All activities / Overlanding / Expedition Driving / Sud Lipez
Overlanding / Expedition Driving in Sud LipezBO
Bolivia's far-southwest highlands: the three-to-four-day off-pavement traverse from the Salar de Uyuni across the Eduardo Avaroa reserve to the Chilean border at San Pedro de Atacama.
Why here
This is arguably South America's definitive 4x4 traverse, and it is an A-to-B expedition rather than a loop: three to four days entirely off pavement from the salt flat across the high altiplano to the Chilean border, sleeping in remote refugios with no connectivity. The route stacks Laguna Colorada red with three breeding flamingo species, the Sol de Manana geothermal field near 4,900 meters, the Salvador Dali Desert, the Polques hot springs, and Laguna Verde under the cone of Licancabur, before dropping you in San Pedro de Atacama. Few road journeys left on the continent are this far off the grid.
Best months
May through October is the dry season and the season; January through March rains cut the tracks. Nights fall to minus 20 C in June and July, and the passes run between 4,000 and 5,000 meters, so acclimatize first and pack serious cold-weather kit. Unmarked tracks and zero fuel make guided vehicles the default; self-drive is for experienced high-desert hands only.
Getting there & around
Start from Uyuni (UYU) or run it in reverse from San Pedro de Atacama via Calama (CJC). Shared departures run daily in season and book about a week out; private vehicles three to four weeks. Bring cash for the reserve fee.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (1)
Chile Montana
OutfitterA Chilean mountain-travel operator running the Atacama-to-Uyuni overland crossing from the San Pedro side, the reverse leg of the classic traverse.