Reserva Nacional de Flamencos
Reserva Nacional de Flamencos
Reserva Nacional de Flamencos
4.5
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Duration: More than 3 hours
Meets animal welfare guidelines
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4.5
1,868 reviews
Excellent
1,099
Very good
468
Average
253
Poor
40
Terrible
8
Terri I
Oxfordshire, UK73 contributions
Feb 2023 • Couples
We were advised by our lodge that Laguna de Tebinquiche was a great place to watch the sun down and as keen photographers thought it would be good to go in the golden hour to take photos. We arrived at the gate at 18:20 (sunset being 20:00). The gate informed us the the park closed at 19:00 and we could not stay for the sunset. Having driven 45mins from San Pedro we decided to pay the entrance fee and at least look at the laguna. When we arrived at the car park at 18:30 we were advised we had to leave by 18:45 and the gate closed at 19:00. so we only had 15 mins. So it was a case of taking a couple of photos and leaving. No chance of seeing the sun setting or getting decent photos in the right light.
Once again as we found everywhere we went around San Pedro de Atacama you are only allowed to walk on designated footpaths and you are quite a distance from the laguna. These footpaths are very limiting. No where to sit and enjoy the views. Rangers are everywhere and can get very rude with you if you 'break' the rules! Really spoilt are enjoyment of the Atacama Desert. I applaud the efforts to protect the environment but they have taken measures to the extreme to the detriment of being able to enjoy such beautiful sights.
Once again as we found everywhere we went around San Pedro de Atacama you are only allowed to walk on designated footpaths and you are quite a distance from the laguna. These footpaths are very limiting. No where to sit and enjoy the views. Rangers are everywhere and can get very rude with you if you 'break' the rules! Really spoilt are enjoyment of the Atacama Desert. I applaud the efforts to protect the environment but they have taken measures to the extreme to the detriment of being able to enjoy such beautiful sights.
Written March 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WilleWille
Versailles, France432 contributions
Apr 2023
This national reserve consists of 7 protected areas but very far from each other.
For areas where access is paid for, for foreign tourists, prices have been multiplied by 3 (at least) in two years.
In addition, you now have to book in advance.
Each paying zone has a different website, and different access conditions. For some, it is also necessary to have your reservation checked 1 hour before arriving on site.
Valle de la Luna is closed on Saturday.
The layout of the CONAF website is really difficult to read.
Each local community has its own requirements but all agree to take the maximum amount of money from tourists, especially foreigners.
Yes most of the 7 protected areas deserve to be visited but by dint of adding ever more administrative constraints and multiplying the entrance fees, the local communities will kill their golden hen.
For areas where access is paid for, for foreign tourists, prices have been multiplied by 3 (at least) in two years.
In addition, you now have to book in advance.
Each paying zone has a different website, and different access conditions. For some, it is also necessary to have your reservation checked 1 hour before arriving on site.
Valle de la Luna is closed on Saturday.
The layout of the CONAF website is really difficult to read.
Each local community has its own requirements but all agree to take the maximum amount of money from tourists, especially foreigners.
Yes most of the 7 protected areas deserve to be visited but by dint of adding ever more administrative constraints and multiplying the entrance fees, the local communities will kill their golden hen.
Written April 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Daniel B
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Canada430 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
There are several spots that are free to visit flamingos. This particular location has the fewest number of flamingos in the area. Any body of water within 50km of San Pedro has flamingos. If you are planning on going to see the geysers, don't bother visiting this. You will see plenty of beautiful and up close flamingos with incredible back drops.
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JrnyJunkie
Cleveland, OH959 contributions
Feb 2020
We were able to view 2 different species of flamingo. Very vivid and colorful area to watch not just flamingos, but other birds as well as camelids.
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Richard L
Haslemere, UK61 contributions
Nov 2019
Well worth the trip on good roads to get to see this amazing place. Go on day with no wind to get the best mirror effect of the Flamingos flying over the water.
Written November 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vero76_01
Rome, Italy300 contributions
Jan 2019 • Friends
Wow, nice experience. I have seen 3 different types of flaningos:Chileno, andino and others one.
Nice to watch them in a natural and not artificial environment.
Nice to watch them in a natural and not artificial environment.
Written January 10, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Q6752SHalexs
Madison, WI42 contributions
Dec 2017 • Couples
The reserva does a wonderful job showing various highlights of the desert. The lakes, valleys, and salt flats all have their own unique beauty that is worth seeing.
A useful thing to know that we didn’t find well-documented is that the reserva is divided into 7 sectors (in the attached picture). The drives between various sectors aren’t bad, but you probably want to plan out your strategy for seeing them so you don’t spend too much time driving around/s you don’t just plug Reserva los Flamencos into Google Maps and expect to get where you want to go. Be aware that each sector has its own gate and admission fee (it’s still very reasonable).
