uyuni tour itinerary

Salar de Uyuni: The Ultimate Guide to Bolivia’s Majestic Salt Flats

Nestled high in the Bolivian Andes, Salar de Uyuni stands as a testament to nature’s awe-inspiring wonders. Spanning over 10,000 square kilometers, it’s the world’s largest salt flat, appearing as a vast white expanse that stretches to the horizon and merges with the sky.

Often referred to as the ‘world’s largest mirror’ (during the rainy season), this surreal landscape becomes a shimmering reflective surface during the rainy season, creating a dream-like setting that captivates travelers from across the globe.

But Salar de Uyuni is not just a visual marvel; it’s a destination imbued with history, geology, and cultural significance, making it a must-visit on any Bolivian itinerary.

Salar de Uyuni – A Trip Away From Earth

The Uyuni Salt Flats is the kind of place that makes your jaw drop when you see it and leaves you awe-stricken for the rest of your life. When I am asked to name a place that really, really struck me, the Uyuni Salt Flats (and the landscapes of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve further south) immediately come to my mind.

It seems that it’s not just me. I remember meeting during my travels three couples who were on a round-the-world trip. These guys had seen the world. I met each of these couples on different occasions, and of course, they had never met each other. I asked them that same question – can you name one place in this world that really, really struck you: all of them promptly answered with a big smile, Salar de Uyuni. Coincidence?

This place has won the heart of every traveler who walked on it. How could it be otherwise? The truth is, we would not be too surprised to find this kind of landscape on some other planet, but on Earth? The Bolivian Salt Flats have the power to wake up the explorer inside every traveler.

And I know what I’m talking about. In fact, I have visited the Uyuni Salt Flats twice, during the same trip! I first took a classic group tour just like everybody else, to later realize that I hadn’t had enough of it, and went back on the Salar on a private tour. Yep, I can be that obsessive sometimes.

GPS (Isla Incahuasi): 20°14’35.30″S, 67°37’31.48″W

How to go: Group tour or Private tour from Uyuni or Tupiza

Price: 700-750 Bolivianos ($100-110) for a 3-day group tour with Spanish-speaking driver + 30 BOB ($5) entrance to Isla Incahuasi + 150 BOB ($25) entrance for the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve

Duration of the tours: Can be full day, 3 days (most popular) or more.

When to go: Possible all year long. December to March for the mirror effect.

Good to know: ATMs in Uyuni are not always reliable, better have some cash with you.

Where is Salar de Uyuni Located?

Salar de Uyuni, often referred to as the world’s largest salt flat, is situated in the southwestern region of Bolivia, nestled high in the Andes at an elevation of approximately 3,656 meters (or around 11,995 feet) above sea level. Specifically, it can be found within the Daniel Campos Province in the Potosí Department.

This vast expanse stretches over 10,582 square kilometers (or about 4,086 square miles), making it not only the world’s largest salt flat but also one of the most unique natural landscapes on Earth.

Its location, high in the Andean plateau, or Altiplano, contributes to its unique climate and geological formations. The town of Uyuni serves as the primary gateway to the salt flats and is the starting point for most tours and expeditions into this otherworldly landscape. Uyuni is accessible via bus, train, or plane from major Bolivian cities like La Paz and Sucre.

How Was Salar de Uyuni Formed?

The tale of Salar de Uyuni’s formation is as mesmerizing as the destination itself. Millions of years ago, this region was submerged under a vast prehistoric lake named Lake Minchin. As time went on, the lake transformed into two other significant bodies of water: Lake Tauca and Lake Ballivián.

However, due to climatic changes over millennia, these lakes eventually dried up about 15,000 years ago, leaving behind two primary modern lakes – Poopó and Uru Uru – and two major salt flats, with Salar de Uyuni being the most expansive of them.

The salt crust, which is several meters thick in some areas, overlays a reserve of brine that is exceptionally rich in lithium. In fact, it is estimated that Salar de Uyuni contains about 70% of the world’s known lithium reserves, a critical element used in electronic batteries.

The Legend of The Uyuni Salt Flats

Beyond its geological and economic significance, Salar de Uyuni has been an essential part of local indigenous lore. Legends speak of mountains – Tunupa, Kusku, and Kusina – once being giants who walked the Earth. As the tale goes, Tunupa’s tears and breast milk, after being separated from her child, are said to have created the salt flats.

Today, while visitors marvel at its vast beauty, the salt flat continues to be a source of livelihood for many locals who harvest salt and extract minerals from this unique terrain.

8 Surprising Facts About The Uyuni Salt Flats

• It is the largest salt flat in the world . 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi) of pure white salt. That means that it is very roughly 100 km (62 mi) from east to west, and also 100 km from north to south. It is so big that sometimes, the remote mountains seem to float over the horizon, like a mirage.
• It lies at 3660 m (12,000 ft) of altitude . The Uyuni Salt Flats are part of a large region called the Altiplano, shared between Peru and Bolivia . The Altiplano is the second-highest plateau in the world after the one in Tibet, and it also includes Lake Titicaca.
• The Salar de Uyuni was formed by the disappearance of an immense lake called Lago Minchin , about 15,000 years ago. The remains of this lake that exist today are the Uyuni and Coipasa salt flats, and the Poopo and Uru-Uru lakes.
• It has islands . An amazing feature of the Uyuni salt flats is its “islands” showing coral and algae fossils dating back from the ancient lake. One of these islands, the 24-hectare Isla Incahuasi (“House of the Inca”), has been developed for tourism, with the construction of a hiking trail and a restaurant to welcome tourists. The Salar’s biggest “island” is Isla del Pescado (Fish Island), 22 km (14 mi) away from Isla Incahuasi.
• The islands are covered with giant cacti. The most iconic plants of the region, these cacti are particularly concentrated on Incahuasi Island and Isla del Pescado. Some of them are believed to be over a thousand years old. Do you realize how unique, bizarre, and incredible this place is? “Islands” made of fossil coral formations, covered with giant cacti, in the middle of an immense crust of salt!

• It is covered with mysterious hexagonal shapes. These amazing shapes have been a mystery for quite some time, but it is now thought to be the result of a convection phenomenon below the salt flat’s surface. Below the surface, there is an accumulation of rainwater. The action of the sun causes the evaporation of this water. During its migration toward the surface, the water is accumulating more and more salt. Because its salt concentration increased, this water became heavier, which leads it to sink back down. During this process, some of the water evaporates, revealing the shape of the convection cells: the hexagons. The salt crystallizes as the water evaporates, forming the ridges of the hexagons.
• A world of salt… and lithium. It is estimated that the Salar de Uyuni contains about 10 billion tons of salt, and in some areas its thickness can reach 10 metres (33 ft). The locals of the Colchani village harvest around 25,000 tons of salt a year. Uyuni is also a gigantic reservoir of lithium, an estimated 15% of the world’s reserves. It is now extracted as well, from a site in the south of the Salar.
• The Salar de Uyuni is useful for calibrating satellites. Scientists consider the Bolivian salt flat to be one of the best places on Earth to calibrate satellite altimeters (used to measure land elevation) because the skies are often clear, and unlike the ocean, it has no waves.

When to Visit Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni offers distinct experiences depending on when you choose to visit. The vast salt flat undergoes remarkable transformations with the seasons, making each visit unique.

Wet Season (December to April)

Unique Experiences : The rainy season transforms the salt flats into a vast mirror, reflecting the sky so perfectly that the horizon seems to disappear. This ethereal landscape provides an unparalleled opportunity for breathtaking photographs, where the sky and ground merge seamlessly.

Pros : The reflective properties of the wet salt flats are a photographer’s dream. The landscape is serene, and the atmosphere is surreal, especially during sunrise and sunset.

Cons : Some parts of the salt flats can be inaccessible due to excessive water, especially after heavy rains. Additionally, the chances of rain and cloud cover can sometimes obscure views of the sky and surrounding landscapes.

Dry Season (May to November)

Unique Experiences : The salt crystallizes and forms hexagonal patterns on the ground, creating a mosaic-like texture. It’s the best time to explore the entire expanse, including isolated spots and islands like Incahuasi.

Pros : Better accessibility across the salt flats, clearer skies, and cooler temperatures. The crystallized salt patterns offer unique photographic opportunities.

Cons : The absence of the reflective mirror effect. The landscape, while still stunning, is more consistent and doesn’t offer the dramatic visual contrasts of the wet season.

How to Get There

Getting to the gateway of Salar de Uyuni, the town of Uyuni, is relatively straightforward, and there are various means of transport available based on your preferences and budget.

Uyuni has an airport, Joya Andina Airport, which connects it with Bolivia’s major cities. Airlines like Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) and Amaszonas operate regular flights from La Paz, Bolivia’s administrative capital, to Uyuni.

The flight is short, roughly an hour, and offers aerial glimpses of the salt flats. Prices can of course vary but are generally between $60 and $200.

For budget travelers, several bus companies operate overnight routes from La Paz to Uyuni. The journey takes about 10 to 12 hours. While buses are cost-effective, be prepared for a bumpy ride on rough roads. It’s advisable to opt for semi-cama or cama services for more comfort.

• From La Paz: Night buses leave La Paz at around 8:30 or 9 pm, and arrive in Uyuni 9 hours later, at 5.30 or 6 am. The price is roughly between $15 and $25.
• From Cochabamba: There is a direct night bus leaving at 6 pm and arriving at 6 am. Other options all have a connection in Oruro. Price $10-$15.
• From Sucre: There are some direct buses as well as options with a connection in Potosi. The ride lasts about 8 hours and costs around $10-$15.

You can easily find and book buses from the TicketsBolivia website.

Want to read a crazy story? You can read about my arrival in Uyuni in the middle of the night when I was saved by a drunk guy.

Another scenic option is the train. Trains operated by Empresa Ferroviaria Andina run between Oruro and Uyuni. International travelers can first take a bus or train from La Paz to Oruro and then board the train to Uyuni. The train journey offers picturesque views of the Bolivian highlands and is more comfortable than the bus.

Tips for Travelers

• It’s a good idea to book your transport in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons.
• If flying, be sure to account for potential altitude sickness, as Uyuni is over 3,600 meters above sea level.
• For those taking ground transport, pack snacks and water, as the journey can be long, and services en route might be limited.

Tours and Exploration

Salar de Uyuni is a destination that invites exploration, and there are numerous ways to experience its vast beauty, from guided tours to private expeditions. Here’s a breakdown of the options available:

Types of Tours Available

The classic way of visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats is to sign up for a group tour, usually done with a 4WD Jeep.

Day Tours : The first option is a day tour from Uyuni, which will take you to a famous train cemetery, before going on the Salar and exploring its main attractions, such as the village of Colchani, the Salt Hotel, and of course the Incahuasi Island and its giant cacti. Some tours let you watch the sunset from the salt flat, before taking you back to Uyuni.

Multiday Tours : A popular option is to go for a 3-day tour combining the Salar de Uyuni and the mind-blowing Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve , in the Sur Lípez Province. I took such a tour when I saw Uyuni for the first time. But I can already tell you it was one of the most breathtaking regions I have ever seen in my entire life.

The 3-day tour takes you to the Uyuni Salt Flats of course, then heads south, crossing smaller salt flats, and passing by stunning colorful lagoons. There are the famous pink waters of the Laguna Colorada, but also a whole series of smaller lakes inhabited by flamingo colonies, high-altitude deserts, and geysers, all the way to the Laguna Verde, at the foot of the majestic Licancabur Volcano.

The price for such a 3-day tour is usually around $100-$115 in a local agency with a Spanish-speaking driver. But if you want an English-speaking driver, the price can easily go over $200.

Sunrise/Sunset Experiences : There’s nothing quite like watching the sun rise or set over the vast expanse of Salar de Uyuni. Many tours are timed to capture these mesmerizing moments.

Consider group size when choosing a tour. Smaller groups offer a more personalized experience. Ensure that the company respects local and environmental guidelines.

An alternative is to visit it from Tupiza , some 200 km (125 mi) south-east of Uyuni. Visiting it from Tupiza can make sense if you are arriving from Argentina via the border town of Villazon. Often, you will be offered the same 3-day tours, with a reverse itinerary, ending with the Salar de Uyuni. Thus, these tours can start in Tupiza and end in Uyuni.

If you are in Chile, you can also find tours from San Pedro de Atacama , going over the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve and the Salar de Uyuni with a similar itinerary.

Private Car and Driver Option

For those seeking a bespoke experience, hiring a private car and driver can be the perfect choice. This allows for a flexible itinerary and access to lesser-visited spots.

I personally took this route during my second visit. It provided the freedom to explore hidden corners of the Salar, away from the usual tourist trails. This can be especially rewarding during sunrise or sunset, when you can find a quiet spot all to yourself.

What I did: In Tupiza, I got to know a local travel agent, and I went with him on a private 4-wheel drive tour on the Salar. It cost me $300 for 3 days. Alone in the Salar, where tourists usually don’t go, stopping wherever and whenever I want.

That’s how I got to hike on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) and sleep in a salt hotel at the foot of Tunupa Volcano that I partially climbed the next day. When I go back to Bolivia someday, I will definitely do it again. I talk about this in greater detail further down this article.

Whether you are in Uyuni, Tupiza, or even San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, you can talk to a few travel agencies and they will most probably be able to offer you a private tour. Just talk to a few and compare prices.

Things to Do and Experience at Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni is replete with otherworldly sights and experiences. Whether you’re there for the landscapes, photography, or the sheer novelty of being in such a place, there’s something for everyone.

Mirror Effect During the Wet Season

Details: From December to April, the rainy season transforms the salt flats into an enormous natural mirror. Even a shallow layer of water reflects the sky perfectly, creating a dreamlike horizon.

Photography Tips: This optical wonder allows for stunning photography. Capturing sunrise or sunset during this time can result in awe-inspiring imagery where the horizon seems endless.

Experience: Walking on the flats during this time can feel like walking in the sky, a surreal experience that many describe as feeling like being on another planet.

Precautions: While the visuals are mesmerizing, travelers are advised to be cautious. Wet salt can be slippery, so ensure you’re wearing appropriate footwear. Make sure you are protected from the corrosion of the salt.

Perspective Photography Opportunities

Details: The vast and uniform backdrop of the Salar makes it an excellent canvas for playing with visual perspectives in photographs, where objects in the foreground seem disproportionately large compared to those in the background.

Props and Ideas: From creating scenes where it looks like you’re holding or kicking the sun, to using everyday items for exaggerated size comparisons, the possibilities are limitless. Some travelers bring small toys or props to make the photos more playful and memorable.

Tips: Ensure you have a camera with an adjustable lens or a smartphone with a wide-angle setting. Remember, the shadow can play a pivotal role in these shots, so mind the sun’s position. The best shots often require a low camera angle, so be prepared to get down on the ground!

Incahuasi Island Visit

Details: Also known as the “Island of the Cactus,” Incahuasi Island is an ancient coral reef transformed into a hill, surrounded by a sea of salt. Rising from the salt flats, Incahuasi Island is a bizarre sight, dotted with giant cacti and offering panoramic views of the Salar. It’s a must-visit, both for the landscape and the unique ecosystem.

Flora and Fauna: This island is home to some of the world’s largest cacti, with some estimates suggesting they’re over 1,000 years old! Along with the cacti, you might also encounter native species like the viscacha (a type of rabbit-like rodent).

Viewpoint: There is a trail you can follow to explore a part of the island and its cacti. The hike to the island’s top is worth the effort as it provides panoramic vistas of the salt desert, especially enchanting during sunrise or sunset.

Entrance Fees: Note that there is usually a small fee to enter the island, which contributes to its maintenance.

Another Idea: If you are visiting Salar de Uyuni with a private driver and/or you happen to have some time to kill at Isla Incahuasi, I recommend going for a little hike all around the island. It takes around one hour, and you will have the immensity of the Salar all to yourself.

