Laguna Cejar Tour Review: Is San Pedro de Atacama’s Salt Lake Worth It?

San Pedro de Atacama, set within Chile’s vast Atacama Desert, offers an otherworldly landscape. This high-altitude town serves as a jumping-off point, too it’s almost an ideal location, for experiencing geysers, salt flats, and incredibly clear night skies. Among the region’s attractions, Laguna Cejar definitely stands out, very because it offers a rather special swimming experience; that is, you can float effortlessly in its highly salty waters. A half-day guided tour to Laguna Cejar is really popular, arguably drawing travelers looking for a mix of natural wonder and fun. The million-dollar question is, of course, very whether it lives up to the hype and if it’s genuinely worth including in your Atacama itinerary. Let’s examine what the Laguna Cejar tour is all about, what you can look forward to, and help you determine whether or not to pack your swimsuit.

What to Expect on the Laguna Cejar Tour

The standard half-day tour to Laguna Cejar usually starts in the mid-afternoon, which tends to be around 3 PM, giving you the morning for other activities or just to chill in San Pedro. The trip begins with a drive from San Pedro de Atacama, usually around a 30-minute or so, so it’s fairly quick to get there. Most tours actually include a few different stops, with Laguna Cejar naturally being the main event. Typically, the itinerary includes Ojos del Salar (“Eyes of the Salt Flat”), these are two pretty cool, deep, freshwater pools where you can take a dip (the water can be quite cold, but refreshing). Afterwards, it’s on to Laguna Cejar itself.

Laguna Cejar is like nothing else; that is, its high salt concentration gives you this unreal buoyancy similar to the Dead Sea. Getting into the water is very, very odd at first, a bit because of the sensation of floating so effortlessly, and slightly because of how cold the water can get! You’ll definitely find it nearly impossible to actually swim in the regular sense, too it’s almost more like you’re relaxing on a very sturdy, invisible mattress. Most tours do allow for around an hour or so to swim in Laguna Cejar. After the swim, people generally head to a nearby spot like Laguna Tebinquinche, so you can watch the sunset over the Atacama Desert. This involves getting views of the colorful sky mirrored in the lagoon’s surface, that makes for really striking photo opportunities.

The Floating Experience: Is It as Good as They Say?

Floating in Laguna Cejar actually is very, very unusual, yet genuinely an awesome experience. The intense salinity allows you to float without even trying, right it’s sort of similar to being cradled by the water. One of the interesting quirks you will face, like your skin feeling oddly oily due to the salt. Any cuts or grazes you have might sting just a little, arguably emphasizing the salt concentration, so, in some respects, that might be worth bearing in mind if you have any open wounds. However, that sensation of weightlessness, mixed with the strange background of the Atacama Desert, really makes for a really awesome, pretty unforgettable moment. As I was saying, be ready for lots of laughs and maybe some awkward maneuvering as you get accustomed to your new found floating power.

Things to Keep in Mind When Planning Your Visit

Alright, planning your visit to Laguna Cejar needs considering some things to really ensure a pleasant experience. Firstly, consider bringing a swimsuit, that tends to be fairly obvious, plus a towel, which surprisingly is sometimes overlooked. So too, it’s almost like bringing water shoes is a good idea to actually protect your feet from the salt crystals surrounding the lagoon. Furthermore, plan for the sun; actually, wear sunscreen, that is, use a hat, plus sunglasses because the Atacama Desert sun can be very harsh, right even in the late afternoon. Anyway, bring a bottle of water to really rinse off your face after floating; that prevents irritation from the salt.

The temperature will drop rapidly as the sun begins to drop, naturally, and it might be chilly if you’re wet from swimming. So too, it’s almost a smart move to actually bring a warm layer of clothing, as I was saying, like a fleece or jacket. Lastly, make sure to book your tour with a trustworthy operator. Read reviews and just confirm what exactly is included in the tour price. Things like entrance fees aren’t typically included, by the way, which can sometimes be a surprise. So, in some respects, knowing these details helps avoid unwanted surprises, naturally providing a more relaxing experience.

Is the Laguna Cejar Tour Worth It? The Verdict

Visiting Laguna Cejar truly is an unforgettable thing to do when you are in San Pedro de Atacama. The floating experience in the intensely salty waters truly is unique, like your seeing the Ojos del Salar adds more enjoyment, also the sunset views, obviously, make for some beautiful images. Still, consider that this activity is very, very popular and sometimes is a bit touristy. Actually, expect to share the lagoon with several other people, by the way, especially during peak season. You could argue the experience, well it’s not exactly solitary.

For travelers willing to put up with some crowds for an exceptional floating experience, plus the additional sights, Laguna Cejar absolutely is well worth visiting. Anyway, the tour supplies a distinctive memory and great story to really tell. Yet, if you’re easily put off by other tourists or perhaps are searching for a more serene experience, very, very perhaps there are other less crowded desert adventures to think about. Regardless, visiting Laguna Cejar truly is more than a trip, which tends to be like a dive into something genuinely remarkable, set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Atacama Desert.