Laguna Chaxa
A shallow lake in the Salar de Atacama where three species of flamingos feed among the salt crust and reflections, one of the best places in South America to see flamingos.
Laguna Chaxa lies in the central part of the Salar de Atacama, which covers about 3,000 square kilometers and is Chile’s largest salt flat. Its surface is covered by hard, uneven salt crust. Laguna Chaxa is a shallow lake in the salt flat, part of the Soncor sector of the Los Flamencos National Reserve. Its water is rich in brine shrimp and algae, which attract three species of flamingos: the Chilean, the Andean, and the James’s (Puna) flamingo. Three of the six flamingo species in South America can be seen here at the same time. You can walk slowly along the trail around the lake and watch the flamingos from a few dozen meters away as they feed with their heads down, and their pink reflections appear in the shallow water. In the early morning, when there is no wind, the lake is like a mirror, with the volcanoes of the Andes behind it. This is a great time for photography. At sunset, the sky and the lake turn pink-orange together. There is a small interpretive center at the entrance, and the entry fee is collected in cash by the local community. The lake is about 60 kilometers from San Pedro and is often combined with the Miscanti and Miñiques high-altitude lakes on a day trip. Please keep quiet, and do not cross the trail to approach the flocks. The salt crust underfoot is sharp and the glare is strong, so wear sunglasses.
Opening hours
Approx. 08:00–19:00
Nearby sights
- Ojos del Salar
- Toconao
- Laguna Tebinquinche
- Laguna Cejar
- ALMA Observatory
- Aldea de Tulor
- Lagunas Escondidas de Baltinache
- Socaire