Ruta de los Salares Puna
Five salt flats across trackless puna
The Ruta de los Salares threads through Chile’s most remote puna landscape, connecting five major salt flats from Salar de Atacama to Salar de Pedernales across 380 kilometers of high desert that barely appears on maps. This is the Chile that mining companies and vicuña herders know—endless expanses of crystalline salt, volcanic cones erupting from mirror-flat playas, and silence so complete it feels supernatural. The route passes through abandoned borax mining camps and follows mining access roads between Salar de Talar and Salar de Aguas Calientes.
Expert-level navigation required through trackless sections where GPS waypoints become survival tools—one wrong turn means hours of backtracking through identical volcanic terrain. Modified 4WD essential with extra fuel, water, and emergency gear for 5-7 day commitment. Best attempted May through September when temperatures drop below deadly. No permits required but register with Carabineros in Calama. This is pure exploration across landscapes that feel more alien than terrestrial.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Salt |
| Features | High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 236 mi / 380 km |
| Duration | 5-7 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 13780 ft |
| Best season | May-September |
| Minimum vehicle | Modified expedition 4WD |
| Nearest town | Calama, Antofagasta |
| Land manager | Ministerio de Minería |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a lifted Tacoma or 4Runner handle this route, or does it need to be a dedicated expedition rig?
A stock or lightly modified Tacoma or 4Runner is not enough here. You need a purpose-built expedition 4WD with high ground clearance, aggressive all-terrain or mud tires, a snorkel for salt dust, reinforced suspension, and serious recovery gear. Salt crust can collapse without warning and soft brine sections will swallow an underprepared vehicle.
Is this route accessible year-round or does weather close it out?
May through September is the reliable window — dry, stable, and the salt flats are firm. Avoid December through March when Altiplanic summer storms flood the salares, turning salt flats into impassable shallow lakes that can strand a vehicle for days.
Do you need permits to run this route, and is there a fee?
The route crosses land managed by Chile's Ministerio de Minería, and some sections border protected zones and active mining concessions. Carry your vehicle documentation and passports at all times — Chilean Carabineros and mining authority checkpoints do appear in the region. No standard recreational permit or trail fee exists as of now, but regulations in Chilean mining territory can shift, so verify current access rules with local contacts in Calama before departure.
What's the hardest section and what makes it dangerous?
The crossings between Salar de Atacama and the northern salares are the most exposed — trackless, no GPS-confirmed routes, and the salt crust varies wildly in load-bearing capacity. A wrong line can drop a wheel or a full axle into brine with no warning. Navigation is by terrain reading and prior recon, not by marked trail.
How far is the nearest fuel stop, and how much range do you actually need?
Calama is your last guaranteed fuel point before the route. With 380 km of route distance plus approach miles, rough terrain, and potential rerouting, plan for 500+ km of range minimum — that means carrying auxiliary fuel cans. There are no fuel sources on route, no settlements, and no emergency resupply. Running low out here is a genuine emergency.
Trail track
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