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Géiseres Sol de Mañana Bolivia — campo geotérmico activo a 4.850m en la Reserva Eduardo Avaroa, con columnas de vapor al amanecer
— Ecosystem · Bolivian Southwest4.850m

Sol de Mañana,
Bolivia.

South America's most active geothermal field at 4,850m. 15-metre steam columns in freezing air, mud pools at 130°C and the unmistakable smell of sulphur at altiplano dawn.

What to expect ↓Safety ↓Gallery ↓
Altitude
4,850m
Steam temp.
80–130°C
Air temp. (dawn)
−5 to −15°C
Steam columns
up to 15m
From Laguna Colorada
12km south
Tour
Day 3 of Uyuni circuit
— What to expect

The Earth, boiling.

Sol de Mañana is not a static attraction — it is an active geothermal system that changes day to day. Activity can vary between visits. What is always there: heat, sulphur and the feeling of standing on a living volcano.

💨
Steam geysers
Ground vents releasing steam at 80–130°C. Columns reach 10–15m high. The visual contrast with the blue altiplano sky is extraordinary, especially at dawn when steam is lit by golden light.
🟤
Boiling mud pools
Circular pools of grey-brown bubbling mud at 80–100°C. The mud produces a characteristic bubbling and splashing sound. The field smells strongly of sulphur (hydrogen sulphide — the "rotten egg" smell is normal and harmless at brief exposure).
🌫️
Sulphurous fumaroles
Rock cracks emitting volcanic gases: water vapour, CO₂, hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂). Fumaroles colour surrounding rock yellow (sulphur deposits) and orange (iron oxides).
⏰
Best time: dawn
Tours arrive at 5:30–7am. This is the optimal hour: the contrast between freezing air (-5°C to -15°C) and 130°C steam produces maximum-height, maximum-density steam columns. As the sun warms the day, columns become less visible.
⚠️
DANGER: Fragile ground
The ground crust around pools can be thin over geothermal voids. Stay strictly on marked paths. A tourist died here in 2007 after falling into a pool. Follow guide instructions without exception.
🌡️
Highest point of the circuit
4,850m is the highest point of the 3-day Uyuni tour — 1,194m higher than La Paz. Many travellers feel altitude effects here. Move slowly, breathe deeply and do not run.
— Safety

Real beauty. Real danger.

Sol de Mañana is safe if you follow the rules. It is not safe if you don't. The rules are not recommendations — they are the difference between an extraordinary experience and a serious accident.

⚠️
In 2007, a tourist died after falling into a geothermal pool at Sol de Mañana. The incident occurred after leaving the marked path. This geothermal field is dangerous if the signposted boundaries are not respected.
🚫
Leave the marked path
Ground around the pools can collapse. Marked paths are safe; off them, they are not.
🚫
Run or play near the pools
A stumble can be fatal. Always move slowly and with full attention.
🚫
Touch the mud, water or unmarked ground
Any wet or steaming surface can be above 80°C.
🚫
Get closer to pools than marked
Pool edges can collapse inward. Always maintain the marked distance.
✅
Follow the guide and stay with the group
Your guide knows the safe paths and the ones that aren't. Do not go ahead of the group.
✅
Wear your warmest clothing of the trip
4,850m + wind + -10°C is the coldest moment. Down parka, gloves, hat and thermal base.
✅
Move slowly — maximum altitude of the circuit
4,850m is the highest point of the tour. Breathe deep, move slowly, avoid intense exertion.
✅
Wear UV400+ sunglasses
Reflective snow + high altitude + clear sky can cause snow blindness (photokeratitis) without protection.
— Getting there

Only accessible on the 3-day tour.

📅
Day 3 of the Uyuni circuit
Sol de Mañana is visited on the morning of Day 3 of the standard 3-day tour from Uyuni. Itinerary: wake at accommodation near Laguna Colorada → Sol de Mañana (5:30–7am) → Polques Hot Springs → Laguna Verde → return to Uyuni.
🚙
4×4 from Uyuni
Total distance from Uyuni: ~175km (approx 6–7h driving cumulative). No independent transport. The 3-day tour ($60–120 USD/person) includes driver-guide, shared 4×4, basic accommodation and meals.
🇨🇱
From San Pedro de Atacama
The reverse circuit (San Pedro → Uyuni) also passes Sol de Mañana — on Day 1 or 2 depending on the operator. Chilean agencies in San Pedro organise the tour with border crossing included.
— Day 3 destinations

The most epic day of the circuit.

12km north4,278m
Laguna Colorada
The blood-red flamingo lake
Visited the evening before Sol de Mañana on the 3-day tour.
Full guide →
8km northwest30°C
Polques Hot Springs
Warm up after the geysers
A 30°C soak right after the freezing geysers. The classic tour sequence.
Full guide →
20km southwest4,400m
Laguna Verde & Blanca
Emerald lake at Licancabur volcano
The grand finale of the 3-day circuit. Visited after Polques on Day 3.
Full guide →
— FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Get in touch →

Sol de Mañana is an active geothermal field at 4,850m altitude in the Eduardo Avaroa National Fauna Reserve, southwest Bolivia. It is the highest and most active geothermal site in South America, featuring steam geysers (water/mud temperature 80–130°C), bubbling mud pools and sulphurous fumaroles. It is visited on the morning of Day 3 of the standard 3-day 4×4 tour from Uyuni, typically at 5:30–7am.

Dawn is the optimal time because the cold air (-5°C to -15°C) maximises the visual spectacle of the steam columns. When cold air meets 130°C steam, the columns can reach 15 metres high and create dramatic photographic conditions. As the sun warms the day, the temperature differential decreases and the columns become shorter and less visible. The name "Sol de Mañana" (Morning Sun) reflects this dawn timing.

Sol de Mañana carries real risks. Water and mud temperatures exceed 80–130°C. Ground crust around the pools can be thin over geothermal voids. Pool edges can collapse inward. In 2007, a tourist died after leaving the marked path and falling into a geothermal pool. The site is safe if you strictly follow the marked paths and your guide's instructions. Never leave the marked paths, run near the pools, or touch any wet or steaming surface.

Sol de Mañana is only accessible by 4×4 as part of the 3-day tour from Uyuni (Day 3 morning). No independent transport exists. Distance from Uyuni: ~175km (accumulated driving over 3 days). The tour costs $60–120 USD/person and includes driver-guide, shared 4×4, basic accommodation and some meals. The reverse circuit from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) also passes through Sol de Mañana.

Air temperature at dawn (5:30–7am): -5°C to -15°C depending on season, coldest June–July. Wind chill can make it feel -20°C. Steam/mud temperature: 80–130°C. Sol de Mañana is the coldest moment of the entire 3-day circuit. Wear your warmest clothing: down parka, waterproof gloves, wool hat, thermal base layers and insulated boots. The cold is part of what makes the geothermal spectacle so extraordinary.

Sol de Mañana is at 4,850 metres above sea level — the highest point of the 3-day Uyuni circuit, and one of the highest accessible geothermal sites on Earth. For reference: Uyuni is at 3,656m, Laguna Colorada at 4,278m, and Sol de Mañana at 4,850m. Most travellers who have spent 2+ nights in Uyuni acclimatise adequately, but the additional 572m above Laguna Colorada can trigger symptoms. Move slowly, breathe deeply, and do not push your pace.

— Plan your southwest circuit

Geysers at −10°C.
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