South Lipez Salar & Volcanoes Private Tour

We 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 will 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 is covered with stromatolites and giant cacti (Stomatolites are fossilized bacterial colonies, first traces of life on earth).

In the afternoon, we traverse the Salar until we reach its Northern extremity at the foot of volcano Tunupa. We stop in Coquesa, another small village in the border of the Salar, which is famous for its Chipaya mummies, before returning to Jirira.
• Cold lunch.
• All included.
• Lodging at Doña Lupe and Don Carlos' in the Aymara village of Jirira (basic comfort).

Day 2: JIRIRA - PARTIAL ASCENT OF VOLCANO TUNUPA (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.) - SALAR DE UYUNI - SAN JUAN

Guided ascent- no technical difficulty - good physical condition is required.

We will depart in the early morning for the ascent of the volcano dominating the Salar. We then will have an exceptional view from the mirador (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.). We can reach it in 3 to 4 hours. The summit (el. 5400 m.a.s.l.) can't be attempted and the ascent becoming too dangerous after the mirador (rock bands obstructing the way).

We will return to Jirira in the afternoon. In our 4WD, we cross the Salar de Uyuni from North to South, to the village of San Juan, where the spectacular mummies of the "Lords of Lipez" (1200 A.D.) are located. There is a little museum over there.
• Cold lunch.
• All included.
• Hotel.

Hiking time: 7h
Elevation gain: +850m / -850m

DAY 3: 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, still active and sheltering one of the world's highest sulfur mines. We then skirt the Chilean border going south 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 arriving, in the afternoon, at Laguna Colorada. This laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the light sensitive phytoplancton present in its water.

Cold lunch.
All included.
Night in shelter (basic comfort).

DAY 4: LAGUNA COLORADA - LAGUNA VERDE

We depart early in the morning for an excursion to the geysers Sol de Mañana (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, at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) before noon, to witness a curious phenomenon: the wind picks up and the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color.
Afternoon open. Option to bathe in the Hot Springs or to hike around Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in shelter (Basic comfort).

Day 5: ASCENT OF VOLCANO LICANCABUR (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) - QUETENA

Ascent with guide - no technical difficulty - good physical condition is required.

We will start at 4 a.m. for the tentative ascent of Licancabur. The 4WD drops us off at the foot of the volcano (el. 4550 m.a.s.l.). From there, we begin our ascent under the faint glow of our headlamps. The whole mountainside is nothing else but scree. From the summit we can overlook entirely one of the Cordilleras of the Andes. You will have an exceptional view over Lipez and the Atacama Desert as well as over the lagunas Verde and Blanca (between 6 and 10 hours round trip).

Upon return to the Laguna Verde, we will meet our vehicle and cross the Dali Desert (named after its scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings) before skirting Laguna Salada. From there, we head to Quetena, where we will arrive at the end of the day.

Cold lunch.
All included.
Lodging in a shelter (basic comfort).

Ascent time: 8h.
Elevation gain: +1410m / -1410m.

Day 6: QUETENA - ASCENT OF VOLCANO UTURUNCU (el. 6008 m.a.s.l.) - QUETENA

Ascent with guide - no technical difficulty - good physical condition is required.

We will depart in the morning from the village of Quetena towards the hillsides of the active volcano Uturuncu ("jaguar" in Quechua). We follow one of the highest drivable tracks in the world, an old mining road, culminating at 5700 meters above sea level. Depending on the snow level, the vehicle can drop us off at about 5000 m.a.s.l. From there, we start our ascent by following the dirt track to its end. A last effort will take us to the summit.

It takes about 4 hours for the ascent to the summit of the most accessible 6000-meter peak in Bolivia. We will spend about 1 to 2 hours for the descent then return to Quetena at the end of the day.
Cold lunch.
All included.
Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Day 7: QUETENA - TREK - VILLAMAR

From Quetena, we drive to a place called Tomaslaka. We leave our vehicle at the foot of impressive formations resembling organs. They mark the end of a 20 km lava flow thousands of years old.

On foot, we enter a completely silent canyon overhang by steep cliffs carved by erosion. Viscachas and wild partridges hidden under rocks are startled by our intrusion. Further on we will discover some abandoned antique tombs, some of which still contain ceramics and bones.

After a few-minute walk, we will find ourselves in a vast rocky valley, leading us into the heart of the immense and desolate Altiplano. We cross the bofedals, where llamas and vicuñas find the perfect grazing place in the middle of ducks and guallatas (wild geese of the altiplano).

After 5 hours of trekking on moderate terrain, we complete the loop and return to our vehicle. From there, we will head to the village de Villamar.
Cold lunch.
All included.
Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Day 8: VILLAMAR - SAN CHRISTOBAL - UYUNI

We will return to Uyuni (5 to 6 hours on a dirt road) in the morning. On the way, we visit the Valley of Stones, Rio Grande, an area where abound vicuñas and ñandus (Ostrich family), the model village of Culpina K and the village of San Cristobal. We will arrive in Uyuni in the late afternoon and visit the train cemetery on the outskirts of town.
Cold lunch (included).
Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended).
Hotel.