Information
Landmark: Laguna VerdeCity: Uyuni
Country: Bolivia
Continent: South America
Laguna Verde, Uyuni, Bolivia, South America
Overview
Laguna Verde, or Green Lagoon, shimmers like polished jade in the southern highlands of Bolivia, set within the rugged Eduardo Avaroa National Wildlife Reserve and ranked among the country’s most breathtaking natural sights.At the base of the towering Licancabur Volcano, a vivid green lagoon shimmers in the sunlight, framed by one of the region’s tallest and most iconic peaks.Travelers crossing the Bolivian Altiplano shouldn’t miss this stop-it stuns with its vivid hues and the dramatic sweep of mountains and salt flats around it.Laguna Verde sits high in the Andean Altiplano of southwest Bolivia, about 4,400 meters-14,436 feet-above sea level, where the air feels thin and the mountains cut sharply into the sky.It sits near the Chile–Bolivia border, just a short drive from the blinding white flats of Salar de Uyuni and the rust-red waters of Laguna Colorada.The lagoon spans about 1.5 square kilometers (0.6 square miles), but with the vast horizon and the towering Licancabur Volcano rising behind it, it feels far bigger.The lagoon lies in a geothermal zone within the vast Eduardo Avaroa National Wildlife Reserve, a place famed for its steaming hot springs, sprawling salt flats, vivid lagoons, and jagged volcanic peaks.The lagoon glows a vivid green, its hue coming from arsenic and magnesium salts swirling in the water, mixed with minerals leaching from the sun-baked rocks around it.Depending on the sunlight and weather, the lagoon shifts from a vivid emerald green to a clear turquoise, like glass catching the sky.You’ll see the lagoon’s rare color best on a clear day, when sunlight glints off the water like scattered glass.Winds sweep across the area, churning the water and deepening its green tint until the lagoon glows like polished jade.When the sun hangs high overhead, the color bursts to life, blazing against the pale, stony ground and the dark, sharp outline of Licancabur Volcano.Laguna Verde hums with geothermal energy, steam curling up from the rocky ground.Volcanic activity shapes the land around the lagoon, and just a short walk away, steam curls up from several hot springs where visitors can sink into mineral-rich water and take in the rugged, misty hills.Not far from the lagoon, Termas de Polques draws visitors to its steaming pools, a welcome place to sink in and unwind after a long day roaming the crisp, thin air of the high-altitude region.Licancabur Volcano, an active stratovolcano, fuels the region’s geothermal energy, sending up thin curls of steam from the earth.You can sense the volcano not just in the jagged ridges around you, but in the hiss of steam from vents and the sulfur-scented hot springs that dot the land.Though the land around Laguna Verde is dry and unforgiving, the lagoon itself shelters hardy plants and animals built for thin air and biting winds.Flamingos, for instance, wade through its pale green shallows during migration, their pink feathers startling against the stark backdrop.You’ll most often spot the Andean flamingo and the Chilean flamingo, their pale pink feathers catching the sunlight.Drawn by the water’s rich minerals and swirls of tiny life, the birds feed in the lagoon, plucking their meals straight from its surface.Vicunas and llamas roam the Andes, nibbling at tough grass on the high plains and along wind-swept slopes.They’ve learned to thrive in the region’s brutal winds and biting cold.Other birds-like Andean gulls, soaring eagles, and quick, sparrow-like finches-make their home here too, thriving in the thin mountain air and feeding where the land offers plenty.The rocky outcrops and layers of volcanic ash manage to shelter tough little plants-moss clinging to stone, low bushes bending in the wind-even though the harsh land remains mostly bare.Laguna Verde sits in a stunning sweep of mountains and mineral flats, often included in multi-day tours through the Eduardo Avaroa National Wildlife Reserve.Nearby, you’ll spot the Licancabur Volcano rising sharply against the sky, one of the region’s most striking and unmistakable landmarks.Rising 5,916 meters (19,409 feet) into the sky, the volcano towers over everything, its dark slopes cutting sharply against the pale horizon.Many call it one of South America’s most stunning volcanoes, its snow-dusted peak drawing trekkers and mountaineers from around the world.You can reach the volcano’s summit after a tough climb, but most people just take in the view from the lagoon’s edge, where the water glints in the sun.Sol de Mañana, or Morning Sun, sits nearby, where steam hisses from vents, mud pots bubble thick and slow, and geysers burst into the cold air-a place that’s hard to walk away from.safeLaguna Blanca-its water pale as milk-sits just beyond the sandy plain from Laguna Verde, a striking counterpoint to the lagoon’s deep green.People often visit the two lagoons on the same trip, since only a brief walk through scrubby grass lies between them.True to its name, Laguna Blanca shimmers with a pale, milky hue, the result of borax deposits clouding its waters.Hot Springs at Termas de Polques: Just a short drive from Laguna Verde, these steaming, mineral-rich pools invite travelers to sink in, feel the heat ease their muscles, and take in the wide sweep of the desert all around.The Sol de Mañana geysers erupt in steaming bursts, a striking geothermal wonder tucked into the region’s rugged landscape.These geysers shoot out bursts of hot steam and sharp-smelling sulfur, adding to the region’s restless geological energy.The best time to see Laguna Verde and its surroundings is in the dry season, from April to October, when the skies stay clear and the air feels crisp.The weather settles into a steady pattern, and clear skies stretch overhead, offering stunning views of the lagoon’s glassy surface and the volcano beyond.From November to March, the rains can turn roads into slick mud and bring sudden floods, yet the hills glow green and flowers burst with bright color.Getting there usually means hopping on a 4x4 tour, the kind that rumbles out of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile or from Uyuni across the border in Bolivia.These tours typically run for two to three days, with stops at highlights like the deep red waters of Laguna Colorada, the vast white expanse of Salar de Uyuni, and the rugged landscapes of Eduardo Avaroa National Wildlife Reserve.The roads out here are rough, sometimes little more than rocky tracks, so the easiest way to see the place is with a guided tour.In conclusion, Laguna Verde is a stunning natural gem, where visitors can stand by shimmering turquoise waters and take in one of the most surreal landscapes on Earth.In Bolivia’s southern highlands, the lagoon’s vivid green waters shimmer beneath the shadow of Licancabur Volcano, while steam rises from the geothermal vents-an unforgettable sight you can’t miss.Whether you’re chasing thrills in the high Andes or just pausing to breathe in the crisp mountain air, you’ll find the beauty of this rare region unforgettable.
