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Laguna Colorada in Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flat, White Deserts and Colorada Lagoons
4 days


The magnificent Salar de Uyuni, with its 10,582 square km (4,085 square miles) is the largest salt flat in the world. It is located in the department of Potosí, in southwestern Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, at an altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level.

About 40,000 years ago, the area was part of Lake Minchin, a gigantic prehistoric lake. When the lake dried up, it left as its remains two lakes, Poopó and Uru Uru, and two large salt deserts, Salar de Coipasa and the larger Uyuni, which is about 25 times larger than the Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States of America.

  • Difficulty: Moderate
  • Schedule: Subject to change.

Details

 

Uyuni Salt Flat, White Deserts and Colorada Lagoons
4 days

 

Group
Minimum 2

Difficulty
Moderate

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Travel Details


Highlights

  • It is estimated that the Salar de Uyuni contains 10 billion tons, of which less than 25,000 tons are extracted annually.
  • Every November, the Salar de Uyuni is the breeding ground for three species of South American flamingos: Chilean, James and Andean.
  • In the middle of this sea of salt is a desert oasis, La Isla Pescado (Fish Island), so called because of its fish-like shape, covered with giant cacti. It is the only sign of life for miles.
  • The Verde Lagoon, the Colorada Lagoon and the hot springs can also be visited during the tour to the salt flat, when we enter the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve.
  • The Verde Lagoon is a beautiful lagoon with green waters located towards the border with Chile and at the foot of the Licancabur volcano at an altitude of 4,300 meters above sea level (14,000 feet). Its color is due to copper mineral sediments.
  • The Colorada Lagoon is a lagoon with carmine-colored waters, also due to the presence of minerals in its waters. Flamingos live in these lagoons, creating a unique scene of spectacular beauty!

Itinerary

Our tour begins with a visit to the Train Cemetery, a place that keeps the history of the "Uyuni" (Uyuni).

Then we make a trip of approximately 30 minutes to reach the town of Colchani where we can observe the processing of salt extracted from the largest salt flat on the planet, we can also appreciate handicrafts made from salt and cactus of the region, we will visit the famous mounds of salt arriving at the Salt Hotel (museum) located inside the Uyuni salt flat, where you can appreciate the immensity of the salt flat.

Later, we head towards the town of Coqueza, then after a journey of about 30 minutes by vehicle and uphill we arrive at the viewpoint of the Thunupa volcano and visit the mummies of the site, where you can see the beauty of the salt.

After visiting this beautiful site we will return to the town of Coquesa, on the route we will be able to appreciate the magical sunset in the largest salt flat on the planet, a privileged place to fill us with mystical energy. This will be the end of our first day of adventure.

After tasting our breakfast we head towards the town of Chantani (10 minutes) where you can see the Museum of Cantaros, accompanied by beautiful objects that date back to the history of the region.

Then our expedition will go to the island in the center of the Great Salt Flat, the Incahuasi Island, of volcanic rock and giant cactus and a summit that when climbing it becomes an extraordinary viewpoint of the white salt plain, where we will enjoy our delicious lunch, then through a trail to appreciate the typical flora of the region, enjoying the grandeur of the salt flat and arriving at the Ventana del Inca, a site destined to the Aymara tradition. We will continue to the southern shore of the salt flat.

We will finish our adventure heading to the shores of the salt flat through Puerto Chuvica and arriving to the community of San Juan, where we will spend the night.

Early after enjoying breakfast we start the tour heading to the viewpoint of the Ollague volcano (active), after contemplating the view of this volcano through a natural viewpoint we will go to visit a variety of lagoons: Laguna Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkota, Honda and Ramaditas, where we will observe in their natural habitat a large number of flamingos and other birds, such as gulls and Andean geese, where we will enjoy lunch prepared for the day.

In the afternoon we arrive at the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna crossing the Siloli desert, where we will observe the vizcachas in the site called Viscachitas.

Later, we will arrive to the Arbol de Piedra, beautiful formation caused by the strong winds of the region, arriving to finish the day to the Laguna Colorada and the Mirador de Aguas Calientes, where we will finally spend the night in the lodging settlement of Huayllajara or Laguna Colorada.

We will start our day very early heading to the "Sol de Mañana" Geysers to observe this spectacle in all its magnitude: accompanied by the first rays of sun at an altitude of 5,000 meters above sea level and accompanied by an intense cold, noisy fumaroles of a peculiar color that resemble the beginnings of the formation of the earth.

We continue our journey into the wonderful Dali desert and its beautiful rock formations caused by the wind, we arrived in the morning hours and at the right time to the Laguna Verde at the foot of the Licancabur volcano adjacent to the Laguna Blanca, where we observe the change of water from emerald to a more opaque green with the help of the wind.

On the way back we head towards the Polques hot springs where we can take a bath in its warm waters, then we continue to the town of Mallku Villamar, where we will enjoy lunch prepared for the day.

After this stop we head towards the Valley of the Rocks, near Alota, where we appreciate beautiful formations in the rocks, a point where we let the imagination create beautiful images in stone.

After crossing these beautiful landscapes we will go to the town of San Cristobal, where we appreciate its beautiful church.

Finally, in the afternoon, we will arrive to our starting point Uyuni.

Includes / Does not include

What is included?

  • Professional driver.
  • Transportation in Toyota Land Cruiser 4 X 4 vehicle, equipped for emergencies.
  • SOAT of public transportation.
  • First aid kit.
  • Food on route.
  • Entrance fees to visited sites.
  • Incahuasi Island.
  • Eduardo Avaroa Reserve.
  • Polques hot springs.
  • Private hostal, single or double occupancy.
  • Transfer IN/OUT Uyuni Airport or Bus Terminal.

What is not included?

  • Expenses of a personal nature, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and meals not explicitly mentioned in the program.
  • Travel insurance.

Recommendations

La ruta al Salar es muy fría, ventosa y con alta radiación solar. Por el día generalmente hace sol y la temperatura es agradable. Se recomienda llevar:

  • Warm and thick clothes.
  • Gloves.
  • Wool socks.
  • Woolen hat covering the ears and to protect from the sun.
  • Boots.
  • Lip moisturizer.
  • Sunscreen factor 30+.
  • Very dark sunglasses with ultraviolet filter.
  • Between December and April it is recommended to bring a raincoat.
  • A copy of your passport.
  • Extra water.

Uyuni Salt Flat, White Deserts and Colorada Lagoons 4 days

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