The Salar de Uyuni is the most important salt flat on this planet and probably the most well-known vacationer attract Bolivia, South America. In truth, for a lot of vacationers, the Bolivian Salt Flats is the only real motive they go to Bolivia. We do suggest that you simply go to extra of Bolivia than simply the salt flats, however if you need some epic footage and an unforgettable expertise you’ll want to put the Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats in your bucket record.
Ever because the Bolivia Salt Flats performed host to the world-famous Dakar Rally in 2014, it has gained much more consideration amongst vacationers. “You’ll find it irresistible!” These have been the phrases we had heard from different vacationers each time we talked about our plan to journey to the Bolivia Salt Flats. As you may think our expectations have been sky-high and we couldn’t wait to see the white limitless surroundings.
What’s the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia?
The Salar de Uyuni is without doubt one of the most spectacular adventure-travel locations on Earth. Assume 10 billion tons of salt sprawling throughout an limitless desert. The Salar de Uyuni is a ten,582 sq. kilometer expanse of cracked white salt, left behind when an historical salt lake named Coipasa dried up 1000’s of years in the past.
It’s the world’s largest salt flat and is situated at a excessive altitude of three,656 meters (10,000 toes) above sea degree. Most Salar de Uyuni, together with ours, meant spending 4 days locked in a jeep with three different vacationers and a prepare dinner whereas our amiable Bolivian driver took us by an more and more unbelievable array of pure wonders. That is one of the simplest ways to see the Uyuni salt flats in my view.
Now we have included a map beneath to offer you an concept of the place in Bolivia the slat flats are in relation to the remainder of the nation.
The wonder is that the excursions are versatile. There are alternatives for 1 day, 3 days, or 4 days, relying on what your schedule is and the way a lot time you need to spend within the space itself. We suggest the three or 4-day choice because it covers probably the most.
The place do Bolivia Salt Flats Excursions Begin From?
The great thing about the Salt flats being so fashionable is that excursions to the world begin from various completely different locations. For probably the most half, the size of your salt flats tour will decide the place you begin from.
Begin and Finish in Uyuni
Most excursions of Salar de Uyuni go away from the city of Uyuni itself, a dry desert settlement situated close to the salt flats. It’s by far the most cost effective place to select up a tour, with journeys on supply for as little as B$600 (about $80 USD). That is more than likely the place you’ll begin out in case you are doing a 1 Day tour of the salt flats. We do suggest being cautious and doing all your analysis as we discovered that fairly just a few of the tour businesses in Uyuni tout unreliable vehicles and harmful drivers.
If you’re planning a 3 or 4-day tour then there are much more choices to select from on the subject of a place to begin and an ending level.
Begin in Tupiza Finish in Uyulni
A extra nice (if barely pricier) expertise could be had by taking the again highway to the Salar, leaving from the south-Bolivian metropolis of Tupiza. House to a handful of tour businesses and a pleasing principal plaza, Tupiza is a soothing place to spend a few days whereas researching company choices. Excursions from right here normally final 4 days and on the finish, you possibly can return to Tupiza from Salar de Uyuni for those who like.
Begin in Uyuni Finish in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile
That is the preferred choice, particularly in case you are a multi-day tour. Alternatively, when you have cash to burn, you might start your tour from San Pedro de Atacama, a fantastic (if absurdly touristy) village in close by Chile.
Positioned on Chile’s border with Bolivia, San Pedro de Atacama is surrounded by spectacular surroundings of its personal to discover–however it’s not for the faint of pockets. This is without doubt one of the causes we suggest reserving the tour that begins in Uyuni and ends in Chile at San Pedro de Atacama.
In the event you do resolve to begin in San Pedro keep in mind that you can be at a excessive altitude, so there’s a threat of altitude illness for those who don’t take care to acclimate. Drink loads of water and don’t over-exert.
La Paz or Sucre
If you’re wanting only for a fast day tour of the salt flats then you possibly can simply soar on one in both La Paz or Sucre, in case you are in these cities and you’ve got a restricted period of time.
How Many Days within the Bolivia Salt Flats Do you Want?
We suggest the three or 4-day tour of the Uyuni Salt Flats. Though you are able to do a 1-day tour of the salt flats themselves you actually do miss out on the opposite sights which are lined within the 3 and 4-day tour. The longer excursions are extra fashionable for that reason.
