tupiza tour uyuni

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Backpacking in Bolivia , Backpacking in South America , Unique Experiences

Tupiza tours: uyuni salt flat tours from tupiza bolivia.

The Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia are truly incredible.  One of the highlights of my time in South America as a whole, and an experience not to be missed in Bolivia , a tour of the Uyuni Salt flats is something you will remember for a long time to come.  The first time I went to Bolivia, I actually decided to skip el Salar de Uyuni.  That was a mistake, although I still had a great time exploring Sucre , Samaipata & La Paz !  Luckily, I had the time, and the flexibility to be able to return to Bolivia later on in my journey, and this time I knew I had to do a Salar de Uyuni tour.  This time, I was coming from Argentina into southern Bolivia, so decided to take one of the Uyuni Salt Flat tours from Tupiza, with Tupiza Tours.

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READ MORE: Backpacking Bolivia Travel Guide

What is the Salar de Uyuni Salt Flat?

First thing is first.  El Salar de Uyuni, or Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia are the largest salt flats in the world.   The Salar is actually called el Salar de Thunupa but is more commonly known as el Salar de Uyuni due to the proximity to the town of Uyuni.  Covering an area of 10,582 square kilometres, the Salar is thought to have 11 layers of salt, which vary between two and ten metres thick, covering mud & brine below.  The whole salar is estimated to contain around 10 thousand million tons of salt, of which around 25 thousand tons are extracted each year.

As the name suggests, the salt flats vary very little in height, no more than one metre, although their elevation at 3656 metres above sea level can cause problems with altitude sickness.  Drink plenty of water, and try to allow time in Bolivia before your tour to acclimatise to the altitude.

Where is El Salar de Uyuni?

The Salar is in the south west of Bolivia, not far from the border with Chile.  Uyuni itself is a town approximately 550km south of La Paz, and is the nearest large town to the salt flats, and where most of the tours leave from.

Which Salar de Uyuni Tour is Best for You?

The first thing to consider when planning your visit to the Salt Flats is how it will fit with the rest of your itinerary.  There are essentially 3 different routes, which can also be done in the reverse, depending on where you are coming from, and where you plan to go next.

Round Trip Uyuni – Uyuni

Starting the Salar tour in Uyuni is great for those who are coming from Machu Picchu, Peru, or Bolivia, and planning to continue their journey in Bolivia.  This is usually a 3 day tour, although if you are short on time it is possible to do a Salar de Uyuni day trip to see just the salt flats – but you will miss out on the other incredible scenery and coloured lagoons.  If you have time I definitely recommend the longer Uyuni tours which allow you to fully explore the area.

Atacama Chile – Uyuni (or Uyuni – Atacama Chile)

Starting and/or ending in Chile is best for those coming from, or going to Chile.  There are several companies based in Santiago de Chile or Atacama which run tours from Atacama to Salar de Uyuni.

Tupiza – Uyuni (or Uyuni – Tupiza)

Salt flat tours from Tupiza in the South of Bolivia, or ending in Tupiza, are best for those coming from, or going to Argentina.  It is also possible to start and finish the tour in Tupiza, although this means a long final day’s drive back to Tupiza.

Both of the options from Atacama and Tupiza actually take in more of the Bolivian countryside before arriving to the Salt Flats.  Generally, these tours are over 4 days, as you cover much more ground.  There is a lot of time spent driving in the 4×4, but the scenery is constantly changing and varies from desert sand, to rocky formations, colourful lagoons and snow-capped mountains – as well of course as the salt flats themselves.

How to Get to Uyuni

If you decide to start your tour from Uyuni, you can get a night bus from La Paz to Uyuni, which also runs the reverse route again on a night bus from Uyuni to La Paz.  There are several companies which run the route – Todo Turismo has the best reputation, with comfortable seats and a toilet, however I took a cheaper bus which was just fine (although without a toilet on board).  Don’t expect to get too much sleep though!  The road used to be unpaved, but is now paved all the way, and journey time is around 8 hours.  Todo Turismo leaves La Paz at 9pm.

If you are short on time, it is possible to take a night bus from La Paz, and start the Uyuni tour that morning, and take another night bus back to La Paz that night, if you wish.  It is best to book the buses in advance if you can, to make sure you are guaranteed a place.

You can also fly to El Salar de Uyuni Airport, flights from La Paz to Uyuni cost around $250-$300, depending on the time of year, and take around 50 minutes.

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Hostels in Uyuni Bolivia

If you prefer to spend a night in Uyuni, there are several hostels and hotels in Uyuni to choose from.  There isn’t much to do in Uyuni itself, so one night before the tour would be enough.

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The Best Time of Year to Visit El Salar de Uyuni

Deciding when to visit the Salar de Uyuni is a tough call.  In general, dry season is best as in rainy season some of the routes across the salar become impassable, and Isla Incauhuasi is closed.  However, if you can time it right to visit when there is still some water on the ground you have a chance of taking those beautiful photographs with a mirror-like reflection between the sky & the standing water on the salar.  With nothing but salt for miles around, you lose all sense of perspective and it seems like the sky goes on forever.  I went in March, and although there was still some water I didn’t get the chance to take those reflection shots, so it also depends on the weather, your driver, and a good dose of luck too!

Choosing a Company for the Uyuni Tour

I was getting rather worried when I was trying to find the company which offers the best Salar de Uyuni tours.  For every good review one company got, there was a terrible review to match it.  Horror stories of drunk drivers, crashes on the freezing salt flats, breakdowns, poor organization, rude guides and everything that could possibly go wrong plagued the reviews on Tripadvisor.  It seemed that the various tour agencies contracted the freelance guides, and the experience totally depended on the guide.  In the end, due to my route from Northern Argentina to La Paz, I took the tour from Tupiza, to finish in Uyuni.  If you are taking this route, I was very happy with my choice of Tupiza Tours .  For other routes, check recent reviews on Tripadvisor for up to date experiences from other travellers.  Salar de Uyuni tour companies with reasonable reviews include Red Planet, although I can’t personally vouch for them as I didn’t travel with them.

