Ruta de los Salares — San Pedro de Atacama to Paso Jama via the Altiplano Lagoon Circuit
Flamingos, salt flats, and volcanic passes at 4,300m.
Out of San Pedro de Atacama at 2,400 metres, the Ruta de los Salares climbs into the Puna de Atacama — a high-altitude volcanic plateau where the air is thin, the light is brutal, and the landscapes look borrowed from another planet. The circuit runs northeast through the Salar de Tara, past Laguna Miscanti and Laguna Miñiques at 4,350 metres, and pushes toward Paso Jama on the Chilean-Argentine border at 4,200 metres. Flamingos work the lithium-blue shallows of Salar de Atacama in the valley below, indifferent to your struggles with altitude sickness at the top. The track surface alternates between hard packed volcanic gravel, soft sand river crossings, and raw corrugated dirt that will rattle loose anything not properly strapped down.
Minimum vehicle is a stock high-clearance 4WD, but altitude genuinely kills poorly maintained engines — carburetted rigs will struggle badly above 4,000 metres. Fuel up fully in San Pedro; there is nothing beyond. Water is scarce and must be carried. Acclimatise for at least two days in San Pedro before heading up. CONAF manages access to Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos and a vehicle entry fee applies. Best season is November through April, avoiding the Bolivian winter altiplano storms of July and August. The payoff is otherworldly — colours, silence, and solitude at elevations that make most people humble fast.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Gravel, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 168 mi / 270 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 14764 ft |
| Best season | November-April |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock high-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | San Pedro de Atacama, Chile |
| Land manager | CONAF — Corporación Nacional Forestal (Chile) |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | CONAF Reserva Los Flamencos |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this route, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma, 4Runner, or Land Cruiser 70 can run this route. What matters more than lift is a reliable low-range transfer case, decent all-terrain tires, and the mechanical fitness to handle sustained high-altitude stress — you're cruising above 4,000m for most of the route with no rescue coming fast.
Is this route passable in the Atacama winter (May–October)?
November through April is the window. Winter months bring extreme cold, snow on the passes, and ice on the water crossings — sections of the altiplano can become impassable without expedition-level prep. The lagoons also tend to be more active with flamingos during the wet season (January–March), so that's the sweet spot.
Do I need permits, and where do I get them before driving this route?
Yes — sections of this route pass through Reserva Nacional Los Flamencos, managed by CONAF. Get your entry permit at the CONAF office in San Pedro de Atacama before you leave; rangers do check. Fees are nominal but required, and camping within the reserve boundaries needs to be declared.
What's the hardest section of this route and what should I actually expect?
The high volcanic passes pushing toward 4,500m+ are where things get serious — loose volcanic gravel, off-camber shelf road, and zero guardrails above dramatic drops. Altitude hits hard here: engines lose significant power, drivers feel it too. The water crossings on the lagoon circuit aren't deep but the rocky bottoms are uneven and the cold makes a winch-out miserable.
There's no cell service for the whole route — how far is the nearest gas from San Pedro de Atacama, and should I carry extra fuel?
San Pedro de Atacama is your last reliable fuel stop before Paso Jama — carry at minimum a 20-liter spare jerry can. The 270km route at altitude will burn more fuel than your highway average, and there is zero fuel available along the way. On the Argentine side past the border, Susques has a fuel station but don't count on it being stocked.
Trail track
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