After all, it’ll all rely in your price range and journey itinerary which size of journey you select. Simply remember that on the 1-day tour you miss out on the new springs, the volcano, and the flamingoes and also you don’t get the prospect to see this superb sight at sundown. Being a photographer it is a should!
The three-day tour of the Uyuni Salt Flats is the proper period of time to stability being at altitude and seeing all of it.
Tips on how to Select Your Bolivia Salt Flats Tour
There are numerous tour businesses and lots of drivers providing vacationers an Uyuni experience-but not all of them are dependable. Drunken drivers and sham businesses abound, so make sure you analysis your choices fastidiously and meet your driver earlier than placing down cash. If issues appear shady, don’t be afraid to again out.
Some tour operators are all too good at pressuring vacationers to disregard their higher instincts. The company I selected was named Pure Journey, an operator primarily based out of the small Bolivian metropolis of Tupiza.
I had an excellent expertise with them; although my driver didn’t communicate a lot English, he made up for it with friendliness, verve, and expressive hand gestures.
The reality is that each one the excursions will cowl the identical issues. It’s fairly commonplace. They may attempt to upsell you and persuade you that they’ve sooner vehicles or higher lodging simply to get extra money out of you. In the event you ask the precise questions you’ll positively up your probabilities of getting an important tour.
Really helpful Excursions to E-book Forward of Time
Inquiries to Ask Earlier than Reserving a Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats
- How Many Individuals can be in my automobile? Clearly the smaller quantity of individuals the higher. However most excursions attempt to get 6 folks plus a driver in a car.
- What kind of lodging are supplied? Will you be staying in a salt resort, sharing a room, or multi functional huge room?
- Does my driver communicate English? Most drivers are additionally your information and prepare dinner and don’t communicate a lot english. It helps if you already know some spanish or you might be good at performing issues out.
- Is the doorway to the Nationwide park included? The same old reply to that is no, however some do supply it. If it’s not then be ready to fork over an additional of 150 Bob ($22 USD). In the event you plan on visiting “Fish Island” inside Uyuni salt lake that may value you further as effectively.
- The place does the tour finish? Will you be coming again to Uyuni or doest t end in one other vacation spot like San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. The coice is normally yours.
How A lot Does it Value to Go to the Bolivia Salt Flats?
As we stated above, all the excursions are the identical and observe the identical route. Don’t be fooled by folks making an attempt to upsell you to a greater tour. The automobile and the lodging might change however the excursions themselves are an identical. That being stated the value varies broadly, so you will have to barter the very best worth.
You shouldn’t pay greater than 850-1350 Bob for a 3-day tour ($125 – $195 USD). This worth is all-inclusive of meals, transportation, lodging, and a Spanish-speaking information. If you would like an English-speaking information put together to pay double. What it doesn’t embrace is the $20 price to get into the Nationwide Park, so ensure you have money for that. If you’re planning on going to San Pedro de Atacama then additionally, you will want 50 Bob for the border crossing. It’s at all times good to have some money on you.
It is very important notice that the costs above are for those who e-book your tour on arrival or in Bolivia itself. In the event you e-book your tour on-line earlier than you journey the fee could be virtually double.
What are the Lodging Choices on the Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Excursions?
Whereas excursions themselves are markets as primary, I might say that we have been pleasantly shocked. Now we have stayed in some primary locations through the years however have been pretty impressed when you think about the price of the tour.
You’ll spend the primary evening of the tour in a salt resort, which we liked. Now after I say a salt resort, I imply all the pieces is made from salt. The resort exterior is made from salt blocks, the chairs, floor, and mattress are additionally made from salt. We have been pleased to have non-public rooms on the primary evening to essentially take pleasure in it. There was additionally a bathe which value 10BS and had sufficient water for two folks. Reap the benefits of it as there aren’t any different showers on the tour.
The opposite nights we slept in dorm-type rooms, however you possibly can pay an additional 150Bs for a non-public room, which we did. The buildings are clear and effectively taken care of so that you by no means felt such as you have been on an ultra-budget tour.
There isn’t any WIFI out right here so you can be disconnected which we discovered a welcome reprieve from consistently checking telephones every day.
The best way the meals are arrange is that breakfast and dinner are served on the lodging and the lunch is at all times on the highway. The meals itself was not superb eating however it was tasty and there was at all times sufficient.