My Experience on El Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats

I decided to start my Uyuni tour from Tupiza, as I was currently in Iguazu Falls, and wanted to finally head back through Bolivia to see some friends at Colibri Camping who I had met last time I was in Bolivia, then back to Peru.

I contacted both of the top Salar de Uyuni tour companies in Tupiza; Tupiza Tours and Torre Tours.  I had asked a couple of questions about travelling alone to see if there were other people on the tours for the date I was looking for, and Torre Tours replied with a stock response without answering my questions.  Tupiza Tours answered my questions, and offered a better rate for a 4 person tour, and Erika from Tupiza Tours assured me there would be a full tour going to avoid me paying extra fees.  Based on this initial contact, I chose to book with Tupiza tours & I’m very happy I did.

As I mentioned, there seemed to be an element of luck with which guide you get on the tour, but our guide was fabulous.  Sadly, I have forgotten his name as I lost my original notes when I had my laptop stolen in Ecuador.  He was fabulous, explaining our route and the landscape we passed through.  He was an excellent driver, safe and experienced, and was the first to drive across the Salar at night so we could reach Isla Incahuasi first for sunrise.  Driving across a huge expanse of salt desert with no signposts, and no compass, is no easy task, and other drivers seemed hesitant to lead what became a convoy of cars across the salt flats.

Another reason I was very happy with my choice, is that Tupiza Tours had 2 cars going out on the same day, so we shared one cook between the two cars.  Again, this was pretty lucky, but the cook usually went with the other car so we had plenty of space for spreading out in our car!  I also noticed each car had a spare wheel, which came in handy when we found Torre Tours’ car needed a replacement, which they didn’t have.  I felt our drivers were more experienced, and better prepared than Torre Tours, who also had 6 tourists plus their cook & guide in the car.

The food was good, and we had plenty of hot tea and snacks too.  The coca tea definitely helped with the altitude!

The Route from Tupiza to Uyuni through Southern Bolivia

We left Tupiza early in the morning, and headed through the Quebrada de Palala to the Sillar, where we passed fascinating coloured rock formations.  We visited an abandoned colonial ghost town, San Antonio Viejo, which was plagued with mysterious illness so the people moved away, leaving creepy ruins of homes and churches.  We spent the night in Quetena, and set out again early the next day.

The second day of the tour was all about lakes.  We visited several coloured lagoons, all taking on the colour of the minerals from the mountains around them.  La Laguna Colorada one spectacular, and had some flamingos sifting through the lake water.  Then, the scenery changed to sandy desert as we crossed ‘Dali’s Desert’ where bizarre rock formations stand in the middle of nowhere.  Along the way we also spotted a couple of ostriches and vicuna, a rare relative of the llama family.

On the third day, we crossed the Desert of Siloli, with more strange rock formations including the ‘Arbol de Piedra’ (the stone tree).  We visited more lakes, passed active volcanos and the Salar de Chiguana to finish in Atulcha, spending the night there in a salt hotel.

On the final day, we left when it was still dark, to drive across our first part of the Salar de Uyuni, to reach Isla Incahuasi for sunrise.  This bizarre island in the middle of the Salar is formed from volanic rock, and offers 360 degree views of the Salar.  It is also covered with huge cacti, some up to 1200 years old!  We climbed to the top and waited for the sunrise, a beautiful sight indeed.  After breakfast, we took some of the famous Salar de Uyuni photographs, which was entertaining trying to get the perspective just right.  Our guide had brought some props, and with a bit of imagination we got some great shots.

We then visits the community of Colchani, where the first salt hotel was built, and where they extract salt from the Salar for processing.  We ended the tour at the rather creepy train cemetery just outside the town of Uyuni.

How Much does the Salar de Uyuni Tour Cost

Salar de Uyuni tour prices vary quite a bit.  Remember that cheap is not always best when it comes to your safety, however, in most cases the tours all offer very similar packages, and there is no such thing as a Salar de Uyuni luxury tour.  All accommodation in the salt hotels is pretty basic, no hot water in most cases, and with temperatures dropping to below zero at night due to the high altitude, luxury just doesn’t come into it!  I was quoted a cost of 5200 BS between 4 people, so 1300 BS per person in 2016.

What is Included in the Salar de Uyuni Tours

Transport in a 4×4 (some companies will have a maximum of 4 people plus the driver & cook, others have 6 people max, plus the driver which can get cosy!)

Three meals per day: breakfast, lunch & dinner, excluding breakfast on the 1 st day and dinner on the last day.

Drinking water

Basic accommodation

Driver/Spanish speaking guide & cook

Additional Costs:

Entry for the Reserva Nacional Eduardo Avaroa (150 Bs in 2016)

Entry for the Isla Incahuasi (30 Bs in 2016)

Payments for showers/bathroom facilities where appropriate (approx. 15 Bs in 2016)

English speaking guide, if required approx. 200 Bs per person

Personal spending & tips

What Should You Bring on the Salar de Uyuni Tour:

Photocopy of your passport                            Sleeping bag (available to rent if needed)

Warm clothing                                                    [amazon_textlink asin=’B00ZLN4VCO’ text=’Hiking boots’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’talesofaback-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’c500860d-3051-11e8-a74c-196bd4b898c2′] [amazon_textlink asin=’B004D2DR0Q’ text=’Sun screen’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’talesofaback-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’d0d53d96-3051-11e8-ad10-3b596aadb007′]                                                        [amazon_textlink asin=’B013MSPS1M’ text=’Sun hat’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’talesofaback-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’03f48d2d-3052-11e8-9346-5b8478579a28′]

Woolly hat & gloves                                          Bathing suit

What are the Salt Hotels?

