on the slope of the Andes.
- Miscanti and Miñiques, about 10:30. Two deep-blue lakes at the foot of Cerro Miscanti and the Miñiques volcano. You can walk the paths towards the shore, but swimming and touching the water are not allowed.
- Piedras Rojas, about 12:00. Red volcanic rock against the white salt and turquoise water.
- Lunch from about 13:00, in Socaire or on the road down. Lunch is not included.
- Toconao, about 15:00. A village built of liparite, a pale volcanic stone that keeps heat out, about 38 kilometres from San Pedro. The church of San Lucas and its separate bell tower date from the 18th century and were declared a historic monument in 1951.
You leave Toconao at about 16:15 and are back at your hotel at around 18:00. It is a lot of car. If that is too much, Chaxa and Toconao alone make a half day; ask us.
On your own or with a driver
You can drive this route in a hire car, and the community tickets are sold online to anyone. What you take on is about two hours of driving each way to the high lagoons, with the climb above 4,000 metres in the middle, and you need to be alert enough to drive back down at the end.
A group tour fixes the order and the time at each stop. A private car lets you start lower, stay longer with the flamingos, and turn round early if someone feels the height. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Your entrance tickets for Chaxa, the lagoons and Piedras Rojas, bought in advance.
- Warm layers and a windproof jacket. It is windy and cold at the lagoons.
- Sunglasses, sun cream and a hat. The tourism board lists all three.
- Water, and a snack for the morning before lunch.
- Binoculars if you have them, for the flamingos at Chaxa.
- Some local cash for lunch and small purchases in the villages.
Who should think twice
This is a long, high day. If you have had altitude sickness badly before, talk to a doctor first; your past experience is the best guide to how you will react. If symptoms come on at the lagoons, tell your driver: going down 300 metres or more usually brings quick relief, and the road back does that.
Think twice too if you only have a couple of nights in San Pedro. The Laguna Cejar and Tebinquiche tour stays on the salt flat, close to the height of the town, and gives you water, salt and volcanoes without the climb.
Questions people ask
Will we see flamingos?
Usually, at Chaxa, and sometimes at the high lagoons. They are wild, so nobody can promise it.
Can we swim in the lagoons?
No. Swimming and touching the water at Miscanti and Miñiques are not allowed.
What if there are more than 16 of us?
Two vehicles travel together, on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Can we cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before pick-up, with a full refund. See our cancellation page.
Booking the day
Choose a date after a few nights in San Pedro, buy your community tickets, then book. Our guide to day trips from San Pedro de Atacama helps you fit it around the other trips. Times and what is included are on the Altiplanic Lagoons and Piedras Rojas private day trip page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
