Climbing Uturuncu 6008m & Salar de Uyuni
A complete adventure in Bolivia
With 10,582 square kilometeres and 3,656 metres above sea level, the Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world. This vast, flat land of pure white salt combines with multi-coloured lagoons, volcanic mountains, tree-like rocks and towering islands of coral to create one of the most unique and bizarre landscapes in the world.
Some of the sights within the Salar include: The Train Cemetery of Uyuni; Incahuasi Island in the Salar; Ojos de Salar; and the Eduardo Avaroa National Park, which contains a number of lagoons of bright red, yellow, green and white water, coloured by virture of their mineral content. Also in the national park are geyser, the Lincacabur volcano and the breeding grounds of 3 of the worlds 6 species of flamingo.
The Uturuncu is a not completely extincted volcano, which is shown by the activity of fumaroles. With its 6.008 metres, it is the highest peak of southern Bolivia and the department of Potosí. Because of its remote location in the Cordillera de Lipez, just few people ascend its peak. But it is probably the most easy to climb mountains of more than 6000 metres in the world.
Uturuncu is the only volcano in the area which reaches the symbolic limit of 6000m altitude. Thanks to an abandoned sulfur mine there is a dirt road which can bring you above 5600m. By the way this is the highest road in the world today. The volcano left head titles in the news when they discovered, thanks to infrared satellite images, that his magma chamber is not only huge, but fills up at rate never measured before (1m3/sec). Super volcanoes are rather rare happenings, and Uturuncu has only rather recently been discovered.
Along the trail you will cross some fumerolles just before you begin with the steeper part. The last 400m +d should not take more than 3 hours. From the summit you will have a view over the whole south Lipez region, including the Salar. Adding an extra day to the classical overland tour in the region, you can summit this volcano. None the less it is better that you got used to altitude before.
About the Tour Climbing Uturuncu & Salar de Uyuni
Day 1: Travel from La Paz to Uyuni by night bus.
Day 2: Visit the Salar de Uyuni, Incahuasi Island, and stay in San Juan.
Day 3: Explore Eduardo Avaroa National Park, see flamingos, and stay at Laguna Colorada.
Day 4: Visit hot springs, Laguna Verde, and stay in Quetana Chico.
Day 5: Climb Uturuncu volcano, explore South Lipez region, and return to Uyuni.
Day 6: Arrive back in La Paz in the morning.
