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Author: Salar de Uyuni Editorial Team
Quick Summary: The Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is the protected high-altitude zone that holds Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde, the Sol de Mañana geysers and Polques Hot Springs, and you only enter it on multi-day tours or the crossing to Chile. Foreign visitors pay 150 Bs in cash at the ranger checkpoint, which works out to roughly US$12–14 at September 2026 exchange rates, not the US$22 many older guides still quote. Expect altitudes between 4,200 m and almost 5,000 m, nights well below freezing, and strict rules on driving routes, wildlife distance and geyser safety. This guide covers the fee, what you actually see, and what to watch for.
Most travelers book a Salar de Uyuni tour for the salt. What surprises them is that the second half of the classic 3-day route is not on the salt at all. It is inside the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, a vast protected area in the far southwest corner of Bolivia where the scenery changes from white salt crust to red lagoons, volcanic desert and steaming geyser fields.
If you are planning a multi-day trip, you need to know what the reserve is, how much it costs to enter, where you pay, and what rules apply once you are inside. You also need to know what it feels like at 4,800 m before sunrise, because that is the part nobody forgets.
This guide explains everything from the Salar de Uyuni perspective: practical, honest and focused on what actually matters on the ground.
What the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve Actually Is
The Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, often shortened to REA, covers roughly 7,147 km² of the Sur Lípez province in the Potosí department. It was created in 1973 and is managed by SERNAP, Bolivia’s national protected areas service. The reserve is named after Eduardo Avaroa, a civilian hero of the 1879 War of the Pacific.
It sits right against the borders with Chile and Argentina, which is why tours heading to San Pedro de Atacama finish inside it. The terrain ranges from about 4,200 m to well over 5,000 m once you include the volcano summits, so almost everything you do here happens at serious altitude.
A few facts worth knowing before you go:
- Protected status: The reserve was set up primarily to protect Andean birdlife, especially flamingos, and the whole area is now part of the wider Los Lípez Ramsar wetland site.
- Laguna Colorada: The reserve’s most famous lagoon sits at about 4,278 m and was listed as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance in 1990.
- No towns inside the main circuit: Accommodation is in basic refugios run by local communities, mostly near Laguna Colorada, Huayllajara or Quetena Chico.
- No services: There are no ATMs, card machines or pharmacies anywhere in the reserve. Everything you need, including cash, has to come with you from Uyuni or San Pedro.
Entry Fee 2026: What You Pay and When
The reserve entrance fee for foreign visitors is 150 Bs per person. Bolivian nationals pay 30 Bs. This fee has been stable for several years and is still the figure charged in 2026.
What has changed is the dollar value. Bolivia ended its fixed exchange rate on 26 June 2026, and the boliviano now floats. The Banco Central de Bolivia’s official rate was around 11.90 Bs per US dollar on 22 September 2026, which puts the reserve fee at roughly US$12–14 depending on the day. Many websites and tour agents still say “US$22,” which was the old conversion. Budget in bolivianos, not dollars.
Where and How You Pay
You pay at the SERNAP ranger checkpoint when your jeep enters the reserve. On the standard 3-day loop from Uyuni, this usually happens on the afternoon of day two, close to Laguna Colorada. If you are coming from San Pedro de Atacama, you pay shortly after the Hito Cajón border post, near Laguna Blanca, on the first morning.
- Cash only: Bring bolivianos in small notes. Some checkpoints may accept US dollars, but you cannot rely on it and change is rarely available.
- Usually not included: Most tour prices exclude the reserve fee. Ask your operator in writing before you book.
- Keep your ticket: Rangers can ask to see it again further along the route, so keep it with your passport until you leave the reserve.
- 1-day tours don’t enter: A standard one-day Salar tour stays on and around the salt flat, so you do not pay this fee.
