The float in salt water at Laguna Cejar is the reason most people book this half day on the Salar de Atacama. This guide is for you if it is on your list. The swim runs on a timed ticket and a set of community rules, so it helps you buy the right slot, pick the day of the week, pack for salt and sun, and know what to expect at Ojos del Salar and Tebinquiche.
The ticket comes first
Laguna Cejar is managed by the Atacameño Indigenous Community of Solor. Tickets are sold online and are valid only for the date and time on them. You are asked to arrive 15 minutes early to validate yours, and a visit lasts about an hour.
The site keeps separate hours for the general public and for tour agencies, and it closes every Tuesday for maintenance and to give the lagoons a rest. So the order is: buy your Cejar ticket, then book the tour, and we fit the day around your slot. Do not plan this trip for a Tuesday.
Tebinquiche works differently. Its entrance is paid on site, in cash, and that charge covers the stop at Ojos del Salar too. Bring Chilean pesos.
Hours and conditions can change, so check the community's official ticket site before you go.
Where you actually swim
Cejar is one of a pair of lagoons on the salt flat, and the water is so salty that you float without any effort. Under the community's current rules, bathing is allowed in the neighbouring Laguna Piedra, while Cejar itself is kept for looking at. Expect your swim to be in Piedra.
The rules are there because the lagoons are home to reptiles, birds and insects, and matter to the Atacameño people. A few that change how you prepare:
- Put your sun cream on an hour before your visit.
- Get in and out carefully. Salt crystals on the edges can cut your feet and skin.
- There are changing rooms and showers. Keep your shower short: it is for rinsing off the salt, and the community asks visitors to save water.
When to go
The site is open all year, apart from Tuesdays. In January and February rain and storms are more likely, and those are the months to keep some flexibility in your plans.
Cejar is at about 2,450 metres, barely above San Pedro, so it does not need acclimatisation. That makes it a good choice early in your stay, before the trips to El Tatio or the high lagoons.
We collect you at 07:00 or 13:00. The afternoon start ends in the late afternoon, when the light on Tebinquiche is at its softest, and you can ask us to stay on for the sunset there. The time you choose depends on your Cejar slot, so buy the ticket first.
How the five hours fit together
Cejar is about 20 kilometres from San Pedro: south on Route 23, then off onto the salt flat, about half an hour from your hotel. The swim takes the longest share of the day, with time to rinse off afterwards. Next come Ojos del Salar, two round freshwater pools side by side in the white crust, and then Tebinquiche, a shallow lagoon ringed with salt, where you walk on the crust with the volcanoes reflected in the water. The drive back across the salt flat brings you to your hotel, or the centre of town, about five hours after you set off.
The car is yours for the five hours, so if you want longer at Tebinquiche and a shorter stop at the pools, tell your driver. The itinerary can change on the day, within the limits of your Cejar slot.
On your own or with a driver
You can drive to Cejar from town in a hire car. Going on your own, you still need the timed ticket, and you need a plan for getting back salty and tired in the afternoon heat. A private car carries your wet towels and your water, and waits while you swim. The price depends on the size of your group; see it on the tour page.
What to bring
- Your Cejar ticket for the right date and time.
- Swimwear, a towel and sandals or water shoes for the salt.
- Fresh water to drink, and extra to rinse off with.
- A hat, sunglasses and sun cream, applied early.
- Chilean pesos in cash for Tebinquiche.
- A warm layer if you plan to stay for the sunset.
Who it suits
This half day suits most people, including families. Cejar tickets have age bands, so check them when you buy online. Floating needs no swimming skill, but take care getting in over the salt.
Think twice if you have cuts or broken skin, or if you cannot stand strong sun with little shade. If floating is not the draw, the Valle de la Luna tour gives you the desert near town on foot.
Questions people ask
Can we stay for the sunset at Tebinquiche?
Yes. Message us and we will make the tour longer.
What if there are more than 16 of us?
Two vehicles travel together, on one booking. Message us and we will price it.
Can we cancel?
Yes, up to 24 hours before pick-up, with a full refund. See our cancellation page. The Cejar ticket is bought separately from the community, so check its terms when you buy.
Booking the half day
Buy your Cejar ticket, avoid Tuesdays, then book. If you are still putting your days in order, our guide to day trips from San Pedro de Atacama compares all five. Times and what is included are on the Laguna Cejar, Ojos del Salar and Tebinquiche private tour page, where you choose the size of your group and book.
