altiplanic lagoons

I loved everything !! I went with Whipala Expedition and the guide Hugo was the best guide ever! The scenery is amazing and it is better to do this tour first in Atacama so your body can get used to the high altitude.

A very special place - two beautiful lakes in a high plateau surrounded by higher mountains capped with snow. You are at around 4200 meters & you have arrived by road with a spectacular scenic journey. In Europe we only have 10 Alpine mountains higher than that.While you are at over three times higher than Ben Nevis -the highest " mountain " in the UK. A couple of trails to walk which are designated pathways. The photo ops are just amazing -it was scurrying clouds on our trip with light,shade & reflections. It was windy & a little chilly so be prepared with the correct clothing. I felt no impact from the altitude,but was impacted by the beauty of the location - stunning ! We went with TurisTour & were picked up at 7.30 to start our day long tour,this being one of the stops.Everything went extremely well.

We had a wonderful holiday in Chile and this was the highlight. Stunning landscapes, like nothing we have seen before, arriving at the red rocks took our breath away before having picnic lunch at Minique. Travelled February, quite cool even at mid-day and altitude a slight factor. Unforgettable tour. Go here.

While all the tours were fantastic, this one was my favorite. Within less than an hour drive you get to experience two utterly different landscapes, both breathtaking and unique. I went with Latchir and Sebastian, the tour guide was wonderful. Knowledgable, bi-lingual, helpful and passionate he made this trip a very special experience!

We went to the Altiplanic lagoon with the tour company Whipala. They pick you up at your hotel around 8:00am. Breakfast is provided. Be prepared to climb to about 4000m. Drink lots of water the day before you go. It really helps to hydrate you. I would recommend to do this tour after you have climatized to the altitude in San Pedro.The lagoons are spectacular. We saw vicunas roaming wild. The opportunity to see Andean flamingos at Chaxi lagoon was amazing. I think you have to sea the salt flats to really believe it. Maybe you will be lucky to see some vicunas. Do not miss this tour when in San Pedro de Atacama.

We were collected at 5:30 by Whipola Tours to take us on a trip to the Altiplanic Lagoons. The excellent guide - Hugo - was full of wit, knowledge and charm. He had a large Chilean flag draped around his shoulders. He gave us a great amount of information along the journey about geography, climate, history and culture. Our first stop was at the marker for the Tropic of Capricorn with a sign marking the Inca Trail. We took some photos with the flag to put on Facebook. It was a slow climb to 4500 meters to see the spectacle of the lagoons. They nestle in a volcanic bowl surrounded by snow clad mountains and other volcanoes - including one that is active. We stop to pay our entrance fee and discover some vicuñas grazing close by - they are like a small llama and a member of the camel family. We drove to a small cabin with toilets and had a marvellous breakfast including fresh scrambled eggs. The air and lack of oxygen makes us light headed and dizzy. After breakfast we have a lovely walk down the mountainside to the edge of the largest of the two lagoons.

Give it two days to acclimatise to the altitude before attempting this trip. But the trip is a must ! It has it all mountain s, lakes, wildlife, spectacular views, reflections in mountain lakes.

These two lagunas are not far from San Pedro and are outstanding places for making simple landscape photographic compositions, especially as the sun sets. In the middle of the day the light is too harsh and there will be busloads of tourists. I visited in winter and we were a group with our own minibus and driver who waited long after the tourist buses had gone.

We took a tour to the altiplanic lagoons (Miskanti and Menike) The views were overwhelming, this is a must for people visiting San Pedro. But beware that the lagoons are at 4300m so you will feel as if you have just finished the NY marathon.

Snow capped mountains, salt flats, vicuna, flamingos, yellow grasses...not possible to describe the beauty of this area. I could not stop taking photos!

It is truly a fantastic view point with some fabulous pictures. You can get some great views at this place, something you just cannot find in Asia where we reside, so this truly blew our minds. For some hours, it was the most peaceful time we could ask for. Get ready your cameras because this view cannot be beat!

Warm water, gentle soothing waterfalls. Can be a bit slippery and crowded. Choose lower pools as they are quieter

If you love snow capped mountains, dazzling blue lakes and colourful fauna, this is not a trip you want to miss. The scenery is stunning and it's well worth your time and money to check it out

Each tour is different, and some will take you different places, or stop on different scenic points as you travel to the Altiplanic Lagoons.Highly recommended to see the vast scenery, with salt lakes in the foreground, and mountains and volcanoes in the background. Another highlight is being able to see Flamingos in their natural habitat, feasting on top of a salt lake that creates mirror of the scenery around it.

This is an amazing trip. As with many of the other sights in the Atacama Dessert you are awed at the majestic sights. Definitely not to be missed.