Salar de Uyuni: explore the amazing salt flat in Bolivia

Explore Salar de Uyuni salt flat Bolivia: Uyuni is a small town in the southwest of Bolivia, located in the high altitude desert region of the Andes mountains. Uyuni is known for its stunning natural landscapes, including the world’s largest salt flats, the Salar de Uyuni, considered one of the most extreme and remarkable places in all of South America. A two or three day trip with a 4×4 is a stunning experience. Are you ready? Let’s go to Salar de Uyuni and explore the amazing and world’s largest salt flat in Bolivia!

The Salar de Uyuni, a vast salt flat that stretches for over 10,000 square kilometers. The salt flats are a unique and otherworldly landscape, with blindingly white salt crusts stretching as far as the eye can see. Visitors can take a tour of the salt flats, which typically includes stops at various viewpoints, as well as the opportunity to take photographs with the unique perspective of the salt flats. The Uyuni salt flats are one of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire world, let alone Bolivia—Uyuni is absolutely worth visiting when you are in “nearby” (Bolivia, Chile, or Peru). Let’s explore Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia.

How to take the best photos at Uyuni? The large, flat surface of the Uyuni Flat provides an excellent opportunity for amazing photos. How do you take those funny dinosaur photos you see everywhere on the internet? First of all, you need a small toy (most commonly used is a dinosaur but it can be “anything”). Place it on the ground. Go behind it several meters (depending on how small you want to appear) and take the photo with the camera lens as close to the ground as possible (you might need to lay down on the ground or the best results). If you use a cell phone, flip the phone upside down (to get the camera closer to the ground). Ask for help: if you go on a guided Uyuni tour, the guide will help you; they’ve become experts!

 
Another popular attraction in Uyuni is the Train Cemetery, an abandoned train graveyard located just outside of town. The graveyard is home to several rusting train engines and carriages that have been left to decay in the desert. Visitors can walk around the graveyard, taking photos and imagining what life was like for the workers and passengers who once rode these trains.

A visit to the cemetery is included in most Uyuni Tours as well as a visit to the surrounding deserts and mountains. There are 4×4 jeep tours to explore the Uyuni flats and the rocky landscapes; you will visit hot springs, and see the unique flora and fauna of the region. Some tours also include a visit to the nearby Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including flamingos, vicuñas, and llamas.

How to get to Uyuni?

Explore Salar de Uyuni salt flat Bolivia: To get to Uyuni, you can fly into the city of La Paz, Bolivia’s capital, and then take a night bus to Uyuni. Many tour operators also offer packages that include transportation from La Paz to Uyuni. It is also possible to take a bus or plane from other cities in Bolivia, such as Sucre and Potosi, to Uyuni. The tours to the Uyuni Salt lakes depart in the morning, right after the buses and the place arrives.

 
Overall, Uyuni is a unique and visually stunning destination, perfect for those looking to experience the beauty of the Bolivian desert. With its incredible salt flats, abandoned train graveyard, and the opportunity to explore the surrounding deserts, Uyuni is a must-visit destination for any traveler to Bolivia.

Trip Review Uyuni tour

Wildlife in Uyuni Andean Flamingos and James Flamingo: You can find them in the colorful lakes outside the salt flats. Andean flamingos are one of the rarest in the world; James flamingos are taller. Culpeo Fox: They’re the second-largest fox on the continent of South America. The Culpeo fox is not dangerous and eats rabbits and lizards. Vicuñas: Vicuñas are family of the Llamas and Alpacas, domesticated for their coats and ability to transport goods. Vicuñas have historically been protected by law since Inca times. Llamas: You will also see llamas on your trip to the salt flats in Bolivia, but mainly in small villages. Bolivian Vizcacha: Vizcachas are rodents that look similar to rabbits. Unfortunately they are eaten by the Culpeo fox.

 
I recently took a 3-day tour of Uyuni and it was an unforgettable experience. Our tour started in the small town of Uyuni, where we met our guide and fellow travelers.

The first day of the tour was spent exploring the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. The salt flats are truly a unique and otherworldly landscape, with blindingly white salt crusts stretching as far as the eye can see. Our guide took us to several viewpoints, where we could take in the vastness of the salt flats and take some amazing photos. We also visited an island in the middle of the salt flats, which is home to a colony of cacti and some other vegetation.

The second day of the tour was spent exploring the deserts and mountains that surround Uyuni. We took a 4×4 jeep tour through the rocky landscapes, visiting hot springs and seeing the unique flora and fauna of the region. We also visited the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, which is home to a variety of wildlife, including flamingos, vicuñas, and llamas.

The final day of the tour was spent visiting the Train Cemetery, an abandoned train graveyard located just outside of Uyuni. The graveyard is home to several rusting train engines and carriages that have been left to decay in the desert. It was interesting to walk around the graveyard, taking photos and imagining what life was like for the workers and passengers who once rode these trains.
 

 
Our tour guide was knowledgeable and friendly, making sure we had a great time and also providing us with all the information we needed about the places we visited. The accommodation was basic but comfortable, and the food was delicious and satisfying. I had a great experience exploring the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia.

One tip: especially from June to August, the weather can get extremely cold in Uyuni at night reaching freezing temperatures below zero Celsius degrees. It is important to bring enough warm clothes and a sleeping bag if you are spending the night on the salt flats. But also don’t forget sunscreen, even if it’s cold the sun is harsh and reflects off the salt almost giving your face an immediate burn regardless of the temperature.

Overall, I highly recommend this tour to anyone looking to experience the beauty of the Bolivian desert. To be honest, I was blown away by the sheer size and beauty of the Bolivian Salt Flats The combination of the salt flats, the deserts, and the train graveyard made for an unforgettable trip and a great opportunity to see some of the most unique landscapes on Earth. Uyuni is definitely a must-visit destination for any traveler to Bolivia.

 

Interested in a Tour to Uyuni? Contact Dos Manos