Salar de Uyuni (The Uyuni Salt Flats) is an unreal place that keeps you saying, “OOh, aah.” during your visit. It should be on your itinerary if you are traveling to Bolivia.
Located in the southern part of Bolivia, the Uyuni Salt Flats are the largest salt flats in the world and are filled with unique and rugged landscapes.
We still cannot believe a place like this exists! It has been one of our major highlights during our travels.
But we know that planning a trip to the Uyuni Salt Flats can be intimidating, so we created this guide to help you plan the ultimate trip!
Common FAQ about Uyuni Salt Flats
What’s the difference between visiting in the wet season and the dry season?
The difference between the dry season and the wet season is how the salt flats look. The dry season runs from May to October, and the salt flats turn into a sheet of white, crystalline salt crust that looks like it stretches endlessly. During the Wet Season, November to April, the salt flats turn into a shallow lake, giving a giant mirror effect.
How cold does it get at the Uyuni Salt Flats?
During the day, temperatures can range from 16°C to 20°C (60°F to 68°F) in the summer months (November to March) and around 10°C to 15°C (50°F to 59°F) in winter (June to August). However, the strong sun can make it feel warmer.
Nights are much colder, often dropping to -5°C to -15°C (23°F to 5°F) in winter and 0°C to -5°C (32°F to 23°F) in summer.
Strong winds can make it feel even colder, especially during the dry season.
Do I need to book a tour in advance?
You should book a tour in advance to secure your seat and tour. However, many tour agencies still have availability the day before.
What is the elevation of the Uyuni Salt Flats?
The elevation of Salar de Uyuni is 11,995 feet (3,656 meters) above sea level. Make sure you acclimate to the elevation!
When is the peak season for visiting Salar de Uyuni?
The peak season for visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats is during the Wet Season.
Planning your Trip
Now that we have gone over some common questions about the Uyuni Salt Flats, let’s dive into planning your trip!
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats depends on what you are looking for. With two very different seasons, you can’t go wrong either way.
If you want warmer temperatures and the iconic mirror effect, the best time to visit is the wet season, which runs from December to April.
Be aware that some areas on the itinerary may not be accessible because of water on the salt flats. However, this is not a huge issue.
If you want to go when there are slightly fewer crowds and the salt flat is pure crystallized, white salt, then the dry season is for you. This would be May – November.
The pros of the dry season are that you can get to more places in the salt flats since there is no water blocking any direction. The weather will also typically be very sunny and pleasant. But it will get chilly!!
How to Get There
This might be the most challenging part of the tour, so we have broken it down into the most common ways to get to Uyuni.
Most people begin their Salt Flat adventure by flying into La Paz, Bolivia, which is about 8 hours by car away! Other major cities people fly into are San Pedro de Atacama in Chile or Santa Cruz, Bolivia (still multiple hours away from Uyuni!). There are a few ways to get to your destination.
Fly: You can take a domestic flight to Uyuni Airport from the city you fly into. Ticket prices typically range from $100 to $200 USD for a round trip, depending on the season and how far in advance you book. The flight is about an hour long over the stunning Andes Mountains. The flights are generally operated by small regional airlines, offering basic but comfortable service, and they’re a convenient option for saving time compared to the long overland journey.
Flying is the most expensive option to reach Uyuni.
Work with your Tour Company: Coordinate with your tour company. Often, tour companies provide transportation from these major cities to Uyuni for an additional fee. If this interests you, contact the company before purchasing tickets to confirm.
Take the overnight bus! This is by far the cheapest way to get to the Salt Flats (of course, the way we took to get to Uyuni), with tickets costing about $13 – 25 USD one way. Buses generally depart in the evening, offering a budget-friendly option for long-distance travel, though road conditions can make for a somewhat bumpy ride. We purchased our tickets the day of at the bus station (literally 10 minutes before the bus left!) and honestly slept pretty well during the night!
Visa Requirements
Bolivia has different visa requirements for different countries. Be sure that you check with your countries visa requirements before traveling. Here is a website to help for American citizens.
Where to Stay Before and After your Tour in Uyuni
Tours of the Salt Flats typically begin in the morning. Since getting to Uyuni is an adventure in itself, we HIGHLY suggest arriving one day before your tour in Uyuni.
This will not only help you get acclimated to the altitude but also allow you to rest before the adventure begins.
Since it was Brandon’s birthday, we stayed in an amazing hotel built entirely from salt!! This was an incredible experience, and we highly recommend it for a luxury stay.
Luxury Stay: Hotel de Sal Luna Salada—Set in a remote area that overlooks Salar de Uyuni salt flats, this inventive hotel is made from salt blocks. The best part is that the hallways have wood-burning stoves, hammocks, and art!
