
Where is Sol de Mañana?
Bolivia, south-america
225 km
4,921 m
hard
Year-round
Alright adventure junkies, listen up! If you're heading to the Sur Lípez Province of Bolivia, you HAVE to check out Sol de Mañana! We're talking a geothermal wonderland sitting at a whopping 4,921m (16,145ft) above sea level.
What is it? Think intense volcanic activity, bubbling mud pools, and geysers blasting water and steam up to 50 meters high. Seriously, it feels like you've stepped back in time to the Earth's primordial soup!
Getting there is no walk in the park. You'll need a sturdy 4x4 for the roughly 225km (139 miles) of road that cuts through this crazy landscape, connecting the Chilean border to Road 701 near Villa Alota.
Is it worth it? 100% YES! Imagine wandering among steaming geysers, feeling like you're on another planet. The best time to go is early morning when the light hits the rising steam just right. Word to the wise: there are no guard rails, and the ground is unstable. One wrong step and you could be in some seriously scalding water! Bundle up, too – the weather is brutal. Expect temperatures around 0°C to 5°C in summer and between -5°C to -20°C in winter.
Sol de Mañana is located in the Potosí Department, deep in the southwestern part of Bolivia near the Chilean border, nestled within the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. It's a bit out of the way, but if you're exploring the region, this otherworldly experience is a must! Just be careful, and get ready for some epic photos!
Road Details
- Country
- Bolivia
- Continent
- south-america
- Length
- 225 km
- Max Elevation
- 4,921 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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