A place out of this world

Siloli desert, Tree of stone and Laguna Colorada in the south of Bolivia

Fernanda and I went on a 3-day tour to the salt flats in Uyuni. In previous posts, I talked about the first day and the Salar, where something very important happened and about the first part of the second day where we visited several lagoons in Eduardo Avaroa National Park and saw thousands of flamingos. The second day was intense. We visited several places, that’s why one post wasn’t enough. We crossed the Siloli desert, the Árbol de Piedra ("Tree of Stone") and one last lagoon, the Laguna Colorada.

The Desierto de Siloli is a striking and surreal desert located in the Altiplano region of southwestern Bolivia, near the border with Chile. It is part of the larger Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, which also includes several famous salt flats, colourful lagoons, and incredible landscapes. The Siloli Desert is renowned for its otherworldly rock formations, barren expanses, and the harsh, beautiful terrain that makes it one of the most iconic places in the Bolivian Altiplano.

The Desierto de Siloli lies at an altitude of over 4,500 meters (14,764 feet), making it one of the highest deserts in the world. The desert forms part of the broader Atacama Desert ecosystem, which stretches across parts of Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, and Peru. The harsh conditions of the Siloli Desert, with its extreme cold at night and scorching temperatures during the day, create a barren, lifeless environment where only the hardiest of plants and animals survive.

The most famous feature of the Desierto de Siloli is its surreal rock formations, sculpted over centuries by wind erosion, the Árbol de Piedra ("Tree of Stone") is the most iconic among these.

Other unusual rock formations can also be found scattered across the desert. These formations, made of volcanic rock, have been worn down by the wind into strange, abstract shapes, creating an eerie landscape that feels almost extraterrestrial. The isolation and stark beauty of these rock structures, and the incredible colours made my job easier as a photographer, if you like the pictures is because the place was amazing not because I took a great picture.

The Desierto de Siloli is home to a surprising variety of wildlife adapted to the harsh conditions of the Andean highlands. We spotted vicuñas, wild relatives of llamas, grazing on the sparse patches of vegetation that manage to survive in the arid landscape. Andean foxes and vizcachas, a type of Andean rodent, also inhabit the region.

In the nearby lagoons, particularly Laguna Colorada, we observed thousands of flamingos, which feed on the algae in the high-saline waters. The stark contrast between the desolate desert and the vibrant wildlife in the surrounding areas is one of the highlights of the region.

The Árbol de Piedra (Tree of Stone) is a striking geological structure, one of the most iconic landmarks in the region, renowned for its distinctive shape, which resembles a petrified tree standing in the middle of a barren desert landscape. The formation lies in a windswept, arid area where volcanic rock formations have been sculpted by the elements over millennia.

Standing approximately 5 meters (16 feet) tall, the formation has a thin, trunk-like base that gradually widens at the top, giving it its tree-like appearance. The lower part of the rock has been more severely eroded by sand and wind, while the upper part remains broader and heavier, creating the illusion of a stone "canopy" resting on a delicate base.

The rock is composed of fragile sandstone and volcanic ash, easily eroded by the powerful winds sweeping across the high-altitude desert. Over thousands of years, these winds have carved the stone into its unique shape. The Árbol de Piedra stands in an area dotted with other unusual rock formations, also shaped by erosion.

The Desierto de Siloli is an expanse of sandy and rocky terrain, it is surreal, with an almost extraterrestrial scenery. The contrast between the barren desert, the distant snow-capped peaks of the Andes, and the fantastical rock formations creates a stark, otherworldly atmosphere, one of the most beautiful and interesting places I’ve ever been.

Our last stop of the day was to visit Laguna Colorada, situated at an elevation of about 4,278 meters (14,035 feet), this high-altitude lake is famous for its stunning red-coloured waters, which create a dramatic contrast with the surrounding arid landscape and snow-capped mountains.

The name "Laguna Colorada" translates to "Red Lagoon," a reference to the vivid reddish hue of the water. The lagoon's colour comes from the presence of red algae and the high concentration of minerals in its shallow, saline waters. The algae thrive in the extreme conditions of the lake, where the combination of sunlight and the lagoon's mineral content produces this brilliant colouration. Depending on the time of day and the angle of the sunlight, the colour of the water can range from deep crimson to lighter orange tones, creating an ever-changing, dreamlike landscape.

In addition to the red algae, the white patches around the shoreline are caused by deposits of borax, a naturally occurring mineral in the region. This contrast between the red water and the white borax formations creates a visually stunning and unique environment.

One of the most remarkable aspects of Laguna Colorada is its status as a vital habitat for several species of flamingos. The flamingos feed on the plankton and algae that flourish in the lagoon's saline waters, and their pink feathers, set against the red water and blue sky, create a scene of unparalleled beauty. Thousands of flamingos gather at the lagoon, especially during the breeding season, making it a birdwatcher's paradise.

Laguna Colorada is not only a stunning visual spectacle but also an important ecological site. The extreme conditions of the lake, its high salinity, mineral content, and fluctuating water levels, create a unique habitat for microorganisms and wildlife that have adapted to the harsh environment of the Andean highlands.

We enjoyed this spectacle drinking a coffee in a bar from a viewpoint of the lagoon, this was the perfect ending to a day full of surreal landscapes, where nature was showing up in her entire beauty, and I was extremely happy for this.

After the Laguna Colorada, we went to our accommodation for the night, less cold than the one before but still very cold, the trip wasn’t finished yet, there was still another day full of wonder.

See you soon

Flavio