Blue water
Below volcanoes.
Godot13 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Diego Delso — CC BY-SA 4.0
Two high lagoons on the altiplano at over 4,000 metres, their deep-blue water almost glowing under clear skies, ringed by plains of golden paja brava grass, with the Miscanti and Miñiques volcanoes rising above in brown and red, sometimes dusted with snow. The lagoons formed when lava dammed an old watercourse, and they belong to Los Flamencos National Reserve. The rare horned coot nests on their shores, so going near the water is forbidden, and visitors follow a marked trail to wide lookouts. They are usually seen on a full-day tour that also stops at Laguna Chaxa for flamingos and the small village of Socaire, with some going on to Piedras Rojas, with its red rocks and turquoise salt lagoons. The sun is strong, the wind very cold and the air thin. The altitude around San Pedro is high, so drink plenty of water, move slowly and avoid the highest spots on your first day.
Below volcanoes.
A rare bird.
Red rocks.
The altiplano, about 115 km south-east of San Pedro de Atacama
On a full-day tour from San Pedro combining them with Laguna Chaxa and Socaire, or by high-clearance rental car.