Images that will be kept in the mind of any traveller, its Impressive landscapes will attract capture or fascinate the attention of the most demanding tourist. Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna Reserve is one of Bolivia's best tourism areas because it is home to silently bubbling volcanoes, and to a great number of flamingoes that nest near its colorful lakes that extend like huge shining gemstones.

The reserve, found in the province of Sud Lipez, Department of Potosi, shows numerous attractions: glacial lakes that harbor bird colonies, large plains and plateaus...in short, a whole world to explore and admire.

Created in 1973, this precinct has an area of over 700,000 hectares and is at an average of 4,000 mts altitude. Its climate varies according to the season: winter (May through August) is dry, while the summer season (December through April) has abundant rainfall.

Flora and Fauna

Andean setting covered with pasture grass (paja brava), forming small and medium-sized circles on plains and slopes, keua trees (Polylepis tarapacana), famous for being the tree species that grows at the highest altitudes in the world (over 5,000 mts) and the yareta (Azorella compacta) typical of the rocky canyons at over 4,000 mts are a few of the things that make this one of the major reserves on the continent.

However, this is not all. This corner of the Bolivian high plateau harbors over 45 bird species. 3 are flamingoes: the Andean flamingo (Phoenicoparrus Andinus), the Chilean flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) and the Puna Flamingo (small parina) (Phoenicoparrus Jamesi), that have turned into the main attraction.


Description of the flamingoes

The Andean flamingo receives the local name of "chururu", but it is also called "big parina". Because of its height (over one meter), it is the largest within its species. Its coloring is quite light, with pinkish plumage. The upper part of its breast is violet, the beak is black and the legs are yellow.

Known as "Itokoko", the flamingo from Chile is one meter tall and features a reddish plumage, except for the flying feathers of the wings, which are black. It has a pinkish-white beak with a black tip, and its legs are light blue.

On its side, the Puna flamingo or "small parina", named "jututu" by the locals, is the shortest of the three species (90 centimeters tall): its plumage is pink, and it has a yellow beak with small black spots on the tip. The legs are red.

These 3 species concentrate on Colorada Lagoon (Red Lagoon); but, from May through August, the young flamingoes leave the lake to the adult birds and younger ones that are still unable to fly.
The best time to visit this Park is in November, when weather conditions favor the appearance of many different bird species.


Tourist spots

The volcanic origin of the terrain is a forceful reason to explores all its surprising and imagination-provoking trails: the Green and Red Lakes and the Morning Sun Geyser are the spectacular attractions of the Reserve.

Colorada Lagoon (Red Lagoon):The area of this lake is about 60 kms2. It is located at 4,278 meters altitude and the temperature of its water -colored red by sediments in suspension- goes between 10 and -10 degrees Celsius. This is the greatest attraction of all, because it is the only existing lake where the three different species of flamingoes all nest together.

Sol de Maana (Morning Sun):This area covers almost 1 kms2 and is at the southern tip of Red Lake. It goes through intense volcanic activity. The craters show a huge amount of furiously boiling lava. The fumaroles here also spout fumes and steam from 10 to 50 mts up into the air.

Verde Lagoon (Green Lagoon):This is at the extreme south of the Reserve, and covers 17 kms2. Its waters are colored green because of their magnesium content. In the proximity stands Llicancabur Volcano, whose height is 5,868 mts.