Sajama National Park is Bolivia’s hidden gem and was one of the highlights of our trip, alongside the famous Salar de Uyuni.
Bolivia is one of my favorite destinations, and for a good reason: it has some of the most surreal and breathtaking landscapes in the world and is still off the beaten track. Despite being overlooked by travelers, Bolivia and Sajama National Park are a must-visit for adventurous travelers.
Why you should visit Sajama National Park
Absolute tranquillity
By far the most popular place in Bolivia and one of the must-visit places in South America is Salar de Uyuni. While most people flock to Salar de Uyuni and Lake Titicaca, Sajama National Park is really a hidden gem, overlooked by tourists, and is literally deserted. When we visited the park, we practically had the whole place to ourselves.
Alpacas, llamas and vicuñas
In Sajama National Park, you will see more alpacas and llamas than people. There are so many of these cute, fluffy animals, we ended up taking tons of photos. Besides, you will have a chance to see wild camelids – vicuñas. We spent three days in Sajama National Park, and we were lucky to see these graceful animals every day.
Breathtaking scenery
Sajama National Park is a heaven for photographers. It blows your mind with surreal landscapes of the rugged altiplano, snowcapped volcanoes and mountains, geysers, and lagoons. And again, you have an absolutely different experience compared to the Salar de Uyuni tour, as you won’t see crowds of people around.
What to do in Sajama National Park
Sajama National Park Map
Climb Sajama Volcano
Sajama Volcano (21,463 ft / 6,542 m) is an extinct stratovolcano and the highest peak in Bolivia. You can see it from any point in the park. You can climb Sajama, but don’t treat it as a simple walk. It’s high-altitude mountaineering with glacier travel. If you are an experienced mountaineer and intend to climb Sajama independently, keep in mind that it might be difficult to rent equipment in Sajama village. It might be safer to rent in La Paz.
If you would like to do a guided ascent to Nevado Sajama, several tour agencies in La Paz offer guided climbs. They usually last 4 days and include transport from La Paz, mountain gear rental, base camp setup, and experienced guides.
Climb Parinacota and Pomerape Volcanoes
Another two volcanoes in Sajama National Park – Parinacota (20,827 ft / 6,348 m) and Pomerape (20,610 ft /6,282 m) are potentially active volcanoes on the border of Bolivia and Chile. You can climb both of them, but Pomeraper is climbed less often; it is harder and more technical than Parinacota.
Hiking in Sajama National Park
Sajama Base Camp hike
- Distance: ~11 km /6.8 miles one way
- Time: 3.5–5 hours to Base Camp, depending on level of fitness and acclimatisation
- Base Camp altitude: ~4,800 m
- Elevation gain: ~665 m
The trail starts from Sajama village. For the first hour, we walked along the main road before turning right to the Bosque de Queñua (Queñua Forest), the highest-altitude forest in the world. From there, we continued up to Sajama Base Camp.
We didn’t climb Sajama; instead, we spent a few days exploring the trails around the park. One of the absolute highlights was Sajama Base Camp hike. This hike will reward you with the best views of Sajama Volcano, Bolivia’s highest peak.
It took us about 3.5 hours to get to the base camp. Although the hike can be done in one day, we did it over 2 days and spent the night at the base camp. If you plan to stay overnight, keep in mind that the altitude there is 4,800 m. You need to be fully acclimitised to sleep at such an altitude.
Huayñacota Lagoon Hike
- Distance: ~13 km /8 miles one way
- Time: ~3-4 hours one way
- Elevation gain: ~100-150 m
Huayñacota Lagoon sits at about 4,238 m above sea level. It is about 8 miles/ 13 km /3 hours walk from Sajama village along the main road heading north. Roughly, the elevation gain of this hike is 100-150 m, so it is mostly flat.
Most photos show it with a perfect mirror-like surface reflecting the surrounding landscape. There were flamingos when we visited, but the lagoon didn’t look like that – the water was choppy because of the strong wind. It was so windy that my face got both frozen and sunburnt at the same time.
To get the best view, you need to continue walking to the western shore of the lagoon. From there, you will see the Sajama volcano rising behind the lagoon with flamingos. It was so incredibly windy that I didn’t feel like hiking any farther, so we ended up missing the best viewpoint.
Sajama Geysers
- Distance: ~8 km /5 miles one way
- Time: ~2.5-3 hours one way
Another place we visited is the geysers. This is the easiest hike in the park with almost no elevation gain. They are located about 5 miles / 8km west of Sajama village. Take the path that takes you behind the church towards Pomerape volcano, cross the bridge over the river, and go further. The geysers steam and boil. They also explode sometimes, but it does not happen very often.