All accommodation on the Salar de Uyuni itself is in Salt Hotels.  A salt hotel or ‘hotel de sal’ is physically made of salt bricks, with a salt floor, and although the beds were comfortable I was still glad of the extra sleeping bag I had booked.  There were limited shower facilities, and shared bathrooms, and I shared a room with one or three of my fellow (male) tourists.  As it was cold inside I still wore several layers of clothes inside, but I was actually surprised at how nicely decorated our salt hotel was.

Overall, the tour of the Salar de Uyuni was one of the highlights of my travels around South America.  I am very glad I chose to do the route from Tupiza as we saw more of Bolivia’s incredible rugged scenery.  If you are a fussy eater, or a big eater then take some snacks with you, bring plenty of warm clothes, and enjoy!

Have you been to el Salar de Uyuni?  Any other tips you would like to share?  Please let me know in the comments below.

By the way, this wasn’t a sponsored trip, I loved my experience and wanted to share with you all the details of the Uyuni salt flats tours from Tupiza.

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Hi! I'm Claire Sturzaker, a 30-something foodie traveller who loves to enjoy the best of a destination without breaking the bank. I'm here to help you and all women backpackers to plan their best budget travel adventure. I am an avid supporter of female solo travel, and took my first solo trip 20 years ago! I love to write about travel, hostels, backpacking and van life.

20 thoughts on “ Tupiza Tours: Uyuni Salt Flat Tours from Tupiza Bolivia ”

Awesome, it is a great trip! Actually I took my time with a couple of weeks – I crossed the border at Foz do Iguacu to Paraguay on foot then took a bus (I went to Asuncion then Encarnacion to see some of Paraguay but you can just pick one if you like) then to Corrientes in Argentina, then Salta, and north to Jujuy, Tilcara and La Quiaca (just spending the night) before crossing into Bolivia to Tupiza. If you’re short on time I’m not sure how quickly you could do this – I presume you could also take a bus from the Argentinean side of Iguazu straight to Posadas (close to Encarnacion) then on to Salta but either way would take a few days probably, unless you can find a bus direct to Salta from Iguazu.

Great post! We are actually visiting Iguazu Falls now and then planning on making our way to Bolivia. First on our agenda is the salt flats! How did you get to Tupiza from Iguazu??

Hi Libby! I emailed them initially, I think I sent a form through their website – I’ve had a look at my emails and found these two addresses for them [email protected] and [email protected] – they replied to me on the same day so hopefully it won’t take too long! I don’t have a phone number for them, just what is on the website. Good luck!

Hi Claire! Were you able to get in touch with Tupiza tours ahead of time by phone or by email? I haven’t been able to get through when I called the number listed on their website and am just wondering what the turnaround is for an email response from them? Do you happen to have the number you reached the woman Erika on if you did in fact communicate with them by phone? Thanks in advance for the help. 🙂

I almost considered not going to Bolivia because I need a visa and it is really a painful process to apply for it in advance. But your post inspires me to visit and the same as you, I dont want to leave South America with regrets, so I will try to get my visa in Chile or Argentina and go from there. Thanks for mentioning the name of the tour companies. You are right about the reviews, I really cannot find a tour agent not have a bad review.

I really want to make it to the salt flats in Bolivia sometime! We’ve been to the salt flats in Utah, but they are much smaller and less diverse so Salar de Uyuni would be such a cool adventure. I always love the perspective shots–they make me laugh! 🙂 Thanks for the great breakdown on routes–super helpful tips! Looks like you had a great trip!

This is great info. I am going to pin this. I really want to visit the salt flats so this is great informative post.

Oh, this looks incredible and it reminded me of the similar kilometer expanses in Kutch. Your pictures are simply amazing as well as some shots are super cool. The train cemetery too looks cool and I think it will be a different experience staying at salt hotels. Overall, this whole trip looks super exciting.

What an incredible experience. Bolivia is on my bucketlist. I hope my South America dream trip comes true soon!

The salar de Uyuni are really high on our bucket list! I always thought it^s only the flats, but you showed so many other fantastic landscapes <3 The salt hotels sound really cool! Thank you for the tip with the extra booked sleeping bag 😀 Kudos for the shot at the train cemetery!

This is a great guide! So helpful to know that you had a good experience with Tupiza Tours. I’ve heard so many nightmare experiences about some of the tour companies, especially regarding drunk driving, so it’s great to know that there are some that put safety as a higher priority.

Looks like you had an amazing trip! I would love to experience this, thank you for all your tips, safety is so important. Your photos are beautiful and the salt hotel looks very interesting, can’t believe everything is made with salt!

This is such fantastic information! I was just in Peru and considered going to Bolivia just for the salt flats but it didn’t work out! Great post!

Yay! So happy to see this because this trip has been on our travel bucket list. It looks so beautiful there and can’t wait to go.

I’m visiting the Salt flats next year. missed out on it this year due to travel problems :/ But your post just gave me more motivation.

I’ve wanted to visit here for awhile now. I am so fascinated by the fact there is SO MUCH SALT in one place! Loving your photos =)

Is there anything that you didn’t write here? You have covered each and every details of the tour. It is like a one stop shop. I hate it too when I get impersonal and stock replies from companies. By reading your post I understand the importance of choosing the correct season and how important is ‘luck’ in getting those reflective photos. I almost got a virtual tour of Salar through your blog!

The salt flats look incredible. Must have been an out of the world experience. The Train cemetery also caught my attention and it sounds really fascinating. I was reminded of similar salt flats in Kutch, India which has a similar kind of landscape.

I’ve never heard of this and it looks so amazing. Great tips on drinking plenty of water and the time to acclimatise yourself. I also love reading personal experiences with tour companies. Based on the two responses you received, I would have done the same thing and gone with the one that had a better response. It really goes to show how important that initial contact is!

Learning about the salt flats was fascinating. Had no idea that it covered ten thousand million tons of salt! How did all that salt get there in the first place? Also so sorry to hear that you lost your laptop in Ecuador.

