Departures: Everyday
Duration: 4 Days / 4 nights

The Salar de Uyuni or “salt flats” is a one of the highlights of a trip to Bolivia and shouldn’t be missed as it is a unique place in the world.The terrain in this areaand the desert areas beyond, is harsh and conditions are basic so you should not expect a lot of comfort but the rewards are well worth it. No one knows for sure how much salt makes up the salt flats (salar de uyuni) but it is estimated at many millions of tons & it has been widely publicized in recent years as the worlds largest source of lithium.If you search for salt flats (salar de uyuni) and lithium on the internet you will find thousands of articles about these lithium deposits and the salt falts (salar de uyuni) themselves. Apart from the incredible salt flats (salar de uyuni) themselves a multiday tour will visit red and green colored lakes with flocks of flamingos, hot geyser fields, hot springs and pass by barren volcanic desertscapes with surreal rock formations.

Overview

 

Day 1: Tourist bus La Paz – Uyuni

Day 2: Transfer Bus Office – Operator’s Office – Salar de Uyuni (shared)

Day 3: Salar de Uyuni

Day 4: Salar de Uyuni – Overnight bus to La Paz

Itinerary

Day 1: Tourist bus La Paz – Uyuni

Inclusions: Transport and bilingual english-spanish guide.
“Todo Turismo” Bus La Paz – Uyuni
Bus leaves at 21:00 from La Paz bus Station and arrives next morning at 07:00 in Uyuni – Light dinner on board.

Day 2: Transfer Bus Office – Operator’s Office – Salar de Uyuni (shared)

From the office in Uyuni, we leave at 11:00 a.m. in a 4×4 drive headed for the train cemetery, where we will walk around the historic locomotives. We travel to Colchani and visit a salt miner workshop and the many handicraft shops. Traveling into the Salar, we stop at the salt pyramids where locals collect the salt for processing, followed by a stop of the eyes of Salar – where water bubbles up from under the salt crust. We then have a quick stop at a salt hotel – where everything is made of salt – and you can take pictures and we will have lunch. Departing into the Salar, we head to Incahusasi Island, where hundreds of cacti litter the petrified coral island; allowing for some great photos. We then head west towards the small village of Agua Quisa to spend the night where dinner will be served and a hot shower can be had (hot shower is 10 Bs.). We will stop multiple times in the middle of the Salar for photos where visitors are welcome to take the popular perspective pictures.
Accommodation at basic lodge/shelter (shared rooms and bathrooms)

Day 3: Salar de Uyuni

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. we will have breakfast before heading out for our exciting second day of adventure. After an hour long travel, we enter the small Salt Lake of Chiguana in the south of Salar de Uyuni. Surrounded by many dormant volcanoes and a semi-active one (Ollague) the views offer a day full of picture taking. We then head further south to the Andean lagoons where flocks of flamingoes can be seen. Continuing on, we head to the massive Siloli desert (the highest and driest in the world at 4,550m. above sea level). Crossing the desert, we end up at the famous Rock Tree (a lava formation), followed by a stop at the amazing Red Lagoon, with its red water and many flamingoes. The car will then bring us to a shelter to spend the night in the desert where hot chocolate, coffee or tea can be had with a delicious meal for dinner.
Accommodation at basic lodge/shelter (shared rooms and bathrooms)

Day 4: Salar de Uyuni – Overnight bus to La Paz

Beginning around 5 a.m., we embark on an hour-long journey up to 5,000 m. to a place called Sol de Mañana where visitors can venture into the smoking crater to catch a glimpse of the boiling water inside. We then travel to a hot spring where you can take a relaxing, bath in the 35 Cº water and warm your bones. We will then have breakfast next to the warmth of the hot springs before visiting the Dali Desert (named after the surrealist painter Salvador Dali) and the mineral waters of the Green Lagoon at the foot of yet another volcano, the enormous Licancabur. At this point we return to Uyuni on a 6 hour drive – stopping periodically to stretch our legs and have lunch – arriving around 18:00 where the tour will end. If you want to go Chile on the third day after the Green Lagoon, the company can arrange a transfer bus that will take you to San Pedro de Atacama. The ticket for this bus is included in the tour price.

Transfer to the Bus Office
“Todo Turismo” Bus Uyuni – La Paz
Bus leaves at 20:00 from the Bus Station in Uyuni and arrives next morning at 06:00 to the Bus Station in La Paz. Light dinner on board. End of service.

Included

Included:

  • Transfer hotel – Bus Station
  • Tourist Bus La Paz – Uyuni
  • Tour Uyuni 3D/2N: Full board, shared transportation, two night accommodation (hostel & refuge), hot water bottles, bilingual (Spanish-English) tour guide.
  • Tourist Bus Uyuni – La Paz

Not Included:

  • 30 Bs. for Incahuasi Island, Sleeping Bags, 10 Bs. for hot shower, 150 Bs for National Park Eduardo Avaroa – REA.

Recommendations:

Sunglasses, sun block, warm clothes for the night, toilet paper, some snacks, a hat if you want, extra water, money for park entrances fee and toilets on the way, bathing suit for the hot springs.