A high-altitude journey through lagoons, volcanoes and absolute silence
The Laguna Lejía + Lascar Volcano Base tour, including Salar de Aguas Calientes II and Cerro Overo, takes you beyond the oasis and toward the Andean Altiplano, where the landscape gains scale, altitude and intensity.
We leave San Pedro de Atacama early in the morning, following a route that gradually climbs in elevation.
With every kilometer, the landscape changes: the vegetation becomes scarcer, the air grows drier and volcanoes begin to dominate the horizon.
Our first major stop is Laguna Lejía, one of the most impressive landscapes in the region.
Located at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters, the lagoon reflects the surrounding volcanoes, creating a natural composition of water, mountains and sky.
This is where we stop for breakfast.
Amid the silence, the characteristic cold of high altitude and the soft morning light, the experience becomes more than a pause—it is an immersion in the rhythm of the Altiplano.
We then continue toward Lascar Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in northern Chile.
We arrive at its base, where you can walk a short distance, feel the effects of the altitude and observe the imposing volcano up close as it rises to more than 5,500 meters.
Here, the surroundings are more arid, more mineral and more direct.
It is not about climbing. It is about standing before it.
The journey continues to Salar de Aguas Calientes II, a vast, silent and seldom-visited landscape.
The contrast between the white salt, the colors of the terrain and the deep sky creates a rare feeling of isolation.
In the distance, Cerro Overo appears with its striking contours and constant presence on the horizon.
This is one of the places where the Atacama reveals its most expansive scale, with no distractions, no rush and no noise.
After crossing the Altiplano, we descend toward the oasis once again.
We arrive in Toconao, where the pace changes once more.
Here, we stop for lunch—a moment to pause, recover and reconnect in one of the region’s most traditional villages.
After the altitude, the wind and the vastness, the body finds its balance again.
Throughout the journey, the guide monitors the group’s response to the altitude, plans strategic stops and remains constantly attentive to every traveler.
The tour’s progression is not random. It is designed to support acclimatization and ensure visitors’ comfort.
We return to San Pedro de Atacama with the feeling of having crossed different layers of the desert—from the oasis to the high mountains and back again.
TOUR PRICE: CLP 140,000 per person
MINIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS: 4
SCHEDULE: 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
MAXIMUM ALTITUDE: 4,300 meters
ENTRANCE FEE: CLP 10,000 per person
WHAT’S INCLUDED: Transportation, certified guide, breakfast and lunch
RECOMMENDED FOR: The final days of your itinerary