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Tupiza to Uyuni Tour

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2021-07-09 Updated: 2021-07-09

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Recent reviews of this tour

Rating: 5.0

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The tour includes:

• 4x4 vehicle
• Spanish speaking Driver/Guide
• Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Accommodation
• Mineral Water

Services not included in the rate:

• English Speaking Tour Guide

Recommendations:

• Heating and hot water is not available. Users must carry sleeping bags
• The Tour operator rents sleeping bags during the route at extra charge
• Carry universal adaptor - for camera/batteries/iPod
• Bring spare camera batteries
• Summer is from December to February and winter is from June to August. Take a note that summer is rainy and the Uyuni Salt Flat may become inaccesible. The climate is also affected by the altitude and it is generally cold.

Location of the tour

The Tour starts in Tupiza town and it will finish in Uyuni town. It is also possible to start in Uyuni and end the tour in Tupiza. The tour has been designed to cover the most important points of interest of the area.

During the 4 days length of the tour tourist will visit important attractions such us Tupiza surroundings, the amazing lagoons, the magnificent Uyuni Salt Flat, Licancabur Volcano, Stone Tree and more.

Tour Itinerary:

The tour will start at the Tour Operator headquarters in Tupiza town at 8:30 a.m. During the first day travelers will have the opportunity to visit Palala, Sillar, Awanapampa, Cerillos, San Pablo and San Antonio.

The night can be spent at a Basic Accommodation or a Tayka Hotel.

We will start our journey at Sol de Mañana Geysers, moving on to Quetena, Kollpa Lagoon, Green Lagoon, Dali desert, Licancabur volcano, Huayllajara.

During the third day we will discover the beauty of Colorada (Red)Lagoon, Stone Tree, Siloli desert, Cañapa and Honda Lagoons, San Juan, Chaiviri and Chuvica (Salt Hotel).

The last day of the tour is dedicated to visiting the magnificient Uyuni Salt Flat. You can also trek on Incahuasi Island, visit Playa Blanca Hotel de Sal, Ojos de Sal and finish the journey in Uyuni town.

The tour will finish around 14:00. Generally the tour ends at the Bus Terminal in Uyuni town because most of the travelers will take their connections to other destinations. However, you can also choose to travel back to Tupiza, arriving around 19:00 p.m.

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Nearby tourist attractions:.

Uyuni Salt Flats

Green Lagoon

Salvador Dalí desert

Colchani village near Uyuni

Polques Hot Springs

Town of Uyuni

Cementerio de Trenes - Train Graveyard

Town of San Pedro de Atacama in Chile

Andean Fauna

Incahuasi Island

Eyes of the Salt Flat (Ojos de Sal)

Amazing Lagoons

Cañapa Lagoon

Ramaditas Lagoon

Shiarkhota Lagoon

Honda Lagoon

Salar de Chiguana

Siloli Desert

Eduardo Avaroa Reserve

Thermal waters and geysers

San Cristobal town

Licancabur Volcano

Tunupa Volcano

Ollague Volcano

Bolivia Travel Expert

Hotels in uyuni.

How to get to Uyuni and when to go, Uyuni

Tips for taking a tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni) in Bolivia., Uyuni

The Great Salt Flat of Uyuni and its Surroundings, Uyuni

Uyuni Bus Terminal, Uyuni

The Top Tourist Attractions in Uyuni, Top

How to choose your tour in Uyuni?, Uyuni

Advantages of booking your Uyuni Shared Tour with us, Uyuni

All you need to know about the Salar de Uyuni, Uyuni

Perspective photos in the Uyuni Salt Flats: how to take them, Uyuni

When is the best time to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats?, Uyuni

Calama to Uyuni, Uyuni

Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve in Bolivia, Uyuni

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BUS TICKETS

La Paz - Uyuni Uyuni - La Paz La Paz - Uyuni - La Paz

CLASSIC TOURS

City Tour - La Paz Tiwanaku Chacaltaya + Moon Valley

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Pampas Jungle

MADIDI NATIONAL PARK

Chalalan Ecolodge San Miguel del Bala Mashaquipe Ecolodge

UYUNI SALT LAKE

1 Day Tour 2 Days Tour 3 Days Tour Tupiza – Uyuni 4 Days

MOUNTAINBIKING

The World's Most Dangerous Road (To the Yungas)

TREKKING IN LA PAZ

Choro Trek Taquesi Trek Tuni Condoriri – Laguna Chiarkota 1 Day (Ask for Pico Austria 1 Day) Tuni Condoriri – Laguna Chiarkota 2 Days Tuni Condoriri – Milluni 2 Days Tuni Condoriri – Milluni 3 Days Tuni Condoriri – Milluni + Climbing Huayna Potosí 5 Days

ICE CLIMBING

Huayna Potosí 2 Days Huayna Potosí 3 Days Pequeño Alpamayo 2 Days Cabeza de Cóndor 2 Days Illimani 4 Days Sajama 5 Days

PERU "MACHUPICCHU" – WONDER OF THE WORLD

City Tour – Cusco Machupicchu 1 Day Inka Trek 4 Days Salkantay Trek 5 Days

Tupiza – Uyuni

4 days / 3 nights.

We will leave Tupiza at 07:30 and visit the Quebrada de Palala, a spectacular jagged rock formation, formed over many years by intense erosion of the mountain side. After this you will head on to the Sillar where you will have a few minutes to get out and enjoy this dramatic landscape before we continue on through Nazarenito, a small gold mining community. Finally, you will arrive at San Pablo de Lípez (4250m- population 250). Then you will go to San Antonio de Lípez. You will head through the abandoned ghost town of San Antonio, a village once famous for its wealth in gold. After San Antonio you will pass Laguna Morejón and the area of the same name, with formations of eroded volcanic rock. You will pass through the town of Quetena Chico. Where we are going to spend the first night.

We will continue traveling to Quetena Grande and arrive at your first lagoon- Laguna Kolpa. Here large amounts of raw material are extracted for making soap. If you want, you can get out and take a few photographs before continuing on through the Salar the Chalviri to arrive at the hot springs in time for a swim and some lunch. You will have about an hour stop here.

