Altiplanic Lakes
About
As you pull closer to the two altiplanic lakes, Minique and Miscanti at 4470 and 4450 meters above sea level respectively, you may be thinking, did I really come all this way to look at some lakes And oh, yes you did. From deep azure waters rimmed with white mineral desposits, with the mountains behind, you'll find yourself wanting to just sit and take them in, if the wind's not blowing aggressively, which it often is. There are great photo ops to be had here, as your guide (nearly everyone comes with a guide) explains the genesis of the lakes and the wildlife often spotted nearby. Many tourists report seeing a zorro culpeo, or kind of fox lurking near the stone-lined walkways. Most tours stop in a couple of other places for birdwatching, where you may see flamingos, taguas cornudas, and other birds, and if your guide has an eagle eye, you may also spy a vizcacha (rabbit-like rodent with a curled tail) peering out of some rocks by the side of the road. Later in the afternoon, trips often pass by the town of Socaire, which is approximately what San Pedro de Atacama might look like were it not for the tourism boom. You will also pass through the isolated outpostof Machuca where, llamas run and where you can eat llama kebabs or other snacks and drinks from the one store there. This trip is normally done from San Pedro de Atacama as part of a tour, which you can easily find on either of the main streets in San Pedro.