Venturing to Isla del Pescado

Details: Less frequented and less commercial than Incahuasi, Isla del Pescado offers similar breathtaking views but without the crowds. This island offers serene beauty and a sense of solitude, making it an ideal spot for those seeking tranquility.

Unique Landscape: Its distinctive fish-like shape can be appreciated when viewed from a distance or from an elevated position, which has earned it its name (‘Fish Island’ in Spanish).

Flora: Like Incahuasi, this island is populated with tall cacti and features unique rock formations, offering a mix of desert and oasis-like views.

Tips: Since it’s not on every tour itinerary, express your interest to your tour operator in advance or, as you’ve previously mentioned, hire a private driver to reach this hidden gem. That’s what I did, and it was amazing to scramble up the hill to the top of this pristine, wild island. Just be careful with the thorny bushes!

VIRTUAL TOUR – Salar de Uyuni

Hike on and around the famous Incahuasi Island, and discover the off-the-beaten-path Fish Island (3 panoramas).

The virtual tour opens in a lightbox. Use your mouse to move around the 360° panoramas.

Visit the Palacio de Sal and the Flag Plaza

Details: The Palacio de Sal is the world’s first salt hotel, boasting walls, floors, ceilings, and even furniture made entirely from salt blocks harvested from Salar de Uyuni. It’s an architectural marvel and offers a unique accommodation experience, immersing visitors in the essence of the salt flats, and you can even check out salt sculptures.

Iconic Flag Plaza: Adjacent to the Salt Hotel is a spot where travelers from around the globe have planted their national flags, resulting in a colorful and vibrant display of international unity. It’s a testament to the universal appeal of the Salar de Uyuni and the shared journey of discovery.

Photography: The combination of the stark white salt hotel, the multi-colored flag plaza, and the vast salt flats horizon make for an excellent photography setting, capturing the essence of this unique travel destination.

Watch the Flamingos

Details: The salt flats near Coqueza are renowned for attracting several species of flamingos , including the Andean, James’s, and Chilean flamingos. These elegant birds flock to the region’s shallow waters, which are abundant in the microorganisms they feed on.

Best Viewing Spots: Apart from Coqueza and the Salar, lagoons such as Laguna Colorada and Laguna Hedionda (in the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve) are excellent habitats for these birds. The contrasting colors of these lagoons against the bright plumage of the flamingos make for spectacular photography.

Behavioral Observations: The flamingos’ unique feeding behavior, where they stir up the mud with their feet and filter-feed, can be observed here. Their graceful courtship dances during the mating season are also a highlight.

Tips: If bird-watching is a priority, consider hiring a local guide who knows the best spots and times to view these magnificent creatures. Also, visiting during the migratory season, from November to March, increases the chances of spotting large flocks.

Also read: Our Guide to Observing the Flamingos of Bolivia’s Salt Flats and Lagoons

Night Photography

Details: Salar de Uyuni, being far from major city lights, boasts incredibly clear skies. This, combined with the vast unobstructed horizon of the salt flats and the graphic shapes of the cacti, creates an unparalleled opportunity for astrophotography.

Milky Way Magic: The dense star clouds of the Milky Way, stretching across the sky, provide a stunning subject. With the salt flats beneath, photographers can play with reflections, creating mesmerizing compositions.

Meteor Showers and Celestial Events: Throughout the year, there are numerous meteor showers and other celestial events. Planning a visit around such occurrences can result in once-in-a-lifetime shots.

Tips: For optimal results, use a wide-angle lens with a large aperture (e.g., f/2.8 or wider) and a sturdy tripod. It’s essential to have a camera that performs well in low-light conditions. Shooting in RAW format allows for more flexibility during post-processing. Finally, familiarize yourself with the lunar calendar; a new moon phase ensures the darkest skies.

Wildlife of Salar de Uyuni

The salt flats might initially seem like an inhospitable environment, but a closer look reveals a surprising variety of life adapted to this unique ecosystem.

• James’s Flamingos: One of the rarer species of flamingos, these elegant birds can often be seen in the shallow waters of the Salar, especially during their breeding season.
• Vicuñas: These wild relatives of llamas and alpacas are known for their fine wool. They roam the areas surrounding the salt flats, grazing on the sparse vegetation.
• Andean fox: Also known as the culpeo, this fox can sometimes be spotted around the periphery of the salt flats, especially during the cooler parts of the day.
• Vizcachas: These rabbit-like rodents, belonging to the chinchilla family, are native to the Andes and can be seen around rocky outcrops near the salt flats.

Also read: 12 Incredible Wild Animals in Bolivia

• Giant Cacti: These cacti ( Echinopsis atacamensis subsp. pasacana ), native to Bolivia and Argentina, can grow up to 10-12 m / 32-39 ft tall. They bear rose-white flowers in spring and summer, and the fruits are edible. The pasacana subspecies is distinguished from the Chilean subspecies ( E. atacamensis subsp. atacamensis ) by the fact that is it usually branched. The Chilean subspecies is often unbranched and grows less tall. They are very slow-growing, only 1 cm / 0.4 inch per year on average.
• Quinoa: Not just a trendy health food, quinoa plants grow in the higher altitudes around Salar de Uyuni. The region is known for its many colored varieties of this crop.
• Llareta: These are dense, moss-like plants found in the high-altitude regions of the Andes. They grow extremely slowly and can be several thousands of years old. Their compact shape helps conserve moisture.

Salar de Uyuni Overnight Private Tour: Itinerary Suggestion

Here I will briefly describe what I have done for my own private tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats so you can gain some insight and ideas if you wish to do the same.

Day 1 – Uyuni Salt Flats: Uyuni → Colchani → Incahuasi Island → Fish Island → Coqueza

You will leave from the town of Uyuni and head to the salt flats. You can stop at the same places where tour groups go, but since you have your own driver, you can take the time to see these places more in-depth. For example, in Colchani, I could wander in the area where the locals harvest the salt.

Then, go to the Incahuasi Island. It is the most touristy spot on the Salar, but unmissable. You can follow the tourist trail that ventures inside the cactus forest to get a good idea of what the place looks like and amazing panoramic views of the salt flats;

While I was there, I decided to hike all around the island, it took me an hour. And for the first time, I was all alone in the immensity of the Salar de Uyuni, an amazing feeling! I would definitely recommend anyone to do the same!

After that, you can start going off the beaten track. My driver took me to the Isla del Pescado (the Fish Island), the largest island on the salt flat. This time, there was no hiking trail, no restaurant, and no one. Pure wilderness. I hiked up the island among thorny shrubs and another cactus forest to a high point, from where I could enjoy a fabulous panorama of the Salar and the nearby Tunupa Volcano.

It is at the foot of this volcano, in the village of Coqueza, that I spent the night, in a hotel built with bricks of salt. On the way, we stopped by other smaller “islands”. From Coqueza, a flock of flamingos was nearby as the sun was setting on the salt flats, a beautiful birdwatching and photography moment.

Day 2 – Coqueza & Tunupa Volcano → Crossing the Salar → Uyuni

On the morning of this second day, my driver and I climbed the slopes of the Tunupa Volcano stopping just before its colorful crater. After that, the climb becomes more technical and required gear that we didn’t have. But it doesn’t matter, the goal was to appreciate the sheer size of the Salar de Uyuni, from this high point. I could see all the islands I had visited, including the small Incahuasi Island, far away in the distance.

The way back to Uyuni was pretty cool as well, I asked my driver to stop when we were near the center of the salt flats, to experience its immensity. Your world is just divided into 2 parts. 360 degrees of pure white salt in the bottom half, and pure blue sky in the top half.

My driver left me in Uyuni to continue my journey in Bolivia. After having experienced this, I really wish to go back to Bolivia and do a much longer private tour around the salt flats and the Altiplano. The cost is not the same of course, but the feeling of exclusivity is priceless.

Practical Tips for Travelers

A trip to Salar de Uyuni is a journey like no other. To ensure you make the most of your visit, and to keep inconveniences to a minimum, here are some practical tips:

Altitude Acclimatization : Uyuni is located at an elevation of around 3,650 meters (almost 12,000 feet). Some travelers might experience altitude sickness. I recommend spending a day or two in a city like La Paz or Potosí before heading to the salt flats, to acclimatize. Drinking lots of water, avoiding alcohol, and consuming coca tea can also help alleviate symptoms.

Sun Protection : Given the vast, reflective nature of the salt flats, sun protection is essential. High SPF sunscreen, sunglasses with UV protection, and a wide-brimmed hat are must-haves.

Stay Hydrated : The arid climate can be dehydrating. Always carry a refillable water bottle, and drink frequently.

Footwear : Opt for comfortable, closed shoes. If visiting during the wet season, waterproof boots can be beneficial due to the water on the salt flats.

Cash and Supplies : Uyuni is a small town, and while it has basic amenities, it’s best to withdraw cash in a larger city beforehand. Additionally, stock up on any special supplies or snacks, as variety can be limited.

Where to Stay & Eat

Uyuni offers a range of accommodations, catering to various budgets and preferences.

Salt Hotels : Unique to this region are hotels made entirely of salt blocks. These provide a unique lodging experience, combining rustic charm with modern comforts. Some popular options include Palacio de Sal and Hotel de Sal Luna Salada.

Traditional Accommodations : Apart from salt hotels, there are several other lodgings available, from budget hostels to more upscale options. Hotel Jardines de Uyuni, for instance, offers comfortable rooms and a pleasant garden setting.

Eateries : Uyuni’s culinary scene, while not extensive, offers some delightful spots to savor local and international dishes. Places like Minuteman Revolutionary Pizza serve up hearty meals, perfect after a day of exploring.

For local flavors, the town’s central market is a hub of activity, with vendors serving Bolivian staples like salteñas (savory pastries) and llajwa (a spicy tomato salsa).

Whether you’re dining in a restaurant or enjoying street food, always remember to drink bottled water and ensure that any fruits or vegetables are properly washed or cooked.

Photographic Wonders and Tips

The vast expanse of Salar de Uyuni is a canvas for photographers, offering unparalleled opportunities to capture the beauty of nature and play with perspectives. Here are some phenomena and tips to make the most of your photo sessions:

• Mirror Effect : The wet season transforms the salt flats into the world’s largest mirror. Capture stunning reflections of the sky, especially during sunrise and sunset. A polarizing filter can help manage reflections and enhance colors.
• Perspective Shots : The uniformity of the landscape allows for creative forced perspective photos. Bring props or toys, and experiment with positioning to create fun, illusionary shots.
• Night Photography : With minimal light pollution, the salt flats are an astronomer’s dream. Capture the Milky Way, star trails, or even meteor showers. Use a tripod and a wide-angle lens with a wide aperture for best results.
• Landmarks : While the endless horizon is captivating, don’t miss out on photographing landmarks like the Dakar Rally monument, the Playa Blanca salt hotel, and the flags representing various nations near the entrance of the salt flats.
• Battery Backup : Cold conditions can drain batteries quickly. Bring extra batteries and keep them warm.
• Lens Protection : Salt can be corrosive. Ensure you have lens protection and clean your equipment after the visit.
• Golden Hours : As with most outdoor photography, early mornings and late afternoons offer the best light.

What To Pack For The Uyuni Salt Flats

Packing Checklist for Salar de Uyuni

Preparing for the salt flats requires a mix of essentials to deal with the unique climate and terrain. Here’s a suggested packing list:

• Layered Clothing : Temperatures can vary dramatically. Pack light layers for daytime and warm, insulated clothing for the chilly nights.
• Waterproof Boots : Especially if visiting during the wet season.
• Warm Hat and Gloves : Essential for nighttime and early morning excursions.
• Sunglasses and Sunblock : The reflective nature of the flats intensifies sunlight.
• Reusable Water Bottle : Stay hydrated in the dry climate.
• Camera Gear : Extra batteries, lens protection, tripod for night shots.
• Sleeping Bags: If you don’t trust the hygiene of blankets and sleeping bags provided by travel agencies and hotels, you can bring your own sleeping bag. (But I didn’t and it was fine). Again, make sure it can withstand low temperatures, if you go in June-August.
• Headlamps: It is always useful to have a good headlamp for evening and nighttime
• Snacks : While tours usually include meals, it’s good to have some personal snacks.
• Personal Medications : Including altitude sickness pills if you’re prone to it.
• Cash : Not all places accept credit cards, and ATMs might be scarce.
• Swimwear : Some tours include visits to hot springs.
• Biodegradable Wet Wipes : Useful for quick freshening up.
• Portable Charger : Ensure your devices are always powered up.

Frequently Asked Questions About Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni spans approximately 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi), making it the world’s largest salt flat.

No, while Salar de Uyuni is the largest and most famous, Bolivia is home to several other salt flats, including Salar de Coipasa.

During the rainy season, a thin layer of water covers the salt flats. This transforms the vast expanse into a giant mirror, reflecting the sky.

Yes, it is generally safe, but it’s vital to choose a reputable tour operator and be prepared for altitude changes. Always follow guidelines and respect the local environment and culture.

While it’s possible, it’s not recommended unless you’re with a guide or have experience navigating such terrains. The vast, featureless landscape can be disorienting, and vehicles can damage the salt crust.

The crust’s thickness varies, but it averages about 2 meters (6.6 ft) deep.

Yes, there are a few salt hotels made entirely of salt blocks, providing a unique lodging experience.

Apart from tourism, locals harvest salt and extract lithium from the Salar. Bolivia holds a significant portion of the world’s lithium reserves, essential for batteries.

Given the vast temperature variations, layering is key. Bring sun protection for the day and warm clothes for the chilly nights.

Julien is an exploration-minded, curiosity-driven traveler and blogger. On a mission to witness the planet's natural beauty and diversity, he shares his experiences on this website through articles, videos, and photography, including interactive virtual tours.

Fascinated by animals and plants since young, he is also fond of outdoor and so-called extreme sports, often discovered while traveling and practiced back at home where he focuses on improving his knowledge and skills - so he can explore further on the next trip!

More About Me

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Uyuni Salt Flats Tour In Bolivia – A Complete Guide

A Uyuni Salt Flats Tour is a must-do on everyone’s Bolivia itinerary!

Uyuni Salt Flats (also known as Salar de Uyuni) is the world’s largest salt flat, stretching for more than 11,000km². It truly is one of the most remarkable vistas on planet earth!

I spent one full day exploring the incredible Bolivia Salt Flats and have put together this detailed guide with everything you need to know about the Uyuni Salt Flats Tour including where to book and what to expect.

Table of Contents

WHERE IS SALAR DE UYUNI?

The Uyuni Salt Flats are so massive that it actually crosses the borders of three countries in South America – Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

Most Salar de Uyuni tours operate out of Uyuni in Bolivia, a small dusty town approximately 540kms south of La Paz.

HOW TO GET TO SALAR DE UYUNI

There are two options to consider when looking at how to get to Salar de Uyuni and they are by bus or plane.

Bus from La Paz to Uyuni:

The cheapest and most common way of reaching Uyuni is by taking an overnight bus from La Paz to Uyuni and the journey takes around 8 hours.

You can book your bus ticket online in advance for just $30 USD and the bus leaves from Terminal De Buses Lapaz.

You can then travel back from Uyuni to La Paz by bus after the one-day Salt Flats Tour.

La Paz to Uyuni flights:

A faster and more convenient way of reaching Salar de Uyuni is by taking a 50-minute flight from La Paz to Joya Andina Airport in Uyuni.

La Paz to Uyuni flights operates on a daily basis.

The BEST Backpack For Backpacking!

Less is more with the Atmos AG 50L , the newest arrival in the Osprey backpacking range!

From weekend explorations to month-long expeditions, this EPIC backpack is up to the task and will stand the test of time.

WHERE TO BOOK A UYUNI SALT FLATS TOUR?

There are dozens of tour operators and offices located in both Uyuni and La Paz to book a Uyuni Tour, but in my experience, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which operator to book a tour through without being ripped off.