Tips on how to Costume for a Salar de Uyuni Tour
Journey by Bolivia’s southwest nook means splitting your time between excessive heat, underneath the startlingly sizzling noon solar, and excessive chilly, when the chilly excessive altitude nights creep in.
It’s a good suggestion to decorate in layers–that manner, you possibly can layer up because the solar drops, then shed clothes once more when it rises. Throughout components of the Uyuni tour, temperatures can drop as little as -15 levels celsius, so it’s important to just remember to have some heat garments packed. Learn our layering suggestions for packing.
Tips on how to Get to Salar de Uyuni
From La Paz to Uyuni
The buses from the de facto capital of La Paz to Uyuni are more and more geared to vacationer consolation, because the Salar de Uyuni turns into a increasingly more ubiquitous cease amongst backpackers in South America. The bus from La Paz takes 8 hours and will get you into Uyuni at about 6 am.
That is loads of time as most excursions don’t begin till 10 am. It’s an in a single day bus, so you’ll save on an evening’s lodging for those who sleep. It is going to value you about $25 USD for the in a single day bus and you may take a look at tickets with https://www.ticketsbolivia.com/
It’s endorsed to remain an evening in Uyuni to acclimate to the altitude.
In case you have some further money or are restricted on time then you can even fly to Uyuni from La Paz. It prices about $100 USD and is usually included with non-public excursions from La Paz.
From Sucre to Uyuni
IF you might be coming from the capital of Bolivia, Sucre, you possibly can catch a direct bus to the Uyuni Salt Flats. The bus experience normally takes about 8 hours. It leaves from the bus terminal on Avenida Ostria Gutierrez in Sucre at 9:30 am and eight:00 pm. It is going to value you roughly 11USD. Be sure to examine the occasions and price on TicketsBolivia.
If you would like, you possibly can e-book an organized 1-day tour from La Paz to Uyuni salt flat. On the finish of the tour, you’ll return to La Paz.
When is the Finest Time to Go to the Bolivian Salt Flats?
There isn’t any unhealthy time to go to the Bolivia Salt Flats. It actually is determined by the expertise you might be in search of.
Wet season: If you wish to see reflections of the salt lake, the wet season is an efficient time to go to. The salt flats flood and remodel into a large mirror that displays the sky and creates an other-worldly expertise. Throughout this time of the yr there’s little to no wind and normally clear skies. Excellent for a photographer. The wet season in Bolivia is from December to April. Simply remember that through the wet season a number of the encompassing sights are closed.
Dry Season: We visited through the dry season and it was spectacular as effectively. It’s hotter throughout this time from Could to November. Since we visited through the dry season, our SUV produced a large cloud of mud once we crossed the gorgeous moon-like panorama of Bolivia’s Andean Plateau making for surreal pictures.
What you’ll See on a Bolvian Salt Flats Tour
Isla del Pescado
Have you ever ever seen an island that’s NOT surrounded by water? Welcome to Isla del Pescado, the Fish Island! The Salar de Uyuni has just a few islands and we loved an superior view from the highest of this one. From up there, we obtained an impression of the true dimension of the salty panorama.
Steam Locomotives – Prepare Graveyard
We arrived in Uyuni and jumped out of the SUV and climbed up the large wrecked previous steam locomotives. At that time, we didn’t know that the grownup’s playground was simply behind the nook, Uyuni’s practice cemetery. The trains are leftover from a time once they carried minerals from the Salar de Uyuni to the Pacific Ocean.
Bolivia’s Andean Plateau
Within the Andean Plateau, at an altitude of about 4,000 meters, not solely the air is breathtaking. That is how actual adventures appear like. That is the place the SUV feels at dwelling.
The chain of volcanoes and mountains alongside the horizon gave us the sensation of being far-off from any civilization. And for a second we thought we reached the “finish of the world”.
The tracks would possibly appear like stays from centuries previous however they’re nonetheless in use and join Bolivia with Chile. The moon-like panorama surrounded us as we drove on the purple and brown sand when unexpectedly, behind a hill, a fantastic lagoon appeared.
Lunar Panorama
The Andean Plateau and its mysterious rock formations have been fashioned over hundreds of thousands of years by wind and sand. And generally nature could be very inventive and varieties rocks just like the Arbol de Piedra, the Stone Tree.