Your next stop after lunch will be the Laguna Verde (4250 msnm), it is a saltwater lake located in the high Andes National Wildlife Reserve Andean Eduardo Abaroa, Bolivia, in the Potosí highlands. It has a size of 3.7 kilometres long and 2.3 kilometres wide and covers an area of 5.2 km2. It is coupled with the White by a small lagoon close, and presents an emerald green coloration due to the high mineral content of magnesium in its waters. Coastal has a perimeter of 10 kilometres, found at the feet of Volcano Licancabur (5868m), which represents the border between Chile and Bolivia. For your  interest: Laguna Verde´s rich green colour is caused by the high arsenic and magnesium content in the water.

El Desierto de Dalí (110 km2) is our next stop, a place with mountains of surrealist colours, reminiscent of the photos of Salvador Dalí and rock formations of petrified lava. Then we will spend the 2nd night in Villamar or Huayllajara.

After the breakfast you will go to Laguna Colorada, the tree stone and the valley of the rocks. From here you will drive past a series of lagoons to arrive at Laguna Hedionda to have lunch. Here you will see flamingos, vicuñas and possibly even an Andean fox. Then you will go to San Juan, a small town. After lunch we will pass by volcano Ollagüe, which is classed as semi-active, as its crater is constantly releasing smoke and continue through the Salar de Chiguana, San Juan and finally Puerto Chuvica (Basic Salt Hotel).

Today we will start the trip around 05:00 to see the sunrise in the middle of Salar de Uyuni. We will cross the immense Salar de Uyuni (3663 msnm- 12,000 km2). The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt plain in the world, stretching away in all directions as far as the eye can see. From here you can see volcano Tunupa impressively overhanging. The salt flats are made up of 11 separate layers with a thickness that ranges from 2 to 10m. The depth of salt is 120 meters, which is composed of overlapping layers of brine and mud lake.It is the biggest reserve of minerals such as lithium, magnesium, potassium , nitrogen, phosphorus and borax in the world. It has 14 small islands, the most important is the Incahuasi Island.

Around the island you can see the Ojos del Agua; literally translated as ‘eyes of water’, these are springs which act as pores for the salt flats. Leaving the salt bed we will visit Colchani, the village where the salt is processed. Here there are various artesanias to buy, both salt and Alpaca, which are the two main industries in the area.

Finally, after visiting the Cemetery of Trains whose characteristic are locomotives of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the tour finishes in Uyuni at around 14:00 in the central part of the city.

The tour includes: Jeep 4×4 on the tour, driver speaks Spanish and is also guide, full board on the tour, 3 nights lodging. The tour does not include: Sleeping bag, water and snacks, admission ticket to Fish Island, park Avaroa and others.

Price per person: 249 USD (minimum 1 person – backpacker service).

For tours that start within 48 hours please send us an e-mail

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• Perla de Bolivia Salt Flats Tour 4 Days - Uyuni to Tupiza

PERLA DE BOLIVIA SALT FLATS TOUR 4 DAYS - UYUNI TO TUPIZA

This is our 4-day salt flats tour option including English-speaking guide operated by Perla de Bolivia, starting from Uyuni and ending in Tupiza. First night in a salt hotel. This tour is only available as a private tour. A great option if you are planning to head south/to Argentina after your salt flats tour.

Trips to the Salar de Uyuni are an unforgettable experience but unfortunately the general standard of facilities and services are not very high in this remote area. We would like to make it clear that things are not as reliable, comfortable and professional as we would like on these tours so for this reason we do not promise more than what you will receive for your money. The accommodations and food will be basic. Due to the harshness of the terrain vehicle breakdowns are common. Still interested? Good, you should be because if you can put up with a bit of hardship you should have a great time. Take some extra snacks, plenty of warm clothes and a sleeping bag (included for this tour - ask for one before departing) and the accommodations won’t feel so bad. The drivers are used to breakdowns and are pretty adept at fixing their vehicles, they are always willing to help each other out and you are usually not stuck for long - so a bit of patience is often all you need. We believe if you are informed truthfully about the possible negative aspects of the tours you can prepare yourself better and will have a more positive experience.

The following is a typical tour but sometimes some things are omitted from a tour, sometimes additional things are included so this shouldn’t be seen as a rigid itinerary, although the most popular main sites are always included conditions permitting. If there is something you really want included your group should stress this to your driver at the start of the tour so he can plan accordingly.

This is our  4-day salt flats tour option including  English-speaking guide  operated by Perla de Bolivia , starting from Uyuni and ending in Tupiza .  First night in a salt hotel. This tour is only available as a private tour. A great option if you are planning to head south/to Argentina after your salt flats tour.