Alternatively, you can book your tour online in advance to avoid the hassle of having to organize a trip once you have arrived.

I recommend finding a tour that best suits you on the Get Your Guide website . They have thousands of travel deals worldwide that are affordable and reliable!

Click Here to search for all Salar Uyuni Tours and book online ahead of time.

Have you got travel insurance for your trip?!

We all know accidents can happen and having Heymondo Insurance will save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.

Heymondo offers low-cost Travel Insurance to keep you covered on all your adventures.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE TOUR

A one-day Uyuni Salt Flat Tour not only includes a 4×4 trip out onto the world’s largest salt flat but also a visit to the Uyuni Train Cemetery, lunch at a local restaurant, salt museum and village markets, Hotel de Sal (the world’s first salt hotel), giant cacti at Incahuasi island and an unforgettable sunset at the largest mirror in the world!

The tour begins at 10 am and finishes after sunset at around 6 pm.

Book Now → Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Best time to visit bolivia salt flats.

The best time to visit Bolivia Salt Flats, funnily enough, is in the rainy season which is December to April in order to witness the reflective mirror effect on the salt flats.

During the dry season, from May to November, temperatures are much cooler and the ground hardens.

The peak season is typically from June to August and prices are known to rise during this time.

SALAR DE UYUNI FACTS

Before visiting, here are some Salar de Uyuni facts you may find interesting:

• Uyuni altitude is 3,700m above sea level
• The salt flats measure 11,000km² making it the world’s largest salt flat
• 11 billion tonnes of salt are believed to be within Salar de Uyuni
• NASA uses Uyuni Salt Flats to figure out the positioning of its satellites
• Formed by prehistoric lakes that evaporated long ago
• Pink flamingos have been spotted at Uyuni

WHERE TO STAY IN LA PAZ

La Paz has hundreds of accommodation options to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of my favorite places to stay in La Paz to fit the needs of budget backpackers and luxury travelers.

See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:

Luxury:  Ritz Apart Hotel

Ritz Apart Hotel, a modern 5-star hotel centrally located in La Paz, provides air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms, a fitness center, hot tub, sauna, in-house restaurant, room service, and free WiFi.

Perfect for travelers with a larger budget.

Mid Range:  Selina La Paz

Selina La Paz is a 3-star property that is perfect for families, couples, and solo travelers!

Great location in La Paz offering double, triple, and dormitory rooms at an affordable price. Selina also features a billiards table, an in-house restaurant, and a bar for all guests.

Budget:  The Rooftop Bolivia

The Rooftop Bolivia is rated one of the best accommodations in La Paz for budget travelers.

Featuring a bar, shared lounge, city views, restaurant, shared kitchen, free wifi, and a nightclub!

The Rooftop has dorms and private rooms available and breakfast is included.

For all other La Paz accommodations, Search on Booking.com

What to pack for bolivia.

When visiting Bolivia, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you;

Must-Have Travel Essentials

Hidden money wallet.

Keep your cash and other valuables safe with this anti-theft hidden money wallet!

Reusable Water Bottle

The GRAYL GeoPress is the best reusable bottle that allows you to purify water from anywhere!

Travel Backpack

The Nomatic Travel Backpack has 20+ innovative features, perfect for everyday use!

Quick-Dry Travel Towel

The most compact, lightweight, and quick-dry towel for traveling!

Portable PowerBank

Keep your phone, laptop, and accessories charged while you’re on the go with the Anker PowerBank!

MORE CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA TRAVEL GUIDES

• Mexico: 4 Week Mexico Itinerary
• Cuba: 10 Day Cuba Itinerary
• Peru: Backpacking Peru – 3 Week Itinerary
• Bolivia: Things To Do In Bolivia
• Brazil: 2 Day Rio De Janeiro Itinerary
• Argentina: Things To Do In Argentina
• Chile: Things To Do In Chile

FINAL THOUGHTS – SALAR DE UYUNI TOUR

If you have any questions about Salar de Uyuni, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

Search and book accommodation worldwide.

Compare and book cheap flights to anywhere.

Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.

Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.

Search all rental cars in your next destination.

Need travel insurance for your next trip?

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically .

Many thanks!

PIN IT FOR LATER

4 thoughts on “Uyuni Salt Flats Tour In Bolivia – A Complete Guide”

Hey Jonny, Thank you for the insightful blog.

I am not sure if they are still running the 50-minute flight from La Paz to Joya Andina Airport in Uyuni or if they still operate on a daily basis as I am unable to find any direct flight from La Paz airport to Uyuni. I understand you took the overnight bus but do you know by any chance the name of the airline that goes directly there and how to find it online?

Hey Ali, unfortunately I am not sure about this flight, perhaps since the pandemic things may have changed. I hope you can find your way and have a safe trip!

Hey Jonny, We are planning our South America trip for next year. A question about using the overnight bus to and from La Paz to Uyuni Salt Flats with the 1 day tour like you did. Did you travel with only a day pack? And if so where did you leave your main bag? Or did you travel with your main bag as well and then what did you do with it during the tour? Many thanks Natalie x

Hi Natalie, great question, I traveled with just an overnight bag and left my main luggage in storage at my hotel in La Paz, they had no issues holding it for me so this is something that I’m sure you could do also! Have a great trip!

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Salar de Uyuni: A Complete Guide to Visiting the Bolivia Salt Flats 

Tessellations of crusted white glinting in the sun as far as the eye can see – it’s little wonder that the Salar de Uyuni – or the Bolivia Salt Flats – are one of South America’s bucket list spots. Plan your trip with this complete guide. 

Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flats are one of the most photogenic places in the world. With over 10,582 square kilometres (4,086 square miles) of snowy white hexagonal patterns and clear blue skies, it doesn’t get much more gorgeous than this. 

The first time I visited the salt flats in 2009, I had no idea of what to expect. We’d trucked on a four-day trip from Tupiza (there’ll be more details on that later), waking up in what felt like the middle of the night to pile into the 4×4, before stopping in the pitch black. 

Within moments, the sun’s first rays shot over the horizon, gradually lighting the landscape in its path – we were in the middle of the salt flats with no one else in sight. Not going to lie, it was straight up one of my favourite travel moments and one I hope you get to experience for yourself. 

Of course, in the age of Instagram and TikTok, the chance of you never having seen a picture of the salt flats is relatively slim – but you can still capture that wonder if you plan your trip right – and that’s exactly what this guide is going to help you do. 

We’re going to cover why you should visit, what to see where you do, a brief jaunt through the history of this fascinating spot and exactly (and I mean exactly) what you need to know to plan your trip. 

Ready to embark on a journey to the largest salt flats anywhere in the world? I thought so. 

If you’ve ever had even a slight urge to check out the Uyuni salt flats, I urge you to go. There’s no other place in the world where you’ll find this kind of scenery at this magnitude. The crystalline salt flats form perfect patterns that weave their way across endless stretches of the desert landscape. During the rainy season (January to April), the landscape disappears underwater to create the famous Bolivia salt flat mirror effect you may have seen on the ‘Gram. And there’s actually a lot more to see here, including islands of cacti, three species of flamingos, “salt hotels” and abandoned trains you can explore. 

If you have a knack for adventure and a passport, visiting Salar de Uyuni should be at the top of your travel list. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the fun!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Discoveries Of – Julianna Barnaby (@thediscoveriesof)

Take a Peek on the ‘Gram

Things to do at the salar de uyuni.

Think a trip to the Salar de Uyuni is only about seeing the flats themselves? Think again. There is a lot to see here, whether you choose a guided tour or want to explore the hexagonal patterns across the stark white desert all on your own. Here are a few of the must-see attractions. 

Climb to the Top of Fish Island 

There are lots of cacti-laden islands that pop up in the vast desert landscape of the salt flats. Fish Island is one of my favourites.

You’ll see gigantic cacti (I’m talking 10 metres high), which is really an unexpected botanical wonder compared to the mostly desolate setting.

Stretch your imagination and look closely enough from above, and you might see why the island got its name. Supposedly it looks a lot like a fish (I’m still a bit sceptical, myself).

Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful change of scenery, with the Trichocereus (cereus) cactus and viscacha (a rather adorable rodent) offering a rare brush with nature in the otherwise rather barren plains.

You can also visit Incahuasi island – another cactus-covered island in the middle of the salt flats – do the 15-minute hike to the top for stunning views of the salar .

Play With Perspective and Take Some Weird Photos & Videos

Look, I won’t lie – cheesy as the photos may look, it’s so fun taking pictures that mess around with perspective while you’re on the salt flats! There are very few places where you can find somewhere so large and flat, so it’s the perfect spot to take all manner of weird and wonderful pictures.

Your guide will probably bring some props, but if there’s anything specific you want to do, make sure you bring any necessary props with you.

Visit The Train Cemetery

One of the stranger attractions near Salar de Uyuni is the train cemetery just outside of the city of Uyuni.

Say what? Yes, a cemetery of trains. Back in the 19th and 20th centuries, this region was a thriving mining area, and trains from the UK transported minerals from Uyuni to other regions. Flash forward a few decades, and the industry dried up, trains sat out in the Bolivian salt flat desert, and they formed what’s now the Train Cemetery.

It’s a cool place to spend an hour or so with your camera and catch some shots of the abandoned trains and the desert skies.

Check Out the Colourful Flags from the Dakar Rally 

Ever heard of the Dakar Rally? You know, the gruelling race that involves taking your UTV, quad, motorbike, or truck through some of the world’s most inhospitable climates Mad Max style  – well, it took place in the Bolivia Salt Flats a few years back.

People participated from all over the world, and you can still see their national flags proudly standing on a salt block against the whitewashed ground and bright blue sky.

It’s worth a stop for some great photos and a glimpse into the international event.

Explore the Old Playa Blanca Salt Hotel 

You’ll see a lot of “salt hotels” when you’re exploring Bolivia salt flats luxury hotels. There are quite a few worth visiting, but Playa Blanca stands out because the hotel sitting smack dab in the middle of the flats is no longer operating – meaning it’s a great place to use as a shelter from the sun and see a salt hotel up close too. It’s next to the Dakar Rally flags and has a gift shop and restrooms, making it a nice place to check out when you need a break from the blistering heat in the middle of the day.

Pop into the Salt Museum at Colchani

Although the small town of Colchani might not look like it has a lot going on other than its (pretty cool) market, it is worth popping into on your way to or from the flats if you can. 

Why? There’s a cool museum where you can learn more about salt processing and mining, and the marketplace actually has some cool handmade souvenirs. The Museo de la Llama y la Sal gives you a chance to see a building and sculptures made from salt, and learn more about how it’s processed by locals. 

Continue the Journey to Laguna Colorada 

Have you ever seen a blood-red laguna before? Well, you’re about to now. Laguna Colorada, isn’t in Salar de Uyuni, but it’s close enough that you’ll definitely want to add it to your trip. 

Why? It’s one of the best places to see flamingos in the region. Go in the summertime, and you’ll see literal thousands of them feasting on algae in the bright red lake in Southern Bolivia. 

The lake itself is a photographer’s dream – the contrast of the crimson waters and bright white borax is a spectacle you have to see yourself to believe.

So Now You Know What to See, Here’s a Little More Info About the Salt Flats Too

The formation of the salt flats .

If you’re looking at the Uyuni Salt Flat and think it looks like something from a long lost time – you’re not wrong. The largest salt flat on the planet dates back to prehistoric times – when it was a massive lake. 

It turned into a snow-white desert landscape somewhere around 40,000 years ago when Lake Minchin lost its water as shifting tectonic plates changed the landscape forever. 

Now, it’s over 10,000 km of desert-like landscape, defined by the 10 billion tons of salt resting on the top layer. 

Location 

The Uyuni Salt Flats are a lot higher up than you may think. Situated at an elevation of 3,656 metres, the Bolivia Salt Flats are perched high in Southwest Bolivia near to the border with Chile . Uyuni is the nearest big city and is located on the eastern side of the flats. From Uyuni you make your way to the Altiplano, which is a plateau featuring the Sol de Mañana Geysers, several stunning lagoons and the blood-red Laguna Colorada.

It’s a Mining Hotspot 

The salt flat in Bolivia is the largest you can find anywhere in the world, so there must be more than meets the eye, right? Well, as I mentioned earlier – the former lake dried up thousands of years ago, leaving this IG-famous landscape that people travel worldwide to see. But not only is it filled with the seemingly endless white salt, but it’s also rich in lithium – and accounts for around 50% of the world’s lithium reserves. Next time you see an EV on the road, it’s a safe bet that the battery is powered by lithium from Salar de Uyuni. 

It’s Even Used By NASA

Ok, fun fact. NASA actually uses the salt flats to calibrate satellite orbits due to the large, flat surface area that the Bolivia salt flats lie on. You’ll know why when you see just how long, flat, and consistent the Salar de Uyuni landscape is.

Planning Your Visit to Salar de Uyuni 

When to visit.

The rainy season lasts from November to February, making summer the best time to get the mirror-effect on the flats.Temperatures are usually relatively mild, often not getting much hotter than 70°F.

Wind and sun are factors much of the year, due to the high elevation and wide open flats.

Weather is much colder in the winter, with temperatures dipping below freezing, so be sure to pack for the weather if you visit from May to September.

The Best Time to Visit the Salt Flats

Seeing the Salar de Uyuni On a Tour 

Frankly, taking a Bolivia salt flats tour is the best way to learn more about the destination, especially if you get a local guide.

You’ll need to be patient, as many of the tours aren’t quite as smooth as they should be. I recently took the Cordillera Traveller tour. While my guide was outstanding, the first day was a rough one, with no lunch and an aggressive driver.

Recommended Tours

An In-Depth Guide to the Different Bolivia Salt Flats Tours

What Are the Different Tours Available?

Here’s a brief overview of the most common Salar de Uyuni tours available. I’ve gone into more detail about each of them below. 

• One-day salt flats tour from Uyuni
• Two-day salt flats tour from Uyuni
• Three-day Bolivian altiplano tours from Uyuni
• Four-day Bolivian altiplano tours from Tupiza (recommended)
• Four-day tours from San Pedro de Atacama

Why Do I Recommend the Tour from Tupiza?

Although arranging a Bolivian salt flats tour is easily done from Uyuni itself, someone had tipped me off that the trip from Tupiza to Uyuni was much better. Why? Mainly because you get to see more of the area’s natural scenery and attractions.

So many people visiting the Bolivian salt flats do the same old tour. The landscapes are incredible enough that you’re pretty much guaranteed to be blown away whichever one you choose. But if there’s an option where you get to see more amazing stuff, quite frankly I don’t know why you wouldn’t choose it.

Sometimes a journey is as much of an experience as the destination and much as you’re in a hurry to see the Salar de Uyuni, it would be a shame to miss the other striking landscapes of the Bolivian altiplano.

Salar de Uyuni from Tupiza Tour Itinerary

Awesome sceneries abound in Bolivia. Perhaps none more so than on this Bolivian altiplano tour from Tupiza to Uyuni salt flats in the country’s wild west.

Here’s my trip report from the Tupiza to Uyuni salt flats tour I took to help you to understand what to expect.

The adventure on our Tupiza to Uyuni tour began as soon as we left the town. Within a few minutes, we were climbing up a steep road with a sheer drop, and a stunning landscape on one side.

The first stop was at a wide gorge dotted with unnatural-looking precipices. Jagged triangular cliffs soared up at awkward angles below. “This is the Quebrada de Palala,” said our driver, Jose.

On the other side of the road lay an equally impressive valley, where the mountains and hills varied in hues from blue to bright orange. “The area is very rich in minerals,” he continued. “Each mineral makes the earth a different colour, which is why you have so many different colours in that valley.”

The rest of the day passed quickly: a maze of impressive landscapes as we gradually gained altitude.

Accommodation that night was basic, as were the nights to come but the meals were hearty and the beds comfortable – the best you’re going to find unless you pay a significant premium.

