The Laguna Cejar floating tour takes you to the salt flat lagoon most visitors picture when they imagine floating in the Atacama Desert: a small, intensely saline lake where buoyancy does most of the work for you, similar to the Dead Sea. The roughly 5.5-hour trip from San Pedro de Atacama starts around EUR 41.58 per person.

What makes the Laguna Cejar Floating Tour special?

Laguna Cejar sits inside the Salar de Atacama, Chile's largest salt flat, and its water carries enough dissolved salt that swimming effort becomes almost unnecessary: you lie back and the water holds you up. Unlike Baltinache further out, Cejar's proximity to San Pedro de Atacama, roughly 30 to 40 minutes away, keeps this a half-day rather than a full-day commitment.

What to expect on the Laguna Cejar Floating Tour

Pickup is in the early to mid-afternoon, timed to leave enough daylight for floating, drying off, and a sunset stop afterward. The drive crosses into the Salar de Atacama, reaching around 2,500 meters, gentler than the higher altiplano excursions. After floating in Laguna Cejar itself, the group stops briefly at Ojos del Salar, two deep, cold freshwater springs sitting oddly in the middle of the salt flat, before finishing at Laguna Tebinquinche for a sunset cocktail and mirror-like views of the surrounding volcanoes.

Is the Laguna Cejar Floating Tour worth it?

For a half-day price and a genuinely unusual physical sensation, I think so. Floating in water this dense is not something most visitors have done before, and the Ojos del Salar and Tebinquinche stops round out the visit beyond just the lagoon itself. One honest caveat: this specific listing's review count is still small relative to some of the desert's bigger-name tours, so check recent reviews on the booking page yourself before locking in a date.

What does the Laguna Cejar Floating Tour include?

The price covers hotel pickup, a bilingual guide, and a sunset cocktail at the end of the visit. Park entrance fees for the lagoon area are typically paid in advance, often in cash, since payment by card or link can carry a processing surcharge; confirm the exact arrangement with your operator, since reservations generally need to be made at least 24 hours ahead.

Getting there

Pickup is from your accommodation in San Pedro de Atacama; the lagoon sits inside the Salar de Atacama a short drive from town, well within range of a standard tour van rather than requiring a high-clearance vehicle.

Insider tips for the Laguna Cejar Floating Tour

Bring swimwear under your clothes and a towel, since there are no proper changing facilities at the lagoon itself. Biodegradable sunscreen is worth packing specifically, since standard sunscreen can affect the water quality in this kind of enclosed salt lagoon, and some operators will ask you to use it. Rinse off as soon as you reasonably can after floating: the salt dries on skin and clothing quickly and is noticeably uncomfortable if left too long, and bare feet are generally not allowed near the shoreline to protect the fragile salt crust. Chile's official tourism board, SERNATUR, publishes general guidance on visiting the Salar de Atacama responsibly, worth a skim before your trip.

How does this compare to other Atacama lagoon tours?

If you would rather visit a quieter, less-developed lagoon further from town, the Baltinache Hidden Lagoons tour covers similar ground, though floating there is currently paused for maintenance. If you want the salt flat experience combined with red rock and a flamingo reserve in one longer day, the Piedras Rojas and Altiplano Lagoons tour covers more at a higher altitude. Our San Pedro de Atacama tours comparison breaks down every lagoon option by distance and price.

Who should not book this tour?

Pregnant travelers and children under 6 are advised against this specific tour by the operator. Non-swimmers should also know that while the water's buoyancy makes floating easy, comfort in open water still matters, so anyone genuinely uneasy around deep water should mention it to their guide before entering.