The one tour where you get into the water, in brine dense enough to hold you on the surface.
- Free cancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before it starts; admission must be paid 12 hours ahead
- Duration4 hours
The Cejar complex sits on the northern edge of the Salar de Atacama, and the water in it is salt brine concentrated enough that you float without effort, in the same way as the Dead Sea. This four-hour afternoon tour is the cheapest of the lagoon products in this inventory at about $39. There is one thing to understand before booking, and most listings do not say it: the lagoon you float in is usually not the one the tour is named after.
Compare Atacama ToursKey facts
salt lagoon / swimming- Duration
- 4 hours
- Meeting point
- Collected in San Pedro de Atacama in the afternoon; the operator confirms the time when you book
- Price
- CLP 37,533 per person
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before it starts; admission must be paid 12 hours ahead
Included
- ✓ Shared transportation
- ✓ Driver/Guide (1 Pers)
- ✓ Snack
Not included
- ✗ Does not include Entry Ticket $21,000.- per person (Chilean pesos)
Cejar itself is now look-only
Laguna Cejar is protected for contemplation and the bathing happens at Laguna Piedra within the same complex. The tours are still sold under the Cejar name because that is what people search for. You will float; it will be in the next lagoon along.
Why you float
The brine is far denser than sea water, so you sit in it rather than swim through it. It is a strange sensation and it lasts about half an hour, which is as long as most people want in water that cold.
The rules, and why they exist
No sunscreen immediately before going in, because it contaminates the water — apply it at least an hour beforehand. Showers afterwards are strictly limited, around thirty seconds, and no soap or shampoo. That is water scarcity, not fussiness: this is the driest desert on Earth and the showers are the only fresh water for miles.
The salt afterwards
It dries on you as a white crust and it stings any cut you did not know you had. The brief shower is what stands between you and an uncomfortable drive back. Bring a towel and something to change into.
Booking timing
The operator states that the admission for this tour must be paid 12 hours before departure, so a same-day booking will not work. Drones are not permitted and neither is feeding the birds.
Who should not book this
- Anyone with open cuts or fresh shaving nicks
- People who booked this morning — admission closes 12 hours ahead
-
Cejar Lagoon, Tebenquiche Lagoon and Ojos del Salar
CLP 483974.68 from 21 reviews and three bodies of water instead of one, for about CLP 11,000 more. The better half-day if you want the whole complex.
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Cejar Lagoon Tour - Flotation, Cocktail & More!
CLP 45977Sunset timing with a drink afterwards. Only four reviews, so it is a preference rather than a recommendation.
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Check prices & dates
Book your tickets in advance: popular time slots sell out.
Compare Atacama ToursHow to book
The button goes to the operator's GetYourGuide listing to choose a date and pay. Note the 12-hour admission deadline: book the day before rather than the morning of. Free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. This site earns a commission at no extra cost to you.
This site may earn a commission on bookings at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
Can you actually swim in Laguna Cejar?
Not in Cejar itself, which is protected for contemplation. The floating happens at Laguna Piedra in the same complex, and tours are still sold under the Cejar name.
Why can't I wear sunscreen?
It contaminates the brine. Apply it at least an hour before you get in, not at the water's edge.
How long do you get in the water?
About thirty minutes, which is plenty. The water is cold and the salt is uncomfortable after a while.