Fernweh: Home
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    de|en
    All Places & RegionsAll highlightsAbout FernwehFAQPrivacy PolicyImprint
    ExploreTravel GuidesPlan a tripMy tripLast visited
    Lagunas Altiplánicas
    Diego Delso / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

    Chile

    Lagunas Altiplánicas

    Natural Area

    The Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques are two deep blue highland lakes at over 4,100 meters in the Altiplano of the Atacama Desert, in northern Chile.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Chile
    7. Atacama Desert
    9. Lagunas Altiplánicas
    The Lagunas Miscanti and Miñiques are two deep blue highland lakes at over 4,100 meters in the Altiplano of the Atacama Desert, in northern Chile. Against the backdrop of their namesake volcanoes, you'll see flamingos, taguas, and vicuñas here, and on the way there, the drive passes the Salar de Atacama and the red rocks of Piedras Rojas.

    Sights

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Miscanti Lagoon

    1Miscanti Lagoon

    The larger of the two lagoons lies at the foot of Cerro Miscanti in the Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos, around 100 kilometers southeast of San Pedro de Atacama. From the circular path along the shore, you'll see flamingos, Taguas, and with some luck, vicuñas.
    Open in Google Maps
    Miñiques Lagoon

    2Miñiques Lagoon

    The smaller neighboring lagoon was separated from Laguna Miscanti by a lava flow from Miñiques Volcano. A viewpoint at the end of the access road looks over the water towards the volcano.
    Open in Google Maps
    Talar Salt Flat and Red Stones

    3Talar Salt Flat and Red Stones

    At the edge of Salar de Talar, also known as Salar de Aguas Calientes Sur, red lava rocks glow against turquoise water and white salt crusts. From the parking lot on Ruta 23, a marked path leads to viewpoints, but direct access to the rocks and shore has not been allowed for several years. Admission is included in the Socaire municipality ticket for Miscanti and Miñiques.
    Open in Google Maps

    Restaurants & Cafés

    Food and Drink

    There's no catering at the lagoons themselves. In Socaire and on tours, you'll discover Lickanantay cuisine.

    Quinoa and Corn

    On the terraces of Socaire, quinoa, corn, and alfalfa are grown. Many tours to the lagoons stop at Socaire at midday, while others provide a packed lunch.

    Patasca

    The hearty stew made from peeled white corn with beef, pork, or lamb is considered a typical festive dish of the Atacameño villages.

    Rica-Rica

    The aromatic wild herb of the Atacama smells of mint, rosemary, and citrus. Traditionally, it was used for digestion; today, it also flavors cocktails like the Rica-Rica Sour.

    Lickanantay and the Highland Lakes

    The area around the lagoons is home to the Lickanantay, also known as Atacameños. Their villages like Socaire and Toconao lie lower at the edge of the Salar de Atacama; the high plains around the lagoons traditionally served as pastureland for llamas.Visitor services for Miscanti, Miñiques, and Piedras Rojas are now run by the Socaire community, who also sell tickets. In Socaire, you'll find agricultural terraces growing quinoa, corn, and alfalfa, plus an adobe church with chañar wood and cactus beams. On October 14, the community cleans its irrigation channels during the Limpia de Canales festival, followed by music and dance.On-Site ConductStick to marked paths; the shorelines are breeding grounds.The lagoons are not open for swimming.Ask before photographing people in the villages.

    Getting to the Lagoons

    From San Pedro de AtacamaMost visitors arrive via a guided day tour from San Pedro, with admission usually included in the tour price. If driving a rental car, take Ruta 23 via Toconao to Socaire and then continue to the lagoon access road; the final kilometers are unpaved.Practical InformationAdmission: The Socaire municipality sells tickets online in advance, payable by card. As of 2026, admission was 10,000 Pesos for Chileans and 13,000 Pesos for foreign visitors. The same ticket is also valid for Piedras Rojas. The municipality does not centrally publish opening hours; please confirm them when purchasing. In winter, snow may block access to Miscanti and Miñiques.Vehicle: A vehicle with high ground clearance or four-wheel drive is advantageous on the unpaved sections.Supplies: Fuel stations are available in San Pedro de Atacama. Bring water, provisions, and warm clothing.Altitude and Sun: Move slowly, drink plenty, and protect yourself from strong UV radiation. Seek medical advice beforehand.

    Accommodations in Lagunas Altiplánicas

    Find perfect stay in Lagunas Altiplánicas

    Booking.com* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Agoda* (Affiliate link)
    Search Hotels
    Airbnb
    Vacation Rentals

    * Affiliate link: if you book through it, we earn a small commission. The price stays the same for you.

    Nearby

    Salar de Atacama

    Salar de Atacama

    The Salar de Atacama, south of San Pedro, is Chile's largest salt flat, a rough, white-grey crust before Andean volcanoes. Three flamingo species live in the shallow lagoons at its edge, especially Laguna Chaxa.
    Atacama Desert

    Atacama Desert

    The Atacama in northern Chile is one of the driest deserts on Earth: salt flats, volcanoes, high-altitude lakes, and geyser fields at over 4,000 meters. Almost all visitors stay in the oasis San Pedro de Atacama and explore the region from there on day trips.
    San Pedro de Atacama Village

    San Pedro de Atacama Village

    San Pedro de Atacama is an adobe oasis village at approx. 2,450 meters in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. Stay here to experience geysers, salt flats, highland lagoons, and the desert's starry sky: Most regional excursions depart from the Plaza and Calle Caracoles.
    Valle de la Luna

    Valle de la Luna

    The Valle de la Luna, some 13 kilometers west of San Pedro de Atacama, is a valley of salt, gypsum, and clay formations with sand dunes in the Cordillera de la Sal. Late afternoon sun tinges ridges and rock faces reddish.
    Geysers del Tatio Area

    Geysers del Tatio Area

    The El Tatio geyser field lies at about 4,320 meters in the Andes, about 80 to 90 kilometers north of San Pedro de Atacama. Shortly after sunrise, steam columns rise from dozens of vents into the icy cold air, so tours begin in the middle of the night.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Unsplash. Each photo carries its credit.
    • The content is based on web research from public, traceable sources. How the content is made · The role of AI