Hike Pueblo Sajama - Fumaroles

Start of this hike is in the village of Sajama (4,245 m asl), which is also the lowest point of this trek. So you must be really well acclimated for this hike! From the village, head west and then cross the bridge over the river. The continuation is obvious – along the dusty road with ruts from jeeps taking climbers under the volcano Parinacota and Pomerape. Everywhere around you grow yellow altiplano grass and horizon will be lined by five and six thousands meters high volcanoes.

In the beginning awaits you four-kilometer long walk northwest along endless plains to Illama farm, where is also a crossroads. You will be able to admire a beautiful panorama with volcanoes Parinacota and Pomerape towering from Altiplano in front of you.

After a half-hour walk there will be llamas in ever greater numbers. It is a sign that you are slowly approaching the farm. High mountain altiplano lagoons (destination for this hike) hide in the volcanic massif behind them.

In less than an hour you will get to Ilama farm. From here the jeep paths branch off to the west under the volcanoes. You stick more to the north and ascend further along the stream to slowly emerging valley.

It is about three kilometers from Ilama farm to fumaroles, all the time along the jeep path (the path ends a short way behind the fumaroles ends and you then need to be more careful). The path leads along a small stream all the time and heads between the volcanic massif Condoriri and lonely weathered colorful peak (at about 5,300 m asl), which could also serve as an interesting outlook point.

After almost two hours of walking you finally get to fumaroles that are gracefully named Sajama Geysers (4 400 m asl). Of course, they are certainly not as cool as the most famous Tatio in Chile or Sol de Manana, but you are completely alone here.

Fumaroles in Altiplano are interesting mainly for the temperature difference. Somewhere sputters boiling water and only half a meter beside is everything frozen into ice. And in addition, minerals make the pools pretty colorful.

You will not find any real geyser here, but you will see here for sure smoke rising from boiling water early in the morning.

You will encounter a lonely house at the end of fumarole field. Here ends the civilization and begins real altiplano wilderness.

At the fumaroles you must decide whether to turn around and return back the same way or go further through the valley to magnificent high mountain lagoons. If you walk without a backpack, you shall count with beautiful day in the wilderness and return in the darkness.