From strange islands in a sea of blindingly bright salt to delicately colored mineral lakes in the Andean mountains, this is an unforgettable Bolivian landscape. When it dried up, it left a couple of seasonal puddles and several salt pans, including Salar de Uyuni. It was part of a prehistoric salt lake, Lago Minchín, which once covered most of southwest Bolivia. The world’s largest salt flat sits at a lofty 3653m (11,985ft) and blankets an amazing 12,000 sq km (4633 sq miles).
- By choosing green tours and taking care of any natural environment, it is possible to ensure that the future generations can still keep Exploring Salar de Uyuni in all its impeccable beauty.
- A rain jacket if you go during the wet season.
- It’s a vast expanse of salt stretching to the horizon.
- The night sky is bright with stars, constellations, and even Milky Way which is perfectly reflected on the mirror-like surface with minimal light pollution and high altitude (wet season).
- Travellers with more time can opt for extended five- or nine-day tours from Salta, Argentina.
- This spectacular salt flat that covers an area of 10,000 square kilometers is not only the largest in the world, but also one of the most astounding natural marvels in the earth.
- Toys, bottles, etc, to take fun perspective photos.
The night sky is bright with stars, constellations, and even Milky Way which is perfectly reflected on the mirror-like surface with minimal light pollution and high altitude (wet season). There are reputable travel firms such as Gokite Oman which may help to organize well-curated tours with local Bolivian firms. When Opera Exploring Salar de Uyuni and the natural wonders around it, it is one of the most photogenic places to visit.
Snacks and water/drinks – food is provided, but in case you want extra in between the meals, pack some snacks and drinks. Sunblock, lip balm with SPF, and sunglasses – the sun is very harsh at high altitudes. You are provided blankets in hotels and refuges, but a down sleeping bag will make your sleep more comfortable. A rain jacket if you go during the wet season.
- Bolivia has gone an extra mile to introduce international tourists into the country through making the visa process extremely easy in most countries.
- Enjoy hot blowjobs; MILF ass fucking and pussy licking; amateur couples; sexy lesbians and horny gay and trans penetration.
- If you’re only interested in seeing the salt flat itself and snapping some awesome perspective photos, then the one-day option may be for you.
- The Dakar monument is made of salt, and the flags were left by travelers during their visits.
- Lisa is a writer and traveller who left her nine-to-five in London for life on the road.
Solar de Manaña geysers are located at an altitude of more than 15,912 ft/ 4,850m. Make sure to charge your devices during this time. Note that to enter Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, you need to pay an entrance fee of Bs 150 (not included in the tour price). In reality, its deep red color comes from red sediments and the pigments of algae and microorganisms living in the lake. According to the local folklore, the water in Laguna Colorada is the blood of the Gods. It sits at an altitude of 14,000 ft/ 4,270 m in Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, close to the Chilean border.
I am not a fan of commercial tours and wanted to experience Salar de Uyuni independently. South America has stunning salt flats, but Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest at about 4,674 sq mi (12,106 sq km). Be sure to check out the Dakar Rally monument located in Colchani, right at the edge of the salt flats.
When it dried, it left behind two modern lakes, Poopó and Uru Uru, and two major salt deserts, Salar de Coipasa and the larger Salar de Uyuni. Uyuni originates from the Aymara language and means a pen (enclosure); Uyuni is also the name of a town that serves as a gateway for tourists visiting the Salar. The large area, clear skies, and exceptional flatness of the surface make the Salar ideal for calibrating the altimeters of Earth observation satellites. The Salar was formed as a result of transformations of seven Late Pleistocene lakes whose progressive desiccation led to the accumulation of extensive evaporitic salt deposits.
Russia Travel Guide for History Lovers
Some tours include an overnight stay near the salt flats, while others return to Uyuni the same day. Three- and four-day tours to the salt flats operate from here, and booking a guided tour is strongly recommended, as crossing the border independently can be challenging. When visiting the breathtaking salt flats, consider enhancing your experience by staying at a hotel made entirely of salt.
