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Author: Salar de Uyuni Editorial Team
Quick Summary: Laguna Colorada (the Red Lagoon) sits at about 4,278 m and Laguna Verde (the Green Lagoon) at roughly 4,350 m, both inside the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia’s far southwest. You reach them on days two and three of a 3-day Uyuni tour, not on a 1-day salt flats trip. Laguna Colorada is reliably red and full of flamingos; Laguna Verde is only green when the wind stirs its mineral sediment, which usually means late morning onward. Both are extremely cold, extremely high and require a cash park fee.
The two lagoons are the reason most people upgrade from a 1-day salt flats trip to a 3-day tour. They are also the part of the journey travelers most often misunderstand — not the colours themselves, but how far away they are, how high they sit, and how cold the night in between them gets.
This guide covers what to expect at each one, how the timing works, and the practical details that decide whether the visit is memorable or miserable. For deeper background, see our pages on Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde.
Where they are and how you get there
Both lagoons lie in the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, in the Sur Lípez region of Potosí department, close to the Chilean border. This is a long way from the salt flat itself — several hundred kilometres of unpaved track south of the salar, through desert that gets progressively higher, colder and emptier.
That distance is why they only appear on multi-day itineraries:
- 1-day tour from Uyuni: salt flats only. Neither lagoon is included. No exceptions worth believing.
- 3-day tour from Uyuni: salt flats on day one, the coloured lagoons and desert on day two, Laguna Verde and Sol de Mañana at dawn on day three before returning or crossing to Chile.
- 3-day tour in reverse from San Pedro de Atacama: you cross at Hito Cajón, see Laguna Verde within the first couple of hours, and reach the salt flats on the final day.
The reverse direction has one real advantage: you see Laguna Verde late morning, when it is far more likely to actually be green. The standard Uyuni-first direction reaches it at dawn, when it is frequently still, cold and closer to turquoise-grey.
Laguna Colorada: the Red Lagoon
Laguna Colorada is the more dependable of the two. It is a shallow salt lake roughly 60 square kilometres in area but often less than a metre deep, sitting at about 4,278 m above sea level.
Why it is red
The colour comes from pigmented algae and microorganisms in the water, combined with red sediments stirred up from the lake bed. The intensity shifts through the day as the wind and light change — strongest in the afternoon, when the surface is agitated and the sun is lower and warmer. White islands of borax float across it, which is what makes the photographs so striking: rust-red water broken by chalk-white patches.
Unlike Laguna Verde, the red is essentially always there. Some days it reads as deep brick, others as a browner rust, but you will not arrive and find it colourless.
The flamingos
Laguna Colorada holds one of the most important flamingo populations in the Andes, and three species use it:
- James’s flamingo — the rarest of the three, and this reserve is one of its main breeding sites
- Andean flamingo — larger, with yellow legs
- Chilean flamingo — the most widespread
Numbers vary with the season. The breeding period from roughly December to April brings the highest concentrations; in the depths of the dry winter many birds move to lower lakes, though you will almost always see some. Bring a zoom lens if you have one — the birds stay well out on the water and phone photos of them are disappointing.
What a visit is like
Tours normally arrive in the afternoon on day two, spend 45 minutes to an hour, and then continue to overnight accommodation nearby at around 4,200–4,300 m. This is the highest night of the trip and it is the one that catches people out. Temperatures routinely drop to −10°C or lower, refuges are basic, and heating is usually limited to blankets.
Laguna Verde: the Green Lagoon
Laguna Verde sits higher still, at roughly 4,350 m, in the far southwest corner of the reserve almost at the Chilean frontier, directly beneath the cone of Licancabur volcano at 5,916 m. It is the last major stop before Hito Cajón.
Why it is green — and why it sometimes is not
The colour comes from dissolved copper minerals in the water. Critically, the green only appears when those minerals are suspended — meaning the wind has to be blowing hard enough to stir the lake. Early in the morning, when the surface is glassy, the lagoon often looks pale turquoise, grey-blue, or almost white.
This matters for planning:
- Tours from Uyuni typically arrive between 07:00 and 09:00, when the wind has not yet built. Many travelers see it at its least green.
- Tours from San Pedro de Atacama arrive later in the morning, with a better chance of full colour.
