South Lipez Condors Path Private Tour

After the Salar de Uyuni, we take the direction of the South by the road of the Lagunas until we reach the Southern extremity of the country. We then enter the "Great Lipez", a region little known by tourism, where it is not rare to see condors, before descending towards the pleasant town of Tupiza, by following the path of famous Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy.

Note: This inhospitable region offers only rustic conditions, dust, sparse water points, fresh nights to the travellers. The marvels of nature need to be deserved!

Day 1: UYUNI - SALAR - SAN JUAN
Day 2: SAN JUAN - "ROAD OF THE JEWELS" - LAGUNA COLORADA
Day 3: LAGUNA COLORADA - LAGUNA VERDE - QUETENA
Day 4: QUETENA - LAGUNA CELESTE - SAN ANTONIO DE LIPEZ
Day 5: SAN ANTONIO DE LIPEZ - SAN PABLO - SAN VIENTE - TUPIZA

Day 1: UYUNI - SALAR - SAN JUAN

We will depart at 9 AM   from the hotel with our 4WD for the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.), the world's largest salt desert. On the way, we visit the salt exploitation of Colchani and the Salt Hotels (closed since November 2001). We then stop in the heart of the Salar on the Island of Incahuasi. This island is of volcanic origin and covered with stromatolites and giant cacti (Stomatolites are fossilized bacterial colonies, first traces of life on earth).

In the afternoon, we head south towards the village of San Juan.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Day 2: SAN JUAN - "ROAD OF THE JEWELS" - LAGUNA COLORADA

After leaving San Juan, we cross the Salar de Chiguana. From there, the dirt road climbs from 3600 m to about 4200 m of altitude. We pass at the foot of volcanoes Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) and Ollague (still active), on the Chilean border. We stop at the mirador of volcano Ollague. This volcano is still active and sheltering one of the world's highest sulfur mines. We then skirt the Chilean border and go south by following the "Road of the jewels": lagunas Cañapa, Hedionda, Ch'arkota, Honda, sanctuary to three varieties of Flamingoes. The track continues on through the beautiful scenery of the Siloli Desert and its famous "Stone Tree", where we can sometimes spot viscachas, before we reach the Laguna Colorada in the afternoon. This Laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the light sensitive phytoplankton present in its water.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·         Night in shelter (basic comfort).

Day 3: LAGUNA COLORADA - LAGUNA VERDE - QUETENA

We depart very early in the morning for an excursion to the Sol de Mañana Geysers (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.), a volcanic crater from which escape sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then stop for breakfast in Polques before skirting Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings). We reach Laguna Verde, which is located at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.), before noon. We will witness a curious phenomenon: the wind picks up and the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color.

We will return to Laguna Salada, where the dirt road turns northeast and takes us to Quetena, in the afternoon.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·          Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Day 4: QUETENA - LAGUNA CELESTE - SAN ANTONIO DE LIPEZ

We will have an early departure towards regions which is seldom visited by tourists. We first reach the very remote Laguna Celeste before arriving at Laguna Morejón. We then clear a pass at 4500 m.a.s.l. and arrive at the strange formation of el "Torreón". We then visit of the ancient village of San Antonio del Nuevo Mundo. According to the legend, the village was suddenly abandoned because of a massive unexplained Viscacha’s invasion (rodent typical of the area). We will arrive in the village of San Antonio at the end of the day.

·         Cold lunch (included).

      ·         Hotel.

Day 5: SAN ANTONIO DE LIPEZ - SAN PABLO - SAN VIENTE - TUPIZA

We continue our expedition in this wild and desolate country, where live the condors and ostriches that escaped the more visited area of South Lipez. We cross the villages of San Pablo de Lipez and San Vicente, where Butch Cassidy and the Kid ended their legendary epic during a shooting with the soldiers looking for them (the legend is nonetheless still intact as their bodies have never been found). Then a scenic descend from the Altiplano takes us to the town of Tupiza via the sites of Sillar and Quebrada de Palala (6 to 7-hour of dirt road).

·         Cold lunch (included).

·         Dinner open.

·         Hotel.