Laguna Escondida de Baltinache, Salt lake in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Laguna Escondida de Baltinache is a salt lake in the Atacama Desert near San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. It consists of a series of pools with bright turquoise water surrounded by white salt crusts, and the setting is stark and open.

The lagoons formed over centuries as water from underground springs dissolved salt deposits. In the past, local communities collected salt from the edges for cooking and trade, a practice that continued until recent decades.

The name Baltinache comes from the Kunza language and refers to the salt flats. Local guides often explain how salt has shaped life in the region, and you can see small salt piles left by traditional extraction.

The site is reached by a dirt road, and the last stretch may require a vehicle with good clearance. Once there, you follow a marked path that leads to the different pools, and it is wise to bring water and sun protection.

The water in some pools is so salty that you can float effortlessly, similar to the Dead Sea. The salt crusts around the pools form strange shapes that change with the wind and sun.