Our information informed us earlier than that we might get to see a lagoon extra stunning than the one we had seen earlier than. However we didn’t need to consider him as we couldn’t think about that it could be potential.
Flamingoes
A whole lot, most likely 1000’s of flamingos have been wading by the shallow water looking for meals. It was such a contradiction to see an oasis of life in the course of the barren surroundings.
Laguna Colorada
The silence was round us once we approached the Laguna Colorada, the Pink Lagoon. Every little thing round us felt unreal. Have you learnt the way it feels once you see one thing and can’t consider it’s actual? It was exhausting to consider that this lagoon, with its shades of yellow, black, white, purple, brown, and the blue sky above it, was not a canvas.
From time to time we noticed these little pink spots once more, flamingos that loved the scrumptious alga which makes the water seem purple. It was virtually unhappy to see that the final lagoon we visited, the gorgeous Inexperienced Lagoon with the picturesque volcano within the background was void of flamingos.
As we realized this inexperienced kind of algae was toxic. Too unhealthy, the water appeared so inviting with these stunning reflections on the floor.
Sulfur Geysers
Visiting a steaming geyser is a spotlight of the Uyuni Salt Flats tour; I used to be so distracted taking footage, I virtually fell in! It was a really particular place our driver took us to observe the dawn within the early morning.
We have been surrounded by geysers and holes within the floor full of boiling mud. The chilly air of the morning intensified the steam and the world appeared like a mystic place. After leaving the salt flat we thought it couldn’t get any higher. However we have been so improper!
Images of Salar de Uyuni
The Uyuni Salt Flats is THE picture spot to play with proportions and views when taking photographs. It’s a spot the place folks sit on potato chips cans, toy dinosaurs come to life chasing vacationers, and leaping over an SUV is a breeze.
On brief picture stops, it may be exhausting to resolve whether or not to take footage of the surroundings or just take the surroundings in. For these inclined to snap, it’s essential to tempo your photographic zeal. The panorama is so marvelous, it’s merely unattainable to catch all of it. In different phrases, it’s a highway journey like no different, and completely value doing.
Widespread Questions About Doing a Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
Do you want an English Talking Information?
The reply right here is it relies upon. In the event you communicate pretty fluent Spanish then you possibly can positively forego an English information. If you don’t communicate Spanish in any respect then we suggest paying the additional cash (it may be as much as 500 Bs per particular person) and getting an English information.
We like to grasp our information as they will present a number of background data on the world and there’s the added benefit that for those who pay further for the English information you should have solely English talking folks in your automobile. When you find yourself collectively for 3 or 4 days this was essential to us.
That being stated, if you wish to avoid wasting cash and you might be on a good price range, the Spanish-speaking information is okay. It is possible for you to to make out most of what he’s saying in any case. It is very important notice that for those who go for the English-speaking information that there’s normally one information for each 2 or 3 vehicles from that tour firm.
What altitude are you at within the Salar de Uyuni?
You’re at altitude when you find yourself in Uyuni, Bolivia. The city itself sits at greater than 3500m or 12,000 toes and that’s simply the place you begin. In the course of the tour, you’ll attain altitudes of as much as 4800m or 15,000 toes on the Laguna Colorada, within the Eduardo Avaroa Nationwide Park. So be ready.
We suggest spending at the least at some point in Uyuni earlier than your tour to acclimatize to the altitude. Dring loads of liquids and don’t exert an excessive amount of effort bodily. You’ll be out of breath a bit on the primary day however ought to get used to the dearth of oxygen shortly.
Will it get chilly?
The brief reply is sure. Regardless that the climate through the day could be nice, it’s important to bear in mind that you’re at altitude so the nights can get fairly chilly. If you’re somebody who will get chilly simply you would possibly need to carry your individual sleeping bag or ask to hire one from the tour operator.
Will I’ve telephone or web through the tour?
The very fact is you can be in the course of nowhere so there can be little to no web or telephone sign throughout your complete journey. It’s a good time to calm down and disconnect from the world and benefit from the nature that’s throughout you. If you’re in determined want of web or a telephone there’s a place on the second day that gives paid web entry.
Money or Credit score Card? Which is Finest?