A useful thing to know that we didn’t find well-documented is that the reserva is divided into 7 sectors (in the attached picture). The drives between various sectors aren’t bad, but you probably want to plan out your strategy for seeing them so you don’t spend too much time driving around/s you don’t just plug Reserva los Flamencos into Google Maps and expect to get where you want to go. Be aware that each sector has its own gate and admission fee (it’s still very reasonable).
Written January 6, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KGTraveler_13
Pelham Manor, NY168 contributions
Feb 2016 • Solo
As if sending out a welcoming crew, a flock of 15 flamingoes rose up from the laguna and flew over our tour group as we approached the area where they had been grazing on small briny critters in the salty water that is their refuge here. That was our introduction.
As we wandered along the path running through the reserve, we saw a multitude of these enchanting, gangly pink "ballerinas" as they fed, slept with head tucked under wing and tiptoed through the water to test another potential feeding site.
The reserve boasts three kinds of the five known kinds of flamingo, and we saw examples of each. We learned to recognize the differences of each and we snapped photo after photo, enthralled by the vision before us. There were some other water birds, but they were largely overlooked; the flamingoes are the main attraction, as the reserve's name indicates.
Also of interest are the amazing salt formations and plays of light and color. Do take time to enjoy them along with the sight of the birds.
As we wandered along the path running through the reserve, we saw a multitude of these enchanting, gangly pink "ballerinas" as they fed, slept with head tucked under wing and tiptoed through the water to test another potential feeding site.
The reserve boasts three kinds of the five known kinds of flamingo, and we saw examples of each. We learned to recognize the differences of each and we snapped photo after photo, enthralled by the vision before us. There were some other water birds, but they were largely overlooked; the flamingoes are the main attraction, as the reserve's name indicates.
Also of interest are the amazing salt formations and plays of light and color. Do take time to enjoy them along with the sight of the birds.
Written September 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catharina50
Eindhoven, The Netherlands6,902 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
We visited this nationaal reserve as first visitors in the morning with our private guide. It was well worth the early rise! The many flamingo's were very close to the visitor area and we could take great close up pictures. When other visitors arrived, we noticed the flamingo's moving away. The visitor center offers opportunity to have your (own) breakfast on a terrace overlooking the laguna and wonderful dessert panorama (and our guide provided this breakfast). Wonderful experience.
Written August 7, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CGurbina
Santiago, Chile13 contributions
Apr 2019 • Family
The pictures in the flyer shows many "Flamencos" and other birds, however, when you get in, there just a few or even not more than 3 of them, the guide explained that this is due to the damage that some companies are doing taking the water from that place, so in my opinion there is nothing to watch at that place, apart from the damage that we as a human are able to do in the nature.
Written June 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ciao. Noi stiamo noleggiando un'auto e quindi gireremo da soli. Non ho capito però come sia la strada per arrivare in questo luogo. Non vedo percorsi su google maps, dovrò quindi seguire uno sterrato? ci sono indicazioni? è un strada tortuosa? Grazie. Davide.
Written November 30, 2019
Le strade non sono buone e gli ultimi tratti un po’ tortuosi.Sono andato con i minivan turistici e si sobbalzava molto.
Written December 4, 2019
hola como llego desde calama o iquique a la reserva de flamencos en chile? gracias
Written December 31, 2018
Coincido con las repuesta anteriores, lass excursiones salen de San Pedro de Atacama, hay muchisimas agencias que tienen ofertas similares. Yo contraté a traves de denomades y la experiencia no fue buena. Mejor elegir en el lugar.
Written January 1, 2019
Efectivamente estan todo el año los flamencos chilenos,una de las tres especies que se pueden ver. En julio y agosto estan en época de apareamiento y se pueden ver haciendo su «baile».
Written July 30, 2018
Helllooow
We re planing on n going with a car, so I'm not sure if we re allowed to do that, is there anyone who has done it ?? Also does anybody know if we can camp ???
Written June 13, 2017
Drive yes. Camp no. But I remember seeing a camping site close to San Pedro
Written June 20, 2017
Hola, es posible y permitido cruzar la RN Los Flamencos en vehículo propio (particular) para llegar hasta Argentina? Cuales son los requisitos (4x4?), trámites y costos para hacerlo?
Según el mapa (Google Maps) hay dos caminos desde San Pedro de Atacama, uno por el medio de la Reserva que llega a Susques, otro más por el sur, llegando a San Antonio de los Cobres.
Gracias de antemano!
Written December 16, 2015
I am sorry but I do not speak spanish so cannot answer the question. The road out to the salt flats is good and not necessary to use 4x4 the road is also good to valley of the moon . the question would be best answered by the parks dept
Written December 18, 2015
é possível visitar esta atração sem guia e em carro sem tração?
Written August 8, 2015
No deserto? Os caminhos são confusos e tudo parece muito igual! Acho arriscado ir sem guia! Para ir por conta própria você precisa ter um senso preciso de direção. Como não é o meu caso eu nunca faria esse passeio por conta!
Written August 10, 2015
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