On the second day, we drove to the Laguna Verde , a green lake, and Laguna Blanca, a white lake, both of which were surrounded by a thick crust of salt, just a taste of what we were to see at the Salar de Uyuni on the final day of the Tupiza to Uyuni tour.

Driving along the roads, we saw locals warmly wrapped up in fleeces and clothes made out of precious llama wool.

As the day passed and we reached higher altitudes, the temperature continually dropped.

It wasn’t all about the jumpers, scarves and the elaborately patterned woolly hats favoured by locals and ‘gringos’ alike. We also pulled up at one of the much-welcomed highlights; the natural hot springs. Quickly donning our swimwear, we plunged into the pools and were welcomed by the warm water and a view of the adjoining lake.

Minerals have played a major part in Bolivia’s history and present, but they are most immediately tangible in the landscapes.

On the third day of our Bolivian salt flats tour, we visited the Laguna Colorada, a lake of a bright red colour; caused by the high concentration of microorganisms in its waters. Dotted by thousands of pink flamingos, the effect is a rare one — the red of the lake and the pink of the birds stretching out for miles.

One of the beauties of the trip from Tupiza to Uyuni is the sheer variety of things to see. Bumping along the rather rough road, we’d turn a corner and be confronted by a desert plain dotted with weird rock formations, including the so-called stone tree, named for its tree-like appearance.

Peeping around another corner revealed a large lake bubbling with grey sulphuric mud springs. Salt plays such an important part in the landscape and could be seen almost everywhere.

We stopped in each place and took time to explore, climbing the rocks and running around to keep warm in the chilly wind.

Stunning Bolivian landscapes that aren’t the Salar de Uyuni

On the final day, there’s no doubt that we all grumbled as our 4am wake-up call sounded.

Piling into the Jeep, we peered anxiously for a glimpse of the Salar de Uyuni — the reason for the whole salt flat tour. As the sun began to rise, we realised that we were already driving along it!

I thought I had seen it all until I gazed out on the never-ending panorama of Uyuni’s salt flats. Miles and miles of thick salt crust crisscrossed with a jagged pattern of intersections. If you looked hard enough, you could see the faint tyre marks of the 4×4 that had brought us out to the middle of the plains.

Over the past four days, I had seen red lakes, green lakes, white lakes, jagged valleys, sulphuric springs, small Andean communities and llamas and alpacas galore. Still, nothing had prepared me for this.

As the sun rose, the intersections between the interconnecting pieces of salt glowed orange. Gradually the light brightened, until our guide, Jose, warned us to put on our sunglasses to avoid snow blindness.

It was the perfect end to a four-day tour that had taken us from Tupiza to our final destination of the Salar de Uyuni.

We’d all faced the gruelling demands of the altitude (at the highest point in the trip, we reached 5,200 metres), along with which came the freezing nights that made you hurry for your sleeping bag as soon as the sun set.

We entertained ourselves for a few hours taking silly pictures and generally celebrating reaching our destination.

Finally, exhausted, we piled into the car and drove to the rather worn town of Uyuni, which was our final destination of the four days — many pictures and unforgettable memories later.

This tour is slightly different but covers the same destinations and includes sunrise on the salt flats

Alternative Tours

One-day tour from uyuni.

These usually start off with a visit to the train cemetery, then spend most of the day on the Salar de Uyuni with a trip to the “Fish Island” in the middle of the salt flats. Returns to Uyuni on the same day.

Book The One-Day Tour

Three-Day Tour From Uyuni

Same first day as the one day tour. These tours head further into the Bolivian Altiplano so you see more on the tour. You visit deserts, the Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca and the crater of the Sol de Manana volcano.

Book the Three Day Tour

Four-Day Tours from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile

On day one this tour leaves San Pedro de Atacama and visits Licancabur volcano, Laguna Verde and Laguna Colorada plus the Polques hot springs and Sol de Manana. Day two covers a variety of lagoons for some flamingo spotting, cave paintings and a few canyons. The third day heads to the Salar de Uyuni itself and on the final day you return to San Pedro de Atacama. 

Book the Four Day Tour from San Pedro

Starting Your Tour

As I explained above, there are three main starting points for trips to the salt flats: Uyuni, Tupiza and San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Here’s how you get to each one of them. 

How to Get to Uyuni

From La Paz you can get an overnight bus to Uyuni. It gets a bad rep but I did it in the other direction (from Uyuni to La Paz) and it wasn’t a big deal. The bus station in La Paz is a bit rough, just watch your bags as pickpockets are pretty rife.

The trip from La Paz to Uyuni takes about 7.5 hours. If you choose to take a bus, it will cost you about £16 to £23.50 ($20 to $30) each way. 

By Train 

You can take a train from ​​Oruro to Uyuni. Oruro is about 3.5 hours by car from La Paz, so you’ll need to arrange transportation there first. The bus ride is relatively inexpensive, at around £4 ($5). From Oruro, the train ride takes around 7 hours, but it’s a beautiful ride and costs around 8 £ ($10). 

Alternatively you can fly direct from La Paz to Uyuni. Getting from La Paz to Uyuni by plane takes around 1 hour and is typically around £157 ($200). 

How to Get to Tupiza 

Now, I’m not going to lie. Getting to Tupiza is a little more difficult than going direct to Uyuni, and generally involves an uncomfortable bus journey from one of the major cities.

The bus I took seemingly sought out potholes to bump over just for the sh*ts and thrills but it got me there and I came out in one piece so no stress. Just a bruised ass. Totally worth it though.

Fly to the Bolivian capital, La Paz, and catch a bus to Oruro and then a train to Tupiza.

Alternatively, fly to Salta in Argentina (via Buenos Aires), get a bus to the Bolivian Border at La Quiaca/ Villazon (six hours) and then catch a bus to Tupiza (three hours).

How to Get to San Pedro de Atacama 

If you are getting to San Pedro de Atacama from Santiago , Chile’s capital, you are best flying to Calama airport and then either booking a transfer or catching a bus to San Pedro de Atacama.

How to Choose Your Tour Company?

There are a lot of tour operators offering very similar tours to the Bolivia salt flats so it can be difficult to choose between them. Although it is tempting to go for the cheapest tour, it’s a decision that can come to bite you in the ass.

Spending the extra $ can make the difference between doing the tour in a vehicle that breaks down all the time with a guide who doesn’t speak your language and spending nights in super-basic accommodation and… not having to suffer any of those things. I exaggerate not.

As a guideline, you should find out:

• Does the driver speak your language? Many drivers do speak English but some don’t – make sure you check ahead.
• Will they pick you up from your accommodation?
• How many people are there per vehicle?
• How new are the vehicles?
• Where does the tour start and end?
• What food and drink is covered?
• Does the tour include entrance to the national park? Heads up: the answer to this is usually no.

Where to Stay for Salar de Uyuni

Hotel de sal luna salada (luxury).

Want to spend the night in a Bolivia salt flats hotel? Hotel de Sal Luna Salada is about as cool as it gets – as the hotel walls feature salt blocks from the nearby flats. 

Located in Colchani in the heart of the salt flats, you can choose twin or full-size beds in this well-designed accommodation with views of the mountains and flats.

Enjoy local Andean cuisine at breakfast, fun activities in the game room, and a gorgeous viewing deck with fire pits for chilly evenings. 

Check Rates and Availability 

Casa del Sal (Mid-Range)

Another of the famous salt hotels in Uyuni, Casa del Sal , offers affordable rooms that feature brick-walled interiors with nature-themed decorations and exposed beams on the ceilings. 

Rooms are plenty spacious and available at good rates, making it a good choice if you’re visiting on a budget.

Check Rates and Availability 

What to Pack for Salar de Uyuni 

So, the altiplano is that difficult combination of having super-strong sun and very cold temperatures at night. Wrap up warm and wear layers you can easily remove as the temperature is incredibly changeable.

I suggest a thermal base layer top and bottom, a mid layer, a jumper and a softshell to help keep you snug against the wind.

Some things you’ll definitely want to pack include: 

• Base Layer Top 
• Base Layer Bottom 
• Brushed Fleece Shirt 
• Warm Bottoms 
• Fleece Half-Zip 
• Outer Shell
• Waterproof jacket (if you’re visiting in the rainy season)
• Water bottle
• Hiking trainers / Hiking Boots 
• Sunscreen 
• Scarf / Buff 
• Woolly socks
• Quick dry towel

Read More Bolivia Travel Guides 

• 10 Days in Bolivia, The Perfect itinerary 
• The Best Bolivia Salt Flats Tours 
• 18 Amazing Places to Visit in Bolivia 
• Surreal Bolivian Landscapes that you Need to See to Believe 
• When’s the Best Time to Visit the Bolivian Salt Flats? 

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I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia – Ultimate 3 Day Itinerary

The Salar de Uyuni (engl.: Salt Flats of Uyuni) in Bolivia is the world’s largest salt flat and has a surface of 10,582 square kilometres. It’s located in southwest Bolivia at an elevation of 3,656 meters above sea level.

But what is a salt flat? A salt flat is basically an area of flat land covered with salt and other minerals. They form by evaporation of a lake or a pond.

When I was doing an exchange semester in Chile it had always been my dream to visit the Salar de Uyuni. Friends who had been there told me that it was the absolute must-see in South America . At the end of my stay in Chile I had finally managed to travel to Bolivia and I was more than excited for it!

Table of Contents

Best time to visit the Salar de Uyuni

This depends on what you want to experience. If you want to see the mirror effect (which I highly recommend) you should go between December and April as this is the rainy season . For the optimal climate, however, the best time would be during dry season between July and October.

How to get to the Salar de Uyuni

Most tours to the salt flats originate from the small town Uyuni. Getting to Uyuni can be a bit of a hassle. These are the most popular options:

• From San Pedro de Atacama: 3-4 day tour in a 4×4
• From Ororo: 7-8 hours by train or bus
• From La Paz: 12-15 hours by bus or flying to the airport of Uyuni
• From Potosi: 6-7 hours by bus

How you get to Uyuni obviously depends on where you’re travelling before. However, if it fits your plan I highly recommend doing the 3-4 day tour from San Pedro de Atacama , Chile .

3 Days 2 Nights Tour

I decided to do the 3 day adventure and I was more than happy with my decision. If you’re a nature lover , this tour is a must and should be very high up on your bucket list. On the way to Uyuni you explore numerous impressive places making the way to get there an amazing journey. With this tour you have several options:

• Start and end in San Pedro de Atacama
• Start in San Pedro de Atacama, end in Uyuni
• Start in Uyuni, end in San Pedro de Atacama
• Start and end in Uyuni

No matter if you start the tour in San Pedro or in Uyuni, you’ll find many agencies offering the same itinerary. These tours are standardised but there are minor differences in meals and accommodations. Usually they consist of a group of 6 people plus the driver, who is also the guide.

Cost : 150 € Includes : Transportation, meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), accommodation Does not include: Entrance fee to natural reserves (approx. 20 €), snacks

I was highly satisfied with the service on this tour. The transportation was safe, the guide was friendly and experienced and the meals were tasty.

Things to know before you go

• The guides only speak Spanish . It would be an advantage to understand basic Spanish or at least have one person in the group who speaks Spanish.
• If you want to have an English speaking guide you need to book a private tour . These are more expensive but they are customised to the wishes of the client.
• Ask your agency to watch either the SUNRISE or the SUNSET in the Salar de Uyuni. If they don’t offer it, book with a different agency. This is the absolute highlight of the tour.
• The price for the same tour will vary depending if you book it in Uyuni, Bolivia or in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. As Bolivia is generally cheaper than Chile you pay around 100€ in Bolivia and around 150€ if you book the same tour in Chile.
• Bargain! The tour operators certainly give you a discount if you ask for it – even more if you’re a group.
• You won’t have phone signal or wifi for 3 days.
• There are no restaurants or shops . So think carefully about what to take with you. If you forget your toothbrush you won’t be able to brush your teeth for 3 days.

What to pack on a trip to the Salar de Uyuni

• Warm clothes – it gets really cold in the mornings and at night (in winter the temperatures can drop below 0).
• Light clothes – it can get really hot during the day. Layering is the key.
• Waterproof shoes or flip flops – You’ll walk through water in case the salt flats are covered in a layer of water.
• Sun screen, sun glasses & hat to protect you from the sun.
• Towel – the accommodations are very basic and don’t provide towels.
• External battery for your phone and camera: Power outlets in the accommodations are not always enough for everyone to charge all their devices. And you’ll take lots of photos, believe me.
• Props for creative photos – here’s an inspiration for creative photos on the slat flats.
• Lip balm & face cream – the strong winds dry out the skin and especially the lips.
• Snacks, water, toilet paper for 3 days – ask your tour operator if water is included or if you have to bring it.
• Cash in local currency (Boliviano) for the shower, toilets and maybe souvenirs.

Day 1 – Lagunas Altiplánicas

It was still dark outside when my alarm rang me out of my sleep at 6:30 am. A little later, a bus came to pick me up from my accommodation and the other tour participants were already on the bus as well. After a 30 minutes drive we stopped a bit outside of San Pedro de Atacama where our group had breakfast together and we got to know each other.

Half an hour later we started driving towards the Bolivian border. On the way we could enjoy the impressive desert views. Reddish and orangey mountains led the way and the landscape seemed like from a different planet.

We spotted some llamas on the side of the road and we asked our driver if we could stop to take some photos. Having stopped the bus on the side of the road, one of the llamas started crossing the road. It was fun to watch them as they seemed completely careless about what’s happening around them, as long as they could eat their food ( they reminded me a bit of me ).

When we arrived to the Bolivian border we had to queue for around half an hour to get the stamp into our passport that allowed us to enter the country.

After crossing the boarder our Bolivian tour guide picked us up in a jeep. He welcomed us with a big smile and explained that we’d spend the next three days together.

The busses that bring tourists to the border are not allowed to cross it, which is why we got a new guide who drove us from then on.

From this point on, the adventure was going to start. We drove on bumpy dirt roads through the desert until we stopped next to a lake with crystal clear water: Laguna Blanca (engl.: White Lake). The lake reflected the surrounding mountains and the sky. We were left in awe admiring the landscape of this magical place. It was completely calm and there were no other people.

I love places where you feel like you connect to nature , even more when there’s nothing man-made around for miles – and this was one of those places.

After a 10 minutes stop to take in the beauty of nature and shoot some photos we continued the journey to another stunning lake: Laguna Verde (engl.: Green Lake). The lake is surrounded by white pebble stones and lies on the foot of the volcano Licancabur, which you can see on the photo. While the wind was blowing fast and the air was fresh due to the altitude, the sun was strong enough to make it feel warm.

We continued driving and suddenly our driver stopped on the side of the road to hop out of the jeep and check the tires. It turned out that we had a flat tire . This got us all a little worried at the beginning – after all we were in the middle of nowhere without cell reception. But our driver told us not to worry and he fixed it within a few minutes.

Our next stop was the geyser Sol de Mañana . This area is characterised by intense volcanic activity and the grey mud of the geysers was boiling. Yet another landscape that was not from this world.

We walked around for a bit to explore the area but our guide immediately warned us to watch our steps carefully – if we’d fall into one of the craters we’d die. Given his warning we took a step back and watched the show of smoke and bubbles from a distance.

Then we visited the colourful salt lake Laguna Colorada . Besides a completely surreal looking lake we also encountered flamingos and wild llamas roaming freely around. It was extremely windy and it felt like the wind would blow me away anytime. The view was stunning though. A lake that is pink, white, yellow and blue with flamingos, llamas and surrounded by mountains – am I dreaming or is this real ?

The geysers Sol de Mañana and Laguna Colorada are both located at an altitude of of 4.800 m above sea level . Walking and even talking would make me feel exhausted immediately. At such a high altitude it’s important to do everything at a low pace . As our brain has less oxygen supply we feel dizzy and exhausted easily.

