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Atacama Salt Flats (Salar de Atacama) Tours
6 Reviews

Atacama Salt Flats (Salar de Atacama), a salt deposit–coated lake, lies amid the Atacama Desert plains, framed by distant Andes peaks. Stretching more than 40,000 square miles (100,000 square kilometers), it’s one of the largest salt flats and the largest lithium reserve in the world.
The Basics
Explore several lagoons, most notably Miscanti and Chaxa lagoons in Los Flamencos National Reserve and Ojos del Sala, which resembles a gigantic pair of eyes. Or, swim in the salt-rich waters of Cejar sinkhole.
Explore at your own pace with a rental car or a private driver. Or, join day tours from San Pedro de Atacama, which typically combine a stop in traditional towns, such as Socaire and Toconao, with a visit to one or more lagoons. Alternatively, multi-day tours from Santiago take in all Atacama Desert highlights, including Valley of the Moon (Valle de Luna), El Tatio Geysers, Red Stone desert, and Atacama Salt Lake’s salt flats and lagoons.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Pack sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water to combat the desert heat. Bring warm clothing for the evening, too, as temperatures can drop quickly—even in summer.
- Most desert roads are unpaved and the terrain uneven, so a 4WD is advisable, and comfortable walking shoes are a must.
- The desert has scarce cellphone service, and only a few San Pedro de Atacama hotels offer Wi-Fi.
How to Get to There
Atacama Salt Flats (Salar de Atacama), at the Atacama Desert in northeastern Chile, is less than an hour’s journey from San Pedro de Atacama, the gateway to the desert. Regular taxis, shared taxis, and tours run from San Pedro de Atacama to the lake. The closest airport is in Calama, from where buses run to San Pedro de Atacama, 60 miles (97 kilometers) away.
When to Get There
Summer (December–February) is the most popular time to explore; with warm weather fit for swimming in the lagoons. Winter (June–August) visits can be equally rewarding, although temperatures can plummet below freezing at night. A trip after one of the rare periods of rainfall can be spectacular, with blooming wildflowers adding a burst of color to the dusty plains.
Atacama Wildlife
Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on earth with less than 3mm of annual rainfall, is home to some surprising wildlife, including southern viscacha, the llama-like vicuna, and Darwin's leaf-eared mouse. The salt lakes also attract a number of rare birds, including the endangered Andean flamingo. You might also spot Chilean flamingos and James flamingos, Puna plovers, Andean gulls, swallows, and giant hummingbirds.
Address: Ruta 23, San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region, Chile
Admission: Free
23 Tours and Activities to Experience Atacama Salt Flats (Salar de Atacama)
Did you know?You can reserve your spot today and pay when you're ready.
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Did you know?
You can reserve your spot today and pay when you're ready.Learn more
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San Pedro de Atacama: 4-Days Magic Desert Adventure
8
This 4-day tour of the Atacama Desert takes the planning and guesswork out of exploring the region’s highlights. Your guide accompanies you to the otherworldly landscape and salt caves at Valle de la Luna (Moon Valley), vibrantly colored red rock formations Chaxa Lagoon, and off-the-beaten-track sites that you might miss on your own. All transportation is included with daily hotel pickup and drop-off, so you can choose your own accommodation and meals to suit your tastes.
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From
$205.13
From
$205.13
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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Atacama desert program 4 days - 3 nights
1
Its unique landscape, the clear skies that make it a perfect enclave for astronomic observation and rich gastronomy.
Far from being inert, the Atacama Desert is an area abundant in energy, thanks to its welcoming ancestral cultures and the oasis that is the source of life in the driest desert in the world.
It ascends the more than 4,000 meters of height of the Andean plateau to discover small towns that keep intact their customs in the middle of the extremes that are worth photographing.
Explore the desert and highest point such as
geothermal field located at 4300 meters above
sea level in the Andean Mountain range.
Visit to San Pedro de Atacama and explore unique landscapes in the world. Salaries, geysers and lagoons of an intense blue color, are part of the places that will amaze you.
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From
$1,190.00
From
$1,190.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks provided for travelers
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Private Photography Tours
it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth and we like to invite you to photograph with us the country’s largest salt flat surrounded by volcanoes, fields of steaming geysers, landscapes that resemble the surface of the moon, unique flora and fauna, and incredible sunsets.
In the middle of an incredible range of landscapes, we will provide great photographic experience, taking you there at the right time.
If you don’t have experience, our photo guide can help you with the settings so that you can take home the most spectacular pictures.
This program is designed for photographers of all skills and experience
It is for anyone passionate about nature photography and adventure
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From
$1,333.34
From
$1,333.34

Altiplanic Lagoons and Red Stones, Full Day
7
We are the only agency in San Pedro that leaves at 5 in the morning, we go to one of the most sacred lagoons for the culture of San Pedro: Tuyajto. And the best, when leaving earlier we go alone.
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From
$71.80
From
$71.80

Marvel of Atacama
Live a unique experience, an extraordinary environment, through the salar de Atacama, the largest salt flat in Chile.
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From
$1,000.00
From
$1,000.00