Mid-Budget Stay: Hotel Nido del Flamenco—This hotel offers modern, clean rooms and kind staff who will help with transportation and recommendations.
Budget Stay: Hotel Salty House: Right in the center of Uyuni town, making it a perfect stay to explore the city!
Choosing a Tour
Another major decision you must make is what type of tour you want. Yes, you can explore the salt flats independently, but in this post, we will focus on different tours that are offered.
We selected a 3 day group tour and LOVED our experience but we want to let you know what the options are to help you pick a tour that you will love.
There are two main things you need to think about before you book: doing a private or group tour and how long you want your tour to last.
Private vs. Group Tours of The Uyuni Salt Flats
Private Tours: Private tours offer a personalized travel experience tailored to your preferences and schedule. Instead of following a fixed itinerary like on a group tour, you can choose your stops, spend more time at places you love, and skip ones that don’t interest you.
Private tours are perfect for a romantic couples’ adventure, for families, or for groups wanting privacy.
Private tours will be more expensive, but they allow you to customize your adventure.
Group Tours: This is a shared experience where travelers join others in a 4×4 vehicle, following a set itinerary led by a local guide. These tours are typically budget-friendly and offer a social atmosphere ideal for meeting other travelers.
Group tours are perfect for budget-conscious travelers and people who love to meet others!
If you are doing a multi-day tour, accommodations will typically be shared bedrooms, or you can pay an additional fee for a private room. Meals will also be family-style, making it a fun social experience.
The planning is hassle-free, and guides ensure you see all the major highlights, such as Incahuasi Island, colorful lagoons, and the Train Cemetery. However, you will not be able to customize your itinerary.
We felt like some of the stops were rushed but not so much that it impacted our experience.
Tour Duration: One Day vs. Multi-Day Tour
Once you decide if you want a private or group tour, it’s time to determine the duration of your trip. Again, there is no wrong decision. Think about how much time you have in your itinerary and how much time you want to spend here. So, let’s dive into the two options.
One-Day Tour: A one-day tour is perfect if you only want to explore the Uyuni Salt Flats and have a limited time frame. Tours typically start in Uyuni and last 7–9 hours.
A day trip will focus on seeing the main attractions in Uyuni and the Salt Flats without venturing outside of those areas. A one-day tour will allow you to spend quality time in the salt flats, take iconic photos, and then be back in Uyuni to explore another area tomorrow.
It is also more budget-friendly and still allows you to see iconic Salt Flat locations like the Train Cemetery, Incahuasi Island, and sunset over the flats.
Packing for Salar de Uyuni
Now that you have selected what tour you want to experience, let’s focus on what to pack!
Clothing
Pack layers for a salt flat tour to prepare for the high-altitude (11,985 feet (3,653 meters)) temperature swings, as it can be sunny and warm during the day but freezing at night, especially on multi-day tours. Bring a warm, insulated jacket, a windproof outer layer, and moisture-wicking base layers for flexibility. Lightweight, comfortable pants and long-sleeved shirts help protect against the sun. Comfortable hiking shoes or boots are ideal, especially for exploring rugged areas, and pack a small, waterproof bag for essentials to keep them safe from salt and dust.
Here is our packing list. We each brought one backpack with the essentials for our multi-day trip. The tour office let us store our other bags in their office until we returned.
Gear
Don’t forget to pack your Camera, tripod, power banks, and protective gear for electronics.
You may also want to pack:
– Altitude Sickness Remedies: Pills, coca leaves, or ginger tea to ease symptoms.
– Wet Wipes and Hand Sanitizer: Facilities may be basic or unavailable.
– Headlamp or Flashlight: For nighttime use in remote areas.
Food and Water
The days will be long, so you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of water and some snacks. There will be a few stops in smaller villages where you can purchase these goods!
Bring Cash with you on Your Tour of The Uyuni Salt Flats
Remember to bring cash with you. The tour company does not cover some experiences/parks for which you will need to pay the entrance fee.
Entrance to Incahuasi Island (Cactus Island): 30 bolivianos
Entrance to Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa: 150 bolivianos
Entrance to hot springs swimming: 6 bolivianos
Entrance to bathrooms: Typically 2 – 4 bolivianos
You will also want cash to buy some food, water, and maybe a few souvenirs!
The city of Uyuni has ATMs you can use to withdraw Bolivianos, but once you leave the city, there will be no more ATMs.
We brought 700 bolivianos with us, and it was just enough for the whole tour.
Highlights of the Uyuni Salt Flats
Train Cemetery: The train cemetery is about 5 minutes from the Uyuni City Center.
