Lagunas Miscanti — Attraction in San Pedro de Atacama

The lagunas themselves are really pretty. The problem is that local authorities are making the visit very bureaucratic to access and give them a taste of a prison once you're there.

To access the lagunas, you need to (hold your breath) make your way through an online purchase funnel full of bugs (takes minutes before it displays the available hours on a given day) accept several alarming red pop-up warning you of the dire consequences that will pour down on you if you fail to take one of the steps of the process properly at least two hours before your visit, complete an online checkin form with lots of indiscrete information then there is a PHYSICAL checkin at Socaire. It's a small office with 20 people waiting in line under the sun (and trust me, the sun BURNS) by the main road (so not very charming). The little wait under the sun lasts... ONE HOUR ! And there were only 20 people !

The staff doesn't speak English, and as the process is a nightmare, lots of questions are left unanswered. Many visitors are surprised and unhappy about the bureaucratic process and shared it with the staff.

THEN if you made it through bureaucracy, you may reach the lagunas, where you will be parked in tiny short pathes. Don't expect to be able to move around freely, the prison sensation is there as in all Atacama attractions.

The summary is that Atacama converted its magnificent nature into "attractions" that "open" and "close", have "online check-ins" , "physical checkins". It's a bit like Disneyland but in completely dysfunctional. I would strongly warn any real nature lover from visiting Atacama and these lagunas are a good...

It is at least ridiculous that you are forced to reserve online...a lake that belongs to nature. Unbelievable!!! Never seen such a thing, nowhere on earth. And you are not even able to buy this ticket at the entrance when no other cars or people are there! Really, this makes no sense at all! I've travelled through sooo many countries around the World and never have seen such a bad behaviour to tourists! I'm saying to you that I've driven for two hours to reach to this lake and you say that i can't even buy a ticket here.. Don't let me even drive till there if i don't have a ticket! You do this in order to protect nature and the natural reserve..? And how does this makes sense? I would be curious to know, really! Hopefully we visited the stunning scenery of Uyuni salt flats and other Bolivian and Peruvian wonders amongst with the super friendly Bolivian and Peruvian People. Either way, coming all the way from Europe just to visit lakes that are "protected" buy super rude people wouldn't make any...

Yes, the view is nice but not sure it is worth it for the price and the way it is managed. The staff is just there to control your ticket that you need to buy and pick it up in advance and to told you, without a smile, all the things you are forbidden to do (the list is long...) You need to park the perfect way, backward, but warning if you park in the angle to choose the right side, even when there is a already a car parked in this side... You have no freedom on this site (first place where even jumping is forbidden...) and you can only follow few miradors without a real walk. You see the lagunas so far that you cannot see the animals even with a 300mm zoom. There is no panels to explain anything (there is a little bit that are almost unreadable and not constructive). The road is long and really harsh even with a big pick-up. What a pity to not knowing how to welcome the tourists with consideration and...