San Pedro de Atacama All inclusive 5 Nights Hotel + 4 Tours + Flight
Guiastours is formed and created to satisfy the foreign tourist, born from the need of the passenger to provide them with a service of excellence in tourism, being their professional trainers in the area of tourism.
Our work philosophy is oriented to the total quality of the service and delivery of knowledge to make your stay an unforgettable trip, with a guaranteed international prestige.
Our teamwork with personalized service for both individual and group trips is of excellence, to offer a serious and responsible service for those who visit us.
We have a team of tourism professionals, a staff of guides in different languages and a fleet of modern vehicles.
Chile is a country that offers a variety of destinations that deserve to be visited, where we offer all the routes, we also have an excellent hotel infrastructure, excellent restaurants, along with the friendliness of the Chilean people.
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From
$769.24
From
$769.24
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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San Pedro de Atacama: Half day Altiplanics Lagoons and Salar de Atacama
2
Discover one of Chile’s most unique natural landscapes on this 10-hour tour from San Pedro de Atacama, including hotel-up. Marvel over the stark white plains of the Atacama Salt Flats, see the shimmering Miscanti lagoon and spot pink flamingos bathing in the Chaxa lagoon. Finally, get a taste of life in the Atacama Desert as you visit the traditional villages of Socaire and Toconao.
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From
$42.43
From
$42.43
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Social distancing enforced throughout experience
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Full Sorbac Atacama, check in Tuesday
They are 6 or 7 full days of adventure, perfect for long trips, where you want to know all the corners of San Pedro. Different landscapes every day.
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From
$780.00
From
$780.00
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Adventure Volcano Lascar
They are three days of adventure and sport, perfect for the most adventurous. Incredible landscapes, full of amazing experiences.
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From
$330.00
From
$330.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Adventure Cerro Toco
They are three days of adventure and sport, perfect for the most adventurous. Incredible landscapes, full of amazing experiences.
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From
$295.00
From
$295.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Classic Sorbac Atacama, check in Monday and Wednesday
They are four full days of adventure, perfect for short trips, where you can get to know all the main attractions of San Pedro.
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From
$470.00
From
$470.00
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Classic Sorbac Atacama, check in Friday
They are four full days of adventure, perfect for short trips, where you can get to know all the main attractions of San Pedro.
…More
From
$470.00
From
$470.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Classic Sorbac Atacama, check in on Saturdays
They are four full days of adventure, perfect for short trips, where you can get to know all the main attractions of San Pedro.
…More
From
$470.00
From
$470.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Full Sorbac Atacama, check in Monday
They are 6 or 7 full days of adventure, perfect for long trips, where you want to know all the corners of San Pedro. Different landscapes every day.
…More
From
$780.00
From
$780.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Activated Full Sorbac Atacama, check in Friday
They are 6 or 7 full days of adventure, perfect for long trips, where you want to know all the corners of San Pedro. Different landscapes every day.
…More
From
$780.00
From
$780.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Full Sorbac Atacama, check in Thursday
They are 6 or 7 full days of adventure, perfect for long trips, where you want to know all the corners of San Pedro. Different landscapes every day.
…More
From
$780.00
From
$780.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Camping Laguna Tebenquiche
We are heading to one of the lower parts of the Atacama Salt Flat, Laguna Tebenquiche, recognized as the ecosystem that gives rise to life. We set up our camp in the middle of the Salar with a beautiful sky above us.
The next day we have a rich breakfast in a beautiful refuge contemplating the lagoon and the nature of the Salar.
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From
$640.00
Price varies by group size
From
$640.00
Price varies by group size

Sorbac Weekend Sunset
They are three days of adventure, perfect for short weekend trips, where they will meet incredible attractions and totally different landscapes from each other.
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From
$315.00
From
$315.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
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Sorbac Weekend Rainbow
They are three days of adventure, perfect for short weekend trips, where they will meet incredible attractions and totally different landscapes from each other.
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From
$315.00
From
$315.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Classic Sorbac Atacama, check in Tuesday and Thursday
They are four full days of adventure, perfect for short trips, where you can get to know all the main attractions of San Pedro.
…More
From
$470.00
From
$470.00
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Salt Flats and Altiplanic Lagoons in Atacama
Our excursion to the Salar de Atacama and Altiplanic Lagoons will take you to visit the different high-altitude lagoons, to observe its beautiful landscapes and discover the native fauna and flora.
Among the places of interest we will visit are the Flamencos National Reserve and the Chaxa Lagoon; Miscanti and Miñique lagoons, located more than 4,000 meters above sea level and the town of Toconao. Definitely a ride not to be missed!
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From
$103.05
From
$103.05
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Toconao and Salt Flats in Atacama
Our excursion to Toconao and the Salar de Atacama will take you to explore beautiful natural landscapes to discover the native fauna and flora, as well as an old town, witness of the Atacameña culture & nbsp;
Among the places of interest we will visit are: a National Reserve the Flamingos and the Chaxa lagoon and the town of Toconao. Definitely a ride not to be missed.
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From
$186.66
Price varies by group size
From
$186.66
Price varies by group size
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More

Piedras Rojas Trekking in Atacama
This walk is designed to enjoy the incredible landscapes offered by the Salar de Atacama basin and its high plateau. We can spend a nice day making gentle walks between salt flats and highland lagoons, passing through unique scenarios that the desert will give us. During the day we will share lunch and later a cocktail while enjoying the beautiful sunset.
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From
$239.70
From
$239.70
Face masks required for travelers in public areas
Face masks required for guides in public areas
Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
Learn More
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