Atacama Adventure Tours
Atacama adventure tours mean one of two things: altitude or engines. Adventure in the Atacama means one of two things: altitude or engines. The volcano climbs take you to 5,604 m on Cerro Toco and 5,592 m on the Láscar crater rim, both serious mountain days with certified guides and hard entry rules. The buggy, the balloon and the canyon trek are shorter and easier, but each has physical limits the operators enforce. All of it sits inside our Atacama Desert tours catalog.
The Tours We Compare
Every one of these 6 tours was checked on 2026-08-06: price, rating, review count and operator read from the tour's booking-platform listing. The main button on each card opens our own page for that tour; "Check Availability" goes to the platform that takes the booking.
Cerro Toco Summit Hike
A guided high-altitude ascent to the 5,604 m summit of Cerro Toco — Everest Base Camp height with a fraction of the effort.
- Category
- Adventure Tours
- Pickup
- Hotel pickup
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Quima Expediciones
- Booked via
- GetYourGuide
“A great experience! Jorge explained everything the evening before and kept our spirits up the whole climb. Reaching the summit is a huge moment.” — Julien
Booking, payment and cancellation are handled by GetYourGuide. Price checked 2026-08-06.
Láscar Volcano Guided Climb
Climb to the crater rim of one of Chile’s most active volcanoes at 5,592 m — a full-day expedition with mountain guides.
- Category
- Adventure Tours
- Pickup
- Hotel pickup
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Quima Expediciones
- Booked via
- GetYourGuide
“It was amazing! This tour has very little reviews, but I still decided to take a try. And… guys, 10/10. Jorge is the BEST tour guide I had in San Pedro de Atacama!” — Mikhail
Booking, payment and cancellation are handled by GetYourGuide. Price checked 2026-08-06.
Guided Desert Buggy Tour
Drive your own off-road buggy through dunes and canyons of the Cordillera de la Sal with a guide leading the convoy.
- Category
- Adventure Tours
- Pickup
- Hotel pickup
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- On Safari Atacama
- Booked via
- GetYourGuide
“Exciting, informative and entertaining. We learnt a lot as well as having fun.” — Justin
Booking, payment and cancellation are handled by GetYourGuide. Price checked 2026-08-06.
Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride
Lift off at dawn and watch the sun rise over the driest desert on Earth, with Licancabur volcano on the horizon.
- Category
- Adventure Tours
- Pickup
- Hotel pickup
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Atacama Balloons Ltda
- Booked via
- GetYourGuide
“Incredible experience with Joao! Highly reccomended to see the guant desert from above at sunrise” — Laura
Booking, payment and cancellation are handled by GetYourGuide. Price checked 2026-08-06.
Canyon Pools & Hot Springs Trek
Trek through a hidden canyon to natural pools and the Puri Libre hot springs — swimming included, crowds not.
- Category
- Adventure Tours
- Pickup
- Hotel pickup
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- PUKARUMI TRAVEL AGENCY
- Booked via
- GetYourGuide
“The canyon kept opening into pool after pool, and the hot springs at the end were exactly what our legs needed. We never saw another group all day.” — Marta
Booking, payment and cancellation are handled by GetYourGuide. Price checked 2026-08-06.
Devil's Throat Bike Tour, San Pedro de Atacama
Four hours riding from the centre of San Pedro through the Catarpe valley to the Devil's Throat gorge, at whatever pace the group sets. Bike and…
- Category
- Adventure Tours
- Pickup
- Meeting point
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation 24h
- Operator
- Bike Tour Atacama
- Booked via
- Viator
Booking, payment and cancellation are handled by Viator. Price checked 2026-08-06.
