Salar de Coipasa Circuit
Bolivia's secret salt flat without the crowds.
While every gringo heads to Uyuni, the Salar de Coipasa sits 150 kilometers northwest, serving up the same alien landscape without the selfie sticks. This 2,218-square-kilometer salt flat stretches endlessly toward Chile’s border, its crystalline surface cracking under your tires as you navigate by GPS across what feels like another planet. The route typically runs from Sabaya village northwest to the Chilean border at Pisiga Bolívar, passing flamingo-dotted lakes and the striking Tunupa volcano that dominates the eastern horizon.
This isn’t a Sunday drive — the salt crust can be deceptively soft after rain, and getting stuck means serious consequences in this remote corner. Stock 4WD works fine in dry conditions, but pack extra water, fuel for 400+ kilometers, and emergency supplies. Best tackled May through October when the surface is firm. No permits needed, but respect the salt harvesters’ work areas. You’ll earn bragging rights for finding Bolivia’s secret salt flat and memories of driving across what looks like frozen lightning.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route |
| Surface | Salt|Dirt |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 87 mi / 140 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 12467 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock 4WD |
| Nearest town | Sabaya, Oruro |
| Land manager | Bolivian Government |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock 4WD handle the Salar de Coipasa Circuit, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock 4WD is the minimum and will get you through under dry conditions. The salt flat surface is firm and relatively flat, but the dirt sections connecting it can get rutted and soft — a suspension lift and all-terrain tires give you meaningful margin out here where recovery help is not coming quickly.
When is the Salar de Coipasa passable, and what happens if you go during rainy season?
May through October is the dry season and the only reliable window. During the wet season (November–April), the salar floods — sometimes ankle-deep, sometimes more — and the salt crust softens dramatically, swallowing vehicles that have no business being there.
Do I need permits or pay any fees to drive the Salar de Coipasa Circuit?
No formal permit is required as of current information, and there are no entry fees for the salt flat itself. Bolivia's bureaucratic picture can shift, so check with locals in Sabaya when you arrive — they'll know if anything has changed.
What's the hardest section of the circuit and what should I expect?
The dirt tracks on the eastern and southern edges of the salar are the most unpredictable — soft shoulders, wash-outs, and zero signage. Navigation is the real challenge; GPS tracks can drift on the featureless salt, and choosing the wrong line near the flat's edge can drop you into soft, wet crust fast.
How far out do I need to carry fuel and water, and is there any resupply along the route?
Sabaya is your last reliable fuel stop before the circuit — carry enough for at least 200 km to be safe on the full loop. Water is critical: there are no services on the route, so load a minimum of 4 liters per person per day plus emergency reserve, and treat any sourced water before drinking.
Trail track
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