• Transportation in 4x4 vehicle 
• English-speaking guide and driver
• Sleeping bag
• Meals during the tour (take extra snacks as food can be quite plain)
• 1 night accommodation in a salt hotel (double/triple/quadruple rooms, most of them with private bathroom, some with shared - depends on availability)
• 2 night accommodation in basic hostel (private room with private or shared bathroom - depending on availability)
• Transport to Uyuni
• Entrance fees – 30 Bs + 150 Bs + 20 Bs + 6 Bs = 206 Bs total for the 3 days minimum (some itineraries visit some small attractions with small entrance fees)
• Water - you recommend you purchase 2 liters per person, per day to take with you
• Breakfast on first day, dinner on last day
• Sunglasses and sun cream 
• Additional snacks and beverages
• Torch - recommended
• This tour starts in Uyuni and DOES NOT include the cost of transport for getting there.  We can arrange flights, buses and trains for getting to Uyuni  - see them all in our Transport section.
• This is a private tour so the price will be per car. You will need to pay for the whole amount of seats regardless of how many of you are on the tour. This means that the larger the group, the cheaper per person it gets, up to a maximum of 5 people. If there are 5 to 10 of you then a whole second car must be paid for. For this specific tour we have arranged price to be shown always per car and not per person, so you will have to put 1 in the Quantity Box regardless of the amount of people.
• This is a private tour so it is more flexible than the other options that we offer. This means that we can adjust departure/arrival times according to your needs. If you arrive on an overnight bus and then have a connection from Tupiza, for example, we will make sure you don't miss your connections. Pickup from accommodation/bus terminal or also airport is provided (as long as you provide clear details on how and when you will get to Uyuni).
• Accommodation  - The accommodation for the first night will be in double/triple rooms in a private room in a salt hotel (salt hotel only in dry season, otherwise it will be in a regular accommodation). Room type is assigned depending on availability on the day. Most of the rooms (but not all of them) have private bathroom and showers (otherwise they will be shared). The second and third night will be in a private room in a basic refuge. There will be bathroom (shared or private depending on availability) but no shower.
• L uggage  - Big bags can be stored on top of the car but you will not have access to them until the evening. You will need to carry a small daypack with you during the day.
• Important  - Please note that for safety reasons, we won't be accepting bookings for tours starting between December 23rd and January 6th. You can read a more detailed explanation of why we don't do salt flats tours over Christmas/New Year period  HERE .
• These tours visit very remote areas that have very limited facilities. If you are ill or there is an accident there are no medical facilities other than Uyuni town and even these are basic. If things go wrong you are faced with the reality of travel in a remote area of a developing country. 
• Altitude sickness  - The salt flats tours travel to altitude of around 5000 meters so the majority of people will feel some effects. we recommend that you should be acclimitized to above 3000 meters before going on these tours and that you take headache tablets, altitude sickness: "soroche" tablets and any other medications that you may require.

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read through these common questions & answers - if you cant find what you want to know send us your questions using the Ask a Question button

We do not sell any salt flats tours from Dec 23rd through to Jan 6th because of safety concerns.  Specifically this is due to the high number of incidences of drunk driving that occur on salt flats tours during this time. Some of the companies we work with, for example Red Planet, also completely stop tours during this time for the same reason. We still don't sell tours with any company that we work with that does not stop completely during this period as whilst they are likely to be safer options the fact is there could be drunk drivers from other companies making the area less safe. From experience we think it is best to avoid the dangers and problems that occur this time of year.

Please do not ask us to recommend any companies for tours during this time as we do not recommend anyone for the reasons stated. If you must do a tour (and we understand this is a highlight and it would be bad to miss) we would suggest you do a one day tour only as the 3 day tours are more problematic for the drunk drivers (drivers tend to celebrate in the evening with friends in the local villages near the accommodations). Also keep a close eye on the condition of your driver if you do end up on a tour.

In our standard tour offerings we do not offer people the option to be able to upgrade hotels because this would involve taking one part of the group to the standard hotels and others to the upgraded hotel in a different area and therefore two different routes and too much additional driving. We can only offer hotel upgrade options if you are doing a private tour for this reason - please contact us for pricing if you are interested.

Salt flats tours in Uyuni usually start "approximately" 10.00 am to 11 am but this can vary. The reasons it can vary, apart from punctuality not being very common in Bolivia, can be for a number of different things. For example there is only one fuel station in Uyuni and it can be hard to get fuel quickly so drivers might have to queue for long periods to get fuel and this can affect preparations.

We usually request you to be at the local office at 9 AM to do your check-in, but if for example if your flight lands at 9 AM then no problem simply take a taxi to the office and be there as soon as you can - we will let the office now about your flight time and this will be taken into consideration. Also buses or flights arriving to Uyuni late (more common in Rainy season) can affect departure times - if someone in your assigned group is on transport that is late then the operator will try to wait as long as is possible to accomodate that so they can get on the tour that day - obviously there are limits to this and they dont want to wait too much as it effects the rest of the groups tour time. Tours starting in San Pedro usually start earlier around 8-8.30 am.

This salt flats tour starts in Uyuni and it does not included the price of getting to Uyuni. We can arrange transport (buses, trains, flights) from La Paz to Uyuni also – please visit out transport section HERE  to see some popular options.

The Salt Flats (salar de Uyuni) tours leave year round including during the rainy season and in fact many people try to visit during the rainy season in order to see the "mirror effect" of the water sitting atop of the salt flats and reflecting the sky which is an incredible sight. This is caused when the water table below the salt flats has risen enough to cause the water to sit on top of the salt. It is fine to visit the area when there is a certain amount of water but when it becomes too deep (after long sustained periods of rainfall in consectutive days) some places can become inaccesible such as Isla Incahuasi and these must then be omitted from the tours but they can usually continue visiting other parts of the salt flats and the area to the south (the colored lakes, geysers, hot springs etc) are usually not affected so tours are not cancelled completely.

The road between La Paz and Uyuni usually becomes a bit problematic with potholes and other damage caused but the constant rain and is worst in Mar/Apr time. The buses are sometimes cancelled due to this and other forms of transport such as train or flights are recommended or alternatively you can travel via Sucre / Potosi to Uyuni which is a better conditioned road that is less affected.

The town of Uyuni and the Salt Flats themselves are around 3700 meters (12139 feet) so 1 and 2 day tours are usually around this altitude only.

For 3 day tours you will visit much higher altitudes with the second nights’ accommodation near the Laguna Colorado area being at around 4300 meters and the Sol de Mañana geothermal field that is visited at around 4900 meters (16076 feet). You may also drive over a pass at  5000 meters (16404 feet), depending on the exact route taken, which will be the highest point.

On 2,3 and 4 day salt flat tours there will be a maximum of 6 travellers in the vehicle (1 in the front passenger seats, 3 in the  center seat row and 2 in the rear seat row) plus the driver/guide.

On 1 day tours there can be up to 7 people in the vehicle (although usually 6) as the group gets out of the vehicle much more often and comfort is not an issue like it is for the long driving distances of the multi day tours.