Please take your swimsuit for this hike. There is a river flowing through the geysers, and the river water mixes with the hot spring water, creating natural warm pools where you can soak.
Lagunas de Altura Hike
- Distance: ~32.5 km /20 miles one way
- Time: 2-3 days
- Highest altitude: ~5,042 m
- Elevation gain: ~1,000 m
From the geysers, you can hike up further to the Lagunas de Altura, which is another 6 km or a couple of hours’ hike. The Chilean border is close by, and the first two lagoons, Laguna Casiri Macho (altitude ~4,840 m) and Laguna Sora Pata (altitude ~4920 m), are on the Chilean side.
The hike length is 32.5 km, and it is usually done in 2 days with overnight camping near Lagoon Sora Pata, which means you camp overnight in Chile. The total hike from the trailhead to Sora Pata camp is 14.5 km.
The third lagoon, Laguna Chiar Khota (altitude ~5,000 m), is located on the Bolivian side. From there, you can hike down to Aguas Thermales (hot springs), but note that there is no visible trail. Make sure to stop at the Aguas Thermales Manasaya to soak in the hot springs with mind-blowing views. The fee is 30 BOB, but there are also free pools available. If you are too tired to hike all the way to Sajama village, there’s also accommodation available.
I couldn’t find any information about whether it was okay to cross the Chilean border there or if a border zone permit was required, especially as all available reports online were telling to camp at Laguna Sora Pata. Also, we didn’t see any park rangers during our time in Sajama, so we didn’t find any official information on this.
We got very close to the lagoons, but in the end, I started worrying about crossing the border, so we decided to turn back.
Aguas Termales Manasaya
Manasya hot springs are about 1.5 hours walk from the village. Walk along the main road for 2-2.5 miles / 3-4 km in the northern direction and then turn left. Choose a pool you like and enjoy an amazing view of the Sajama volcano.
Fee: 30 BOB
Sajama Village
Sajama Village is a tiny Andean settlement of around 250 residents, sitting at the foot of Nevado Sajama at an altitude of about 4,230 m above sea level. While there’s not much happening in the village, it serves as the main gateway to Sajama National Park and the starting point for the hikes.
There are a few basic guesthouses, small restaurants, and small shops where you can buy water and simple snacks.
The most photogenic spot in the village is Iglesia de Sajama, a beautiful church built in the colonial era.
Best time to visit Sajama National Park
Sajama National Park is located on the altiplano at an altitude above 4,200 m, so the climate there is harsh and semi-arid, with strong winds, intense sun during the day, and freezing temperatures at night. Daytime temperatures can range from 15 to 20 °C. If you plan multi-day hiking and camping, be aware that nights are quite cold with temperatures dropping to below 0°C.
It is recommended to visit during the dry season from May to November, which is also a colder time of the year. The weather is sunny and clear. It’s the best time for hiking.
The rainy season is from December to March, when roads and trails become muddy, so hiking can be more challenging.
How to get to Sajama National Park from La Paz by public transport
From La Paz, take any bus going to Oruro and ask the driver to drop you at the town of Patacamaya. You can take a proper bus from La Paz Terminal de Buses (But Terminal) or take a combi from El Alto or Cementerio in La Paz, which is much cheaper.
From our 3 months’ experience of travelling around Bolivia, buses from La Paz Bus Terminal are more or less on time.
The bus drops you at the main road, you need to walk to the town and look for “Restaurant Capitol”. A combi (minivan) with the sign “Parque Nacional Sajama” leaves from there around 12 pm or earlier once it is full. It takes about 3 hours from Patacamaya to the park. We easily found the place, and the minivan was already there. You can also ask around, and people will direct you. Note that on Sundays it leaves earlier.
Costs: Bus from La Paz to Oruro: up to 60 BOB, you will be charged full price. Combi from Patacamaya to Sajama Village is 40 BOB.
Also note that when departing from La Paz Bus Terminal, you will need to pay the terminal tax of 2.5 BOB.
Getting back to La Paz
When you go back, take the minivan from Plaza Turistica “6 De Agosto” in Sajama village. It leaves at 5.30 am, but try to get there earlier, as it may leave early. On Sundays, it leaves earlier, at 4 am. Usually, there are quite a few people trying to get a spot in the van, and there’s no queue, so you’ll need to be quick to grab a seat. We were lucky to grab the last two. When we arrived at Patacamaya, there were minivans leaving for El Alto, so we took one of them.
