Laguna Route Altiplano Mining Circuit

The Laguna Route cuts through Bolivia’s most remote altiplano, connecting a chain of mineral-stained lakes and abandoned sulfur mines at crushing altitude. Starting from Uyuni, this technical circuit threads between Laguna Colorada’s flamingo colonies and Laguna Verde’s arsenic-tinted waters, following old mining roads that serviced now-ghost camps like Sol de Mañana geothermal field. The route peaks at Laguna Blanca, where thin air and bone-jarring corrugated tracks test both driver and machine.

This is expert-level high-altitude overlanding demanding modified 4WD with extra fuel, water, and altitude preparation. Elevation sickness hits hard above 4,200 meters, and mechanical failures mean multi-day waits for rescue. Best tackled April through September when weather windows open, though nights drop below freezing year-round. Permits required for Eduardo Avaroa Reserve. The payoff: witnessing some of the planet’s most alien landscapes and earning serious overlander credibility among those who’ve pushed the limits.