URMIRI HOT SPRING – BOLIVIA

March 1, 2017 SouthAmerica

BALNEARIO URMIRI

https://www.southamericatotheworld.com/ — Canyon approach to Urmiri

Our March featured hot spring Urmiri is located 98-km south of La Paz (~two hour drive), tucked into a deep canyon facing the Cordillera Real, the Balneario Urmiri hot spring is administered by the Hotel Gloria de Urmiri. This is Bolivia’s best developed hot spring resort. They have saunas, two larger pools, massage, a basic restaurant serving a daily set menu, and a bar. All of this is basic by the standards of other South American countries, but in Bolivia this is about as good as it gets.

To get there, take Ruta 1 south from La Paz, turn left (east) on dirt road at the very small town of Tolar. This route connects to Saphaqui. Head east into the mountains, going over a 4,400 meter pass, and then down many narrow switchbacks to a fork at –16.92863, -69.9351, turn right and descend more switchbacks on a steep narrow road to reach the hotel at the canyon bottom after going over a bridge and through a tunnel. One may also pay for the hotel’s day trip from La Paz. Contact the hotel for details for price and departure/return times. The hot springs are open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Day use fee is 30 Bolivianos.

The upper rustic pool features a small waterfall cascading over travertine to supply a pool made by a concrete dam that is big enough for twenty people to soak in. Water temperature here varies between 40 and 42ºC. The hot spring water have filtered through Ordovician black shale and siltstone, and at the vent the temperature is at 72°C. The complex is at 3,450 meters elevation, in rugged topography, and hidden away in a canyon.

Hotel Gloria de Urmiri rooms start at 693 Bolivianos. They only have 21 rooms and they are fairly basic. The only private hot spring baths are in the hotel rooms. Expect more crowds over the weekend, and if spending the night reserve a room.