Sur Lípez Circuit — Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama via LagunaColorada.
Distance
600 km
Duration
2 days
Climb
3,500 m
Sur Lípez Circuit — Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama via Laguna Colorada.
Two days across Bolivia's Sur Lípez altiplano — arguably the wildest motorcycle route on Earth. Riders cross the world's largest salt flat at Uyuni, traverse a chain of high-altitude lagunas coloured red, green, and white by mineral deposits, and pass beneath active volcanoes before crossing into Chile at Hito Cajón. The entire ride stays above 3,700m. No fuel, no settlements, no help between San Cristóbal and San Pedro de Atacama. Expert-only — carry spare tubes, food, and double the water you think you need.
Quick facts
SurfaceOff-road
Distance600 km
Days2
Total climb3,500 m
Fuel stops1 along route
DifficultyExpert
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2 days, 2 moods.
A suggested split across 2 days with 12 waypoints to discover along the way.
UyuniStart · Start in Uyuni. Fuel up — there is no reliable fuel for 400km. Carry water, food, spare tubes, and a tow strap; mechanical help is non-existent on the Lagunas Route.
Salar de Uyuni — Colchani EntryScenic Point · Enter the world's largest salt flat at Colchani. Ride west across the white expanse. In wet season (Jan–Mar) the salar floods — a mirror to the sky and a navigation nightmare.
San Cristóbal Mining TownFuel Stop · Last fuel point of the route. The Apacheta mining company sometimes sells black-market diesel/gasoline. The 1900s adobe church was moved here stone-by-stone for the open-pit silver mine.
Volcán Ollagüe (5,868m) ViewpointPhoto Spot · Active stratovolcano on the Chilean border, fumaroles steaming from the summit. The road crosses lava flows at 4,200m. Lunch stop at a shepherd's shack if you're lucky.
Laguna Hedionda — FlamingosScenic Point · The Stinky Lagoon — sulphur from underground vents bubbles to the surface. Three flamingo species feed on the brine shrimp; James's, Andean and Chilean flamingos all together here.
Laguna Colorada Refugio (4,278m)Overnight · Overnight at the basic refugio on the red lagoon's shore. The blood-red colour comes from carotenoid pigments produced by algae. No heating — bring every layer you own. Altitude: 4,278m, expect a rough sleep.
Sol de Mañana Geysers (4,850m)Scenic Point · At dawn the geyser basin steams violently in sub-zero air. Mud pools bubble at 80°C. Stand back — the ground is unstable and there are no railings, fences or rangers.
Termas de Polques Hot SpringsScenic Point · Thermal pool at 4,400m in the middle of nowhere. A 30-minute soak after the cold dawn is essentially mandatory. Change in the breezeblock windbreak shed.
Laguna Verde — Licancabur VolcanoPhoto Spot · The emerald lagoon glows green in afternoon wind from arsenic and copper sediments. Behind it, the perfect cone of Volcán Licancabur (5,916m). One of the great Andean sights.
Hito Cajón — Bolivian Border (4,480m)Scenic Point · The Bolivia border post at 4,480m. Simple hut, occasionally unmanned. Stamp out, then ride 47km down to the Chilean post at San Pedro. The descent drops 2,000m in under an hour.
Paso de Jama DescentScenic Point · The Chilean side: paved hairpins through the Atacama foothills. The road threads between volcanoes — Licancabur to the south, Cerro Toco to the west.
San Pedro de AtacamaEnd · End in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Adobe walls, dust, llama meat tacos. The world's driest desert begins here; the Pan-American Highway is a long ride away. Sleep low for the first time in two days.
More routes in Bolivia
South Yungas Road — La Paz to ChulumaniBO L · 120 kmSorata Descent — La Paz to the Foot of IllampuBO L · 150 kmChapare Cloud Forest — Cochabamba to Villa TunariBO C · 160 kmTarija Wine Route — Valle de la Concepción & San LorenzoBO T · 90 kmSucre to Potosí — Silver Mountain HighwayBO H · 165 kmRuta del Che — Samaipata to Vallegrande & La HigueraBO S · 340 km
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