- On a still day it may never turn properly green at all.
Nobody can promise the colour. If a tour operator guarantees an emerald lagoon, treat that as a sales line rather than information.
The water is also strongly mineralised and toxic — it does not freeze at temperatures where fresh water would, and you should not enter it.
Licancabur and Laguna Blanca
The near-perfect volcanic cone behind the lagoon is Licancabur, which straddles the Bolivia–Chile border. It is the defining element of every photograph taken here, and on a clear morning the reflection in the shallows is the best shot of the trip.
Immediately adjacent, separated by a narrow causeway, is Laguna Blanca, a paler lake coloured by suspended minerals of a different composition. Most itineraries stop at both together, so treat them as one visit.
Side by side
| Laguna Colorada | Laguna Verde | |
|---|---|---|
| Altitude | ~4,278 m | ~4,350 m |
| Colour source | Red algae and sediment | Dissolved copper minerals |
| Colour reliability | Reliable year-round | Depends on wind; often pale at dawn |
| Best time of day | Afternoon | Late morning to afternoon |
| Wildlife | Three flamingo species, vicuñas nearby | Very little; too mineralised |
| Backdrop | Open altiplano, borax islands | Licancabur volcano (5,916 m) |
| Typical tour day (from Uyuni) | Day 2, afternoon | Day 3, early morning |
| Typical tour day (from Atacama) | Day 2 | Day 1, late morning |
| Time on site | 45–60 min | 30–45 min |
If you have to choose which one to prioritise, Laguna Colorada is the safer bet for a memorable visit. Laguna Verde is more dramatic when conditions cooperate, and flatter when they do not.
When to go
| Season | Conditions at the lagoons | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Dry season (May–Oct) | Clear skies, reliable road access, brutal night cold; fewer flamingos in deep winter | Best for guaranteed access and views |
| Shoulder (Apr, Nov) | Mixed weather, fewer vehicles, moderate cold | Good compromise |
| Wet season (Dec–Mar) | Peak flamingo numbers, more cloud, tracks can wash out and reroute the itinerary | Best for wildlife, most disruption risk |
Note that the wet season affects the southwest circuit differently from the salt flat. On the salar, water creates the mirror effect. Out here, rain and snow mean muddy tracks, occasional closed sections and a real chance your operator reorders or shortens the route. Our guides to the best time to visit the Uyuni salt flats and Salar de Uyuni weather set out the wider seasonal picture.
What conditions are really like
This is the hardest part of the trip physically, and it is worth being blunt about it.
- Altitude. You sleep above 4,200 m on night two. If you have come straight from sea level, this is where altitude sickness is most likely to hit. Spend at least two nights in La Paz, Potosí or Uyuni first.
- Cold. Night temperatures at the refuges regularly reach −10°C to −20°C in June and July. Sleeping bags rated to −10°C or lower are recommended and can usually be hired in Uyuni.
- Accommodation. Day two is typically a basic refuge or hostel with shared rooms, shared bathrooms, intermittent electricity and sometimes no hot water. Do not expect the salt hotel standard of night one.
- Food. Cooked by your driver or a designated cook, generally simple and generous — soup, chicken or llama, rice, pasta. Vegetarian and vegan options are possible if requested at booking, not on the day.
- Roads. Unpaved throughout. Expect six to eight hours in the vehicle on day two, on washboard tracks, at altitude, with six or seven people in a Land Cruiser.
- Water and toilets. Bring your own water. Toilets are pit-style at most stops and often charge a small cash fee.
Our Uyuni packing guide covers clothing layers, and a warm hat plus thermal base layers matter more here than any other single item.
Park fees and practicalities
Entry to the Eduardo Avaroa reserve carries a fee that is not usually included in the tour price. It is collected in cash at the reserve gate, in bolivianos, and the amount has been revised upward more than once in recent years. Ask your operator for the current figure when you book and carry it separately.
Other cash needs on this section of the route:
- Toilet fees at most stops
- Polques Hot Springs entry, usually a separate small charge
- Snacks, water and drinks at refuges
- Tips for the driver and cook at the end, if you are happy with the service
There are no ATMs anywhere on the southwest circuit and no card payment. Withdraw what you need in Uyuni or, better, in La Paz where machines are more reliable. Carry small notes — change is genuinely scarce out here.