Before heading to our accommodation of the night we made a last stop at the Arbol de Piedra (engl.: stone tree). This is a 7 m high rock formation which has its structure due to strong winds blowing sand onto it.

For the first night we stayed with a Bolivian family in Villa Mar (4.000 m above sea level) in rather basic housing. We stayed in a dorm room for 6 persons – so our whole group stayed in a room together.

Even tough I was extremely tired I had problems sleeping. Being at 4.000 m above sea level is not something I was used to. Altitude sickness is a common problem at such high altitudes. This can cause dizziness, headache, stomach sickness or even palpitation or panic attacks.

I was lucky not to feel worse considering the stories I had heard from fellow travellers. Some even said that this was the worst night of their lives as they felt like they couldn’t breath anymore due to the lack of oxygen. Being in a desert with no cell phone reception, hours away from civilisation doesn’t make this better.

But I don’t want to scare anyone – most of the people are doing fine. And if it affects you it’s usually just a bit of dizziness or a headache.

Day 2 – Rock Formations and Salt Hotel

After a few hours of sleeping we got up early in the morning to have breakfast – pancakes and coffee or tea – and hopped on the jeep to continue our journey.

Our first stop of the day was a place with huge rocks in the middle of the desert. We asked our guide if we could climb one of them and he simply advised us to be careful. From the top we had a stunning view of the surrounding rocks and the mountains in the far distance.

Then we drove to Laguna Negra (engl.: Black Lake). This lake is surrounded by weird-looking rock formations. In contrast to the scenery we had seen so far, the landscape around Laguna Negra featured green grass and flowers.

Another stunning natural wonder we visited was the Anaconda Canyon . It’s a huge canyon which has its name due to the shape of the river. Then we had lunch and made our way to the accommodation. By that point we were not far from the salt flats anymore.

In the afternoon we arrived to our accommodation for this night, a salt hotel . Never had I seen anything like this before. As the salt flats of Uyuni provide tons of salt, the people use it as material to build houses, tables, beds, chairs and so on. This hotel was built entirely out of salt and it’s not the only one. Around the salt flats there are numerous houses made of salt. It’s a great way of saving money for construction as the salt is not expensive.

It was raining outside and our guide told us that we were extremely lucky . When it rains at night the surface of the salt flats is covered in a thin film of water the next morning. This would make them act like a mirror and show the reflection of the sky.

Day 3 – Salar de Uyuni

Finally, the day had come where we got to see the attraction why we all had booked this tour – the Salar de Uyuni . The alarm rang at 4:00 am and quite sleepy we started driving towards the salt flats for about one hour.

I was almost falling asleep in the car when I suddenly noticed an orange light at the horizon . As we kept driving the reddish-orange light got bigger and more beautiful. We stopped to get out of the car and I couldn’t believe my eyes. The sunrise in the Salar de Uyuni was the most impressive natural wonder I had ever seen.

As it had rained the night before, the whole salt desert acted as a mirror and reflected the sunrise.

No, this is not photoshopped .

Standing in this seemingly endless mirror , surrounded by the colours of the sunrise in the middle of nowhere was so magical I can’t even put it into words.

This explains why the Salar de Uyuni is sometimes described as “ the place where heaven meets earth “.

After watching the breathtaking sunrise we drove to a little “island” on the Salar de Uyuni called Isla Incahuasi . The island is little hill full of cactus. It felt like we were in a fantasy world because no-one of us had ever seen something like this before.

Imagine being surrounded by 2 m high cacti on an island in a salt desert that looks like an infinite mirror .

Can you imagine that? If not, don’t worry – it felt so surreal even for me. Even though I was right there. It was so otherworldly I couldn’t believe it.

The photo above shows a bus driving though the salt desert. This picture once again portrays how huge the Salar de Uyuni is.

After exploring the island and enjoying the the seemingly infinite views we sat down on a chair made of salt and ate breakfast on a table made of salt.

Then we drove to an area of the salt flats that wasn’t covered in water. That’s where travellers do the creative photography and play with the perspective of the photos. Our experienced guide had several photo ideas and helped us to get the right shot.

We left the salt flats and drove to the Cemetery of Trains . This was the end of our itinerary. Our guide then brought us to the village Uyuni where we had our last lunch. In Uyuni we had to wait a few hours for our transport back to the Chilean border. We were picked up by a mini van and brought back to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

So if you’re considering doing this 3 day tour to the Salar the Uyuni, the answer is YES, definitely!

I still can’t believe how epic this trip was and I highly recommend it to everyone. It was one of the best adventures of my life and certainly the most impressive natural wonder I had ever seen.

How to avoid altitude sickness

The issue with altitude sickness is that you don’t really know before if you’ll get it or not. Here are some tips to avoid it:

Adjust to the altitude

Before heading to your highest peak stay at a moderate elevation for a few days (e.g. San Pedro de Atacama, Uyuni, Cusco). This gives your body time to get used to the lower levels of oxygen before you go up higher.

Buy coca leaves

Coca leaves are legal in Chile, Peru and Bolivia and they are a traditional medicine against altitude sickness. You can either chew them or prepare tea. You should find them in any shop in touristic areas like San Pedro de Atacama, Uyuni or Cusco.

Drink water & avoid alcohol

In high altitudes it’s even more important to stay hydrated. Always bring a bottle of water with you and make sure to drink enough. Alcohol, however, has a negative effect on altitude sickness and can even worsen the symptoms. So stay away from your glass of wine or beer in high altitudes.

Sleep at a lower altitude

If you head to high altitudes during the day, try to spend the night at a lower elevation. The higher you are, the more likely you will get altitude sickness. Especially at night the symptoms of altitude sickness can get worse.

For the tour to the Salar the Uyuni it’s important to book the tour with a company where the accommodation is not higher than 4.000 m above sea level (e.g. Villa Mar). Some agencies work with accommodations that are elevated up to 4.800 m above sea level. So make sure to ask your agency where you spend the night.

Coffee is the fuel that keeps me running. I put a lot of time and effort into creating blog posts to make travel planning easier for you. If you benefited from my blog, I would appreciate a cup of coffee! 🙂

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The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is the most otherworldly place I’ve ever seen in my life. It absolutely lived up to my high expectations and even exceeded them – so definitely include it in your trip if you have the chance!

• Tour to the Humantay Lake, Peru
• Trek to Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca, Peru
• 3 Day Guide to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

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April 5, 2020

Allgemein , Bolivia , South America

atacama , atacama desert , Bolivia , Chile , salar de uyuni , travel blog , uyuni , wanderlust

23 Comments

January 29, 2019 at 5:11 pm

Absolut fantastisch! Vor allem die Salar de Uyuni!! 🙂 Bin noch am Überlegen, ob ich Peru mit Bolivien als Reise kombiniere. Diese großartigen Bilder machen echt Lust darauf. Muss mich mal über Trekkingtouren von Peru bzw. La Paz informieren…

Liebe Grüße Iris von Ich Reise Immer So http://www.ichreiseimmerso.de

January 30, 2019 at 3:24 am

Ja das war wirklich unglaublich schön, sowas habe ich zuvor noch nie gesehen. 🙂 Ist bestimmt eine gute Idee die beiden Länder zu kombinieren wenn du dir länger Zeit nehmen kannst. Für den Salar de Uyuni würde ich dir empfehlen, dass du in der Regenzeit (Dezember-März) hinreist. Da ist dann die Wahrscheinlichkeit größer, dass Wasser auf der Oberfläche ist und du den Salar als Spiegel siehst.

April 6, 2020 at 4:43 am

WOW! You definitely sold me on going to Bolivia in the near future. This place looks incredible! Also, all of your photos are so beautiful. 🙂

April 6, 2020 at 5:55 pm

This is truly a magical place, I’m sure you’d love it. Thanks Taylor!

April 6, 2020 at 1:21 pm

This place is amazing! I had never heard of The Salar de Uyuni, but after reading your post I want to go there 🙂 Also, your pictures are perfect.

April 6, 2020 at 5:56 pm

Thank you Cristina! It was an unforgettable adventure 🙂

April 7, 2020 at 5:21 pm

I’ve seen so many pictures of this place already and I’m dying to go there! Beautiful photos 🙂

April 7, 2020 at 7:16 pm

It’s an unforgettable experience. I hope you get to go there!

October 17, 2020 at 8:26 am

I’ve been here also! Such am amazing place! This is a well informed guide too! 😀

October 17, 2020 at 1:22 pm

It really is an amazing place!

October 17, 2020 at 9:13 am

I saw Salar de Uyuni on a TV travel show recently and was wondering how I could make the journey there. Thankfully this post is very comprehensive and shows how do-able it is. Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Hazel, I hope it will help you to plan a future trip!

October 23, 2020 at 11:12 am

I’m glad you find my blog post helpful!

October 17, 2020 at 3:13 pm

So many happy memories seeing your photos. The 3 days trip I took a few years ago just blew me away! Although I was there in April we didn’t have any water on the salt flats so no reflections. A shame as your photos look amazing! Very thorough post – thanks for sharing.

November 12, 2020 at 11:51 am

I feel the same Sue, this trip was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!!

October 17, 2020 at 7:03 pm

These salt flats look insanely beautiful and omg your sunset photos are out of this world! I hope I will be able to visit this place in person one day too, looks so unreal!

October 23, 2020 at 11:01 am

I totally agree! Hope you get the chance to visit!

October 17, 2020 at 7:30 pm

You’re right – it’s an absolute MUST SEE in South America. One of my most unforgettable trips to date 🙂 thank you for sharing this awesome article!

Absolutely! You’re welcome, I’m glad you like it!

January 2, 2022 at 9:16 pm

I am planning a trip here in the summer. I was wondering what tour operator you used for this tour as it looks good.

January 3, 2022 at 2:34 am

I booked the tour with Janaj Pacha, but I’m not sure if they are still a decent agency. I did my trip 5 years ago and it seems like this tour agency has gotten some bad reviews lately.

June 17, 2022 at 4:46 am

Trip looks stunning. Your photos are spectacular. Thanks for sharing.

June 20, 2022 at 7:18 pm

Thank you, happy to hear that!

• Ultimate Guide to things to do in LA PAZ Bolivia - Moyer Memoirs

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Hi!   I’m Maria, an outdoor-active traveler who seeks to go off the beaten track to discover hidden gems.   Most of the time you’ll find me exploring small beach towns or untouched places in the mountains to connect with nature. My goal is to inspire others to go out of their comfort zone and explore this beautiful planet.   During the creation of this blog, uncountable cups of coffee were consumed. If my blog is an inspiration for you in any way, I would appreciate your support by buying me a cup of coffee.   Happy traveling!

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All Things Salty: How to Choose a Salar de Uyuni Tour ft Andes Salt Expeditions | Bolivia

This post is in partnership with Andes Salt Expeditions. I received a discounted rate my Salar de Uyuni tour in exchange for our honest review, but all opinions are my own!

Things that are actually “out of this world”: outer space, astronauts when they’re at work, and maybe aliens. But after our tour through Salar de Uyuni, I’d argue that the Bolivian desert deserves an honorable mention. 

The Salar de Uyuni is like an unstated ice rink, thousands of miles wide. Its surface crunches in like tepid, partially melted ice. Hotels made entirely of salt  appear to be hovering above the surface like a foreign vessel.

Venture deeper into the desert and you’ll find giant cactuses sprouting from inhospitable islands. Pink flamingos feast and wade through crimson lakes framed by a volcanic backdrop and blue skies. Lava bubbles from deep beneath the earth. And as farfetched as it may seem, you’ll feel like you’re actually  watching the sunrise from the moon .

Of course, there is a very scientific explanation to all of it; algae, tectonic plates, wind, and time can create tremendous things when they work together. But the real magic of a Salar de Uyuni tour is feeling unsure of everything. Perhaps even like you’re on another planet.

Looking to explore one of the strangest things to do in Bolivia and perhaps on earth? Here’s everything you need to know to pick your Salar de Uyuni tour, plus a review of what it’s like to travel with Andes Salt Expeditions.

HOW TO PICK A SALAR DE UYUNI TOUR

Salar de Uyuni is an expanse of salt flats nearly 11,000 km². To really experience the vastness of the Salar de Uyuni, you’re best to take a 4×4 tour. But there are almost 100 operators in Uyuni, so how do you pick the best Salt Flats tour? Here are some things you want to consider.

Reputation: Operator reputation is incredibly important for this trip. It’s a lucrative gig so lots of low-cost operators run tours with thin margins, and this can carry through to everything from the safety of your vehicle to your guide’s pay.

Leading the pack for local operators are Andes Salt Expeditions , Red Planet Expeditions , Quechua Connection 4WD , and Salty Desert Aventours . As much as I hate to say it, be sure to check reviews on TripAdvisor if you’re booking a tour that hasn’t been referred by someone!

Itinerary: How many days do you want to travel? What sights are your priority?

Most Salar de Uyuni tours range from one to three days (though there are a few four-day itineraries, too). Briefly, one-day tours visit the train Cemetery, the Salar de Uyuni, and Isla Incahuasi and return to Uyuni the same day so you’ll need to take care of your own dinner and hotel. Three-day tours have the same first day, but you’ll travel much further into the desert. Three-day tours visit highlights like Laguna Colorada, the Dali Desert, and the Sol de Mañana geysers . You can take a look at the full itinerary below!

In my experience, the three-day tour is the only way to go. The first day on the salt flats was a bit hectic (though super beautiful!) and I really enjoyed the subsequent days with fewer crowds. 

Dates: When do you want to start and finish your trip?

Most Salar de Uyuni tour operators offer daily departures, so dates aren’t a big factor. That said, if you’re tight on time, this should come into play in planning your trip!

Cost: How much do you want to spend? Would you rather have your budget go towards a longer itinerary or nicer board?

Y ou’re probably wondering how much a Salar de Uyuni tour will cost. A one-day tour can be as cheap as $20 while a multi-day tour can cost anywhere between $90-$500. Simple three-day Salar de Uyuni tours will cost between $100-$150 and that should include transport, meals, and all the sights on the trip (excluding the national park fee + Isla Incahuasi).  Most tours will also exclude the park entrance fee to Eduardo Abaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve ($21), Isla Incahuasi ($5), and tips for your guide ($3-4/day).

All operators offer nearly identical itineraries, but if you want nicer accommodation or the assurance of an international tour operator, expect to pay upwards of $180.

Safety: Does their fleet seem well maintained? Can the operator answer the question when you ask them?

Well-maintained vehicles and good drivers are pretty important for this trip. Flat tires and other car trouble is inevitable when you’re driving through salty sludge. Ask the operator about their vehicles and read reviews so you don’t get stuck in the middle of anywhere, ok? 

Guide / Driver: Do you want a guide who speaks perfect English or is that not so important to you?

Guides on the Salt Flats tours wear all the hats. Most companies will offer tours in English or Spanish, though the level of English varies by operator. Some guides are very involved in the tour, while others hardly get out of the car. 

A LOOK AT ANDES SALT EXPEDITIONS

I ended up booking with Andes Salt Expeditions for a few reasons; their reviews, their pricing, and their guides seemed to be some of the best in Uyuni.

Andes Salt Expedition was competitively priced without taking a hit to their reviews. Their tours are simple with basic accommodations and food, but this never cut into the experience. A Salar de Uyuni tour with Andes Salt Expeditions cost about $100 + $21 park entrance when I traveled with them in 2017 .

They prioritize car maintenance and driver certifications. Many of the guides are certified mechanics and the ones that aren’t have been fixing Toyota’s so long that they may as well be. This is corroborated both on their website and with dozens of reviews from people who avoided a crisis on the salt flats because their driver knew how to fix their car.

