Lagunas Route (Ruta de las Lagunas)

The Lagunas Route cuts across Bolivia’s southwestern Altiplano, linking a chain of mineral-rich lakes that paint the landscape in impossible colors — emerald green, blood red, and electric blue. Starting from Uyuni, this remote circuit winds through Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, passing Laguna Colorada with its crimson waters and thousands of flamingos, then climbing to Laguna Verde beneath the smoking cone of Volcán Licancabur. The route demands respect at altitude, with washboard tracks and sudden weather changes that can strand vehicles for days.

This is serious high-altitude overlanding — expect moderate to difficult conditions with washboard, sand, and rocky sections that punish suspension and tires. A reliable 4WD with good ground clearance is essential, plus cold-weather gear and extra fuel for the 300+ kilometer loop. Best tackled April through October when roads are passable, though nights drop below freezing year-round. The payoff is witnessing one of South America’s most surreal landscapes, where geology creates art and every sunrise paints the mountains in different shades of impossible.