Laguna Colorada, Bolivia: Visiting the Red Lagoon on Our Salt Flats Tour
The salt flats might have been the photograph I was looking forward to most, but Laguna Colorada was a reminder that this trip was about much more than the final morning in Uyuni.
We reached the red lagoon on the first day of our crossing from San Pedro de Atacama. There were flamingos in the shallows, white patches around the water and mountains behind it. The colours were so different from the lagoons we had already passed that it did not feel like just another stop.
This is our experience of visiting Laguna Colorada as part of a three-day road trip, plus the practical things I would check if it is one of the places you especially want to see.
Is Laguna Colorada Worth Visiting?
Yes, I would want it included in a southern Bolivia multiday route. It was a memorable stop on our way to Uyuni, particularly for the combination of coloured water, flamingos and the surrounding landscape.
It is not the same place as the Uyuni salt flats, and it was not a separate day trip we took from Uyuni town. For us, it belonged to the high-altitude part of the crossing before we reached Uyuni.
That matters when booking. A listing called salt flats tour may be a single-day outing that does not go to Laguna Colorada at all. Check the stop list rather than assuming the red lagoon comes with every Uyuni booking.
What It Was Like on Our Visit
We travelled in early February. The lagoon came after a day that included the border crossing, other lagoons, the Dalí Desert, hot springs and the geothermal area at Sol de Mañana.
I remember the contrast between the water and the land around it. The white shoreline and darker mountains made the red stand out, and the flamingos gave us something to keep watching rather than taking one landscape photo and immediately leaving.
Our photographs also show that the lagoon was not one solid, perfectly uniform red. There were different-coloured sections and shallows. I would go expecting a real landscape that changes with conditions, not a single colour reproduced exactly from somebody else's edited photograph.
I was wrapped up here too. The bright sky in the pictures does not tell the whole story about how it feels at altitude. Bring a warm layer you can actually reach when the vehicle stops.
Why Is Laguna Colorada Red?
The red-brown colour is linked to algae living in the saline water. NASA explains that changes in salinity and temperature influence the algae and the lake's colour. That is the scientific background, rather than something we could establish just by looking at it on our visit.
You can read NASA's explanation of Laguna Colorada for more detail. I would avoid choosing a tour based on a promise that the water will have an exact colour at a particular hour. Our own photos are a record of one visit.
The lagoon is in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, at roughly 4,300 metres above sea level. ESA's view of the lake gives a useful sense of the wider landscape and its protected habitat.
Seeing Flamingos at Laguna Colorada
We saw flamingos feeding in the shallow water. That was one of the things I loved about the stop: the lake was not only something to photograph from a distance, but a place with wildlife moving through it.
Laguna Colorada is an important flamingo habitat. If birdwatching is a priority, ask whether your guide has that expertise rather than expecting every driver to offer the same level of interpretation.
Give the birds space, follow the visitor paths and do not walk towards them for a closer photograph. A zoomed view or a patient moment is much better than disturbing the wildlife you have come to see.
Where Does Laguna Colorada Fit on the Crossing?
We visited on day one of our San Pedro-to-Uyuni tour. Travelling in the opposite direction can change when you reach it, so do not treat our first-day order as the only itinerary.
Scroll to see the full table →
| Planning question | Our experience |
|---|---|
| Where did we start? | San Pedro de Atacama, Chile |
| When did we reach the lagoon? | First day of the three-day crossing |
| Was it a standalone excursion? | No, one stop in the multiday route |
| Did we return to San Pedro? | No, we continued one way to Uyuni |
| Was accommodation included? | Yes, both tour nights were included |
The route involved plenty of driving between landscapes. That is part of the experience, not something I would hide behind a list of colourful lakes. We enjoyed the group and the scenery, but it is worth being honest with yourself about whether you like that style of travel.
For all the stops and the overnight realities, read our three-day San Pedro to Uyuni tour guide. I have kept this page focused on the lagoon rather than repeating the whole road trip.
The hot springs were a separate stop earlier that day. That is where we went into the water, not Laguna Colorada; our crossing guide covers what to bring for that part of the route.
What to Check When Booking a Tour
Browse Uyuni and multiday tour options here, then confirm that Laguna Colorada is actually listed. There are many different routes and durations on that page.
I would ask about the departure point, the finish point, room arrangements, guide language, weather-related changes and reserve admission. Ask which fees are included and what currency you need for anything payable along the route. I would not assume that a price quoted by an older blog is still the reserve's current fee.
The comparison page is not the exact agency booking we made. What I can recommend from experience is the route we enjoyed and the questions that would have made our expectations clearer.
Where to stay before or after the tour
If you begin in Chile like we did, Hostal Anpaymi Atacama was our three-night base in San Pedro.
Hostal Anpaymi Atacama
Our three-night base with a comfortable private room, our own bathroom and a shared kitchen. The simple, practical stay I would start with for a tour-based visit.
If you need an extra night in Uyuni after your package ends, Eucalyptus Uyuni is the one I would compare. You do not need a separate booking for a tour night already included in your package. Our crossing guide includes that extra-night option with photos.
What to Bring and How to Handle the Altitude
Have a warm jacket, layers, sun protection, sunglasses and water in your day bag. Our larger bags were on the roof of the vehicle, so I would keep the things you need at each stop with you.
This is a high-altitude environment. We noticed breathlessness during the crossing, and that personal experience is not a medical assessment of how somebody else will respond. Read CDC guidance on altitude illness and discuss health concerns with a clinician before the trip.
Do not assume that being fit prevents altitude illness. Tell your guide about symptoms and do not keep ascending if symptoms develop. Serious or worsening symptoms need urgent attention and descent.
I would also keep expectations flexible. Conditions can affect access and the day's timing, so give your onward travel enough room rather than planning around an exact minute at the lagoon.
Watch Laguna Colorada in Our Bolivia Vlog
The lagoon appears as part of our first day, alongside the other high-altitude stops. The video also shows the rooms and the final salt-flat morning, which helps put the place in context.
Watch our Bolivia salt flats vlog on YouTube.
FAQs About Laguna Colorada
Is Laguna Colorada the same as Salar de Uyuni?
No. Laguna Colorada is a high-altitude lagoon in the Eduardo Avaroa reserve. The Uyuni salt flats were a later part of our multiday tour.
Why is the water red?
NASA links the red-brown colour to algae in the saline water. Colour varies with conditions, including salinity and temperature.
Did you see flamingos?
Yes, we saw flamingos in the shallows. We have not identified the species in our photographs, and wildlife sightings should not be treated as guaranteed.
Can you visit on a one-day Uyuni tour?
Do not assume so. Many one-day tours focus on the salt flats. Read the full itinerary and confirm Laguna Colorada by name before booking.
Which day did you visit from San Pedro?
It was on the first day of our three-day, two-night crossing from Chile to Uyuni. Other routes can visit in a different order.
Final Thoughts: Would I Include Laguna Colorada?
Yes. The red water, flamingos and mountains made it one of the stops that gave the crossing its own identity beyond the salt flats. I would choose a route that includes it, check the practical details and leave the exact colour and conditions to the day. It is a real place, not a photograph you can order in advance.
