SanPedroAtacama.com


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  • Sightseeing

  • Transportation

  • Guide

  • Snacks

Explore some of the most remote and surprising landscapes of the Chilean altiplano on a high-altitude excursion among salt flats, lagoons, volcanoes and giant rock formations.

The Salt Flats Route runs through sectors of the Andes Mountains and the Los Flamencos National Reserve, crossing scenery of great beauty and very little intervention.

During the tour you'll visit sectors of the Salar de Aguas Calientes and areas near the Salar de Tara, surrounded by volcanoes, lagoons and vast altiplano landscapes. Along the way you may spot wildlife typical of the area, such as vicuñas, flamingos and vizcachas.

Another of the route's great attractions are the Guardians of the Pakana, enormous volcanic rock formations shaped by erosion over thousands of years, rising in the middle of the desert to create a truly striking landscape.

Wetland meadows, marshes, mountains and salt flats round out an excursion made for those looking for nature, photography, Andean wildlife and high-altitude landscapes away from the more traditional circuits of San Pedro de Atacama.

Schedule

Departure from San Pedro de Atacama at 07:00 hrs.

Estimated return at 14:00 hrs.

Duration: approximately 7 hours.

Includes: Breakfast during the excursion.

Physical Demand
Medium
Excursion of medium physical demand due to the altitude, which exceeds 4,500 metres above sea level in some sectors of the route. Although the walks are short and of low technical difficulty, the altitude can cause fatigue, headache or a feeling of tiredness. We recommend doing this excursion after 2 or 3 days of acclimatisation in San Pedro de Atacama.
Experience
For Everyone
No previous experience needed.

Itinerary

0700 hrs - Departure from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama

About 100 kilometres from Calama, the world's driest desert hides a small oasis called San Pedro de Atacama. It's an adobe town and dirt roads that have stolen the hearts of thousands of tourists for the charms of Atacameña and Spanish culture contained in each of its buildings. What do you say you come with me and we go around

Salt Flats Route
Visit to the Guardians of the Pakana

Let yourself be moved by this archaeological site, one of a kind in the region, made up of a series of stone structures that date back more than 1,000 years. These structures sit on a hillside overlooking the Catarpe valley and the Atacama Desert. It is believed that the Guardians of the Pakana were used by the ancient inhabitants of the region to observe the stars and to carry out religious rituals. Today, this place stands as testimony to the cultural legacy of the area's original peoples.

Salt Flats Route
Salt Flats Route
Visit to the Aguas Calientes Salt Flat

We will continue even further to cross the Aguas Calientes Salt Flat, located in the Atacama Puna at an altitude of roughly 4,280 m above sea level. Across its wide expanse you can take in an arid landscape, with llaretas, water tolas and tamarugos, all plants adapted to the high desert. This salt flat is surrounded by volcanoes and its waters come from the Pili river and the Chamaca ravine. Along the roadside we may spot a great deal of wildlife, such as vicuñas, foxes, viscachas and chinchillas, along with birds like the flamingo and, if we are lucky, condors.

Salt Flats Route
Salt Flats Route
Visit to the Licancabur Lookout

Thanks to its commanding height and distinctive shape, the Licancabur volcano is one of the most iconic mountains in the region and a must-see for lovers of nature and adventure. The Licancabur Lookout is a vantage point from which we can appreciate the sheer scale of the volcano, as well as the striking surrounding landscape, which includes other volcanoes, salt flats and mountains of the Andes range. A remarkable experience for visitors.

Salt Flats Route
Salt Flats Route
Visit to the Vegas de Quepiaco wetlands

Located approximately 1 hour east of San Pedro de Atacama, we will find the Quepiaco River which is located at an altitude of approximately 4,500 meters above sea level (more…)

Salt Flats Route
Salt Flats Route
Visit to the Quisquiro Salt Flat

The Quisquiro Salt Flat lies within the geological depression known as the Pacana Caldera. This is a playa-type salt flat with shallow lagoons of varying extent. Its main water inputs are the Salado River to the south and the Loyoques stream to the north. This salt flat sits at an altitude of roughly 4,150 m above sea level and covers a surface of 80 km2.

