Travels around the world 2009-2024
Exploring our beautiful planet

Salar de Antofalla

April 23, 2024  —  Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina

The Salar de Antofalla, in the province of Catamarca, boasts some fantastic landscapes. This 150-kilometre-long stretch of salt itself has many interesting sites to discover.

I only covered the northern half of this gigantic salar, from Botijuela to Antofallita.

Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Cono de Antofalla.
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
line-separator

Botijuela

Vega de la Botijuela - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Pool from which hot water gushes out.

Botijuela is a small paradise in the middle of a very hostile and arid area. Located at an altitude of almost 4,200 metres, this little oasis has long been isolated from the rest of the world. The nearest neighbours are 25 kilometres away, and there is only one family there.

Before the roads were built and when very few vehicles could get to the Salar de Antofalla and Botijuela, this place was part of legend, as very few people had seen or believed that a family lived here. In winter, the temperature can drop to 20 degrees Celsius below zero.

Vega de la Botijuela - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina


The view from the hill is absolutely fantastic, and you can enjoy it by taking a dip in a natural pool from which a jet of hot water flows. The small pool can only accommodate a maximum of one or two people.

Vega de la Botijuela - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
The highest Jacuzzi in the world?
Vega de la Botijuela - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Vega de la Botijuela - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
One family lives in Botijuela for a few months of the year.
Vega de la Botijuela - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Water sources allow life to flourish.
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
A small oasis lost in the Argentine puna.
line-separator

Ojos de Campo

Right in the centre of the salar are the lagoons collectively known as Ojos de Campo or the 'eyes of the camp'.

Ojos de Campo - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Ojos de Campo - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Ojos de Campo - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Ojos de Campo - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
line-separator

Laguna Verde

Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina

Despite the fact that this site is called a 'green lagoon' in the singular form, there seems to be a whole series of lagoons. They may all be interconnected, as they are very close to each other.

The colour of these lagoons is green, but sometimes they look red or blue due to reflections from the sky or from the minerals.

Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Laguna Verde - Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
line-separator

Wild camping

A beautiful campsite at the northern end of the Salar d'Antofalla with magnificent scenery.

Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina
Salar de Antofalla - Argentina