Another option: if you’d rather avoid the hassle of public transport and transferring in Patacamaya, it makes sense to book a transfer from La Paz to Sajama via GetYourGuide. This option allows stops for photos, which are not available on public transport.
You can also check with local tour agencies in La Paz to see if they can arrange a transfer to Sajama National Park for you. We booked a transfer to the trailhead of the Cordillera Real hike through one of La Paz’s tour agencies.
Accommodation in Sajama National Park
Most people stay in Sajama village. There are a few basic hostels / guesthouses. We did not book anything in advance. After the minivan dropped us at the main plaza, we were wandering around checking the map and figuring out which way to go, when a local lady approached us and asked if we would like to stay in her guesthouse.
We had our own bathroom in the room with an electric heater in the shower. They provide you with extra blankets, as it’s quite cold at night. At this point, it looks like none of the accommodations can be booked online.
You can also stay in Tomarapi in Tomarapi Ecolodge, located in the northern part of the park. But the location is not convenient if you don’t have your own transport.
Camping is allowed inside the park.
Sajama National Park FAQ
There are no banks or ATMs in Sajama village, so make sure you bring enough cash. The closest ATM is in Patacamaya
There are a couple of small basic shops and restaurants in Sajama village.
The entrance fee is 100 BOB (as of December 2025). It includes a small park map.
The entire park rests above 13,780 ft / 4,200 m, so be aware of altitude sickness. I recommend visiting Sajama National Park only after you have properly acclimitised.
Daytime temperatures in Sajama National Park are quite warm, while nights are cold, with temperatures dropping below zero. In winter, from June to August, it plunges well below zero. Bring a warm jacket and a suitable sleeping bag if you plan to camp. Also, remember that UV radiation is extremely high, even though it is cold.
While many national parks in Bolivia require to have a guide, Sajama National Park can be visited without a guide.
It is best to visit during the dry season, which is from May to November. I would avoid the rainy season (December to March).
Yes, but there is no direct bus or trufi, you will need to take bus + trufi. Take a bus from La Paz to Oruro and ask to be dropped off at Patacamaya. In Patacamaya, find “Restaurant Capitol”. A trufi to Sajama village departs from there daily at 12pm.
Yes, Sajama is an amazing place for wildlife watching: vicuñas, flamingos, foxes, and many birds. We saw a lot of vicuñas, flamingos at Huayñacota Lagoon, and Andean geese. We also saw rhea footprints. Llamas and alpacas are not wildlife, but you will see a lot of these adorable camelids.
Visit for at least 2 nights, but if you want to see more, spend 3 nights.
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Hello. We are planning on going here. How much roughly does it cost to hike Sajama Volcano?
Hi Matthew, unfortunately, I do not know the prices. But there guides in Sajama village, and their prices should be cheaper than if you book in La Paz.
Hola!! Your blog is very useful!! Thanks a lot!! Just one question, if I don’t want to camp in the park, can I do day trips from the village every day? Do I need to pay the park entrance every day? Thanks again!!
Hi Ruby, thank you 🙂 Yes, you can stay in the village. We only camped at the Sajama base camp, but we could do do it as one day trip. If you want to go to Lagunas de Altura, this hike is usually done in 2 days. We did not make it to the end, as the lagoons are on the Chilean side, and we were not sure if it was okay to cross the border. Otherwise, other places mentioned here – Huaynacota Lagoon, geysers, Aguas Termales can be done as day trips. Can’t tell you for sure about the entrance fee, I believe you pay only once, and the fee includes a map of the park. But we could not find where to pay, there was noone collecting the fees, and no park rangers. Good luck with trip! I am sure you will enjoy it 🙂
Hello, did you take tours around the area or do it yourself?
Hi Immy, no, we didn’t take any tours. You can get to Sajama by public transport, and all places described in the post are accessible by walking. The tour agencies in La Paz sell tours to Sajama, but I think once you arrive in Sajama village, you can ask at your guesthouse if they can arrange anything for you.
Hello ! Thank you very much for all your advices it’s very valuable ! How long did you stay in Sajama ?
Hi Clemence, we stayed for 5 days, we were not in a rush, and it was more than enough to do everything described in the post. If you are short of time, I would day 3 days would be fine.
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Great pictures and superb scenery. I can’t remember hearing of any Ozzies trekking in Bolivia before
Thank you, Greg. Maybe because Bolivia is very far away from Oz, and yes, the views there are stunning!