Salt Flats Route
13:30 hrs approx - Return to your accommodation

About 100 kilometres from Calama, the world's driest desert hides a small oasis called San Pedro de Atacama. It's an adobe town and dirt roads that have stolen the hearts of thousands of tourists for the charms of Atacameña and Spanish culture contained in each of its buildings. What do you say you come with me and we go around

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, the tour includes pick-up and drop-off at your hotel or hostel located within the urban area of San Pedro de Atacama.

The Salt Flats Route is a high-altitude excursion that travels through salt flats, lagoons, volcanoes and wetlands located in remote sectors of the Andes mountains near the border with Bolivia.

    • <li"wrxjpn""3640""3666">Salar de Aguas Calientes

<li"1ylc3vl""3667""3703">Sectors near Salar de Tara

<li"1i3k2n9""3704""3729">Guardians of the Pakana

<li"xknh1""3730""3750">Altiplanic wetlands

<li"16bwplr""3751""3842">Panoramic viewpoints of volcanoes and Andean lagoons

The excursion can be done year-round. Between April and November there are usually clearer skies and better conditions for photography and landscape viewing.

Yes. Because of the altitude, temperatures can be low during much of the route, especially in the morning and in winter.

Included

  • Transport Service
  • Bilingual Guide spanish/english
    During excursions and departures mentioned in the itinerary
  • Passenger Transportation Insurance
  • Breakfast
  • Expert advice and coordination
    Personalized guidance and coordination of your experience via phone, email, webchat, WhatsApp, and scheduled video calls.
  • Booking Fee – Reservation Management
    Included in the final price. This fee covers the administrative expenses associated with managing and confirming the reservation, processing payments, and coordinating the service with local operators.

General Conditions

Conditions for Minors

  • The minimum age for this excursion is 12 years old

Safety Conditions of the Service

  • Whether due to weather conditions or route conditions (roads) that do not offer the minimum guarantees for a safe operation, our provider reserves the right to cancel the service

Acceptance of the Activity's Risks

  • The passenger declares that they know and understand the risks involved in taking part in adventure tourism activities, which cannot be completely eliminated even when the service provider complies with accredited safety standards, whose purpose is to reduce the risks that this activity involves.
  • It is the duty of the adventure tourism service provider to report the conditions and requirements for carrying out the activity, and likewise it is the duty of participants taking an adventure tourism service to properly inform themselves of the conditions under which the service is provided, of the minimum conditions the participant must meet before undertaking the activity, and to follow the instructions given by the company and the guide in charge of the activity.

Commercial Conditions

Cancellation Policies

  • Cancellations with 3 days or more before the service date: 90% refund.
  • Cancellations with 2 days or less before the service date are not eligible for a refund.

Other Conditions

  • Excursion available only in the AM schedule (08:00)
  • Prices in United States Dollars (USD) are calculated using the day's exchange rate from their value in Chilean Pesos (CLP) and may vary depending on the day payment is made.
  • Entrance tickets to National Parks or Reserves are not included in the tour price
  • Rates valid for services at the times indicated
  • Services apply with a minimum number of passengers at the time of booking (2)
  • Rates per person subject to change.
  • For safety and operational reasons, schedules may be modified without prior notice.
  • There is no hotel pick-up; the time and meeting point will be provided upon confirmation.
  • Excursions with a bilingual Spanish and English guide
  • NOT permitted for pregnant women

Our apply on everything not mentioned before.

Request with GreatChile

Salt Flats Route
per person, from
US$ 62


      Per Person Price

    Prices available for travel between Sep 11, 2026 and Mar 4, 2028.

    Urban area, within 1 km from downtown; if you’re unsure about coverage, select "Assisted booking"

    During the booking process we will request the following data per traveler: Full Name, Birth Date, Nationality, Passport Number, Mail, Phone Number, Allergies.

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