Laguna Route Bolivian Altiplano Circuit

The Laguna Route connects a chain of seven high-altitude lakes across Bolivia’s Eduard Avaroa National Reserve, starting from Uyuni and ending at the Chilean border near San Pedro de Atacama. The classic circuit hits Laguna Colorada (blood-red from algae), Laguna Verde (emerald green beneath Volcán Licancabur), and five other impossibly colored lakes scattered across the altiplano at elevations between 14,100 and 15,700 feet. The track threads between active geysers at Sol de Mañana, natural hot springs, and the Salvador Dalí Desert — a surreal landscape of rock formations that inspired the artist’s name. Navigation follows ancient llama caravan routes marked only by stone cairns and GPS coordinates.

This is a difficult high-altitude expedition requiring experienced 4WD drivers and proper acclimatization — altitude sickness hits hard above 14,000 feet. Essential gear includes spare tires, tire repair kit, extra fuel, and cold-weather camping equipment for temperatures that drop below freezing year-round. Best attempted during dry season (April-November) with a minimum 3-day itinerary. The reward is camping beside some of the most alien landscapes on Earth, watching three species of flamingos feed in caustic lakes, and crossing into Chile through one of the world’s most remote border crossings.