Chile

To get a full refund, cancellation must be no less than 8 days before the local start time of the experience.

If traveler cancels their booking from 7 to 0 days before the local start time of the experience, no refund is provided.

This photographic expedition through the Atacama Desert is a four-day experience designed and led by Mirko, a professional photographer and licensed guide. You’ll organize your own accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama, while Mirko guides you daily through the region’s stark beauty.

The experience is designed to both elevate your photography skills and deepen your understanding of the Atacama’s unique landscape. The itinerary follows a gradual acclimatization process essential for visitors to this high-altitude region. You’ll start in lower-elevation areas like Valle de la Luna and the salt flats, before ascending to the high-altitude lagoons and the Tatio Geyser field near the Altiplano. Routes may shift slightly depending on weather or conditions. If you prefer a shorter version, you can book individual day tours from Mirko’s profile (click on his photo above)—but it’s still recommended to follow the staged altitude progression for a safe and rewarding experience.

Most Atacama tours are built around general sightseeing. This one is purpose-built for photography, so you’ll have access to the best views, angles and vantage points in the Atacama Desert—timed and chosen with light and composition in mind. Mirko shares insights into framing and exposure, and the region’s geology, ecology and human history—drawing from years of guiding and photographic fieldwork.

The salt flats, lagoons, canyons, volcanoes and geysers that make up the Atacama Desert provide a surreal backdrop for photography, with their light, texture and atmosphere, while flamingoes and vicuñas are natural models.

Working with Mirko across four days builds trust and rhythm. His local knowledge spans the natural environment and broader Chilean culture. He has a way of sharing stories, and he adapts his guidance to your pace, gear and interests. Mirko also captures portraits of your group throughout the journey—so you leave with a record of how the desert looked back at you.

The second day of the experience is spent visiting salty lagoons and a traditional Atacameño town as yet untouched by tourism. Mirko will continue sharing photography advice and teaching you about the geological importance of the region's altitude lagoons.

The second day of the experience is spent visiting saline lagoons and a traditional Atacameño town still untouched by tourism. Mirko will continue to offer photography guidance while sharing insights into the geological significance of the region’s high-altitude lagoons.

The day begins with a swim in Cejar Lagoon, where the high salinity allows you to float effortlessly on the surface. After drying off, you’ll visit Tebenquinche Lagoon to photograph the salt deposits along its shoreline. A relaxed lunch break in the quiet town of Toconao follows, before you conclude the day at Chaxa Lagoon, where three species of flamingo wade through the shallows in search of shrimp.

This is an immersive, photography-led exploration of the flora and fauna of the Salar de Atacama. Mirko—schooled in the geology and geography of the region—shares knowledge honed over years of living in San Pedro de Atacama. He explains the fragility of these ecosystems and offers insight into why the Indigenous Lickanantay people consider the lagoons and volcanoes sacred. As a professional photographer, he helps you train your eye for detail, guiding you through techniques for capturing both vast landscapes and intimate close-ups.

The experience also includes an optional swim in Cejar Lagoon—a surreal and sensory moment that deepens your connection to the environment and supports acclimatization to the desert climate. The day ends at Chaxa Lagoon, where you’re likely to encounter all three resident flamingo species: Chilean, Andean, and James’s. The pace is unhurried, giving you time to study their movements and capture their pink reflections against the turquoise water.

Photo Tour in Atacama Desert, Chile, with swimming in saline lagoons and photographing flamingoes.

Saline Lagoons of the Atacama

The first day of this photo safari takes you to two contrasting natural wonders in the Atacama Desert of Chile: the Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna) and Rainbow Valley (Valle del Arcoíris). Upon leaving San Pedro de Atacama, Mirko—a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and wildlife—will stop at one of his favorite viewpoints, where you'll take in the sunrise over the Andes mountain range. While sipping coffee and sharing a breakfast of marraqueta bread rolls, you'll warm up your photography skills for the day by capturing the soft morning light. Most importantly, this is a moment to connect with Mirko.

You’ll then explore the ravines and dunes of Moon Valley, gaining a sense of how it earned its name. After lunch at a local restaurant in San Pedro de Atacama, you'll head to the Cordillera Domeyko to study the 3,000-year-old petroglyphs at Yerbas Buenas, before ending the day in the multicolored Rainbow Valley.

Mirko selected these two locations for their contrast. The morning is spent exploring the salt caves, rugged amphitheaters, and sweeping dunes of Moon Valley, where Mirko will explain the region’s distinctive geology. By visiting early in the day, you'll avoid the afternoon crowds and enjoy a more relaxed photographic experience.

The afternoon takes you to two of the Atacama Desert's hidden treasures: Yerbas Buenas and Rainbow Valley. Yerbas Buenas is an open-air gallery of pre-Columbian rock carvings that offer insight into ancient Indigenous cultures. Mirko will explain the symbolism behind the petroglyphs and how they served as more than just decoration. In Rainbow Valley, the mountains are painted in hues of red, green, white, yellow, and blue as a result of the oxidation of various mineral deposits over millions of years. You’ll arrive in time to photograph it under the soft light of the waning sun.

Photography Tour in Valley of the Moon & Rainbow Valley petroglyphs in Atacama Desert, Chile.