The planned schedule for this tour on the first night is to stay in a salt hotel and this happens for the majority of the year. During periods when the local conditions are bad (salar too flooded, deep snow in area etc) then a change of route / itinerary might be required and a stay in a salt hotel might not be possible. This would only be known closer to or actually on the departure date

People enjoy taking the interesting perspective style photos on the salt flats and of course there will be some time to stop and do this.  The exact amount of time is impossible to say as it will depend on a variety of factors such as how long you have taken at previous stops, weather conditions, the group dynamic etc and you also need to bear in mind there is a schedule to keep to so the driver will only allow the amount of time he can in order to keep to the schedule safely.

As for items to use in your photos, some drivers do have some fun items but some wont have anything especially for photo props. The best advice is to take something interesting things yourself so you can get unique shots – let your creative side go crazy!

Yes this is possible by prior arrangement, but if you wish to be dropped off back at Colchani after the tour , there will be an extra charge (please ask) as it is not on the standard route as tours return to Uyuni some 30 minutes drive away. Also, as the train cemetery is near Uyuni town then you would miss this visit out as it takes place before arriving to Colchani

Booking Form

How to book.

Fill in the required details and click "add to cart".You can then continue shopping for more items or click on the "cart" link at the top right hand corner of the page to complete your booking.

You must provide details for each passenger that you are booking for and also ensure that you change the qty box to show the correct amount of passengers that you are booking for.

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Tupiza Tours - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Rescheduling and cancellation flexibility in all our tours and programs

• Info Bolivia
• Alrededores de Tupiza
• Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid
• Horse Riding

SALARES & LAGUNAS

• Desde Tupiza
• Desde Uyuni
• Desde Chile
• Desde Argentina

VOLCANES DE LÍPEZ

Altiplano boliviano.

• Lago Titicaca
• Caminos del Inca & Bike
• Frontera Peruana

VALLES & VINOS

• Villa Abecia & Camargo
• Chiquitanía
• Parque Nacional Amboró
• Parque Nacional Madidi
• Parque Nacional Sajama
• Huayna Potosí
• VER PAQUETES EN MAPA
• Viajes a la Carta
• Viajes Promocionales
• Nuestros Hoteles
• Contáctanos

LICANCABUR DESDE UYUNI

4 días – 3 noches.

Conoce el espectacular Salar de Uyuni y asciende el imponente Volcán Licancabur desde donde podrás apreciar los espectaculares escenarios de Sud Lípez.

Incluye / No Incluye

Notas importantes, día 1: uyuni – gran salar – isla inkahuasi – atullcha.

Por la mañana salimos a las 09:30 am. A 10 min. del centro de la Ciudad de Uyuni se encuentra El Cementerio de Trenes. La excursión continua hacia el Mercado Artesanal de Colchani donde puede comprar artesanías de lana y sal. Se pasa a visitar una fábrica de sal para entender el arduo trabajo de refinación de la sal yodada.

De Colchani tenemos 15 min. de ruta para llegar hasta la gran maravilla de Bolivia “El Salar de Uyuni”, aquí vamos a visitar el lugar donde hacemos las extracciones de sal para la refinación, los Ojos de Sal, el primer Hotel de Sal (Playa Blanca) y luego visitamos la Isla Inkahuasi de origen volcánico donde usted puede apreciar más de 2000 cactus gigantescos y milenarios que crecen 1 cm. por año.

Después vamos a alejarnos algunos minutos para encontrar un lugar apropiado sin personas para hacer fotos con efectos o perspectiva las cuales son una particularidad en especial del Salar de Uyuni. Finalmente nos dirigimos hacia las orillas del Salar para apreciar un bello atardecer y luego llegar hasta una de las comunidades con hospedajes de Sal que hay a orillas del salar. 

OPCIONAL: Al caer la noche Tour Nocturno de Estrellas y Reflejos.

Día 2: ATULLCHA – SALAR DE CHUGUANA – RUTA DE LAS JOYAS – LAGUNA COLORADA - ALBERGUE DE ALTA MONTAÑA

Día 3: ascenso licancabur – desierto de dali – termas – geisers – villa mar.

Alrededor de las 03:00 a.m. se parte desde el refugio en el jeep 4x4 unos 8 km hasta el "Pueblo de Licancabur". A partir de este punto el ascenso con luz de linterna se realiza primero sobre el camino del Inca que les lleva directamente donde se ubican las primeras ruinas, se continua en lenta ascensión por un largo zigzag resbaloso de ceniza volcánica hasta llegar al borde del cráter 5916 mts. (Aprox. 6 h). Desde la cima del volcán se tiene una vista impresionante del cráter con su bella laguna helada. Posteriormente descenso en 4 horas. Hay que contar 8/10 horas ida-vuelta para los senderistas de nivel medio y aclimatado.

Después de la visita y fotografía, la excursión prosigue hacia los Geiseres de Sol de Mañana , un espectáculo asombroso donde se puede pasear cerca de los cráteres donde sale lava volcánica de colores diferentes a una temperatura de 90°C. Se prosigue al Desierto de Salvador Dalí y las Aguas termales de Polques , pozas de aguas minerales donde podrá disfrutar de un relajante baño.

Pernocte en Villa Mar.

Día 4: VILLA MAR – ITALIA PERDIDA – SAN CRISTOBAL – CEMENTERIO DE TRENES – UYUNI

Por la mañana se sale a las 08:30 a.m.

La expedición continua por magníficos paisajes salpicados de pequeñas poblaciones mineras, donde destaca la mina de plata la más grande de América del Sur y su iglesia colonial de San Cristóbal, Villa Alota, Rio Grande, San Agustín, Julica y lindos atractivos como el Canyon de l’Anaconda Laguna Negra, Laguna Vinto, Italia Perdida, Copa del Mundo, El Camello, zonas que albergan mucha fauna y flora del lugar como vicuñas y ñandúes (primos del avestruz).

Ya a 10 min. del centro de la Ciudad de Uyuni se encuentra El Cementerio de Trenes, un lugar donde se puede observar vetustos hierros oxidados del siglo XVIII, una triste alusión al emporio que alguna vez fueron los Ferrocarriles de Bolivia.

