This excursion will allow you to have a unique adventure experience with beautiful landscapes full of sensations in the great Salar of more than 10,000 km2. There you will discover the volcanoes, salt flats, deserts, multicolored lagoons and the world's largest salt desert of Uyuni.
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Departure from Uyuni, in the morning we set off in a private 4x4 van to begin our adventure; the trip will take us to the "Train Cemetery" (old railway junction) located on the outskirts of the city, before setting sail south. On the way we will discover several villages, among them the "model" village of Culpina K, the houses are built with 100% natural materials. Then we will arrive to San Cristobal where we will have a break for lunch, there we can stroll through the streets of this town and visit the colonial church of beautiful architecture will depend on whether it is open to visit. Later in the route we will cross the Grande River, we will be able to see groups of rheas (cousins of the ostrich) and vicuñas (South American wild camelids) that live in their natural state. Continuing with the trip we will arrive to the forest of stones and we will pass by the city of Italy that are rock formations, at the end we will arrive to Quetena where the refuge is located, place of overnight.
We leave early from the refuge, in the town of Quetena, heading to Uturuncu "jaguar" (active volcano), Quechua term. We will take an old mining road, one of the highest dirt roads in the world that culminates at 5,700 meters above sea level. Depending on the level of snow in the area, the vehicle can leave us at approximately 5,000 meters. From here we begin our ascent along the track to the end. A last effort will allow us to reach the summit (it takes about 04-05 hours to climb to the summit over the most accessible 6,000 meters in Bolivia and 01-02 hours for the descent). Return to Quetena refuge.
*No technical difficulties - only good physical condition is required.
*Duration: 06 to 07 hours to climb Uturuncu trek.
The scenery here is beautiful! Snow-capped volcanoes mark the horizon against a blue sky. This morning we set sail south to enter the "Eduardo Avaroa" Andean Fauna Reserve, passing around Laguna Salada before passing through the Dali desert (so called because of a ghostly landscape reminiscent of one of his paintings) at noon we arrive at Laguna Blanca and then Laguna Verde, at the foot of the imposing Licancabur and Juriques volcanoes (5,960M). There we will have the opportunity to witness a curious phenomenon: the wind rises and the Laguna Verde changes to a spectacular emerald color! Then we will stop at the hot springs of Polques, where you can bathe in the warm waters while enjoying the breathtaking scenery. Lunch is planned. Continuing our travel route we visit the spectacular geysers of "Sol de Mañana" (4,850M). Located in the heart of volcanic craters and effusions of sulfur vapors. Finally we will arrive at the impressive Laguna Colorada, the red-orange color is due to the presence of millions of microscopic crustaceans, "Artemia", very studied by scientists for their incredible ability to adapt in saline solution. Overnight in a shelter.
This day we will head north through beautiful landscapes, in the morning we will visit the Laguna Colorada and see the spectacular sunrise of this place, then we continue our journey through the desert of Siloli, particularly known for its famous "stone tree", where we can eventually see the vizcachas (Andean rodent). Then we continue towards the border with Chile on the "Route of the Jewels": we will pass by the Ramaditas, Honda, Ch'arkota, Hedionda and Cañapa lagoons, which are the sanctuaries of three varieties of flamingos. Then we will pass at the foot of the Ollague volcano, still active (5,865M), which also houses one of the highest sulfur mines in the world. The trail descends approximately 4,200 to 3,600 meters and crosses the small Salar de Chiguana in Tomasamil at the foot of the volcano (5,900M), before reaching the village of Aguaquiza, we will visit the chullpas (burial sites) of the Llipi Llipi culture (1,200 BC), where we will spend the night.
After breakfast, this day we will enter the very heart of the Salar de Uyuni (3,650M), considered the largest salt desert in the world. The sensation we will experience is unique; there the horizon has no limits and the immensity is overwhelming. Then we will visit the island of Incahuasi, this salt flat is of volcanic origin and covered with stromatolites (stromatolites are fossilized bacteria were the first vestiges of life on earth) and giant cactus. In the afternoon we will drive to Jirira, where we will spend the night.
Early in the morning (07:00 am) we set off for the ascent of the Tunupa volcano, which dominates the salt flat. We leave at the foot of the Tunupa volcano by vehicle (it takes between 02 hours). From there we take the road that climbs the flanks of the volcano to the viewpoint (4,700M) the hike takes between 03-04 hours; then we can follow our way up to "La Cumbre" (5,400M), from this point the step becomes dangerous so it is possible to go down whenever we want, it is reached between 03-04 hours of walking. Our reward will be to have a magnificent view of the crater of the multicolored volcano and on the other side the Salar de Uyuni. Then we return to Jirira to enjoy an exquisite picnic lunch. In the afternoon returning to Uyuni on the road we will see the spectacular sunset on the salt flat. Transfer to the hotel, where we will spend the night.
*Duration: 03 to 04 hours of Tunupa ascent trek.
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