Roadtrip Peru, Bolivia & Chili - Part 6
Sol de Mañana Geyser - Thursday 14-09-2023
The alarm clock rings early again. At five o'clock we are in the car for the final stretch. We both had a bad night. The cold but also the altitude play partner with us.
After an hour's drive we arrive in a special area Sol de Mañana with steam springs, mud pools, hot springs, geysers and fumaroles in an area of approximately 10 square kilometres. A spectacular sight. The hot steam is blown violently into the air. Impressive!!!!
Steam and water emissions can reach exceptional heights of up to 200 metres, and the gases released contain sulphur. Hot spring temperatures reach 30 °C and fumaroles reach 70 °C hot enough to be visible from space in ASTER satellite images.
Sol de Mañana is located at an altitude of 4,900 metres, making it one of the highest geothermal fields in the world.
In short, the Sol de Mañana Geyser is an impressive and exotic place that combines volcanic activity with the natural beauty of the Bolivian Andes!
We are now at 4900 metres. Breathing is heavy with every effort made. So we don't mind moving to lower elevations at all. After Sol de Mañana we visit Termas de Polques where we enjoy a nice breakfast and drive on to Deserto Dali, Lago Verde and Lago Blanco.
Aguas Termales de Polques
The Polques Hot Springs are a set of natural hot springs located in the department of Potosí, Bolivia, specifically in the southern region of the Uyuni Salt Flat, in the Andean Altiplano. These hot springs are known for their therapeutic properties and stunning natural environment .
Located in the heart of the Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Fauna Reserve, the Polques Hot Springs offer a unique experience. Besides the relaxation provided by the hot springs, the best thing about the Termas de Polques is the panoramic view from the thermal pools. From here, you can contemplate the pastel landscape of the Salar de Chalviri.
Salvador Dalí Desert
The Salvador Dalí Desert, also known as Dalí Valley, is an extremely arid desert in southwestern Bolivia, located in the department of Potosí. This desert lies entirely within the boundaries of the Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Fauna Reserve and is characterised by landscapes that resemble the surrealist paintings of the famous artist Salvador Dali. It covers an area of approximately 110 km².
Laguna Blanca
Laguna Blanca is a salt lake located in an endorheic basin, in Sur Lípez province of Potosí department, Bolivia. It is located near the Licancabur volcano. This lake lies at an altitude of 4,350 metres (14,270 feet) above sea level on the Altiplano. With an area of 10.9 km², it is 5.6 kilometres long and 3.5 kilometres wide. The characteristic white colour of the water, which gave the lake its name, is caused by the high concentration of minerals floating in it. Only a narrow corridor separates Laguna Blanca from the smaller Laguna Verde. Both lakes are located within the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
Border Hito Cajun
We reach Hito Cajun around 8.30am, the Bolivian border. The settlement goes very smoothly. We are the only two border passers. Then it's a few kilometres of driving through no man's land to the Chilean border. Here it is quite crowded. After about an hour we have the necessary stamps and our transfer takes us to San Pedro de Atacama. But first we pass a security check by Chilean customs. Everything has to be opened and our luggage searched completely. After this interlude, we drive to San Pedro de Atacama. We descend very quickly to about 2500 metres. We assumed the transfer would drop us at our hotel but the best man didn't quite understand and wanted to drop us at some hostal in the city. Eventually, we ended up at the bus station. This is where we finally had to be for the 4.30pm bus to Calama to pick up our rental car. We decide to rebook our ticket for the 1.30pm bus. This succeeds and half an hour later we drive to Calama. We arrive in Calama around three and catch a taxi to the airport where we can pick up the car.
