Uyuni Bolivia
The Experience
Uyuni Bolivia
The town of Uyuni is the base for excursions to the Salar de (salt flats of) Uyuni Bolivia. This salar is the largest salt flat in the world. There is not much to see in the town of Uyuni itself. This 3-day excursion takes you from one spectacular landscape to another in addition to the Salar de Uyuni.
All year round you can make excursions from Uyuni in Bolivia and visit the Salar de Uyuni. During 3 days you travel with a maximum of 6 tourists and a Spanish speaking driver through these beautiful landscapes. In the wet months (November to February) there is a low water on the salar. The jeeps can not go everywhere then. The Salar de Uyuni Bolivia looks different in the wet season, but is still definitely worth it!
NB 1: Instead of staying overnight in dormitories, it is also possible to stay overnight in hotels. This is only possible if you let us organize this excursion in a private context. Ask for the conditions.
NB 2 : It is also possible to start this excursion in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) or to be dropped off at the end of the excursion in San Pedro de Atacama (Chile). Ask for the conditions.
NB 3: This three-day tour is included in our individual Bolivia tour and our Peru and Bolivia combined tour.
For more information about the Salar of Uyuni Bolivia, see also the blog Salt Flat Bolivia that our intern Rick wrote about it.
Highlights of this excursion .
- Visit to the largest salt flat in Bolivia near the town of Uyuni.
- Walk on the island of Incahuasi, in the middle of the salt flat with cacti of more than 10 meters high.
- Travel past colorful lagoons, hot springs, beautiful rocky mountains and a train graveyard.
What's Included
- Hotel pick-up in Cusco and transfer to the terminal.
- Cusco – Puno – La Paz – Uyuni bus service.
- 4×4 transportation at the Uyuni Salt Flats.
- Pick-up at the Uyuni terminal upon arrival.
- Local Spanish-speaking guide in Uyuni.
- Assistance throughout the entire trip.
- Visit to the Train Cemetery and Colchani.
- Tour of the salt flats and Salt Hotel.
- Visit to Incahuasi Island.
- Lunch at the salt flats.
- Photo stops and free time.
What's Not Included
- Entrance fees and tickets
- Other entrance fees not mentioned.
- English-speaking guide for an extra fee.
- Accommodation before or after the tour.
- Meals not specified.
- Personal costs and expenses
- Shopping, tips, and taxis.
- Additional transportation not included.
- Travel or medical insurance.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Today you start the three-day tour on and at Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. You share a jeep with a total of 6 passengers. Halfway through the morning you leave Uyuni by jeep.
Visit to the Salar de Uyuni
First you visit the village of Colchani, on the edge of the salt flats. The inhabitants of this village are completely dependent on salt production. Here you can get a demonstration of how kitchen salt is made and there is also the possibility to buy souvenirs made of salt. The driver then drives up the salar and stops at the salt hotel (made entirely of salt) and the 'island' Incahuasi. This is not a real island, but a large, large rock formation that protrudes above the salt flats. On this 'island' you can take a walk between the gigantic cacti and the volcanic rocks. On the island you will be offered lunch by our driver. This is the place to take nice pictures of yourself. The surreal landscape, but especially the lack of optical depth provide the most beautiful, funny pictures.
Overnight stay in local hostel near the Salar
After this visit you will drive another hour by jeep over the salt flats. On the way you will visit the caves Cueva del Diablo and Galaxia Cristal. You will spend the night in a local hostel in the village of San Pedro de Queméz or San Juan, on the edge of the plain.
This day you will drive along the volcano Ollagüe in Chiguana. Then the journey continues with a visit to the Laguna Hedionda, also called the 'stinking lagoon' because it contains a lot of sulfur. Many flamingos and other birds live at this lagoon. After this you will go to the Siloli desert and visit the rock formation of el Arbol de Piedra (the stone tree).
You will end this day at the Laguna Colorada (colored lagoon) and you will spend the night at this location in a simple lodge.
Early in the morning you will leave to enjoy the sunrise at Laguna Colorado. You will visit geysers, Laguna Verde (green lagoon) and the Licancabur volcano. It is also possible to take a bath in natural hot springs.
On the way back to Uyuni you will visit Valle de las Rocas, the town of Culpina and the Cementerio de Trenes, the cemetery with discarded trains. At the end of the afternoon you will return to the town of Uyuni.