This guide offers essential advice for planning your visit to the Uyuni Salt Flats: the necessary documents and equipment, practical tips and information, the unmissable sites to visit, etc.
For its unique landscapes
The landscapes of Salar Uyuni and its surroundings are so exceptional and grandiose that they regularly feature on the list of the most beautiful and unusual places in the world. This explains the attraction of millions of tourists to go there to see these surprising landscapes with their own eyes. Demand keeps growing: now is the time to plan your trip!
There's more in the Uyuni Salt Flats area than the possibility to take funny pictures as you usually find on the Internet. In fact, it is much more! Imagine a huge salt desert surrounded by the Andes and reflecting the light of the sky; but also volcanoes and colorful lakes, geysers, and hot springs, not to mention the typical fauna of the region: llamas, alpacas, and colonies of pink flamingos. Also discover the Andean communities and their ancestral traditions: a unique and enriching experience.
This wide open spaces region offers the perfect potential to combine different destinations, for example with San Pedro de Atacama in northern Chile, or the Salta region in Argentina. Most travelers opt for a 3- or 4-day Salar de Uyuni + Lipez Complete Tour that covers the region’s major sights.
Highlights in Uyuni Salt Flats:
● Train Cemetery: The Uyuni Railway Cemetery is considered the largest in the world and houses abandoned locomotives in the middle of the desert.
● Colchani, the "gateway to the Salar": Colchani is a small village in the department of Potosi located on the edge of the Uyuni Salt Flats, where workers extract salt.
● 4x4 excursions through the Salar: jeep excursions through the salt flats can be done as a group (6 pax per vehicle) or as a private/individual tour.
● Incahuasi Island: a famous cactus island with century-old specimens and a fabulous viewpoint to have a 360° view of the Uyuni Salt flats.
● The ascent of the Tunupa volcano: for adventurers, it is possible to climb to the 1st viewpoint of the volcano (at about 4700 m) to enjoy a spectacular view of the Uyuni Salt Flats.
Highlights in the Lipez region:
● Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve - REA: this is the most visited national park in Bolivia and ensures the protection of the area’s ecosystem (geysers, volcanoes, ...).
● Laguna Colorada: an incredibly red lake! This color is caused by the predominant species of algae and the high mineral content of the water.
● Green lagoon: depending on the wind force and the sediment movement, the lake´s color constantly changes between light turquoise and dark green.
● Salvador Dalí Desert: a stone desert with ocher tones, and a surrealistic atmosphere that very much remembers the works of the famous Spanish painter.
● Geysers and Hot Springs: The volcanic activity present in many parts of South Lipez is the source of impressive active geysers and hot thermal springs (perfect for revitalizing baths).
Best time to travel
The Salar de Uyuni can be visited all year round, except in case of extreme weather events. The mirror effect due to Salar’s flooding is only visible during the rainy season between February and April. The dry season, between May and September, has very cold night temperatures. So if you want a milder (cooler, but bearable) climate, go between December and March; between June and August, it is the coldest time of the year and also the driest.
Comfort level
Accommodation services and comfort during the shared tours through the Salt Flats and the South Lipez are very limited. Tourists sleep in basic shared dormitories and get access to low-quality services in terms of hygiene, food, electricity, heating, etc.
Only the private/individual tour can guarantee hotels with double or single rooms and a private bathroom. And even if they are still rustic, these hotels offer a higher level of comfort and services than the refuges. Please note that comfort is always relative: housing standards in Bolivia are not comparable to those in European countries, particularly in this desert region. Wifi, for example, cannot always be guaranteed.
Our advice: It is imperative that your travel agency knows the conditions there. The incoming agency must facilitate your efforts, Share with you their knowledge (to identify and offer the best accommodation in the region according to your expectations, for example).
Providers reliability
A multi-destination trip across South America - and more specifically in the Uyuni region - requires organized planning. However, it is common for some local service providers to lack of unreliability and punctuality. Many small local agencies in the city of Uyuni are trying to sell trips to the Uyuni Salt Flats at particularly low and suspicious prices. Beware! Safety and quality are extremely important, especially in such an isolated destination. Too cheap offers could end in disaster!
Our advice: A professional incoming agency can prove and guarantee the quality, punctuality, and sense of responsibility of its local service providers. In addition, contact between these two players must be permanent in order to ensure customer satisfaction. Make sure you know the credentials from your travel agency. To do this, Compare local providers, find experiences other travelers have had, and read reviews. This will ensure that you are in good hands.
