Plizio Visual Lab

Uturuncu

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Mountain

Weather…

Uturuncu is a massive, dormant stratovolcano located in the remote southwestern highlands of Bolivia, rising to an elevation of 6,008 meters. Situated in the Potosi Department, it is the highest peak in the Sur Lipez region. Uturuncu has gained international scientific fame due to a large-scale ground deformation; the area around the volcano is inflating at a rate of approximately one centimeter per year. This suggests the presence of a vast, growing magma body deep underground, leading geologists to investigate it as a possible developing supervolcano. A notable feature of the mountain is a rugged mining road that reaches an elevation of about 5,750 meters, ranking among the highest motorable tracks in the world. Near the summit, active fumaroles continue to release sulfurous gases, indicating that the volcanic system is still thermally active. The surrounding landscape is a stark, beautiful high-altitude desert characterized by volcanic debris and colorful mineral lagoons.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Mar, Nov, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	7	6	5	3	0	-2	-2	-1	1	3	5	7
Rain mm	61	51	35	8	2	0	1	1	2	11	16	45

📋 Practical info

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Getting there

Access to this towering stratovolcano relies entirely on rugged dirt tracks from the regional hub of Quetena Chico, demanding specialized 4x4 transport and highly experienced high-altitude drivers.

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Best season

Expeditions are almost strictly limited to the dry and relatively stable Andean winter months from May to September, avoiding the severe snowstorms and impassable conditions of the summer rains.

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Terrain & paths

Remarkably, a former mining track ascends incredibly high up the mountain's flanks, leaving only a final, brutally steep and rocky scree climb through thin air to eventually reach the actual summit.

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What to bring

Mountaineers must equip themselves with extreme cold-weather expedition gear, stout trekking poles for balance on loose rock, and potentially supplemental oxygen systems depending on individual acclimatization.

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Parking

Vehicles are driven to a notably high mountain saddle or 'saddle camp' that acts as an informal parking area, where the motorized ascent ends and the rigorous physical trekking finally begins.

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Safety

The monumental elevation poses a significant risk of critical altitude sickness to even fit climbers; a gradual, multi-day acclimatization schedule in the surrounding highlands is absolutely vital before any attempt.

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Time needed

If properly acclimatized beforehand, the final strenuous push from the high vehicle drop-off point to the crater rim and back typically encompasses an intense and exhausting six to eight hours.