We booked this afternoon tour for 12,000 CLP1 which included transportation, guide, and an evening snack. The meet-up point was at the tour agency’s office at 4.30 PM. It’s then a quick 30-minute drive to Laguna Cejar. At the entrance, you pay the 15,000 CLP for access to the lake. We follow the guide to the lake’s viewpoint and he gives some information on how its high salt levels allow you to float almost flat. He also says that the lake is protected now so access is prohibited to it. However, we can bathe in the adjacent Laguna Piedra which has the same effect. The entrance fee for this lake is 1000 CLP per person. There are changing rooms and shower facilities there. You have to take a shower before entering the lake especially if you’ve put on repellent or sun lotion since these are harmful to the lake. We’re given about 45 minutes to bathe in the lake and get changed before continuing on the tour.
We continue another 20 minutes to Laguna Tebinquiche. On the way to the lake, we pass ‘Ojos del Salar‘ (Eyes of the Salt Flat). These are two watering holes and the guide says that you can jump into one of them. I took the plunge and the water was really cold. Next, we continue to the lake to catch the sunset. The guide gives some info on the lake and then says we can walk throughout the trail to take some pictures. When we get back, the guide has laid out some snacks and drinks on a foldaway table. He then hands out some cups and pours us some wine to drink whilst watching the sunset. It was a great way to end the tour before heading back to San Pedro de Atacama.
