The 11 Best Altiplanic Lagoon Tours in the Atacama

1.Piedras Rojas, Altiplanics Lagoons & Salar Full-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 592 reviews · 10 hours · from $85Our pick

Spend 10 hours above and across the Atacama Desert with a small group of up to 14. Visit Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, purple Piedras Rojas, Chaxa Lagoon, Socaire, and Toconao. Breakfast, lunch, a local guide, and hotel pickup are included. Guides such as Cheryl, Denny, and Christian are praised for lively explanations.

“Transportation was right on time and they kept us informed via WhatsApp about pickup time for all parties. Our guide Victoria was so excited - which made me excited! - and super knowledgeable. And our driver Luis had such a good eye, he picked up on all the wildlife and stopped to us to get good views. The sights were incredible!”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Triple tour: Red stones, highland lagoons and Chaxa Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 219 reviews · 10 hours · from $85

Join a small bilingual group from San Pedro de Atacama for Piedras Rojas, Socaire, Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, and Chaxa Lagoon. Expect dramatic volcano views, flamingos, an open-air breakfast, lunch, and guides such as Karla, Manu, Daniel, or Christian, depending on the departure.

“Carolina & the driver were great! It was an excellence trip with lots to see! Dress warm if it’s in the winter”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Red Stones and Altiplanic Lagoons

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 151 reviews · 10 hours (approx.) · from $75Best value

Set out from San Pedro at 7:00 am for a full day among Red Stones, Miscanti Lake, Chaxa Lagoon, Socaire, and Toconao. Guides such as Marlon or Juan lead the outing, with breakfast and lunch included. Park entrance fees cost extra.

“Marlon is an excellent guide. He is very knowledgeable and interacts well with his group. Company also communicates well regarding pick up, what to bring, etc. The scenery is stunning with a variety of things to see on this trip. Highly recommend this activity and this tour company!”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Altiplanic Lagoons & Piedras Rojas Tour from San Pedro de Atacama

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 87 reviews · 10 to 11 hours (approx.) · from $113

Travel by minivan or bus from San Pedro to Chaxa Lagoon, the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons, Piedras Rojas, Socaire, and Toconao. Guides such as Pedro, Carla, Ivan, and Juan Pablo have earned praise for their humor and clear explanations, though high altitude and long drives require preparation.

“This is an amazing experience to check out the near by attractions! We had tour guide Carla and she was fantastic! She spoke a lot about the history and science behind the landscapes! Plenty of stops and the places won’t disappoint you!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Full Day Tour Piedras Rojas Altiplanic Lagoons Chaxa Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 75 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $140

Set out at 6:00 a.m. from San Pedro de Atacama for Piedras Rojas, Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, Socaire, and Chaxa Lagoon. Guide teams have included Florencia, David, Diego, Anita, and Marco. Expect high-altitude scenery, flamingos, vicuñas, breakfast, lunch, and a small group of up to 15.

“An amazing day. Truly beautiful sights to see. Florencia and David were very knowledgeable and supper helpful. The lunch was basic but oh so flavourful. The views postcard worth.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Caracoles: Red Stones of Atacama and Chaxa Guided Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 56 reviews · 10 hours · from $85

Travel with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide through Atacama’s salt flats, flamingo habitat, Red Stones, and high-altitude lagoons. Guides Brandon and Valentin are praised for clear local stories and attentive care, while breakfast and lunch make this long day easier.

“Brandon was super knowledgable about the area and the tour was extremely informative.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Piedras Rojas and Altiplanic Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 38 reviews · from $109

Travel from San Pedro de Atacama to Socaire, Laguna Miscanti, Laguna Miñiques, Piedras Rojas, and Salar de Atacama. A bilingual guide, breakfast, lunch, hotel pickup, and a maximum of 10 people make this a practical full-day outing, with guides such as Natalie, Alex, and Giuliana reported for selected departures.

“This is great tour. Our guide Alex Sanchez was great. Not just a good guide but he was great Dj 😃. Very good English. Only things to consider is that there are additional 23000 pesos per persons which needs to be paid and it’s not mentionRead more”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Salar de Atacama and altiplanic lagoons

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 15 reviews · 7 hours · from $78

Join a small group of up to 10 for a seven-hour morning from San Pedro to the Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, Chaxa Lagoon, Socaire, and Toconao. You will travel with an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, eat breakfast, and return around 2:30 PM. Bring water, warm layers, sunscreen, and cash for entrance fees.

“Incroyable ! Le meilleur tour de loin, un guide au top & de belles petites attentions”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Piedras Rojas and Lagunas Altiplanica

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 14 reviews · 10 hours · from $107

Start early from San Pedro de Atacama for Chaxa flamingo lagoon, Socaire, Piedras Rojas, and the Miscanti and Miñiques lagoons at 4,200 meters. A bilingual guide, breakfast, lunch, and transport are included. The group is limited to 14, and Nicolas has guided some departures.

“Very nice excursion from San Pedro to see more of the desert and the salar. Our Tour guide Nicolas was very good and we had a good time. But keep in mind: The entrance price was 29 Pesos and not 23 how it is written in the description!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Tour Piedras Rojas + Altiplanic Lagoons + Chaxa Lagoon

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 7 reviews · 11 hours · from $82

Travel by minibus from San Pedro de Atacama to Toconao, Chaxa Lagoon, Socaire, Miscanti and Meñiques Lagoons, and red-rock Piedras Rojas. A bilingual guide, breakfast, lunch, and hotel pickup are included. Expect a one-hour walk and altitudes near 4,200 meters.

“Honnêtement, ce fut la pire expérience vécue jusqu’à présent ! Peut être ai-je été malchanceux, mais ce fut un réel désastre ! Tout d’abord, notre itinéraire a été changé à la dernière minute (en raison de la météo), ce qui n’est pas dramatique en soi, mais l’activité de remplacement proposé a été tout sauf agréable ! Nous étions en haute altitude toute la journée ce qui n’étais pas prévu à la base, donc nous n’avions pas prévu le coup ou notre préparer au préalable ! Au retour, nous avons manquer d’essence, car la compagnie a été négligente et souhaite réduire ses coûts. Nous avons été pris dans une zone sans…”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Piedras Rojas, Altiplanics Lagoons & Salar Full Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 3 reviews · 10 hours · from $87

Leave San Pedro around 6:30 AM for Miscanti and Miñiques Lagoons, Piedras Rojas, Socaire, and Chaxa Lagoon. Your English- or Spanish-speaking guide provides breakfast and lunch. Expect striking scenery, a 4,200-meter altitude, and entrance fees paid separately.

Check availability →Read our full review