Typical Cash Fees on a 3-Day Tour
| Fee | Typical 2026 cost | Where you pay | Included in tour price? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eduardo Avaroa Reserve entry | 150 Bs | Ranger checkpoint, day 2 (or day 1 from Chile) | Rarely |
| Isla Incahuasi entry | About 30 Bs | Booth at the island, day 1 | Rarely |
| Polques Hot Springs | About 6 Bs | Entrance to the pools, day 3 | Sometimes |
| Toilets at stops | 1–5 Bs per use | Village stops and refugios | No |
| Hot shower at refugio | 10–20 Bs if available | Refugio | No |
| Sleeping bag rental | Varies by operator | Uyuni office before departure | Sometimes |
How the Reserve Fits Into Your Tour
Where you start changes when you enter the reserve and how hard the altitude hits you. This is one of the most overlooked planning details.
| Starting point | When you enter the reserve | Altitude challenge | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uyuni (3-day loop) | Afternoon of day 2 | Gradual climb after a day at 3,650 m | First-time visitors and most travelers |
| San Pedro de Atacama | Morning of day 1 | Very steep, from about 2,400 m to over 4,300 m in hours | Travelers already acclimatized in the Andes |
| Tupiza (4-day route) | Day 2 or 3 | Gradual, but more time at altitude overall | Travelers coming from Argentina who want fewer crowds |
| Uyuni to Chile (one-way) | Afternoon of day 2 | Gradual climb, final morning at the border | Travelers continuing to the Atacama Desert |
If you are coming from San Pedro, take the altitude seriously. You go from a desert town at about 2,400 m to the Hito Cajón border at around 4,500 m within an hour or two. Our guide to San Pedro de Atacama Uyuni tours explains how that crossing works.
Highlights Inside the Reserve
The reserve is where the tour stops feeling like a photo trip and starts feeling like a different planet. Here are the stops you will almost certainly see.
Laguna Colorada
This shallow red lagoon is the reserve’s centerpiece. The color comes from algae and microorganisms that react to sunlight and wind, so the shade changes through the day, usually getting deeper in the afternoon. White borax islands break up the red surface, and thousands of flamingos feed in the shallows. Read more in our guide to Laguna Colorada.
Most 3-day tours sleep near here on night two, at about 4,300 m. It is the coldest night of the trip for most travelers.
Árbol de Piedra and the Siloli Desert
The Árbol de Piedra, or Stone Tree, is a wind-carved rock formation in the Siloli Desert, about 18 km north of Laguna Colorada. It is thin at the base and wide at the top, shaped by centuries of sand-blasting wind. Climbing it is not allowed, and rangers take that seriously.
Sol de Mañana Geysers
The Sol de Mañana geothermal field sits close to 4,900 m and is the highest point of most tours. There are no geysers shooting high into the air like in Chile’s El Tatio. Instead, you see boiling mud pots, fumaroles and steam vents. Tours arrive around sunrise, when the steam is thickest and the temperature can be well below -10°C.
Polques Hot Springs
After the geysers, most tours stop at Polques Hot Springs, a natural thermal pool on the edge of Laguna Chalviri. The water is warm, not hot, and the real challenge is getting changed in freezing air. Wear your swimsuit under your clothes that morning if you plan to go in.
Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca
Right at the Chilean border, Laguna Verde sits below the Licancabur volcano. Its green color depends on wind stirring up minerals, so on calm days it can look pale or grayish. Next to it, Laguna Blanca is often visited on the same stop. Tours returning to Uyuni sometimes view Laguna Verde from a viewpoint rather than driving to its shore.
Salvador Dalí Desert
Between Polques and Laguna Verde, you cross a stretch of desert with scattered rocks and pastel mountains that locals call the Desierto de Dalí, because it resembles the painter’s surreal landscapes. It is a short photo stop, but it is one of the most unusual views on the route.
Reserve Rules (and the Ones Travelers Actually Break)
The reserve has clear rules, and most of them exist because the ecosystem is fragile and slow to recover. Your driver is responsible for following them, but you should know them too.
- Stay on established tracks. Tire tracks on the altiplano can last for decades. Do not ask your driver to go off-road for a better photo angle.
- Keep your distance from wildlife. Do not walk into flamingo feeding areas or chase vicuñas for a closer shot. Use a zoom lens instead.
- Never feed the foxes. Andean foxes hang around refugios looking for scraps. Feeding them makes them dependent and aggressive.
- Follow geyser boundaries. The ground around Sol de Mañana can be thin crust over boiling mud. Stay behind markers and on the hard ground your driver points out. People have been seriously burned here.
- Do not climb protected formations. This includes the Árbol de Piedra and other rock features.
- Take your rubbish with you. There is no waste collection in the reserve. Anything you leave stays there.
- Check drone rules before you fly. Protected areas in Bolivia can restrict drone use, and rules are not always clear to visitors. Ask your operator before launching, and never fly near flamingo colonies.
- Bathe only where it is allowed. Polques is the designated hot spring stop. Do not wade into the lagoons.
