DAY 1 - COLORED LAGOONS AND DESERTS (L, D): We will pick you up from your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, and drive you to the Bolivian border at Hito Cajones. After crossing the border and upon arrival in Bolivia, you will enjoy a remarkable landscape dominated by the Licancabur volcano, with one of the jewels of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve at its foot: the Green Lagoon. This will be the starting point of our trip in a 4X4. This place is truly unique in the world.
Once we leave the Green Lagoon behind, we will enter a vast landscape: the Valley of the Ladies desert. We will continue to the hot springs of Polques, where we will enjoy a bath before heading to the Geysers of Sol de Mañana, where we can observe volcanic activity.
Afterwards, we will arrive at the Red Lagoon, another precious jewel. This lagoon is the most important site in the area and is known for its three different species of flamingos. These deserts display a great variety of colors, including red, orange, ochre, brass, brown, and beige. We will visit the Stone Tree, and along the way we will encounter wild vicuñas with their fine and elegant figures. We will continue towards Tayka Desert Hotel.
DAY 2 - LAGOONS, THE BIG SALAR (B, L, D): We will depart from Ojo de Perdiz, an area known for its wide expanses of colored deserts with no real roads. The colors of the sand and rocks are the result of millennial winds combined with the presence of borax and sulfur, creating changing tones of brown, red, orange, brass, and beige along the route. We will then drive along the high-altitude lagoons of Chiarkota, Hedionda, Honda and Cañapa, where we will see a large number of flamingos from three different species. We will have lunch on the shore alongside one of the lagoons before continuing.
Afterwards, we will continue towards San Cristóbal village, located near the mine of the same name, one of Bolivia’s largest mining facilities. Years ago, the entire village was relocated by the mining company to a new site 14 km away from its original location after large quantities of minerals were discovered in the area.
Finally, weather permitting, we will enjoy a sunset at the Salar de Uyuni. Overnight stay will be at one of the salt hotels (Luna Salada or Palacio de Sal) in Colchani, located on the edge of the salar.
DAY 3 - MORE OF THE BIG SALAR (L, D): Today, we will continue across the impressive white, salty landscape of the Salar de Uyuni.
After visiting the salt museum, we will head to Pescado Island , located in the heart of the salar. This site is one of the region’s most iconic attractions. From the top of the island, we will enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the vast salt flats.
Our final stop will be the train graveyard, where old, rusted steel steam locomotives dating back to 1890 stand as silent witnesses of the past. We will end the trip in Uyuni or return to Colchani.