Most locals make their living from salt production. Drinks were provided with meals, usually water and Coke, and dinners often came with red wine. When we did a tour in 2025, we paid extra for private rooms. When I did a tour eight years ago, the accommodation was basic. The tour takes you through elevations ranging from about 3,600 m to 4,800 m.
These months are also less cold than the dry season. Some would argue the vistas during the wet season are even more mesmerising than in the dry season. The rainy season (December to April) brings its own beauty.
In Colchani, there are several hostels, a couple of salt museums, and a souvenir market where all tours stop by. It’s a good way to explore Uyuni salt flats as long as you don’t plan to cycle further to the altiplano. We saw a couple of people cycling on the Uyuni salt flats.
Salar de Uyuni Tours Starting Points
A mesmerising and dazzling landscape, this vast salt plain is like nowhere else in the world! Bolivia’s Salt Flats are a breathtaking natural wonder. Read more about visiting Salar de Uyuni independently here. For a group tour that includes an English-speaking guide and more comfortable accommodation with private rooms, you will be looking at around $250USD.
During the rainy season (usually December–March), a thin layer of water spreads over the salt surface—sometimes just a few millimeters, sometimes a bit more. As you may have deduced by the name, the salt flats are near Uyuni in Bolivia, the starting point of most tours. The plateau includes fresh and saltwater lakes as well as salt flats and is endorheic. It leaves a permanent imprint on any traveler whether it is the glittering salt plains in the dry months or the fantastical reflections in the rainy seasons, this is a natural wonder which is unforgettable. Your trip starts with the small town of Uyuni that is the central point of the salt flat tours. Catch a local bus to Colchani (this is a stop on tours to visit a salt museum).
The Art of Packing Travel Like a Pro
Here’s all you need to know about this unique experience. The fields of salt, extending as far as the eye can see and backed by distant mountains, create one of the most dramatic and unique vistas on Earth. Salar de Uyuni is the remains of an enormous prehistoric lake. In February 2024, the Copernicus Sentinel-3B mission conducted calibration activities over the salar for its Synthetic Aperture Radar Altimeter (SRAL). As part of its validation strategy, CryoSat-2 has relied on the salar, where its Interferometric synthetic-aperture radars (InSAR) capabilities were reinstated to enhance the precision of altimetric observations. The mission focused on calibrating radar-based measurements of surface topography.
Salar de Uyuni Altitude
Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, with an area of approximately 10,582 square kilometres (4,086 mi2). Sustainability has gained a critical concern as an increasing number of tourists head to Salar de Uyuni. When you are travelling to other neighbouring countries such as Chile or Peru, over land routes via San Pedro de Atacama and Puno are equally beautiful scenic routes as you go. The vast majority of the visitors arrive at Salar de Uyuni through the Bolivian capital, La Paz. According to many travelers it is one of the most intense stargazing moments of their existence.
What is Salar de Uyuni
Assuming that you are making a reservation with Gokite Oman, their crew will help you to get a visa, check your documents, and even a full travel package to make doing things in Oman hassle-free. To get the best and the most current information, it is always advisable that one consults the official Bolivian embassies or reliable travel agents. Bolivia has gone an extra mile to introduce international tourists into the country through making the visa process extremely easy in most countries. It does not require any spinmaya no deposit bonus code special effort, just a submission of relevant documents including your passport, photos, flight itinerary, hotel booking and evidence of financial resources.
Save to My Timers
However, if you are travelling from La Paz (which is at a similar altitude) or Cusco (just 250 m lower) then you will likely be fine as you should have acclimatised. For private tours expect to pay significantly more. These are shared tours with usually five or six people per jeep.
It’s also possible to take a tour starting in Tupiza – a great option for those coming from Argentina. It’s also possible to take a tour from La Paz with transport to Uyuni included as part of the package. It’s possible to book ahead or choose a tour company on arrival. As you’d probably expect with one of the most popular attractions in South America, there are endless choices when it comes to booking a tour. “One of my favourite things about the Salar De Uyuni tour was simply driving from location to location.
We chose a Spanish-speaking tour, and our basic Spanish was more than enough. It’s worth mentioning that you will spend most of your time in the car. So, below are a few points to know before choosing a tour. I recommend booking in person, as it’s usually cheaper.