Money is king when you find yourself in your journey to the salt flats in Bolivia. There are some ATMs in Uyuni however we recommend having native forex readily available earlier than you arrive simply in case. Just be sure you have native forex as that’s required particularly if you wish to go to the next:
- Nationwide Park Entrance Price: 150 Bs ($22 USD) per particular person
- Fish Island: 30 Bs ($5 USD)
- Scorching Springs: 6 Bs ($1 USD)
What ought to I pack?
Packing for the salt flats is de facto depending on the place you will end your tour. If you’re carrying on to The Atacama Desert in Chile you’ll carry your full backpack. We do recommend placing the on a regular basis gadgets in a day pack so they’re simply accessible as your pack can be on the highest of the 4X4 every day.
If you’re beginning and ending in Uyuni then it’s potential to depart some gadgets within the resort so that you don’t should carry all the pieces. That being stated, the shifts in temperature could be fairly drastic so that you need o to be ready. Here’s a record of issues you need to pack to your tour of the Salt Flats in Bolivia:
- Sunscreen with excessive SPF, sun shades, hat and lip balm are a should.
- Layers of heat garments. Temperature fluctates drastically between day and evening.
- Mountaineering boots (Older ones in case you are visiting through the moist season)
- Journey towel for the primary evening bathe and the new springs.
- Gold Bond: To maintain your self contemporary.
- Digicam and additional batteries absolutely charged.
- Headlamp
- Water bottle and water. Even whether it is offered it’s good to have further.
- Money in native forex.
- Swimsuit for those who pan on going within the sizzling springs.
- Flip flops or trainers for on the resort.
How Do you Describe the Salt Flats in Bolivia?
Salty, white, limitless… these three phrases finest describe the Salar de Uyuni. The solar burned from the sky and the reflections from the salt have been so sturdy that it was unattainable to open the eyes with out sun shades whereas wanting over the large salt desert. After some time, the awe is usually a bit overwhelming. It’s as if nature is making an attempt to beat you into submission with so many superb issues.
Most Salar de Uyuni excursions can really feel very begin and cease, with the driving force rendezvousing with different vacationer jeeps at designated factors for all-too-rapid picture alternatives. It’s a surreal sight, because the southwest roads of Bolivia seem fully abandoned however for the jeeps gathering in small teams to disgorge their vacationer cargo.
Last Ideas
We drove throughout Bolivia’s scenic southwest nook, a staggeringly stunning area bursting with mountains, lagoons, and inactive volcanoes. Geared up with many huge containers of consuming water and thick sleeping baggage our driver put the SUV into first gear and an incredible journey by barren environment started.
It’s an expertise that includes beautiful vistas, excessive chilly, and days with out showering.
On the finish of our 3-day journey, we have been exhausted. Exhausted due to all of the unimaginable issues we had seen.
It began with an limitless white salt flat, continued with moon-like sandy and dry landscapes of volcanoes and mountains, and ended with probably the most colourful lagoons we had ever seen. Each certainly one of us wanted a while to digest the previous days.
There are numerous superb locations on our blue planet however the Salar de Uyuni and all the pieces round it really belongs to certainly one of its most stunning locations! The Salar de Uyuni stays one of many world’s most incredible areas–and because it’s in Bolivia, some of the reasonably priced, too.
Bolivia’s frontier really feel means the journey generally appears akin to stepping out of the charted territory, onto a succession of various planets.
Sticking Round Bolivia
However whereas the Salar is undoubtedly a spotlight, the tough the rest of Bolivia shouldn’t be ignored. From the grungy mining metropolis of Potosi to the gothic streets of La Paz to the verdant jungle reaches of the Amazon, Bolivia is full of breathtaking and weird sights. When you’ve seen the Salar (and even earlier than), take into account sticking round to take just a few further locations in.
In the event you’re seeking to enterprise alongside the sting of the world or race throughout a few of nature’s most hanging vistas, there isn’t any higher vacation spot. So strap in, buckle up, and don’t overlook to carry shades. There’s a white desert ready, made from salt and blinding daylight.
Have you ever been to the Bolivia Salt Flats? What do you suppose? Is Bolivia’s Andean Plateau some of the stunning locations on this planet?
This text was initially written by Liane and Lars of bobaroundtheworld.com who’ve since stopped running a blog, however we’ve saved it on ThePlanetD as it’s a vacation spot that’s value visiting.