Altitude, Cold and What to Watch For
The reserve is the most physically demanding part of any Uyuni trip. You spend most of day two and all of day three above 4,200 m, and the geyser stop is close to 4,900 m.
- Altitude sickness: Headaches, nausea and poor sleep are common on night two. Drink water, go easy on alcohol, and tell your driver early if you feel unwell. Our 10 reasons to visit the Uyuni desert guide has more traveler tips for the route.
- Cold nights: From May to August, temperatures at the Laguna Colorada refugios can drop to -15°C or lower. Most refugios have no heating.
- Early start: Day three usually begins around 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. to reach the geysers at sunrise.
- Sun and wind: Days are often bright and harsh, with strong UV and constant wind.
Use our what to pack for Uyuni checklist, and prioritize thermals, a warm hat, gloves, sunglasses, lip balm and a sleeping bag rated for below-freezing temperatures.
Best Time to Visit the Reserve
The reserve is open year-round, but conditions vary a lot by season.
| Season | Months | Conditions in the reserve | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry season | May to October | Clear skies, freezing nights, most reliable routes | Dry season landscape trips and photographers |
| Late dry season | September to November | Slightly warmer days, flamingo numbers building | Wildlife lovers and travelers who dislike extreme cold |
| Wet season | December to April | Afternoon storms, muddy tracks, occasional closures | Travelers combining the mirror effect with the lagoons |
| Winter storms | June to August | Snow can close tracks and the Hito Cajón border for a day or more | Flexible travelers with buffer days |
Our guide to the best time to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats compares the seasons in more detail.
Choosing a Tour That Handles the Reserve Well
Because the reserve is remote, the quality of your operator matters more here than anywhere else on the trip. A breakdown at 4,500 m, with no phone signal and freezing temperatures, is a serious situation.
When comparing tours, ask:
- Is the reserve fee included, and if not, exactly how much cash should you bring?
- What refugio do you use on night two, and does it have hot water or heating?
- Does every seat have a working seatbelt?
- Do vehicles travel in convoy with other jeeps from the same company?
- Is the tour a loop back to Uyuni or a one-way crossing to Chile?
Platforms like FindLocalTrips let you compare operators, inclusions and reviews side by side before you commit. Whatever you book, get the inclusions list in writing.
FAQ
How much is the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve entrance fee in 2026?
The fee is 150 Bs per person for foreign visitors and 30 Bs for Bolivian nationals. Since Bolivia’s currency began floating in June 2026, that works out to roughly US$12–14 depending on the day’s rate. Pay in cash, in bolivianos, and keep small notes because rangers often cannot give change.
Do I pay the reserve fee on a 1-day Uyuni tour?
No. A 1-day tour stays on the Salar de Uyuni and nearby stops like Colchani, the Train Cemetery and sometimes Isla Incahuasi. It does not reach the southern lagoons or geysers, which are inside the reserve. You only pay the fee on 2-, 3- or 4-day tours that head south, or on the crossing to or from San Pedro de Atacama.
Is the reserve fee a single entry or a daily charge?
It is a one-time fee per visit, not a daily charge. You pay once when you enter, and the ticket covers you for your time inside the reserve on that trip. Keep it safe with your passport, because rangers can check it again before you exit near Laguna Verde or Hito Cajón.
What is the highest point inside the reserve on a normal tour?
The Sol de Mañana geothermal field, at close to 4,900 m, is the highest point on most tours. You usually arrive around sunrise on the final day. It is extremely cold at that hour, and many travelers feel the altitude most strongly there, so move slowly and avoid running between vents.
Can I visit the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve independently?
In practice, almost everyone visits with a licensed 4×4 tour. The tracks are unmarked, fuel is scarce, there is no phone signal on most of the route, and the 2026 diesel shortage has made independent refueling even harder in the southern altiplano. Unless you have serious remote-driving experience and local support, a tour is the safer and more realistic option.
Limitations
The 150 Bs reserve fee is set by Bolivian authorities and can change with little notice, and the dollar equivalent now moves daily because of the floating exchange rate. Bolivia removed its remaining diesel subsidy on 19 September 2026, which may push tour prices up, and fuel shortages have reduced vehicle availability in Uyuni. Snowstorms, road conditions and border closures at Hito Cajón can change routes at short notice. Refugio standards vary between operators and seasons. Confirm the current fee, route and inclusions directly with your operator in the week before departure.
