Sajama National Park

Sajama National Park is in Oruro departement of Bolivia.

Understand
Sajama is a picturesque national park that offers impressive landscapes like around San Pedro de Atacama, the Altiplano Potosí region and the other natural sights around Uyuni. In addition, Sajama puts a focus on hiking and mountain climbing, whereas the other sites emphasis more on mass tourism using 4WDs.

If you ever just wanted to hike straight into the plains along the Salar de Uyuni tour, this is the place to do so. The Sajama National Park can be described as the perfect combination of hiking and meditation. Hiking through the plains of the Sajama National Park one is often surprised how quiet nature can be with often barely a sound for kilometres, except for maybe you footsteps. But it also offers properly guided climbs of the impressive surrounding volcanoes and mountains.

Sajama does not experience masses of tourists like in other areas of Bolivia and is still hidden with exceptional flora and fauna, vast hiking opportunities, high altitude trekking, and of course mountain climbing. meditation,

History
The park was already founded in 1939.

Landscape
The landscape is similar to the Lagunas and Altiplanos at the Chilean and Bolivian border near San Pedro de Atacama. Also, the highest peak of Bolivia can be found here, Nevado Sajama throning over the park. Generally, the altitude in the park ranges from 4,200-6,500 m, with the Sajama village at 4,240 m and regular non-guided trails up to 5,000 and 5,600 m.

Flora and fauna
The most popular animals of the park include viscachas, lamas, vicuñas, alpacas, horned coots. But you can also find armadillos, bears, Andean cats, pumas, condors, pink flamingos, hummingbirds, rheas, and others here.

Climate
Except for November to March, temperatures during the night are generally below 0°C. During the day with the sun temperatures reach between 15°C-30°C, latter especially in summer. Nevertheless, many people choose to come here in July and August, which is high season in the park.

Get in
Nowadays most tourists take the notorious minibus from Patacamaya into Sajama, because all guide books have the same information. But there are many more ways to get to Sajama, mostly using regional vans (called servis) listed in the following. Mostly you might want to get dropped at the from where you can take one of the many vehicles that go into the village (Bs. 5 or hitch-hike), or just hike the 10 km.

From Tambo Quemado
Tambo Quemado is the Bolivian border town to Chile. Many vans from either Oruro or Patacamaya will call at the. Or you might arrive from Chile here.

Transport to/from Sajama village can be arranged for Bs. 10. Or you just hike the 15 km straight through the plain, which is what you came here for anyhow.

From Oruro
Even though less emphasis is put onto coming in from Oruro here, it might actually be the more convenient place to head from towards Sajama, since it is a large and central city. And visiting Sajama using both transfer locations, Oruro and Patacamaya, on your way north or south, this wonderful national park does not lie so much off the touristy grid anymore as one might believe.

There are four vans per day between Oruro and Tambo Quemado. All go at the same time in either direction: 06:00, 10:00, 14:00, 18:00. They take 3 hr for the 270 km, and cost Bs. 45. You might bargain them down by Bs. 5 for getting dropped at the Sajama Junction, which is a little before Tambo Quemado. In Oruro the vans leave in the far southwest of the city at the ring road right next to the roundabout leading south out of the city.

From Patacamaya
Like Oruro, also Patacamaya is on the main route between La Paz and all other southern and south-eastern cities. It is just not a great place to stay for a night or arrive in the middle of a (mostly very) cold night.


 * There is one daily direct minibus from Patacamaya around noon, but it is already there at 11:00 and will leave when full. It returns at 05:30 from Sajama. The price is Bs. 35 (April 2023), one way. On the way back to Patacamaya, if there are enough tourists in the bus, the driver will often offer to go even to La Paz for a little extra money. However, note that the regular price for minibuses from Patacamaya to La Paz is Bs. 10.
 * Also, there are frequent vans (every 30-60 min between 05:00-20:00) that travel between Patacamaya and Tambo Quemado. They can drop you off at the Sajama Junction. The vans are Bs. 30 to Tambo Quemado, but you might be able to settle at Bs. 25 for just the Sajama Junction. (Just tell them Bs. 25 and if they do not agree, just do not enter the car. They will beg down as soon as they have enough people and want to leave. But just ask once more to be sure.)
 * Otherwise, the La Paz-Arica buses, which also go by Patacamaya and the Sajama Junctiom, should be passing by the same point as the vans in Patacamaya between 06:30-08:00 in the morning. They leave between 05:30 and 06:30 from La Paz. They should not be more than Bs. 20. If they will not settle for this price just tell them there are other Arica buses coming and the servis is just Bs. 25.

