There comes a moment when Atacama stops being desert — and becomes mountain.
The Laguna Lejía + Lascar Volcano Base, including Salar de Aguas Calientes II and Cerro Overo, is an experience that takes you beyond the oasis and into the Andean Altiplano, where the landscape expands in scale, altitude, and intensity.
We leave San Pedro de Atacama early in the morning, following a route that gradually ascends.
With each kilometer, the scenery transforms — vegetation fades, the air becomes drier, and volcanoes begin to dominate the horizon.
Our first major stop is Laguna Lejía, one of the most striking landscapes in the region.
Located above 4,000 meters (13,100 ft), the lagoon reflects the surrounding volcanoes, creating a natural composition of water, mountain, and sky.
Here, we serve breakfast.
In silence, surrounded by altitude, cold air, and soft morning light, the moment becomes more than a pause — it becomes immersion.
We then continue toward the Lascar Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in northern Chile.
We reach its base, where a short walk allows you to feel the altitude and observe the scale of the volcano, rising above 5,500 meters (18,000 ft).
This is a more raw environment — mineral, exposed, and direct.
It is not about climbing —
it is about presence.
The journey continues to the Salar de Aguas Calientes II, a vast and lesser-visited landscape.
The contrast between white salt, earthy tones, and deep sky creates a rare sense of isolation.
In the background, Cerro Overo appears — a constant and defining presence on the horizon.
This is where Atacama reveals its most open scale — untouched, quiet, and expansive.
After crossing the Altiplano, we descend back toward the oasis.
In Toconao, the rhythm shifts once again.
Here, we enjoy lunch — a moment to rest, recover, and reconnect in one of the region’s most traditional villages.
After altitude, wind, and vast landscapes, the body finds its balance again.
Throughout the experience, the route is guided with altitude awareness, strategic stops, and constant attention to group well-being.
The progression is intentional — designed for adaptation and comfort.
We return to San Pedro de Atacama with the feeling of having crossed different layers of the desert — from oasis to high mountain, and back again.
TOUR PRICE per person: 140,000 CHILEAN PESOS (CLP)
Minimum number of people: 4
TIME: 7 AM to 3 PM
MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 4,300 meters
TICKET PRICE per person: 10,000 Chilean pesos
WHAT’S INCLUDED: Transportation, English speaking guide, breakfast and lunch.
RECOMMENDED FOR: the last days of your itinerary
