After a day on the endless Uyuni salt flats, we head out in the morning from our hotel near the village of Coqueza for another adventure. The plan: drive as close as we can to Tunupa Volcano, then continue on foot to the crater.<\/p>\n\n
Lesson learned from yesterday, we stop confidently at the information center right in Coqueza to find out what it would cost to drive toward the volcano. The older lady there doesn\u2019t speak English and we don\u2019t speak Spanish. She doesn\u2019t understand what we want and tries to sell us a full package with a guide, food, and a lift to the foot of the volcano. Later we realize that what we were asking for simply isn\u2019t on offer\u2014people don\u2019t usually head up Tunupa on their own.<\/p>\n\n
So we drive on to the town of Tahua. The map shows a dirt track climbing up from there. We find it easily, but a locked gate stops us right at the start. There\u2019s no way around it.<\/p>\n\n
We head back to the village and, with the locals\u2019 help, start looking for someone who can help. After a while we find him\u2014he opens the gate and we can continue. We pay an entrance fee of about five euros.<\/p>\n\n
At first the road climbs only gradually, but the closer we get to the volcano, the rougher it gets. Thankfully, our Hilux is a true 4×4, so we press on. On some stretches we switch to low range; the car turns into a little tank and crawls over anything in its way. With every meter gained, the views over the Uyuni salt flats grow more impressive.<\/p>\n\n
Despite my skepticism, we manage to drive up to about 4750 m n. m.<\/strong>, roughly 150 vertical meters beyond the official end of the road. On the way we pass a campsite that\u2019s, frankly, in pretty poor shape.<\/p>\n\n From the car, we continue on foot\u2014straight into a steep climb on loose rock. A well-worn path rises gently to the ridge, but along the ridge it\u2019s a different story. At this altitude the air is thin and we have to take frequent breaks. The views are indescribable; we\u2019re snapping away like mad.<\/p>\n\n Just below the crater the terrain gets trickier and the route less obvious. We split\u2014Bra\u0148o takes a break; the terrain isn\u2019t really his thing. I can\u2019t help myself and carry on toward the crater. I lose the path for a moment, but after a short search I\u2019m back on track. A few tight switchbacks lead up to the rim of Tunupa\u2019s crater.<\/p>\n\n The final meters feel endless, but I make it. I reach the crater\u2014and set a new personal altitude record; I\u2019ve never stood this high before. Every movement here takes effort; I\u2019m out of breath after just a few steps.<\/p>\n\n Still, I pull out the drone to take it all in and capture the sweeping views. Behind me, the endless white of the Salar de Uyuni; in front, the vast crater of the sacred mountain Tunupa. The perfect reward.<\/p>\n\n Unlike the ascent, the way down is quick. We\u2019re back at the car before dark, happy with how the day turned out, and we treat ourselves to a well-earned cold beer. We didn\u2019t meet a single person on the trail, which made it feel even more special.<\/p>\n\n Feeling great, we drive the same track back to Tahua and then to the hotel.<\/p>\n\n
\n\nHiking up to 5150 m n. m.<\/h3>\n\n
\n\nViews worth the effort<\/h3>\n\n
\n\nA quick descent and a well-earned reward<\/h3>\n\n
\n\nFacts about Tunupa Volcano<\/h2>\n\n
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