Patacamaya <=> Sajama: 190 km, 2 hr.

From La Paz

 * Just take any transport from La Paz going south, either to Patacamaya or any other southern city. There should also be direct (mini)bus that solely go to Patacamaya, probably from El Alto Bus Station. Get off in Patacamaya (minibus Bs. 10, van/servic Bs. 15). This might be along the highway, which goes around Patacamaya. So, check the map how to get from there to the junction in Patacamaya towards Sajama/Chile (GPS see above, where the vans start) or the Capitol Restaurant. From there you take the vans or the minibus, respectively&mdash;see above.
 * Taking the morning buses for Arica (05:30-06:30) is probably the most convenient way. They should not be more than Bs. 40&mdash;bargain hard. Or just arrive 30 min before they leave and board the one that gives you the best price&mdash;ask around!

From the south
Likewise, if you do not choose the Oruro option, any bus from the south(east) going towards La Paz can drop you at Patacamaya. Often, this will be a night bus, so make sure, you do not get dropped in the middle of the night and have to wait for hours before the first vans go at 05:00.

From Arica
Sajama is conveniently located at the gateway from Arica into Bolivia. Buses from Arica leave at around 15:00, and you can get off either in Tambo Quemado or just a few kilometers further at the Sajama Junction after you have crossed the border into Bolivia. Unlike Lauca National Park in Chile, which does not really offer a convenient way to explore its sights due to missing accommodation options and visiting time restrictions, Sajama is also the name of the village where you can stay and explore the surrounding national park conveniently.

Fees and permits
The is about 1 km from the Sajama Junction. It opens at 08:00. Bs. 100.

On foot and navigation
I came here for the hiking and mountain climbing, so walking will probably be your preferred choice. Don't bother so much about trails, instead the most direkt route is probably the best, especially when going or coming back hiking. The lamas and alpacas walk everywhere, so why shouldn't you. Just make sure, you know where to cross the main river floating through the valley.

Outside of town, there are many hiking trails and tracks used by the locals, which you can use to do the surrounding sights and proposed treks&mdash;consult OpenStreetMap, which is used by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd or Mapy.cz — they include GPS navigation. Or just download the according GPX or KML files through Waymarked Trails for such trails on OpenStreetMap. (Note, you just need to change the OpenStreetMap relation ID to download the GPX or KML files through the same link.)

By taxi
Hiring a taxi (even though no official ones exist, just locals with car) is convenient if you are short on time or fitness, or the place is really far away, like Tambo Quemado.

Hiking, trekking and mountain climbing
The following mountains and treks can be done without a guide and if you are reasonably fit.

For the following treks you will need a guide and proper equipment. Sometimes, transport via 4WD is necessary.

Buy

 * There are a few little stores in town where you can basic supplies and food for cooking. But do not expect a large supply of fruits and vegetables like in the cities. You are often better off relying on the cooking skills of the local "restaurants".
 * In addition, you can find local handicraft and artesanal clothes.

Eat
Most accommodations in town also provide proper lunch and dinner, even though usually the regular Bolivian dishes. Walk around to find the ones open or still with your place.

Camping
Camping is possible pretty much everywhere and due to the rolling hills many flat areas to put up a tent can be found. But note that it gets very (freezing) cold at night, below 0°C from March. So, be prepared.

Lodging
Sajama village offers numerous budget accommodation of varying comfort, but the amount of options should guarantee a good price&mdash;easily from Bs. 40.



Cope
Always take your rubbish and even that of other people along the trail&mdash;just the trail, roads are useless because they are frequented by non-caring Bolivians. Hiking in the park is free and possible without a guide (unlike Torotoro National Park). But if the park is going to be messed up, it will probably soon be converted to a guide-only version. So, let's keep that gem clean.