Laguna Colorada, a stunning red-hued lake famous for its flamingos and high-altitude Andean landscape, is located in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in Bolivia, despite being a common departure point from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. It is best accessed exclusively via multi-day (typically 3-4 day) guided 4x4 tours, usually from Uyuni (Bolivia) or San Pedro de Atacama, as independent travel is highly unfeasible due to remote, challenging terrain and high altitude (around 4,300m). While generally accessible year-round, visitors should prepare for extremely cold winter nights (June-August) and potential road closures due to heavy snow or summer rains (January-February) ON CONFLICT (id) DO NOTHING; shoulder seasons often offer the best conditions. Costs typically range from $150-$500+ USD for the guided tour, plus a national park entrance fee of approximately $20-30 USD. The lake itself is a stop within the broader tour, allowing for about 1-2 hours of viewing and photography. Essential insights include acclimatizing to the altitude, bringing very warm layered clothing, sun protection, sufficient cash (no ATMs), and understanding that accommodations on tours are often basic, unheated refuges.