Salar de Uyuni South Rim Track — San Juan to Laguna Colorada via the Bolivian Altiplano Volcanoes
Volcanoes, flamingos, and a boiling earth at 4,800m.
South of the Salar de Uyuni, the road gets serious fast. From the village of San Juan, the track pushes southwest across the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa toward Laguna Colorada — a shallow red lake coloured by algae and mineral sediment, ringed by three species of flamingo and framed by cinder cones pushing above 5,000 metres. The route crosses volcanic ash flats, skirts the foot of Volcán Ollague, and passes geothermal fields at Sol de Mañana where the ground boils and steam vents hiss at 4,800 metres. It’s one of the most visually violent landscapes on the planet.
This is genuine high-altitude expedition territory. Vehicles need to be properly acclimatised and so do their drivers — altitude sickness is common above 4,500 metres and this track sits there for its entire length. A well-prepared overlanding 4WD with spare fuel for at least 300 km, recovery gear, and cold-weather kit is mandatory; nights regularly drop to -20°C even in summer. The best window is May through October (dry season). The reserve charges a park entry fee — pay in Uyuni or at the gate. Fuel in Uyuni before you leave; the next reliable source is San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. No cell service. No rescue services.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Expert |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Overland Route, Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Dirt, Mixed, Sand |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 112 mi / 180 km |
| Duration | 3-5 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 15748 ft |
| Best season | May-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Expedition-equipped 4WD with long-range fuel |
| Nearest town | Uyuni, Potosí Department |
| Land manager | Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa (SERNAP Bolivia) |
| Permit required | Yes |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | SERNAP Bolivia – Eduardo Avaroa Reserve |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Land Cruiser 200 or 4Runner handle this route without modifications?
No. You need an expedition-built 4WD with a long-range fuel tank (minimum 130L capacity), high-clearance suspension, recovery gear, and cold-weather reliability. Stock vehicles will fail on the corrugated tracks, soft volcanic sand, and remote exposure at 4,800m where no recovery exists.
What months is the route actually passable and what shuts it down?
May through October is the dry season window — tracks are firm and water crossings are manageable. November through April brings the Bolivian summer rains, which turn Altiplano tracks into impassable mud and can flood lagoon crossings entirely, stranding vehicles for days.
Do you need a permit to drive through the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve and how do you get one?
Yes, a SERNAP entry permit is required to access the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa — the fee is around 150 BOB per person for foreigners as of recent years. Pay at the SERNAP control post at the reserve entrance; cash in bolivianos only, no card readers out here.
What's the hardest section and what actually makes it dangerous?
The volcanic sand tracks between the geothermal fields near Sol de Mañana and Laguna Colorada are the worst — deep, loose sand at over 4,900m where your engine is already gasping for air and traction is garbage. Get stuck here and you're truly on your own; the altitude also means a high-revving recovery attempt can cook a weakened engine fast.
How much fuel do you need to carry and where's the last reliable resupply before San Juan?
Fill up completely in Uyuni — it's the last guaranteed fuel stop before committing to the route. The full 180km circuit to Laguna Colorada and back burns heavily due to altitude, sand, and low-range driving, so budget for significantly higher consumption than normal and carry at least 40–50 litres of reserve.
Trail track
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