Atacama Desert: Lagoons & Salt Flats, San Pedro de Atacama
Overview
At lunchtime, the tour stops in Socaire, a humble agricultural village famous for its simple adobe homes, rustic chapel, and slow pace of life. After eating, the excursion continues towards the Altiplano (high plateau) lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques, which are located at a whopping 4,200 meters (13,779 feet) in elevation. Here there are panoramic views of an Altiplano desert surrounded by towering volcanoes and abounding with wildlife like flamencos, foxes, and vicunas.
The last stop on the tour is a visit to the town of Toconao, an oasis with a climate ideal for the cultivation of native fruits and vegetables. The streets are filled with vendors selling artisanal handicrafts and the local homes are cobbled together out of volcanic rocks. The town also boasts a beautiful white-washed church with a three-storied belltower. The church dates back to 1750 and has been declared a national monument.
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