Compared Side by Side
The lines that actually change the decision: what you pay, how long it takes, how high it goes, who pays the park fee, and who runs it.
| Tour | From | Duration | Book | Max altitude | Entrance fees | Pickup | Cancellation | Operator | Traveler rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cerro Toco Summit Hike | $120 | 7 hours | Details | 5,604 m at the summit of Cerro To… | Park admission included where it applies | Hotel pickup included | Free cancellation 24h | Quima Expediciones | 5/5 (2) |
| Láscar Volcano Guided Climb | $172 | 12 hours | Details | 5,592 m crater rim; the summit ab… | Entrance fees included | Hotel pickup and drop-off in San… | Free cancellation 24h | Quima Expediciones | 3.9/5 (3) |
| Guided Desert Buggy Tour | $145 | 3 hours | Details | Not confirmed | None | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Free cancellation 24h | On Safari Atacama | 4.9/5 (103) |
| Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride | $350 | 3.5 hours | Details | Not confirmed | None | Hotel pickup and drop-off included | Free cancellation 24h | Atacama Balloons Ltda | 4.6/5 (81) |
| Canyon Pools & Hot Springs Trek | $52 | 6 hours | Details | 3,000 m | Not confirmed on the listing | Hotel pickup in the urban area of… | Free cancellation 24h | PUKARUMI TRAVEL AGENCY | 4.2/5 (5) |
| Devil's Throat Bike Tour, San Pedro de Atacama | $90 | 4 hours | Details | Not confirmed | NOT included — the Catarpe Valley ticket is paid se… | No pickup — meet at the Cruz Verd… | Free cancellation 24h | Bike Tour Atacama | 5/5 (105) |
Park admission is included on both volcano climbs where it applies. The buggy and balloon carry no entrance fee. The canyon pools trek does not state a fee on its listing.
How to Choose
The volcano climbs are graded, and the grades are real
Cerro Toco is the accessible one: a 7-hour day, a trailhead already at 5,300 m and a walk to 5,604 m. Láscar is a 12-hour expedition with a 4x4 approach to 4,900 m, and the operator bars anyone under 18, over 75 or with a low fitness level. Both want two nights of acclimatisation in San Pedro first.
Check the physical limits before the price
The buggy tour will not carry anyone under 120 cm or over 95 kg. The balloon needs passengers over 110 cm and 7 years old. The e-bike is 16-plus.
These are stated on the listings and enforced at the meeting point.
What "certified" actually means here
The Cerro Toco operator names a UIMLA-certified mountain guide recognised by Sernatur, with a first-aid qualification, a Garmin inReach, a VHF radio and a high-altitude first-aid kit. The Láscar operator lists emergency oxygen and a satellite connection. When you are paying for a high-altitude climb, that equipment list is the product.
Best Option by Traveler Type
Your first 5,000 m
Best for: Fit walkers
The Cerro Toco summit hike reaches 5,604 m from a trailhead at 5,300 m — the altitude without the expedition.
Cerro Toco Summit HikeA full mountain day
Best for: Experienced hikers 18+
The Láscar volcano climb is 12 hours to an active crater rim, with emergency oxygen carried.
Láscar Volcano Guided ClimbNo altitude, all adrenaline
Best for: Drivers
The desert buggy tour puts you behind the wheel for three hours in the salt range.
Guided Desert Buggy TourPlanning Guides
Background reading that applies to every tour on this page.
Atacama Adventure Tours: Common Questions
Which Atacama volcano climb is easier, Cerro Toco or Láscar?
Cerro Toco, by a wide margin. It is a 7-hour day with the vehicle taking you to about 5,300 m, leaving roughly 300 m of ascent. Láscar is a 12-hour expedition from 4,900 m with a demanding climb through ash and loose rock, and the operator excludes anyone under 18 or with low fitness.
Do I need mountaineering experience?
No, but you need fitness and acclimatisation. Both operators run guided ascents with technical gear provided — poles, helmet, crampons if there is ice. Both recommend at least two nights in San Pedro beforehand, and Cerro Toco asks every participant to sign a risk-acceptance declaration.
Is the Atacama hot air balloon ride worth $350?
It buys a sunrise flight with a company holding an Air Operator Certificate, professional pilots, insurance and breakfast. It is the most expensive single activity in San Pedro. Reviews rate the guides at 5.0 and value for money at 4.4 — which is a fair summary: people enjoy it and know what it cost.
What happens if the weather cancels my climb?
Both volcano operators publish a policy. Cerro Toco may be suspended or rescheduled at the guide's discretion. The Láscar operator offers a reschedule, an alternative experience, or a full refund. The balloon operator must refund in full on any cancellation; a date change can be offered but never instead of the refund.