Laguna Colorada is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia and close to the border with Chile. The lake contains borax islands, whose white color contrasts nicely with the reddish color of its waters, which is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae. Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, within Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and close to the border with Chile. The lake contains borax islands, whose white color contrasts nicely with the reddish color of its waters, which is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae. Laguna Colorada is one of the Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention signed in 1971. James's Flamingos abound in the area. Also it is possible to find Andean and Chilean flamingos, but in a minor quantity. Our bolivian guide calls it "the highway". This dusty track will be our way for the next 4 days, up to Uyuni and Potosì, far to the northeast. The life up here is not easy and only few highly specialized plants and animals can live and reproduce here. Because of the elevation, the atmospheric pressure is much more lower than normal, as well as the oxigen and the humidity. The temperature is very cold at night, but the sun is hot with higher levels of UV rays. Everything is more tiring than normal, even taking just a picture, as the body and the brain is hungry of oxigen. It took just one night for me to acclimatize, then I did each day slightly better.
We will have a breakfast that is typical for the region. Following breakfast we shall depart for the Red Lagoon (Laguna Colorada), visiting other lagoons on the way, such as Lagunas Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarcota, Hona and Ramaditas. We shall also pass through the Siloli Desert. The route passes through spectacular landscapes with multicoloured volcanic rock formations, and reaches a height of 5000 metres. On the way we shall have a snack at the Paso del Inca, and we shall arrive at Laguna Colorada at about 3 p.m. Laguna Colorada lies 151 km to the south of San Juan at an altitude of 4278 metres and covers an area of 60 km2. The rich red colouration is derived from algae and plankton, which thrive in its minerals, and the shoreline is fringed with brilliant white deposits of sodium, magnesium, borax and gypsum. The lagoon is inhabited by numerous flamingos, three species of which breed there. The Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus Chilensis) reaches a height of just over one metre and has a black-tipped white bill, dirty blue legs, red knees and salmon-coloured plumage. The James flamingo (Phoenicopterus James) is the smallest of the three species. The Andean flamingo (Phoenicopterus Andinus) is the largest of the three and has pink plumage, yell legs and a yellow and black bill. To see these pink posers strutting through icy mineral lagoons at 5000m will make you abandon timeworn associations between flamingos, coconut palms and hot steamy tropics. At Laguna Colorada we shall have a camp dinner find lodgings. We soon arrive at Laguna Blanca (white lagoon) so called because of the color caused by the high concentration of salt and minerals. The lake is partly frozen, as the night temperature usually drops many degrees below freezing point.
Departure from Uyuni city at 09:00 am to Salt Flat of Uyuni by 4x4WD. We are going to visit the Train Cemetery, where you can see the remains of nineteenth and early 20th century steam locomotives and which is a good place to take artistic photographs. Our journey will take us through the immense alien desert of the Salar de Uyuni. At 3665 metres above sea level, this covers an area of 12000 km2, one-third the area of Belgium. The salt varies from 2 to 20 metres in depth. To travel through this saline landscape provokes a feeling of freedom and unreality. It is estimated that the Salar contains large reserves of lithium, magnesium, sodium and boron. Fish Island – Located in the centre of the Salar and at 80 km from the Salt Hotel lies Fish Island (Isla Pescado). This forms an oasis with a unique and isolated ecosystem, populated by cacti between 8 and 10 metres high. Photographers will find Fish Island an excellent site from which to indulge in their hobby as it affords views of the salt flats that are reminiscent of the polar region, dominated by the colours blue and white, and with images of the surrounding hills turned through 45°. The island is so named because it has the shape of a fish. We shall have a llama-meat barbecue for lunch and in the afternoon we shall continue to San Juan where we will find lodgings or camp and where we will have dinner.
