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Laguna Verde Bolivia — lago esmeralda a 4.400m al pie del volcán Licancabur en la Reserva Eduardo Avaroa, Bolivia
— Ecosystem · Bolivian Southwest4.400m

Laguna Verde
& Blanca, Bolivia.

17 km² of emerald water at 4,400m at the foot of Licancabur volcano (5,916m). Bolivia's most photographed colour lake. The perfect finale of the 3-day tour from Uyuni.

Why is it green? ↓Best timing ↓Gallery ↓
Laguna Verde
17 km²
Altitude
4,400m
Licancabur volcano
5,916m
Best time
8–10am
Laguna Blanca
Adjacent
Circuit
Day 3 from Uyuni
— The colour explained

It is the minerals.

Laguna Verde is not green from algae or sky reflection. The emerald colour comes from dissolved minerals in the water: primarily copper (Cu) and arsenic (As), leached from the volcanic rocks surrounding the lake.

Concentration varies with wind: in the morning with calm water, coloured particles settle and the colour is deep, intense green. In the afternoon when altiplano wind agitates the lake, colour shifts to bluish turquoise. Visit before 10am for the most spectacular colour.

🟢
Copper (Cu) and arsenic (As)
The main causes of the green colour. Dissolved copper produces the emerald green; arsenic reinforces the tone. Both minerals come from historical volcanic activity and rock leaching.
💨
Wind changes the colour
With calm water (morning), the colour is deep green. With wind (afternoon), particles are agitated and the tone shifts to blue-turquoise. That's why morning is best: less wind, deeper and more saturated green.
⚪
Laguna Blanca: the contrast
Adjacent to Laguna Verde, Laguna Blanca is a milky-white saline lake rich in borax. The chromatic contrast between the green and white, with Licancabur behind, is the most replicated image of the southwest circuit.
🌋
Licancabur volcano: the backdrop
Licancabur (5,916m) dominates the southern horizon. A stratovolcano on the Bolivia-Chile border with a crater lake at 5,913m — the highest crater lake in the world. Visible on clear days as a perfect pyramid.
— Best timing

The colour changes through the hours.

Laguna Verde has no season — it works year-round. The critical variable is not the month, but the time of day. The wind changes everything.

🌄6:00 – 8:00am
Dawn arrival
The tour arrives early morning directly from accommodation near Laguna Colorada (or after Polques). Sunrise over Licancabur lights the lake with golden colour. Temperature: -5°C to -10°C.
🟢8:00 – 10:00am
The perfect colour hour
With the sun higher and water still calm, the green is most intense and photogenic. Temperature has risen to 0°C-5°C. This is the optimal window — make the most of it.
💨10:00am – 12:00pm
Wind starts to take effect
Altiplano wind picks up toward midday. The lake starts to stir and colour shifts to blue-turquoise. Still beautiful, but different from the intense morning green.
🔵Afternoon
Turquoise colour — different, not worse
Afternoon light is warm and Licancabur is better side-lit. The colour is different — more turquoise, less green — but photos are still spectacular. Tours continue arriving until 3-4pm.
— The horizon volcano

Licancabur: 5,916 metres.

🌋
Stratovolcano on the border
Licancabur is a stratovolcano on the Bolivia-Chile border, 4km from the southeastern end of Laguna Verde. Visible from the lake as a perfect 5,916m pyramid. Considered a dormant active volcano — the last known eruption was several centuries ago.
💧
The world's highest crater lake
Licancabur's crater contains a lake at 5,913m altitude — the highest crater lake in the world and one of the most studied extreme microbial life environments on Earth. Microorganisms have been found in it similar to those that might exist on Mars.
🧗
Can you climb Licancabur?
Yes — Licancabur can be climbed from the Bolivian side (standard route), though it requires permit, equipment and guide. The ascent takes 6–8 hours. It is not part of the Uyuni tour — it is a separate 1–2 day expedition from San Pedro de Atacama or Uyuni.
— The full circuit

Laguna Verde is the grand finale.

20km northeast4,850m
Sol de Mañana Geysers
Steam geysers before the green lake
Visited at dawn on Day 3, immediately before Laguna Verde.
Full guide →
15km north30°C
Polques Hot Springs
Soak between geysers and the green lake
30°C thermal pools between Sol de Mañana and Laguna Verde.
Full guide →
65km northeast4,278m
Laguna Colorada
The blood-red flamingo lake
Visited the day before on the 3-day circuit.
Full guide →
~200km north3,656m
Salar de Uyuni
The world's largest salt flat
The start of the 3-day circuit that ends at Laguna Verde.
Full guide →
— FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Get in touch →

Laguna Verde's emerald colour comes from dissolved minerals in the water: primarily copper (Cu) and arsenic (As), leached from the surrounding volcanic rocks. The colour is not from algae or sky reflection. The intensity varies through the day: deepest green in the morning (8–10am) when water is calm and particles have settled; shifting to blue-turquoise in the afternoon when altiplano wind agitates the lake.

Laguna Blanca is an adjacent saline lake with a milky-white colour from high borax and mineral concentrations. The two lakes are visually striking together: the emerald Laguna Verde beside the white Laguna Blanca, with Licancabur volcano (5,916m) as backdrop. The chromatic contrast — green, white and the brown volcanic peak — is one of the most iconic images of Bolivia's southwest circuit.

Laguna Verde is only accessible by 4×4 as the final stop on the 3-day tour from Uyuni (Day 3, after Sol de Mañana and Polques Hot Springs). No independent transport exists. Total driving distance accumulated over 3 days: ~200km. The reverse circuit from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) via the Hito Cajón border crossing also ends at Laguna Verde (or starts from it, depending on direction).

The best time is between 8 and 10am, when the lake is still calm and the sun is high enough to illuminate the water's mineral content. By midday, altiplano winds pick up and the colour shifts to a less saturated turquoise. The tour from Uyuni typically arrives in the 8–11am __win. Going from San Pedro de Atacama (reverse circuit) you arrive later in the day — the colour is different but the experience is still spectacular.

The water of Laguna Verde contains significant concentrations of arsenic (As) and other heavy metals. It is not safe to drink, swim in or touch. The arsenic concentration is well above safe drinking levels. However, simply standing near the lake and photographing it poses no health risk — the risk is only from direct contact with or ingestion of the water. Do not wade in it.

Laguna Verde is primarily a photographic and geological destination, not primarily a flamingo site. Flamingos are occasionally present but in far smaller numbers than at Laguna Colorada (the flamingo-focused stop on Day 2). For flamingos, Laguna Colorada is the main destination. Laguna Verde's primary appeal is the colour, the Licancabur backdrop and the Laguna Blanca contrast.

— Plan your southwest circuit

Licancabur behind.
Green ahead.

45 minutes. We design your southwest itinerary with logistics, accommodation and a realistic budget.

$90 · €85 · Bs. 623

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