Ojo del Inca (Tarapaya)
Ojo del Inca
A nearly perfectly round crater hot spring lake with water at about 30°C, where you can swim at an altitude of 3,600 metres.
Ojo del Inca lies in the Tarapaya valley, about 25 km from Potosí. It is a round thermal lake about 50 metres in diameter, with a seemingly bottomless depth, and its water stays near 30°C year-round. Legend says the Inca king Huayna Capac once bathed and recuperated here. The lake is deep, so only confident swimmers should enter, and there are no lifeguard facilities on site, so take care. Admission is about 10 bolivianos. The valley also has other hot spring baths, including Tarapaya and Mira Flores. From Potosí, take a minibus bound for Tarapaya, which takes about 40 minutes, and then walk 15 minutes uphill from where you get off.
Opening hours
About 08:00–18:00
Nearby sights
- Hacienda Cayara
- Church of San Lorenzo de Carangas
- Mercado Central
- Torre de la Compañía de Jesús
- Convent of Santa Teresa
- Casa Nacional de Moneda
- Potosí Cathedral
- Arco de Cobija