Their guides are some of the best. My guide was the locally famous Vladimir (and thank god, because dude get a lot of reviews!). After a few stops, it became apparent that a lot of other Salar de Uyuni tour guides just drive and hide out in the car. Vladmir went above and beyond to give us information while other guides seemed to avoid it. He drove safely and was super pleasant to hang out with.

SALAR DE UYUNI TOUR ITINERARY (WITH ANDES SALT EXPEDITIONS)

Most tour operator run the same itinerary, but some will make extra effort to get you off the usual circuit. Here’s the general itinerary for a 3-day/2-night Uyuni tour based on Andes Salt Expeditions.

Day 1 | The Salty Day: After a 10:30 am start, day 1 includes the train cemetery and the Salar de Uyuni. You’ll take lunch at a retired salt hotel, and check out the well-photographed Dakar monument and international flags fluttering against the wind. Venture on to see the surreal cactus on Isla Incahuasi, an island suspended on the Salar, before watching the sunset over the flats. Stay the night in a basic salt hotel.

After lunch, you’ll get a view of Desert Siloli, which we’d say is a far easier alternative to hiking up Rainbow Mountain in Peru. You’ll also see Arbol de Piedra – a stone structure that has been worn into a tree with time. Arrive at the simple refugio early with plenty of time to walk or relax before dinner.

VISITING SALAR DE UYUNI

What’s the best time to visit the salar de uyuni.

Salar de Uyuni tours are available all year, with some months being more pleasant than others. While it is the coldest time of year in Bolivia,  April – October is also the sunniest and the most popular time to visit. November – March  is the rainy season in Bolivia. Traveling during this time will give you the most moderate weather and the best chance to see the Salar as a giant mirror.

How to Get to Uyuni or Tupiza

The majority of Salar de Uyuni tours begin in Uyuni, but some depart from  Tupiza. You can easily travel to Uyuni by bus from La Paz, Potosi, or Sucre. Though more infrequent, you can also take a train.

Uyuni is a walkable town and it’s easy to get around. Tupiza can also be reached by bus, though departures are less frequent and tour companies are few and far between. All Salar de Uyuni tours should include transport to the salt flats.

Traveling onto Chile ?  It’s only about 2 hours from the final stop on salt flat tours to San Pedro de Atacama. Most operators will allow you to book your bus to San Pedro as an add-on (Bs. 50) to your salt flats tour.

Where to Stay in Uyuni

Uyuni is a somewhat-grim jumping off point for Salar de Uyuni tours, with most places to stay being decent at best. That said, here are some of the better hotels and hostels in Uyuni.

Onkel Inn Wagon Sleepbox Uyuni | Onkel Inn Wagon Sleepbox is one of the quirkier hotels in Uyuni, with comfortable and tastefully decorated hotel rooms set in retired train cars. Doubles from $31 .

Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel | Piedra Blanca is a newer hostel in town that gets consistently good reviews for their friendly staff and clean facilities. There are even legends of hot showers!  Doubles from $44 .

Hotel Jardines de Uyuni | Hotel Jardines de Uyuni is a hotel in the center of town that uses wooden floors, warm colored paint, and local textiles to give the rooms a sense of style that many hotels in town lack. This is a good option if you want something comfortable without heading far outside of Uyuni to one of the remote, luxury salt hotels. Doubles from $112 .

Palacio de Sal | While it is no longer the only, Palacio de Sal  is  the world’s first salt hotel – a hotel made entirely of salt. The hotel is an hour outside of Uyuni next to the salt flats, making it an eerie and beautiful place to stay before your Salt Flats Tour. Read more or double rooms from $219 .

Wanna book a Salar de Uyuni tour with Andes Salt Expeditions?

Website: www.andes-salt-uyuni.com.bo/

E-mail:  [email protected]

Phone: (591) 72414748

Traveling in Bolivia? Take a look at some of our other posts.

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I'm Taylor and this is Travel Outlandish. I’m an independent traveler kind of like you. I believe we deserve better than crowds of people and manufactured experiences when we explore. Whether you're going into the wild on a backpacking trip or planning a weekend in a foreign city, you'll find everything you need to plan something awesome on Travel Outlandish. Thanks for stopping by!

21 Comments

Thank you for the super helpful info! Especially about the prices.

So glad you found it helpful, Monica! Hope you enjoy your trip.

Hello there! Planning on heading to UYUNI to do a 3 day/2 night tour this Thursday… Can you recommend the hostel/ hotel where you stayed while on your tour? You mentioned it was Basic… Who choose the hostel/ you or Andes Salt expedition. Did room have Hot water? Did room have shared shower? Was ride uncomfortable in a more older model transportation? Thank you!!!!

Hi Adriana! If you book a 3 day/2 night tour, the operator will set up your hotels throughout the trip. These were very simple! There was hot water (but not much), and the bathrooms were dorm style with a few toilets and a few showers for everyone to share. The ride itself wasn’t bad at all! Let me know if you have any other questions, and hope you enjoy your trip!

Hi Taylor, Thanks for your post it really helps! I was wondering did you had a english speaking guide? Thanks, Denise

Yes, Denise, our guide spoke English! The guides don’t generally have perfect English, but enough to explain the basics. It’s also pretty likely you’ll have a Spanish speaker on your tour that can help translate 🙂 Enjoy your trip.

Hi! I was wondering if you have any advice on booking a tour in advance or booking one the morning you get there in Uyuni? I’m staying in La Paz for a while and taking a weekend trip down. The tours that you can book in La Paz seem to waver around 900-1000 bs. for 3 day tour without transportation to Uyuni, but I’m looking for the best deal possible haha. Thanks!

Hi Abby. I’d recommend waiting until you get to Uyuni (ideally one day ahead of your tour). Uyuni is practically all tour operators and you can probably get a deal for joining a tour that’s not yet full. Hope you enjoy your trip!

Hey I am heading to Uyuni in two days time and was wondering if there is a difference in price of you 3days or opt for 4 days and end in San Pedro? I have heard it costs 850 for 3 days excuding the extra costs you mentioned…

Hey Megan! Is it 850 Bs, right? My 4-day tour was in 2016, but I imagine the most you’d be looking at is an additional 50-100 Bs. to cross into San Pedro. If you’re planning to go there by bus anyway, this saves you a lot of travel time and might be equal cost of accommodation.

Hi there, thanks for your article! Could you tell me at what time the tour ends on the last day in uyuni? I was wondering if I could fly back to la paz on the same day. Thanks!

Hi Jessica. I just took a look on the Andes Salt Expeditions website, and they said 17:00PM. Might be a little late to fly back to La Paz, but if you can find something after 20:00PM you could probably swing it! Good luck.

raquel fortuna

Hi Taylor I am going Uyuni in two weeks, I have been doing some research as I would like to find a happy medium…We don’t want to do a private tour (going with my younger brother) as it might be fun going with a group but I don’t want to stay in the basic accommodation. Any ideas how to go about this?

Hey Raquel. From what I know, the accommodation is either very basic or high end (but this is still definitely relative). I don’t have experience with these less basic operators, but do you have a reservation with a hotel in Uyuni? Perhaps they can recommend an operator that will have nicer places to stay along the way! Hope you enjoy your trip!

Archie Davidson

Awsome article, thanks for the info. I just wanna know if I can rent a sleeping bag for the 3 day tour

Hey Archie. There should definitely be places that rent sleeping bags in Uyuni. Just ask your tour operator when you book the tour, and ask if they have one you can rent or if you need to get your own. Enjoy your tour!

Hi Taylor. Thank you for the grate info! I didnt understand one thing: if they bring us to San Pedro through the border – or drop-off in the bus station to take a bus alone. I & my wife are planning instead of waisting time to go back to Uyuni + take a flight to La Paz + from there to Lima – just to continue to Chile, to Calama, and take a flight to Lima. The problem is – not to be late to the flight from Calama the same day (arriving time 15.08).

Hey Alex. To clarify, your flight leaves Calama at 15:08? I don’t remember exactly what time we got in, but it was early afternoon if I remember correctly. Do you have a tour booked already? My recommendation is to email the operator to ask what time you can expect to get there (keeping the possibility of delay in mind, because that’s just the way it goes!).

…sorry, I meant DEPARTING time

Hi there, Thanks for the really helpful info. Can you recommend a reputable bus company for an overnight bus from La Paz to Uyuni? Thanks so much, Shanti

Hey Shanti. Unfortunately, I don’t have any first hand recommendations for Bolivian bus travel since all of our experiences were just alright. I think Todo Tourismo is supposed to be the best! Hope this helps, and please let me know how it goes!

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Tour details

• What to bring

2 Day Uyuni Tour

Group tour to the Uyuni Salt Flat for 2 days with accommodation in Uyuni

Get to know the Salar de Uyuni staying in Uyuni

With the 2-Day Uyuni Tour, you will visit the largest salt desert in the world with an expert driver in the area. You will visit the Train Cemetery, the town of Colchani, the Incahuasi Island or the altiplanic lagoons among other attractions and you will get lost in a magical sunset in the Salar de Uyuni. You will spend the night in an accommodation in the city of Uyuni and the next day you will visit the cultural part of the tour.

Enjoy a 2-day guided tour in 4x4, and cross the Salar de Uyuni in the safest way. Do you want to know all the details of this adventure? Below we tell you how your trip will be 🙂:

• Transportation 4X4 (Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Armada)
• Expert driver in the area
• Lodging in Uyuni (shared or private room)

Not included

• Entrance fee to Incahuasi Island (30 Bolivian pesos per person)
• Entrance fee to museum (10 Bolivian pesos)
• Entrance fee to hot springs (10 Bolivian pesos)

Important information

This tour includes accommodation in the city of Uyuni. In case you want to stay in the Salar de Uyuni, we recommend you to book the 3-day tour . 

It is very important to make a good acclimatization to the altitude before starting the tour, as the tour goes through high altitude areas.

🌧️Durante the rainy season (December to March) the itinerary may be modified, as the salt flat is flooded and some areas such as Incahuasi Island or some accommodations may not be accessible. The flooded areas are constantly changing, so depending on the situation at that time the driver will offer the best alternative to enjoy the tour.

🚗 The tour is conducted in 7-seater 4x4 vehicles.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation! If you cancel at least 48 hours before the tour starts, you will receive 100% of the amount paid. After this time, or in case of no-show, no refunds will be given.

Tour itinerary

Day 1 uyuni - train cemetery - colchani - incahuasi island - sunset on the uyuni salt flat - return to uyuni.

Lodging in private or shared room in the city of Uyuni

Meeting point

The 2 days and 1 night tour to the Salar de Uyuni will start in the center of Uyuni at 10 am. With the whole group assembled, you will depart in the 7-seater 4x4 to the first stop: the train cemetery of the Salar de Uyuni.

Train cemetery

A landscape formed by the remains of what was once a symbol of Bolivian development. Remember that a maximum of 6 passengers plus the driver will travel in the 4x4. If you prefer, you can also select the private tour mode and enjoy this adventure without sharing the vehicle with other travelers.

Colchani - Salt refinery

You will continue the trip to the next stop: Colchani. A small Andean village where you will observe the manual process of salt in its refinery and visit the salt museum. Take advantage of this stop and discover the local handicrafts in the small stores run by the local villagers.

Ojos del Salar

Just a few meters away from the Colchani salt refinery you will see the piles of salt that are formed. And you will also see the well-known Ojos del Salar just a few meters away from you, small water eruptions that spring up under the salt flat. Did you know that these eyes have healing properties? If, like us, you are curious, don't hesitate to ask your guide all the questions during the trip, he knows all the answers!

Dakar Monument - Island of the Flags

The last stops inside the salt flat will be to visit the Dakar sculpture and the famous Isla de las Banderas. 

Incahuasi Island

You will advance through the Salar until you reach Incahuasi Island. Access to Incahuasi Island costs 30 Bolivian pesos for foreign travelers and 15 Bolivian pesos for national travelers.

Incahuasi Island is the heart of the Salar, where giant cactus will be waiting to surprise you even more of the magic of this place. Also, as it is the highest point of the Salar de Uyuni, you will have the best perspective to appreciate the immensity of the Salar. In order not to miss a single detail, you will take a short walk of about 30-40 minutes in the company of your guide. After this short walk, you will return to the vehicle and head to our next destination. It's time for lunch!

Remember to carry some cash with you during the trip, as the entrance fee to Incahuasi Island is not included in the tour.

Lunch at the Uyuni Salt Flat

After the visit to Incahuasi Island, you will leave for lunch with the rest of the group in the middle of the Salar de Uyuni. The guide will prepare the table and chairs and cook for us to enjoy the meal with one of the best possible views of the Salar de Uyuni.

Sunset at the Uyuni Salt Flat

After lunch, you will continue touring the Salar de Uyuni. The best moment is about to arrive, had you forgotten, today you will see the sunset in the Salar de Uyuni!

Return to Uyuni

After admiring the magical sunset on the Uyuni Salt Flat, you will head back to the city of Uyuni, where you will spend the night.

DAY 2 Uyuni - Pulacayo Village - Hot Springs - Tomave Church - Uyuni

Pulacayo Village

The day will start with a 9:30 a.m. pick up from your accommodation in Uyuni. You will head to the town of Pulacayo, home to a silver mining center that became the second largest in Bolivia. 

Pulacayo locomotives

Next, you will visit the old steam locomotives that were the first to enter Bolivia at the end of the 19th century and transported the ore extracted by the Huanchaca mining company. 

Hot Springs 

After going through a winding road, you will arrive to a rustic place where the hot springs are located. Get ready for a relaxing bath in its mineral waters! These are natural medicinal waters that reach up to 35 degrees of heat. 

Warmi Lagoon - Green Lagoon

Later, you will visit the altiplanic lagoons Warmi and Verde where you will see authentic flora and fauna of the area and it will be time for lunch. 

Colonial church of Tomave

The last stop of the tour will be a visit to the colonial church of Tomave, declared a heritage site. Later, you will return to the city of Uyuni to end the 2-day tour to the Salar de Uyuni.

What to bring to 2 Day Uyuni Tour

Warm clothing

Waterproof jacket

Comfortable shoes

Sunscreen and lipstick

Cash and bolivianos

Bathing suit

Where does the tour 2 Day Uyuni Tour start

If you are planning to arrive from La Paz you can fly directly to Uyuni. If you plan to travel to Uyuni by land you should take a bus. We recommend taking the night bus which departs from La Paz at 8 p.m. with the company Bus Titicaca or Bus Cisne. Upon arrival, you will have time for breakfast before starting the tour.

*If you arrive in Uyuni on the same day as the tour starts, we offer you a free transfer from the bus station or airport to Uyuni. If you arrive in Uyuni before the day the tour starts, your pickup point will be your accommodation in Uyuni.

Questions & Answers

Can i do this tour as a private tour, just for my group.

If you want to do the tour in private, please contact us and we will inform you.

2 Day Uyuni Tour tour reviews with Howlanders

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• CLASSIC UYUNI SALT FLATS & EDUARDO AVAROA RESERVE - 4 DAYS

UYUNI SALT FLATS & EDUARDO AVAROA RESERVE - 4 DAYS

ITINERARY DRY SEASON

Uyuni to mallku villamar.

Our journey begins in Uyuni, Bolivia. We meet you at your hotel or at the airport if you are flying from La Paz or Santa Cruz. We leave Uyuni behind and travel southwards through the Altiplano - the Andean highlands that stretch for thousands of kilometers - after making a short stop at the Train Cemetery just out of Uyuni.

Our drive is quite smooth on a wide dirt road that leads to several town of southwestern Potosi department. We stop at San Cristobal town, home to Bolivia’s largest open-pit mine. The town has gone through a restoration and improvement period, boasting a beautiful colonial-era church and colorful market that serves as a break on our drive.

Leaving San Cristobal we continue our drive headed southwest and stop at the hidden Black Lagoon on the way. We continue toward the ‘valley of rocks’ where we have the opportunity to walk among giant boulders shaped as anything your imagination can make of. Another attraction of the day is the ‘Anaconda Canyon” where the jaw-dropping views are unmatched.

