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The Atacama Salt Flat and the Altiplanic Lagoons

The Salar de Atacama is the largest salt deposit in Chile located in the Antofagasta Region and is located exactly between two Chilean communes. The closest city, San Pedro de Atacama, is located 55 km to the north, while the regional capital, Antofagasta, is 316 km to the west. Under the name “Salar de Atacama” several concepts are understood that must be clearly distinguished. The physically widest is the Salar de Atacama basin, a natural space that partially includes the Domeyko mountain range, the Paciencia plain, the Sal mountain range (see Valle de la Luna), the Atacama salt flat as equilibrium point of the basin, where runoff accumulates, the western mountain range of the Andes and the Lila cordon to the south.

The Salar de Atacama basin is located in the east of the Antofagasta Region and is, after the Loa and the Tamarugal pampas, the third largest hydrographic basin. It has an approximate area of 15,620 km², with its longest length in the N-S direction of 210 km. and a maximum width of 110 km. Its fauna boasts large numbers of flamingos in the Los Flamencos National Reserve, located to the north and west of the lake, as well as other birds – such as piuquenes, rheas and ducks – and some mammals – such as guanacos and vicuñas, which live with their domestic descendants: llamas and alpacas. Salt in the salt flats comes from the dissolution of salts in the soil by rainwater, which is carried into the salt flats. Then the waters evaporate and the added salts accumulate. As in the rest of the other salt flats, the air is very dry, which widens the field of vision, altering the appreciation of distances.

The Atacama Salt Flat: location

The Atacama Salt Flat is located 55 km from San Pedro de Atacama, while the regional capital, Antofagasta, is 316 km to the west of the Salt Flat.

The Atacama Salt Flat: location map

The Atacama Salt Flat: What to see?

The Salar de Atacama, with its 3000 km2 of surface, is the third largest salt flat in the world, behind the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia (11000 km2) and the Great Salt Flats of Argentina (8200 km2). The Chaxa Lagoon, belonging to the Los Flamencos National Reserve, is a small lagoon within the Atacama Salt Flat. However, it is a good place to enjoy the many flamingos that live in its waters.

Near the lagoon, a small marked path takes you into the immense whiteness of the Atacama salt flat. It is then, when you find yourself surrounded by an infinite white landscape, when you are aware of the size of the place. If you then travel to the Salar de Uyuni, you will see how different the surface of both salt flats is; that of Uyuni is almost smooth while that of Atacama are large blocks of salt. T

o visit the Chaxa lagoon (some directly call it Salar de Atacama) you have to pay an entrance fee. Near the lagoon, a small marked path takes you into the immense whiteness of the Atacama salt flat. It is then, when you find yourself surrounded by an infinite white landscape, when you are aware of the size of the place. If you then travel to the Salar de Uyuni, you will see how different the surface of both salt flats is; that of Uyuni is almost smooth while that of Atacama are large blocks of salt.

The Altiplanic Lagoons: Miñiques & Miscanti

The lagoons are close to the small town of Socaire. The access by road is good, not being necessary an off-road car, it is worth with a normal one. When you go to the lagoons, you must be acclimatized, since they are 4120 meters high, and the road crosses points of greater height.

Located at 90 kilometers from San Pedro. Miscanti and Miñique are located more than 4,000 meters above sea level. Both are fed by water sources that come from the surface of the land, attract a great variety of animals, like the abundance of flamingoes, a severe contrast surrounded by snowed mountains and shiningly reflected in its waters. The trip from San Pedro goes through Toconao and borders the Atacama Saltlake.

These Altiplanic lagoons are one of the 7 sectors that conform Los Flamencos (The Flamingoes) National Reserve. They are located at 18 kilometers to the south of Socaire. The landscape is characterized by volcanos and mountainous relief, standing out the hills Miscanti and Miñiques. In the lagoons inhabit species like: tagua cornuda, Chilean flamingo, parina chica, caitó, playero de baird, chorlo de la puna, juarjual duck and the guallata. The flora is composed mainly by the llareta and paja brava. In the bordering sectors archaeological sites exist. Also we found the Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon); Mountain lagoon, is located to the 4,325 m.s.n.m., and 265 kilometers to the northeast of Copiapó. It is of an intense emerald green color, surrounded by Andean summits. Without apparent life, in its Southern shore outcrops of warm thermal waters take place, at only 21 kilometers from the limit and border with Argentina to the edges of the route to the Paso San Francisco.

The geological formations of the hills and adjacent lands allows to verify the successive volcanic contributions in the area, also represented by the near volcano Ojos del Salado, which last eruption dates from 1956. Finally is necessary to name the Sejar Lagoon; a natural atmosphere of beauty, with turquoise waters, surrounded by crystals of salt of diverse forms. Its geomorphologic construction is a very peculiar case in the Atacama Desert; it is produced by the dissolution of caucasian structures.

Book an excursion to enjoy the Atacama Salt Flats from San Pedro de Atacama

If you´re visiting the area of San Pedro de Atacama, you can book the excursion to the Atacama Salt Flat and the Altiplanic Lagoons

Visiting Atacama? check our best tours to visit San Pedro de Atacama

#353 – Santiago, Atacama Desert & Easter Island – 9 nights #351 – Santiago, Torres del Paine and Atacama Desert – 9 nights
#363 – Santiago, Atacama, Torres del Paine & Skorpios III Cruise – 12 nts
#360 – Chilean Patagonia and Atacama Desert – 12 nts

Atacama Tours with Argentina, Peru, and other destinations in Chile

It´s a nice list of four tours including the Atacama Desert in the itinerary. But, a great idea is to combine San Pedro de Atacama, with other destinations in Chile and why not… Argentina and Peru. Check some great options below:

#1052 – From Rio to Santiago via Iguazu, Buenos Aires and Atacama – 18 nts #1081 – Colorful Argentina, Chile & Peru – 17 nights
#1004 – Argentina & Chile in 12 nights – Option IV – 12 nts
#1090 – The Great tour of South America – 26 nights