Salar de Surire

Surire lies at about 4,250 metres in the far north, a salt flat of roughly a hundred square kilometres declared a natural monument in 1983, and its distinguishing feature is that it does two things at once: Chilean, Andean and James's flamingos breed here in numbers, and a borax mine operates on the flat, with trucks crossing the same ground. The tension between the two has been argued over for decades and the arrangement remains uneasy. At the southern end are the Polloquere hot springs, undeveloped pools in the open altiplano. Vicuña and vizcacha are common around the edges.

What you actually see

• Three flamingo species breeding - Chilean, Andean and James's.
• A working borax mine - on the same flat, an uneasy coexistence.
• Polloquere hot springs - undeveloped pools at the southern end.
• A monument since 1983 - at about 4,250 metres.

When to go

April to November; the altiplanic summer rains make the roads impassable. A full day.

Honest expectations

This is remote high-altitude driving with no fuel, food or signal for long distances - a four-wheel drive and supplies are not optional. Nesting areas must be kept well clear of. The springs have no facilities at all.

Nearby

Isluga volcano park is south; Putre and Lauca are north.