Later in the afternoon we have the opportunity to visit another small, secret lagoon that allows for some wildlife viewing and scenic hike.

We will then arrive at the village of Mallku Villamar where we spend the night with fresh dinner/supper and a warm bed.

ACCOMMODATION BASIC: Simple room, shared bathroom, may have lukewarm shower STANDARD: Simple private room with private bathroom & hot shower PLUS: Jardines de Mallku Cueva

MEALS INCLUDED LUNCH, DINNER

Eduardo Avaroa Reserve

This morning we leave Mallku Villamar and continue our drive south headed for Eduardo Avaroa Reserve. Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa as it is known, is Bolivia’s most visited protected area and with good reason. Among the natural highlights we will be delighted with, are Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon), Desierto de Siloli, Polques hot springs, Sol de Mañana geyser field and Laguna Colorada - Red Lagoon - with its thousands of pink flamingos.

It will be an intense day but full of dramatic and otherworldly sights. It’s a remote, high altitude desert region, so accommodation options are very limited but we have lodging ready for us to spend the night and get ready for more adventure the following day.

ACCOMMODATION BASIC: Basic dormitory-style shared accommodation with shared, unisex bathroom. No hot shower STANDARD: Simple private room with private bathroom. Lukewarm shower PLUS: Hotel Tayka del Desierto

MEALS INCLUDED BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER

SPECIAL INFORMATION Accommodation is very basic to say the least on our Basic and Standard packages. The buildings are built with rock bricks from the area and are unheated. At 4500m it is a cold night combined with altitude, so it’s advised you bring warm clothes and take altitude medication if your doctor has prescribed any. It is the trip’s most basic night but most travelers are able to go through it with plenty of blankets provided and warm layers

Lagunas & flamingos

Today we continue our expedition now headed north and experience a number of exciting places along the way. For starters, we stop at Arbol de Piedra (Stone Tree, visited a day earlier if taking our Plus package). Located in the middle of [nowhere] the Siloli Desert, the Stone Tree is a quirky rock formation famous for its tree shape caused by thousands of years’ erosion.

The afternoon will be dedicated to visiting a chain of several lagoons known as the ‘Andean jewels’. The real highlight are the hundreds of pink flamingos that you can photograph up close and the pristine isolation of each lagoon.

By the end of the day we will have reached the proximity of the trip’s grand finale: Salar de Uyuni. We reach our accommodation in a small village where warm dinner and bed await.

ACCOMMODATION BASIC: Simple room, shared bathroom, hot shower in southern rim of Salar de Uyuni STANDARD: Private room with private bathroom and hot shower in southern rim of Salar de Uyuni PLUS: Hotel de Sal Tayka in northern rim of Salar de Uyuni

SPECIAL INFORMATION If you take our Plus package we will already enter the salt flats today as far as the northern rim which will allow for visiting more places the following day.

Uyuni Salt Flats & Incahuasi Island

Salar de Uyuni is probably best known for its hexagon-shaped patterns and giant cactus islands, but there is much more to see. In the northern end of the flats, where we will have spent our previous night (Plus), the awe-inspiring Volcan Thunupa offers several hiking opportunities along its base. If you would like to have a break from driving and get active, this morning we will explore this less-known area, as well as other interesting sites in along the northern rim. If you took our Basic or Plus packages, we will explore the southern rim instead, since we will have spent the previous night there

We'll have plenty of free time to have lunch in the middle of the salt flats and test our photography skills to get the best deep-perspective, fun photographs (bring props along).

We will then go across onto Incahuasi Island and here we will see the giant cacti and have the opportunity to do a second mild hike to its top. This is a great place to get a 360-degree view of the salt flats.

At the end of the day, we exit the salt flats via the village of Colchani where we have a brief stop at its colorful market before driving to the town of Uyuni where the tour ends around 6 PM.

MEALS INCLUDED BREAKFAST, LUNCH

ITINERARY RAINY SEASON

ACCOMMODATION BASIC: Simple room, shared bathroom, hot shower in southern rim of Salar de Uyuni STANDARD: Private room with private bathroom and hot shower in southern rim of Salar de Uyuni PLUS: Any of the following salt hotels in order of preference and availability: Hotel Palacio de Sal, Luna Salada, Cristal Samaña

SPECIAL INFORMATION Unlike the dry-season itinerary, our Plus package provides accommodation in the western rim of the salt flats instead of the northern

Uyuni Salt Flats

The rains falling from December to April flood the entire surface of the salt flats creating a surreal ‘mirror’ that reflects the entire sky. Thousands of people from around the world flock to Bolivia to experience the reflection created by this natural phenomenon. But don’t worry, the salt flats are so huge there is plenty of space for everyone, although it is impossible to reach Incahuasi Island and drive more than only a few kilometers from the shore of the salt flats.

The whole day will be spent enjoying the ‘mirror effect’, taking surreal photographs and enjoying a unique lunch in the middle of the flooded flats. We will await sunset to experience this unforgettable experience before we exit the flats for the town of Uyuni where our tour ends around 6 PM.

SPECIAL INFORMATION If you would like to take your time to see sunset, we advise not to take a flight to La Paz on this day. Please note that driving is impossible when the flats are flooded. Driving is done extremely slowly and accessibility to places is very limited

IS THIS TRIP FOR ME?

• This trip covers around 100 Km in four days of off road driving at high altitude and cold climate. It is recommended you prepare accordingly and read the itinerary before booking
• It is ideal if you like to get off the beaten track and away from the crowds by doing the usual 3-day itinerary in reverse, thus having most stops to yourself at different times from the rest
• It is possible to take this trip if you want to go to San Pedro de Atacama at the end of the trip although the order of attractions will be modified every day, keeping all the places mentioned
• Please note that the itinerary is modified during the rainy months of Jan to April

PLEASE NOTE THAT PARK AND OTHER SITES' ADMISSION FEES - IF APPLICABLE - ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE (READ BELOW)

WHY TAKE THIS TRIP WITH US?

• We are a tour operator, not a travel agency. This means that we organize this trip by putting everything from transport to accommodation providers together to make sure it works as flawlessly as possible. Our trusted providers have been tried and tested and we put our name confidently up front because we trust the safety and reliability they offer. A travel agency merely books you with a tour operator earning a commission for themselves and not giving a lot of care to your experience
• We put safety at the top of our list of priorities. We know Bolivia inside out and the roads, towns, villages, deserts, etc. that are safe to travel through. By using our services, you can rest assured that we will get you to your destination at the end of every day safely

WHAT TO BRING?

• Camera/drone
• Effective sun protection (sunscreen, sunglasses, hat)
• Warm layers as temperatures drop considerably in the evenings and mornings
• Bathing suit, sandals
• Comfortable hiking shoes
• Money in Bolivianos for personal spending (drinks, souvenirs, tips, etc).

IMPORTANT INFORMATION TO CONSIDER

• The itinerary may suffer changes without previous notice due to factors outside our direct control such as weather and road conditions. If we are forced to alter the itinerary in any way, it will be based on good judgment and necessary amendments for your own safety and comfort and you will be promptly notified. We never alter or skip attractions in the itinerary without explaining the reasoning behind any possible change and providing adequate proof that such change may be necessary. Therefore, you should not take the above itinerary as “set in stone” and we will not he held liable for any loss or damage that you may feel arising from such changes made
• Please note that the itinerary differs in the rainy season from the itinerary in the dry season. We will not be held liable/responsible for failure to read this information
• This region is a remote area that lacks the usual comforts of the modern world. You should not expect high standards of accommodation, hot water is available most of the time (according to respective package) and electricity is available for a few hours or more where possible.
• Food is handled hygienically and it is our priority and job that you are satisfied with the limited resources available in this region. Vegetarians are welcome, but should not expect special menus as we do what we can to serve appropriate portions of vegetables and fruit in the vegetarian menu
• During the rainy season (December to March/April) some parts of the salt flats may be inaccessible such as Incahuasi Island and time on the actual salt flats is limited. Most of the regular itinerary is followed as normal

OPEN DATES & FIXED DEPARTURES

The following are dates in which other people have shown interest in forming a group for this tour. Use the ENQUIRY tab to request a new date or join one of the dates below to form a group and obtain the respective price. The number of interested persons is shown for your reference and you will be updated via email if other people are interested in the same date. If your party consist of four persons, we suggest booking a tour outright to confirm departure.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Private transportation from Uyuni to Uyuni four days
• Bilingual guide (English-Spanish) or digital guide in IOS or Android app (price varies)
• 3 nights accommodation according to selected package
• 4 lunches, 3 dinners, 3 breakfasts

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

• National park and other sites’ admission fees: Approx. 210 BOB (30 USD, only local currency accepted)
• Soft/fizzy and alcoholic drinks
• Optional tips/gratuities (suggested)

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What to Expect On The 3 Day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour in Bolivia

Thinking about doing the 3 day Bolivia Salt Flats Tour? Wondering how to survive the Uyuni Salt Flats and what you will see on the Salt Flats Tour? This guide tells you everything about the 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour .

Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni) in Bolivia is one of the bucket items you cannot miss. The mirror reflection on the Uyuni Salt Flats looks almost unreal and that was what initially drew me to visit.

During our 2 week trip to Peru and Bolivia , we got the chance to take a 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats tour to explore this amazing landscape and thr surrounding areas in Bolivia. Unfortunately we went during the dry season so there was no reflection. But even without the reflection, Uyuni salt flats still looked incredible.

This 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats guide will show you what to expect when visiting, including what tour to book, how much it costs, what to see on each day (spoiler: you only spend one day on the Salt Flats), and other practical things to know.

This blog contains occasional affiliate links, where I receive a small commission on sales of the products/hotels that are linked at no additional cost to you. In addition, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases . The commission I receive helps me to pay for the cost of running and maintaining this blog. Thank you for supporting my blog.

Where is the Uyuni Salt Flat in Boliva

The Uyuni Salt Flat is located in Southwestern Bolivia, near the city of Uyuni. It is close to the Chilean border, but can also be accessed from southern Peru and northern Argentina.

The Uyuni Salt Flat, otherwise known as Salar de Uyuni, is the world’s largest salt flat. It stretches for more than 4,050 square miles and it is what was left behind of a prehistoric lake from over 40,000 years ago.

How to Get To Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia

Due to its location near Chile, Peru, and Argentina, you can easily take an overnight bus from all three countries to reach Uyuni Salt Flat.

The fastest way to get to Uyuni is by flying . The flight from La Paz to Uyuni only takes about an hour. We took Amaszonas but that flight doesn’t seem to be offered anymore. Now the best flight is to take BoA from La Paz to Uyuni.

Depending on the tour you take, some tour companies will pick you up from the airport the night before.

If you want to take overnight buses (like from La Paz to Uyuni), the bus ride takes 9-10 hours. I didn’t do this route but my friends did on a separate trip and it was not the most comfortable. If you are not on a budget I would recommend that you fly and so you can actually get a good night of sleep.

If you want to take the bus, you can book bus tickets here . This site if very reliable for bus tickets in South America.

Best Time to Visit the Uyuni Salt Flat in Bolivia

There is a dry season and rainy season on the Bolivia Salt Flats:

• Rainy Season in Uyuni: November to April
• Dry season: April to October

If you want the cool mirror effect on the Uyuni Salt Flats, then the best time to go to the Salar de Uyuni is during rainy season or by June before water evaporates.

You should wear waterproof shoes if you are going during rain season since the Salt Flats is covered with water and your feet will get web. Also keep in mind that July is extremely windy on the Salt Flats. Since Bolivia is in the southern hemisphere, July is winter there, so you will want to dress warmly (also due to its high altitude).

Bolivia Uyuni Salt Flat Tour Options

There are 2 types of tours that you can take to see the Uyuni Salt Flats.

One day Salt Flats tour : This one day tour takes you to some places on the Salar the 3 day tour doesn’t, and you may find areas with water to take the cool reflection shot even during dry season. If you are short on time then I would recommend this tour.

3 day 2 night Salt flats tour : This 3 day tour allows you to s pend one day on the salt flat and the other 2 days visiting Eduardo Avaroa National Park as well as other cool landscapes such as lagoons, geysers, hot springs, and the desert. You practically spend the third day driving back to Uyuni from the Chile/Bolivia border.

Therefore if your goal is to just see the Salt Flat, the one day tour might be a better option for you. But if you want to see different things near the Salt Flat, then you should consider the 3 day tour.

Best 3 Day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour Operators

While searching for reviews on Tripadvisor, three reputable Uyuni Salt Flats tour companies came up: Red Planet , Quechua Connection and Salty Desert Aventours .

I personally ended up choosing Quechua Connection because my friends went with them before and they have really good reviews on Tripadvisor (this is NOT a sponsored post so all opinions are mine).

I enjoyed my tour with them and have absolutely no complaints. After comparing to my other friend who used Red Planet , a few noticeable differences (and similarities):

Quechua Connection is the only company that offers you bikes to ride across the Bolivia salt flats on the first day. This may have changed now it’s been a while so check with the different tour operators.

Different 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats tours stop at different spots for the night; Quechua Connection & Red Planet both stop at hostels right next to the hot spring on the 2nd night.

This means you can visit the hot spring at sunset or under the Milky Way at night while other tours have to get up at 5am to drive to the hot spring the next morning. Definitely a plus to have the hot spring to yourself under the stars!

Our salt flats tour company tried its best to accommodate tourists with dietary restrictions and the guides have altitude sickness pills as well as oxygen tanks for emergency situation

I’m not sure sure about other companies but I heard horror stories of drivers drink and drive on the salt flats; didn’t see any of that on our tour with Quechua Connection.

What To Pack For the 3 Day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Similar to the Inca Trail , you need to pack a lot of things as if you are going on a camping trip as there is no luxury accommodation during the 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour.

Below is the list of necessary things that you should pack for the Uyuni Salt Flats, as you cannot really purchase anything while you are there.

Travel Document & Money

• Passport: always have your passport with you
• Cash: bring cash to pay for the Salt Flats tour, water, and snacks, small changes for bathroom, entrance fees to sights and tips for the driver and guide. I would recommend to bring at least 400 Bolivianos (~60 USD) .
• Cash for Uyuni airport departure fee . There is a US$25 departure tax for international flights and a 15 Bolivianos departure fee for domestic flights.

Medication For the Salt Flats

• Altitude sickness pill: If you are not acclimated, you should have the altitude sickness pill with you. The Salar in Bolivia is at around 3700m (~1200ft) and during the 2nd day you will be at around 5000m (~16400ft)
• Food related sickness pills: Bring it just in case you get upset stomach. There is no pharmacy on the Salt Flats tour

Attires & Accessories

• Winter clothes & layers: It gets extremely cold at night even during the summer months on the salt flats in Bolivia due to high altitude
• Hat, scarf, and gloves are extremely important
• Sunglasses: the sun can be very strong at such high altitude. Reflection from the salt flats can seriously burn your retina.
• Swimsuit: EXTREMELY IMPORTANT !! If you want to be able to enjoy the outdoor hot spring during the Salt Flats tour on Day 2 (or 3)
• Towel & Hanger: Accommodations do not offer towels. If you plan to go into the hot spring, make sure to bring a towel and a hanger. We didn’t have a hanger but someone on our tour did, it was such a smart idea

Toiletry & Other Things

• Body wipes: there is no hot shower during the 1st night and no shower at all during the 2nd night of the 3 day Bolivia Salt Flats tour. I got these wipes for both Bolivia and the Inca Trail and they were super useful.
• Toilet paper: there is none during the 2nd night (at least when I went); if you pay for the bathrooms during the tour, there is generally toilet paper except a couple of places
• Sunscreen: it’s easy to get sunburned at this high altitude. I highly recommend this lightweight mineral sunscreen
• Lotion: I didn’t realize how dry it is on the Salar and my eczema was acting up. Bring body location to properly hydrate your skin
• Dry Shampoo : No shower is available during the 3 day tour of Uyuni Salt Flats
• Extra batteries: there is no electricity to charge your phone/camera on the 2nd night
• Tripod: if you are into photography then don’t miss the opportunities to take amazing shots of the Milky Way from the salt flats. It’s higher and less polluted so the stars are brighter and easier to see
• Headlamp : there was no lights in our bathroom during the 2nd night
• Sleeping bag liner : you are provided with a sleeping bag but it gets mixed up the following day, so if you want to be clean, bring your own sleeping bag liner
• Ear Plugs: necessary since you will be in a 6 person dorm room on Night 2 of the Salt Flats tour

What To Expect During the 3 Day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour in Bolivia

Booking the 3 day bolivia salt flats tour.