Packing your suitcase
For a trip to Uyuni, it is essential to have good, comfortable shoes. Although you will spend a lot of time sitting in the 4x4, this is still an adventure trip and you will have to walk during the scheduled stops. Temperatures in the salt desert are variable, and they can drop very low (especially during Bolivian winter nights). That is why a jacket adapted to low temperatures, preferably windproof, should also be among the first things to pack. In addition, you should know that the weather is dry and the sun often shines very brightly at high altitudes: sun cream, a hat or cap and a moisturizer for the skin and lips to protect yourself are also essential.
Here we have summarized a small overview of the most important items to put in your suitcase:
• comfortable shoes
• light clothing, but also waterproof and warm clothing for low temperatures - small daypack for walks with enough space for camera and drinks
• sunglasses, hat/cap, sunscreen, and lip balm
•cash
•toilet paper
• water (one liter or more per person for the first day, then according to your guide instructions of your guide/driver)
• personal travel pharmacy
• flashlight/headlight
Restrictions to travel
Finally, discover some restrictions on the adventure in the Uyuni Salt Flats:
• minimum age requirement: 7 years;
• Not recommended for people with high blood pressure, heart failure, asthma, or similar, because of the highness. The tour is usually above this altitude of 4,000 meters height, reaching 4,850 meters;
• Passengers over 65 must present a medical certificate authorizing them to travel at an altitude of more than 4,000 meters;
• Not authorized for pregnant women.
Expert agency
As we have mentioned, in order to make your Salar de Uyuni package trip an excellent experience, it is essential to have the support of a specialized company. Explora Tours is an example of an agency dedicated exclusively to itineraries in South America, which is therefore an expert in the whole region!
24-hour assistance
From the moment you board the plane, Explora Tours takes care of all the details, without you having to worry about it during the trip. For this reason, we reinforce the importance of having a prepared team, guaranteeing support in all situations.
Now check out the answers to the most common questions people usually ask Explora Tours agents.
1. Do I need a tourist visa to enter Bolivia?
Some countries require a tourist visa. Ask your travel specialist for more information.
2. How many people are there in the group?
The excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats is done in a group of 6 people.
3. What type of car is used in Uyuni?
The circuit is done by 4x4 (Toyota Land Cruiser) in Bolivia.
4. What types of electrical outlets do the accommodations have?
The housings have type C sockets, compatible with types E and F. Anyway, we recommend that you have an adapter for any inconvenience.
5. How much luggage can I carry on?
Each passenger can carry a maximum of one bag or suitcase weighing up to 23 kilos and one sleeping bag, which will be placed on the roof of the jeep.
6. What is the weather like during the visit?
In summer (December to March), the temperature can range from 4 ° C to 23 ° C. In winter (June to September), the temperature varies from -20ºC to 16ºC.
7. Do I need to bring a sleeping bag?
No. The accommodations are equipped with blankets. In any case, take into account the weather information according to the date of your trip and if you think you will be cold, ask that this element be included in your reservation.
8. Where can I change cash in Bolivianos?
In Toconao Street in San Pedro de Atacama (intersection with Caracoles) you will find a few exchange houses where you can get bolivianos to take into the circuit. If your tour starts in Uyuni, your guide can suggest several points.
9. What is the probability of suffering from altitude sickness during the trip?
Most of the circuit takes place at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. Mountain sickness is therefore very likely, especially on the first day of the tour. To avoid or reduce altitude sickness, we recommend adjusting to the altitude for a day or two above 2,500 meters, drinking plenty of water before and during the tour, eating light (avoid meat) the days preceding the tour, and not drinking alcohol the night before the start of the tour.
10. What food is included in the tour?
It is very diverse. breakfast includes tea, coffee, bread, cookies, and fruit while lunch and dinner include meat, pasta, rice, soups, and vegetables. If you would like a vegetarian menu, you must request this to your agent at the time of booking.
11. What happens to the visit if it's raining?
In case of rain, the order of the places visited, the possibility of seeing the sunrise, and the places of accommodation are likely to be modified because some paths could be closed by water. For example, the island of Incahuasi is not visited during the rainy season and one enters the salar only up to a certain distance.
12. When is it possible to see the mirror effect on the Salar de Uyuni?
The mirror effect is produced because of rainwater accumulated in the salt flats. This only happens during the rainy season (the second half of January, February, and March).
13. Is it possible to take the tour in a private service?
Yes, it's possible. For prices, please write to us indicating the departure date and the number of people.
14. Is it possible to do the tour with hotel accommodations instead of shelters and hostels?
Yes, just ask for this option when booking.
15. Is it possible to take the tour with an English-speaking guide?
Yes, an English-speaking guide is available for this tour at an additional cost. Please ask your agent for information.
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Did you enjoy this article? If you wish to explore one of the most amazing continents on this planet, be sure to check out all of our tips and itineraries to help you plan an unforgettable trip to South America.
We hope we have been helpful today!
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