The Lagunas route Bolivia (video)

October 21, 2023

The lagunas route in south-west Bolivia features a series of high altitude lakes situated in a mountainous desert environment, decorated with a variety of volcanoes and geysers. It is home to thousands of flamingos and is one of the main highlights in Bolivia. It is frequently travelled by cyclists and 4WD vehicles alike. Although due to the rough desert roads, the former have a notoriously hard time completing it.

Appealing as that all sounded to us, we decided not to ride it. Firstly, because the end of the dry season is nearing which means the sand on the route is finer and dustier than ever, adding significant challenges not only for cycling, but also for our (Jaap's) cleaning regime. Secondly, we wanted to go for a more direct route to Argentina allowing more time to enjoy all its wonders.

Luckily though, we didn't have to miss out completely. As fate would have it, a partly filled 4WD with a group of Spanish travelers was about to embark on a two-day lagunas round-trip from Uyuni to explore the area, and it had two empty seats in the back with our names on it. In the spirit of maximizing car capacity, as is customary in this part of the world, we jumped in. A short trip of pure relaxation and enjoyment, with the added bonus of some quality Spanish practice sessions. It can't always be hardship ;) What a fantastic ride it turned out to be and a great group of people to share it with!