Piedras Rojas and Altiplanic Lagoons Tour: Exploring Atacama's Natural Wonders and Local Culture
4.8
89 Ratings
San Pedro de Atacama
Join us on a tour of Piedras Rojas and Altiplanic Lagoons in Atacama! Explore the stunning natural wonders and immerse yourself in the local culture of Toconao and Socaire. Discover the beauty of Laguna Chaxa, Miscanti and Meñiques Lagoons, and the Salar de Talar.
Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Iglesia de Socaire - Visit the Town of Toconao, crafts, square, church
  • Laguna Chaxa - Los Flamencos National Reserve is located in the commune of San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region in northern Chile. The reserve covers a total area of 740 km
  • Tropico de Capricornio - Stop on the Tropic of Capricorn route. The Tropic of Capricorn is one of the five major circles of latitude marked on maps of the Earth.
  • Lagunas Miscanti y Miniques - Visit to the Lagunas Miscanti and Meñiques National Reserve
  • Iglesia de Socaire - Visit to the Town of Socaire, its church and general view
  • Piedras Rojas - Trekking of approx 1 Hrs
What's Included
  • Shared transportation for the entire tour
  • Convenient hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Inclusive of breakfast and lunch en route
  • Bilingual driver/guide (Spanish and English)
What's Not Included
  • Entrance Ticket to Parks, Reserves or Sites to visit are NOT included in the Value of the Tour
Additional Information

Toconao (also known as Kunza Rincón perdido) bewitches with its understated charm, friendly locals, unique weather, stunning architecture, and handmade crafts. Our journey takes us to the edge of the Salar de Atacama, specifically to Laguna Chaxa found in the Soncor sector R.N.L.F. From there, we navigate southeast towards the Andes mountains, settling in an elevated town known as Socaire, where we explore the local church and familiarize ourselves with the native farming methods. Upon reaching the Andean ridge, we ascend to around 4200 meters above sea level, uncovering the Miscanti and Meñiques Lagoons. These bodies of water are part of the R.N.Los F., a landscape defined by the grandeur of volcanic activity and uneven elevations such as Miscanti hill and Meñiques volcano. Both lagoons owe their existence to the melted glacial water stranded underground. Our journey continues along the southern ridges of the Andes, leading us to the Salar de Talar, also known as Piedr as Rojas. This stunning spot is known for its fascinating rock structures that bear the marks of natural weathering and erosion.

  • Minimum 12 years (Policies of our agency)
  • Maximum age 75 years (Policies of our agency)
  • Pregnant (Policies of our agency)
  • Does NOT include entrance ticket to sites or places to visit… the tourist pays directly there.
Location
Iglesia de Socaire
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(89 Ratings)
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Tracey_w
Apr 14, 2024
Fran was great. She... - Fran was great. She really looked after us and the vistas and everything was brilliant. Great in both English and Spanish
Review provided by Viator
Gloriaenlinz
Apr 2, 2024
Lovely & fascinating tour! Thank you Felipe! - What a fantastic tour that beat all my expectations! Our tour guide was Felipe who was so incredibly knowledgeable and engaging about the cultural, local history, flora and fauna, and geology of both Piedras Rojas and the Lagoons. My friend and I thoroughly enjoyed our time here, and we learned so much, from distinguishing species of flamingos to identifying endangered birds. Both breakfast and lunch were amazing as well, what a wonderful experience (with an amazing tour guide) that we would both do again and highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
241j_liar
Mar 21, 2024
Praise! - We went with Kristhela and Gerardo from Agência Puka Rumi and we loved it!!! The guide led the tour very well, very friendly and attentive, while the driver made the trip also very pleasant and safe. Breakfast and lunch were very well organized and the food was delicious, very well prepared and packaged. The tour involves a lot of walking and we got a lot of wind, it's interesting not to do it on the first day. Despite this, we managed to do the astronomical tour the same night and it was also another excellent experience; it was very informative and the team provided a unique experience. I recommend!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nicolaspaes
Mar 13, 2024
Piedras Rojas ! - It was sensational, Everything is very beautiful! Good food, height without getting sick, all very beautiful. We were shocked by the beauty
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tripped_up_vermont
Mar 6, 2024
Great tour! - We went on this tour today. Daniel was our guide and he was terrific! He spent time with everyone, sharing information, taking photos. His passion for the area comes through and we really enjoyed learning from him. The breakfast and lunch were terrific! This was a great tour and it was a treat to get up into the mountains.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Remi_m
Mar 6, 2024
This was the highlight... - This was the highlight day of my trip and an amazing day. Let me first say Ernesto was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable and helpful. He knew to get to Laguna Chaxa first before eating breakfast and it did not disappoint. The flamingos and salt flats were amazing. The tropic of capricorn for breakfast was great as were all the pictures. He provided interesting facts about the sun and how it is seen in the tropic of capricorn. The piedras rojas was also amazing and he helped take some amazing pictures. it was a really good sized group and the lunch was also delicious.
Review provided by Viator
Cledyc2024
Mar 5, 2024
This tour is unmissable!! IntiPara Travel - This tour is UNMISSABLE!!! one of the most beautiful things we saw in Atacama. Our guide Jay and our driver Ariel were the best of the best, taking care of every detail in the explanations inside and outside the bus, taking care of the health of the passengers, checking if everyone felt okay due to the height, transmitting a lot of respect for the nature and fauna, not to mention the fabulous breakfast and lunch and the landscapes, areas, flora and fauna that we saw are unique, DON'T MISS IT!!!! go with IntiPara Travel!!!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Travelling_sound_74
Feb 25, 2024
Unforgettable full-day tour with top guide - There were so many beautiful views on this tour and we got to see exciting animals and nature. Our guide Alexander was super nice and knowledgeable and he took very good care of us all day. As a whole, we are very pleased with both this tour and Valle de la Luna, which we also booked with Whipala. Can highly recommend both of these!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paulu367
Feb 18, 2024
Great outing! - The Piedras Rojas are stunningly beautiful - red rocks leading to a glistening salt flat. We stopped to see other impressive sights on the way and enjoyed breakfast prepared by Daniel, our excellent driver. Samuel the guide was charming and a real expert on the geography and wildlife. And if you've never seen a flamingo in flight, this is your opportunity.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andreias0fias
Feb 17, 2024
Amazing places and nature! - Amazing views, great tourism agency and the guide, Felipe, was very nice, providing us a lot of information about the places and all the help that we needed. Great breakfast and lunch, and also very well organized regarding the time management that is needed in a tour of this kind. I truly recommend this place and Whipala Expedition agency!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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May 2024
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