This open-air museum was unintentionally created when it became too unprofitable to use the trains, and the operators left them there.
Now you can explore dozens of old rusty trains. What we loved about this stop is that there are really no rules. You can climb all over the trains.
There is also some 3-D art in the area to explore as well.
Colchani Village: This village processes the salt from the flats. It is a very touristy stop with lots of vendors and tour groups.
Salt Flats: The main reason you went on the tour is to see the salt flats! Guides have a way of spreading out, so it feels like you have the place all to yourself. This is where you can take those fun perspective photos!
Incahuasi Island: This was one of our favorite stops. Right in the middle of this giant flat of salt, a cacti-filled island shoots up. It does cost 30 bolivianos to enter. At the top of the island, you get incredible views of the salt flats and the mountains around you.
This location may not be accessible during the wet season.
Lagoons: You will see so many lagoons: red, green, blue, oh my! And in some of the lagoons, you will see flamingos!
This is for multi-day tours only.
Stargazing: The stars were incredible! You could see the Milky Way with the naked eye. Beware, it will be cold out, so bring those layers!
Geysers: Sol de Mañana is a geothermal area with boiling mud pools. You can walk around the area and get really close to the geysers.
This is for multi-day tours only.
Typical Uyuni Salt Flat Itineraries
You may be wondering what a typical itinerary looks like, so we created a ‘typical’ day(s) for your tour. These can change, especially due to weather or if you have a private tour to customize your itinerary.
One Day Uyuni Salt Flat Itinerary
Meet your tour company at their office (around 9:00 – 10:00 am).
Visit the Train Cemetery (free entry): Time to walk around and play on the trains!
Visit Colchani Village: You may go to the salt processing building, and your guide will give you some background information. Multiple people will be selling things, and it does feel like a tourist trap.
Lunch at Colchani Village.
Enter into the Salt Flats!
Visit Dakar Monument and The Salt Hotel (this is also a popular spot to get lunch).
Salt Flat Time: your guide will find a place to take pictures and enjoy the salt flats.
Incahuasi Island (30 bolivianos to enter): This spot is one of my favorites! An island filled with cacti popping out of nowhere. A loop trail takes you to the top for great views!
Sunset on the Salt Flats.
Back to Uyuni.
Three Day Uyuni Salt Flat Tour Itinerary
Day One
Meet your tour company at their office (around 9:00 – 10:00 am).
Visit the Train Cemetery (free entry): Time to walk around and play on the trains!
Visit Colchani Village: You may go to the salt processing building, and your guide will give you some background information. Multiple people will be selling things, and it does feel like a tourist trap.
Lunch at Colchani Village.
Enter into the Salt Flats!
Visit Dakar Monument and The Salt Hotel (this is also a popular spot to get lunch).
Salt Flat Time: your guide will find a place to take pictures and enjoy the salt flats.
Incahuasi Island (30 bolivianos to enter): This spot is one of my favorites! An island filled with cacti popping out of nowhere. A loop trail takes you to the top for great views!
Sunset on the Salt Flats.
Head to your accommodation and eat dinner!
Stargazing if the weather is good.
Day 2
This is a heavy driving day.
Breakfast and pack up.
Stop at a village for a snack and bathroom break.
Drive to some volcanoes! We stopped at Volcano Ollangue
Visit the lagoons: You will stop by many lagoons today (many of them have flamingos!)
Lunch Break
Drive to the Desert of Siloli
Visit the stone formations in Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve
Arrive at Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa (150 bolivianos to enter). This is where the Red Lagoon is located!
Arrive at accommodation and eat dinner.
Stargaze!
Day 3
Early Rise Time
Typically, an early start (ours was 5:00 am), breakfast, and pack up.
Drive to Sol de Mañana and explore the geysers.
Visit and swim in the hot springs (6 bolivianos)
Visit the Blue Lagoon.
Drive back to Uyuni or head to Chile: One of the best parts of this tour is they can help transfer you to Chile! This is great if you are continuing your journey south. The drive back to Uyuni is about 5 hours. You do stop for lunch and some groups stops at another village along the way.
Our Experience on a 3 Day Uyuni Salt Flat Tour
We were lucky enough to have time to do the 3-day tour, and we absolutely loved it!! We had no idea we would see so much in such a short amount of time.
It sometimes felt rushed, but overall, our guide did an AMAZING job. The tour group was so kind and informative, and it was worth every penny.
We are dreaming about returning during the wet season to see the iconic mirror effect!
You can watch our full adventure here:
Final Thoughts
The Uyuni Salt Flats should be on everyone’s bucket list! It is filled with adventure, rugged landscapes, and amazing people.
Whether you have one day or three, it is well worth the stop.
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