After reading reviews online and getting recommendations from my friends, we emailed Quechua Connection to make the booking a few months in advance (you probably don’t need to do it that far in advance like we did).

They can communicate with you via Email or Whatsapp and to make the bookings we had to provide the company with our names and passport number. There was no deposits and we paid everything in full in cash (Bolivianos or USD) in person the night before the tour.

Price of 3 day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Our 3 day tour of Uyuni Salt Flats was 180 USD excluding some park entrance fee and tips. We had to pay about 200 Bolivianos extra for entrance fee costs.

If you want to get dropped off in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, you can pay more.

Food during the 3 Day Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Drinks are provided at meal time but you need to bring extra water for yourself for 3 days. There are shops on the tour (especially day 1) so buy some snacks with you.

The tour company accommodates people with dietary restrictions as much as they can. We had 2 people in our group with severe food allergies to gluten and certain fruits and they were given food they could eat so thumbs up to the company.

Breakfast : usually pancakes or bread, jam, fruits, coffee/tea

Lunch & dinner : rice or pasta, vegetable, protein (llama steak or chicken or canned tuna) & dessert (mango pudding or fruits or cake), coffee/tea/soda/water

Complete 3 Day Tour of Uyuni Salt Flats Itinerary

Day 0 – arrival to uyuni & where to stay in uyuni.

We took the last flight out of La Paz to Uyuni the night before our 3 Day Salt Flats tour. It was a short flight (~1 hour) and our tour operator picked us up from the Uyuni airport.

After landing in Uyuni, our tour company picked us up from the airport and we were driven to the Quechua Connection’s office to make our payments in cash. We were told that drinks is only provided during meals so we bought our own (a few liters of water to be exact).

For payment, they accept both USD and Bolivianos. If you plan to do a tour in Uyuni, make sure to check with your tour operator on what currency they accept.

Where to Stay in Uyuni

The salt flats tour company dropped us off at our hotel ( Hotel de Sal Casa Andina ) which was amazing and super spacious. It was actually the best hotel we stayed at during our 2 week trip of Peru and Bolivia .

The hotel even had free coffee and fruit juice in the cafeteria at night. There was also free breakfast with our stay. They also offer a 3 person room which was what we needed.

The only thing I didn’t like was that the windows all face towards the hallway so if anyone is talking in the hall way you can hear everything.

Day 1 of 3 Day Bolivia Salt Flats Tour – Train Graveyard, Salt Flats, Islands, Sunset

We were picked up from our hotel by 10:30am and taken to the main tour office. There we waited for other travelers before we were assigned to one of the 4 jeeps they had. The drivers tied up gas tank, our luggage and water and sleeping bags on the top of the jeep and we started off towards our first stop: Train graveyard .

We got to the train graveyard outside of Uyuni about 20 minutes after leaving the tour office and were given about 20 minutes there to climb up the abandoned trains and take photos. There was a portable bathroom there but unfortunately it was locked.

We continued onward to a town where we visited Colchani Salt processing “factory” . I walked around a bit and found this really cute pair of alpaca leg warmers for 25 Bolivianos (~4 USD).

After another short drive, we finally arrived at the Uyuni Salt Flats . It was quite amazing to be surrounded by nothing but salt (and whiteness).

It looked like it came straight out of a science fiction. Unfortunately since we were there during the dry season, there was not enough water on the surface to reflect the sky. Hopefully someday I will be back during wet season.

Our guide gave us each a bike to bike across the Salt Flats to the lunch spot, which was 3km away. I heard our tour is the only tour that offers bikes, so that was pretty cool 😀 Although I have to say it was not easy to ride bikes across the salt flats because the ground is not 100% flat.

One thing I did not know was that our guide was REALLY good at taking photos and helping us pose on the salt flats. He did a lot of funny videos and photos for us (and for the group) due to the lack of depth perception on the salar. Also, apparently the trick is to lie flat on the salt flats (or as low as possible) to get the coolest perspective.

We spent over an hour on the Salt Flats just taking photos and walking around in crazy windy conditions but it was totally worth it! I wish we had stayed longer but we had to move onto the next cool spot: Incawasi Island .

Little did I know that there is an island full of huge cactus in the middle of the Uyuni salt flats where nothing else grows.

We had to pay an entrance (and bathroom) fee of 30B (~4.5 USD) to get in. Once you are in, you are free to roam around and climb to the top for a better view of the Salt Flats if you don’t mind walking up with the high altitude.

We spent about 40 minutes here before we set off for another island on the salt flats, this time a cave called Pia Pia Island . I never thought I cared about caves until this particular cave. It helped that our guide was an amazing photographer. I heard that in the past, people stayed in the cave to watch sunset. But we didn’t do it this time.

We continued on driving until we found a random spot to watch the magnificent sunset on the salt flats. It was one of the most colorful sunset I’ve ever seen but oh boy it was freezing cold!!

Our guide was really excited for this sunset, apparently because usually there is clouds in the horizon but this time it was completely clear.

Our first night hotel on the Salt Flats was called Manica Hostel , which wasn’t too bad. We had a 3 person private room with our own bathroom and electricity so we could charge our phone and camera (yes electricity is luxury item here). Unfortunately there was no hot water in the bathroom so no shower night no.1!

Day 2 – Coral Valley, Lagoons, Stone Tree, Geysers, Hot Spring

Little did I know that the 3 day Uyuni Salar tour is actually only 1 day on the salt flats. We officially left the Uyuni salt flats the night before. Day 2 of the 3 day Salt Flats tour started bright and early at 6am in the morning. We left the hostel by 7am to visit the first stop: coral valley .

Day 2 of the 3 day tour of Uyuni salt flats was a lot of driving in a desert landscape. It’s actually quite amazing how the landscape changes every 30 minute to an hour on this day. We drove by deserts, coral valleys; we saw volcanoes followed by lush green and random villages.

We also entered the Eduardo Avaroa National Park and had to pay 150Bs for entrance fee so make sure you bring enough cash and your passport with you.

One of the cool things we saw along the way were 2 lagoons with flamingos . Did you know that flamingos are not born pink? They get the pink color from eating algae. Most people also wouldn’t expect to find volcano flamingos hidden away and thriving in the Andes. They have adapted the harsh weather as well as the high altitude.

A few other cool things we saw during Day 2 included the Stone Tree, the Red Lagoon, and a geyser. This was totally unexpected but also really cool to see.

One word about the accommodation on the Salt Flats, since it’s in such a remote location, all the accommodations were hostels with no showers and electricity. Each car stays in the same dorm with a private bathroom, but there is no heating in the hostel so make sure to wear layers to bed.

The highlight of the day was the hot spring . Since we stayed about 6 minute walking distance to the hot spring, we could go anytime we wanted.

Our group ended up going around sunset after we checked into our hostel. Since only our group and Red Planet are staying near the hot spring, we ended up having the place all to ourselves for sunset.

The entrance fee for the hot spring is 5Bs. If you just want to dip your feet in, then it’s free. There is a changing room at the hot spring, but there is no lights in the changing room so bring flashlight or head lamp and towel. This is also where having a hanger was extremely helpful to dry the wet swimsuit and towel.

I think this sunset in Bolivia was even more stunning than the one the day before. Similarly, the Milky Way was more clear today since we were at an even higher altitude on the salt flats. It was well worth the sub freezing temperature to capture this.

Day 3 – Dali Desert, Chilean Border, Green Lagoon

We actually spent most of Day 3 of the salt flats tour driving back to Uyuni.

If you are not short on time, it’s actually a better option to get dropped off at the Chilean border and cross into Chile. It’s a lot more efficient and you are not wasting the whole day driving back. Meanwhile for the rest of us, we saw the Salvador Dali desert and lagoons.

The highlight (and a surprise) came in the afternoon about 2 hours from Uyuni. Our guide took us into this secret valley that had an incredible landscape.

After this last stop, we drove about an hour to a tourist stop for bathroom and snacks then headed back to Uyuni to catch our flight to La Paz.

Things To Know Before You Go To Uyuni Salt Flats

Can i see the reflection on the uyuni salt flats .

This is a tricky one. If you visit the Bolivia Salt Flats during rainy season, then it’s more than likely you will be able to take the reflective photos on the salt flat.

However during the dry season, some day tours can take you to a spot that “always” has water so you can take the reflection shots on the salt flat. Our 3 day tour was not able to take us.

What’s the altitude of Salar de Uyuni?

The Uyuni Salt Flats is about 4000m above sea level and during Day 2 of the 3 Day tour of Uyuni Salt Flats, the altitude can reach above 5000m (16400ft).

Therefore if you are prone to getting altitude sickness, you should take some altitude sickness pills with you. I would recommend acclimate in La Paz or somewhere lower for a couple of days before doing the Uyuni salt flats tour.

However the guides usually have oxygen tank with them for emergency use. But unless you are on the verge of death, they tend not to use it even if you get altitude sickness.

Is there Vegan or Vegetarian Food On the Salt Flats Tour?

Yes! The tour companies are very good at accommodating food preferences on the Salt Flats.

How Much Cash Should I Bring To the 3 Day Bolivia Salt Flats Tour?

Bring at least 400 Bolivianos besides the money to pay for your salar de Uyuni tour.  You need the cash to pay for water, bathroom, snacks, entrance fee, airport departure fee in Uyuni, etc.

If you are flying out of Uyuni to La Paz after the tour, have 15 Bolivianos (~1.5 USD) to pay airport departure tax. You don’t have to worry about this when you take a flight from La Paz airport. This departure fee only applies to Uyuni Airport departure

Is there shower on the 3 day Bolivia Salt Flats Tour?

For our tour there was a cold shower the first evening but no shower the second evening.

Is the Uyuni Salt Flats Tour safe for Female solo travelers?

YES! There were many solo travelers on our Salt Flats Tour and the guides are very professional. You will feel safe and comfortable traveling by yourself to the Salt Flats.

What is the accommodation like on the 3 Day Bolivia Salt Flats Tour?

Accommodation depends on the tour you take. For our tour, the first night we stayed in a private room with bathroom and cold shower. The 2nd night we stayed in a 5-6 person dorm sleeping on stone beds with no shower and no toilet paper. The tour will give you sleeping bag and sleeping bag liner but it can be really cold at night.

Is there bathroom on the Uyuni Salt Flats?

There are many rest stops on your Salts Flat tour but you have to pay at least 5 Bolivianos every time you use the bathroom unless it’s at your hostel.

Is the Bolivia Uyuni Salt Flats Worth It?

If you want to see unique landscapes, the largest salt flats in the world, and have a once in a life time experience, then the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia is totally worth it. The price is not too expensive for a 3 day all inclusive tour.

However if your only goal of visiting Uyuni Salt Flats is to take the mirror-like reflection, then you may be disappointed. Even during rainy season it is not guaranteed for you to see it, and you most likely won’t see it during the dry season.

In addition, if you only want to see the salt flats and nothing else, you should not take a 3 day tour, instead, take the one day tour and save yourself some time.

One last thing to note is that there is a similar (but smaller) salt flats in Utah. So if you are from the US, you may not need to fly all the way to Uyuni to see this.

Final Thoughts on the Bolivia 3 Day Salar de Uyuni Tour

I really thought the 3 day salt flats tour was amazing since you are literally so remote from civilization you really feel disconnected. The landscape changes drastically from place to place and I think it’s definitely an unique experience.

Regardless of whether you do a one day tour or a 3 day tour, you will love the experience as long as you are well prepared.

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Tours & Trips including Salar de Uyuni

Find the right tour for you through Uyuni Salt Flat. We've got 105 adventures going to Uyuni Salt Flat, starting from just one day in length, and the longest tour is 127 days. The most popular month to go is October, which has the largest number of tour departures.

105 Uyuni Salt Flat tour packages with 169 reviews

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Julia made this trip perfect. She was a brilliant guide. The accommodation was of varying standards but the itinerary was really good

La Paz to Buenos Aires: Andes & the Atacama Desert

Some of the hotels/hostels were not up to expected standard with cleanliness and amenities. We also had a 10 hour bus journey and didn't even see Salta before getting up early to fly to Buenos Aires. Apart from that very good itinerary and especially enjoyed the Salt Flats.

• Local Living

Southern Divide

Was a good tour but needs a few changes to make it great. We’re a 57 and 60 year old married couple who love adventure. For us too much time was spent in cities (Cusco 4 nights way too much) and not enough time in desert. Our guide Antonio saved the trip from disaster with his positive, happy attitude. G Adventures really needs to check the tour operators they use for the Salt flats and a few other tours as they’re not up to scratch. Disappointing that G Adventures didn’t perform when we had a situation in the Salt Flats and Bolivian border.

By flight from La Paz: Visit Uyuni Salt Flats 4days 3 nights.

Our experience was excellent! We don't have to worry any single thing. Everything was taken care for from flight, to accommodation, to airport transfer and the tours. Our guide, Marco is even more exceptional. He made sure that we are all ok especially those who feel the altitude sickness. My friend is asthmatic and he always checks on her & make sure she is ok. Marco is not only an excellent guide but also a good photographer, director and creator. We are lucky to have him and having a good pictures for us to remembering by, he made sure that we have all the best experience and memorable time in Uyuni and most especially the Salt Flats!

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• 10% deposit on some dates Some departure dates offer you the chance to book this tour with a lower deposit.

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Had a very nice trip con Felix. Took very good care of us and gave a lot of information

Highlights of Bolivia National Geographic Journeys

Excellent tour. So much to see and do. Highly recommended

3-Day Salt Flats and Colored Lagoons Tour from Uyuni

Great tour hitting SO many highlights. Would absolutely recommend!!

Get to know Bolivia at the speed of light 3 days 2 nights.

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What people love about uyuni salt flat tours.

The tour was excellent including our guide Marisol Maydana She made me feel safe , gave good information daily on what we saw , always looked after us well like a good friend. I enjoyed the bus rides as got to see the countryside side of Boliva accommodation was comfortable. All the places we went were good. I would suggest in future maybe include dates for the LaPaz Carnival. I was lucky and although didn’t know about LaPaz carnival I was in LaPaz 5 days before carnival started so got to enjoy it , I think future customers would also. Thank you. My first trip with Tour Radar was a success. Kathryn Fink

Some of the hotels/hostels were not up to expected standard with cleanliness and amenities. We also had a 10 hour bus journey and didn't even see Salta before getting up early to fly to Buenos Aires. Apart from that very good itinerary and especially enjoyed the Salt Flats.

Fantastic tour! Perfect mix of activities and down time. All must do’s included with great optionales. Very well organised by G Adventures with the best tour guide! Absolutely recommend.

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Uyuni in a week.

Highlights of Bolivia

Flights & transport:, itinerary focus:.

• Sit down for a sunset picnic on the stark and surreal salar de uyuni
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• Discover the otherworldly Moon Valley in the desert
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Bolivia Explorer 8D/7N

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Bolivia Explorer 9D/8N

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Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 5D/4N (La Paz to La Paz)

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• Drive through the Bolivian Altiplano’s moon-like deserts
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Lake Titicaca, La Paz & Uyuni Salt Flats

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Itineraries

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