Photography notes
- Laguna Colorada: shoot in the afternoon, use the white borax islands as compositional anchors, and bring a telephoto for the flamingos. Wide shots that include the surrounding hills give the red water more impact than filling the frame with water alone.
- Laguna Verde: the reflection of Licancabur in still shallow water at dawn is the shot, even when the lake is not green. A polarising filter helps cut surface glare and deepens whatever colour is present.
- Cold kills batteries. Keep spares in an inside pocket and expect roughly half your normal shot count.
- Dust is constant. Change lenses in the vehicle only.
Can you see them without a 3-day tour?
Realistically, no. There is no public transport, no accommodation you can book independently in any normal way, and the tracks require a high-clearance 4×4 with a driver who knows the route. A handful of operators run private tours that cover the same ground faster or more comfortably, at a considerably higher price, which suits photographers, families and travelers who do not want to share a vehicle.
If your schedule only allows a single day, you will see the salt flats and skip the lagoons entirely. That is a legitimate trade-off — just do not book a 1-day tour expecting to see red or green water. Our overview of how to get to Salar de Uyuni and the San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni route page explain how the multi-day options connect.
FAQ
How high are Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde, and will I get altitude sickness?
Laguna Colorada is at roughly 4,278 m and Laguna Verde at about 4,350 m, and you sleep at a similar altitude on the second night of a standard tour. That is high enough that altitude sickness is a genuine possibility, particularly if you have travelled quickly from the coast or from Chile’s Atacama, which sits lower at around 2,400 m. The practical defences are acclimatising for at least two nights above 3,500 m beforehand, drinking plenty of water, avoiding alcohol on the tour, and telling your driver immediately if you feel unwell rather than pushing through. Anyone with heart or lung conditions should take medical advice before booking.
Why was Laguna Verde not green when I visited?
Because the green depends on wind. The colour comes from copper minerals that only tint the water when they are suspended, so a calm morning produces a pale turquoise or grey lake rather than the emerald in the photographs. Tours running from Uyuni usually arrive between 07:00 and 09:00, which is exactly when conditions are most likely to be still. Arriving later in the morning, as reverse-direction tours from San Pedro de Atacama do, improves your odds — but no operator can guarantee it on any given day.
Are there flamingos at the lagoons all year?
Yes, but numbers vary considerably. Laguna Colorada is a major breeding site for the rare James’s flamingo and also hosts Andean and Chilean flamingos, with the largest concentrations generally between December and April. In the coldest dry-season months many birds move to lower-altitude lakes, so you may see dozens rather than thousands. You will rarely find the lagoon completely empty of birds, but if flamingos are your main reason for going, travel in the wet season and accept the road risk that comes with it.
Is the park fee included in my tour price?
Usually not. Entry to the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve is normally collected separately in cash at the gate, in bolivianos, and it is one of the most common sources of confusion when travelers compare tour quotes. Ask explicitly whether the reserve fee, hot springs entry and Isla Incahuasi entrance are included before you pay, because two tours advertised at the same headline price can differ meaningfully once these are added.
How cold does it actually get overnight near Laguna Colorada?
Cold enough to be the thing people remember. The second night of a standard 3-day tour is spent at roughly 4,200–4,300 m, where temperatures commonly fall to −10°C and can reach −20°C in June and July. Refuges rely on blankets rather than heating, and electricity is often available for only a few hours in the evening. Bring or hire a sleeping bag rated well below freezing, sleep in thermal layers and a hat, and keep phone and camera batteries inside the bag with you.
Limitations
Conditions in the Eduardo Avaroa reserve change week to week. The intensity of Laguna Verde’s colour depends entirely on wind on the day and cannot be predicted; flamingo numbers vary seasonally; and wet-season rain or winter snow can wash out tracks and force operators to reorder or shorten the itinerary. Reserve entrance fees, hot spring charges and toilet fees are cash only in bolivianos and have been revised upward periodically — confirm current amounts with your operator. Accommodation standards on the southwest circuit vary widely between operators and are not independently rated. Bolivia’s transport picture is unusually unstable in 2026 due to the national diesel shortage, and the boliviano has been floating since 26 June 2026, so treat any dollar conversion as approximate and verify prices in bolivianos close to your departure date.