Moon Valley & Rainbow Valley

This four-day photography safari concludes with a journey to the high Andean salt flats on the Chilean Altiplano. Located in the northeastern corner of the Atacama Desert near the border with Bolivia, the Quepiaco, Quisquiro, and Tara salt flats are among the most visually striking and ecologically unique landscapes in the region. These salars sit at elevations of 4,000 to 4,500 meters (13,000 to 14,800 feet) above sea level and are part of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Bounded by volcanoes and inhabited by flamingos and vicuñas, this is an extraordinary setting for experimenting with landscape and wildlife photography.

This is your final day with Mirko, continuing to explore the Atacama’s natural history, cultural legacy, and wildlife. Straddling the borders of Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina, the salt flats of Quepiaco, Quisquiro, and Tara provide habitat for all three South American flamingo species: Andean, Chilean, and James’s. Llamas, vicuñas, and the elusive Andean fox also roam here.

As part of the Andean Plateau (Altiplano), these salt flats hold deep cultural meaning for Indigenous Atacameño communities—context that Mirko will share as you travel. Rather than simply photographing the salars, you'll be encouraged to connect with their significance and begin to understand how every element in the Atacama Desert is interwoven.

At each salt flat, Mirko will explain the geological features of the wetlands and salt crusts while pointing out wildlife. As with previous days, he’ll offer thoughtful instruction on capturing both the grandeur of the landscape and the details that give it life.

Photographic Tour of flamingos, salt flats, and volcanoes in the Chilean Altiplano, Atacama Desert.

Chilean Altiplano

The third day of the experience begins at one of the Atacama Desert's greatest natural wonders and ends with a relaxing soak in a high-altitude thermal oasis. Before the first rays of light break across the sky, you’ll head toward one of the main gateways to the Andes mountains to witness the awakening of the Tatio Geysers at dawn. With Mirko at your side, you’ll capture the splendor of this geothermal wonderland through your lens.

As daylight emerges and the geysers settle, you’ll continue on to the wetlands of Machuca and Putana. Standing at 4,000 meters (13,000 feet) above sea level, these high-altitude wetlands support a rich biodiversity and a traditional grazing culture with Indigenous roots. Flamingos, vicuñas, and wetland birds are commonly encountered here, so you’ll want to keep your camera ready.

In keeping with previous days, Mirko maintains a slower pace and a steady focus on studying the landscape in fine detail.

This day continues the theme of contrasting environments. Starting at one of the Atacama’s most dramatic natural landmarks, you’ll move on to two lesser-known wetlands before concluding with what may be the only truly relaxing activity in the region—bathing in the hot springs of Puritama. 

Beyond the dawn geyser spectacle, the Putana and Machuca wetlands are especially captivating. Inhabited by the Atacameño people for centuries, these areas still support traditional llama and alpaca herding practices. Mirko will explain their cultural significance while helping you frame wildlife shots—whether of Andean flamingos, vicuñas, Puna ibis, or giant coots. You’ll also swing by a local village to sample llama cheese empanadas.

The Cactus Canyon (Quebrada de Guatín) is another stop missed by most tours. Here, you’ll encounter towering cacti once used in traditional medicine and ritual practices—another layered detail in the landscape Mirko helps bring into focus.

Photo Tour in the Atacama Desert capturing Tatio Geyser, Machuca Wetlands, and Puritama Hot Springs.

Tatio Geyser & Puritama Spring

4-day Photo Safari of lagoons, canyons, geyser, wildlife in Atacama Desert from San Pedro de Atacama

The per person price of this experience assumes a minimum number of participants to cover base costs and logistics. The supplemental fee enables us to maintain quality and exclusivity for your smaller than minimum group

Atacama Through the Lens

This experience is designed for a minimum of 2 and maximum of 4 people—to make costs and logistics work. Over 4 consecutive days, you'll be accompanied by a licensed guide and professional photographer, with private transportation provided each day, with pick-up and drop-off at your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama. Breakfast and lunch are included during each day of the tour.

** Not Included: Dinners, hotel stays, airport transfers to or from Calama Airport, these should be arranged separately.

Sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses, and a sunhat are essential.
Wear comfortable clothing suitable for trekking—conditions can vary from cold in the early morning to hot in the afternoon, and wind can be intense in the Atacama region. Layers can be stored in the vehicle.
Bring a swimsuit for the thermal springs or saline lagoon visit on Day 2.
A DSLR or mirrorless camera is highly recommended, along with lenses and a tripod. 

Mirko will collect you from your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, every morning on this 4-day experience. Please advise the name and address via the Fernwayer Chat function upon completing your booking. 

Mirko Andrei Rebolledo is a licensed guide and professional photographer with a deep connection to Chile’s breathtaking landscapes. He has spent the last five years capturing the raw beauty of the Atacama Desert, where he works as both a wildlife photographer and a certified tour guide. Before moving north, he honed his expertise in the rugged terrains of Chilean Patagonia.

Whether leading photography-focused excursions or sharing his extensive knowledge of the desert’s unique geography, Mirko transforms each experience into an unforgettable journey through one of the most otherworldly places on Earth.

Moon Valley & Rainbow Valley

Private

Private