Llegaremos a la ciudad de Uyuni aproximadamente a horas 18:00.

Fin de Nuestros Servicios.

Si desea el Itinerario a detalle en PDF, realizar cambios personales, otras opciones o rutas:

Día 1: 

Día 2: 

Básica: Hospedaje básico con habitaciones y baño compartido de 4 a 6 personas. ( Incluido en el costo del tour ).  No incluye ducha caliente.  Albergue de Alta Montaña La Cabaña.

Día 3: 

Servicios que incluyen

• Tres comidas día: Descritas en el programa. Agua mineral (2 litros por persona al día). Refrescos. Frutas. 1 botellón de oxigeno. Acomodación básica compartida: 3 noches de hospedaje. Chofer guía en español Transporte en Jeep todo terreno 4x4 en buenas condiciones con oxígeno y todos los implementos necesarios.

Servicios que no incluyen

• Tollas de baño. Bolsa (saco) de dormir: Costo USD 7,5.- por persona durante todo el tour. No obligatorio. Bastones para Caminata (Tenemos para alquilar). Guía en inglés u otro idioma (Costo de USD 50 a 90 depende de temporada e idioma) Precio por día por grupo. Guía Local de Alta Montaña para Ascenso al Licancabur: Costo USD 160.- por grupo. Obligatorio Tour de Estrellas y Reflejos Bs. 300.- (USD 44.-) por grupo. No Obligatorio ENTRADAS: Entrada a Isla Inkahuasi: Costo BS. 30.- (USD 4,5.) por persona. Obligatorio Entrada a Reserva Nacional Eduardo Avaroa: Costo BS. 150.- (USD 22.-) por persona. Obligatorio Entrada a Galaxias: Costo BS. 20.- (USD 2,8) por persona. Obligatorio Entrada a Ciudad Encanto: Costo BS. 15.- (USD 2,2.-) por persona. Obligatorio Entrada a Pueblo Fantasma: Costo BS. 15.- (USD 2,2.-) por persona. Obligatorio Entrada a Termas: Costo BS. 7.- (USD 1.-) por persona. Obligatorio TODAS LAS ENTRADAS PUEDE PAGARLOS EN EL LUGAR O ENTREGARLO AL GUÍA PARA QUE VAYA REALIZANDO LOS PAGOS EN LAS DIFERENTES PARADAS.

Recomendaciones para llevar

Fotocopia pasaporte Bolsa (saco) de dormir Vestimenta para bajas temperaturas Botas de montaña cómodas y seguras Protector solar y sombrero/gorro Guantes de lana Traje de baño Gafas de sol Linterna Toallas Papel higiénico Corta plumas Dos mochilas: Una mochila de viaje y una pequeña. Las personas que estén medicadas no olvidar su respectiva medicación.

Información Adicional

Ofrecemos servicio de alimentación especial (vegetariana, vegana u otra) debe informar al momento de la reserva.

Breve Descripción de la Zona

Este fascinante tour se caracteriza por recorrer un cambiante paisaje de inimaginables formas y colores, que varía de largas y profundas quebradas, a extensas y áridas planicies salpicadas por una diversidad de lagunas de colores intensos, volcanes nevados, poblados detenidos en el tiempo con restos de antiguas culturas misteriosamente desaparecidas. El mar de sal más grande del mundo, islas formadas por rocas, escasos ríos, extraños bosques, parajes con fauna vistosa y vegetación casi inexistente que alcanzan altitudes de hasta 5.500 m.s.n.m.

Cláusula de Protección

El programa descrito anteriormente debe considerarse como ideal y puede estar sujeto a modificaciones por situaciones independientes de nuestra voluntad y compromiso (manifestaciones sociales, bloqueos de carreteras, cambios de horarios de trenes, aviones y autobuses, condiciones climáticas, cierre de sitios de interés turístico en días en que deberían funcionar, lluvias torrenciales, etc.)  Pese a ello, se hará de nuestra parte el mayor esfuerzo posible para que el programa enviado se cumpla en su cabalidad. En caso de no ser así, esta situación le será comunicada, explicada, justificada y corregida de la mejor manera posible.

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• Formas de Pago

Preguntas frecuentes

Su compra / reserva, detalle del paquete.

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Salar de Uyuni: A Complete Guide to Visiting the Bolivia Salt Flats 

Tessellations of crusted white glinting in the sun as far as the eye can see – it’s little wonder that the Salar de Uyuni – or the Bolivia Salt Flats – are one of South America’s bucket list spots. Plan your trip with this complete guide. 

Bolivia’s Uyuni salt flats are one of the most photogenic places in the world. With over 10,582 square kilometres (4,086 square miles) of snowy white hexagonal patterns and clear blue skies, it doesn’t get much more gorgeous than this. 

The first time I visited the salt flats in 2009, I had no idea of what to expect. We’d trucked on a four-day trip from Tupiza (there’ll be more details on that later), waking up in what felt like the middle of the night to pile into the 4×4, before stopping in the pitch black. 

Within moments, the sun’s first rays shot over the horizon, gradually lighting the landscape in its path – we were in the middle of the salt flats with no one else in sight. Not going to lie, it was straight up one of my favourite travel moments and one I hope you get to experience for yourself. 

Of course, in the age of Instagram and TikTok, the chance of you never having seen a picture of the salt flats is relatively slim – but you can still capture that wonder if you plan your trip right – and that’s exactly what this guide is going to help you do. 

We’re going to cover why you should visit, what to see where you do, a brief jaunt through the history of this fascinating spot and exactly (and I mean exactly) what you need to know to plan your trip. 

Ready to embark on a journey to the largest salt flats anywhere in the world? I thought so. 

If you’ve ever had even a slight urge to check out the Uyuni salt flats, I urge you to go. There’s no other place in the world where you’ll find this kind of scenery at this magnitude. The crystalline salt flats form perfect patterns that weave their way across endless stretches of the desert landscape. During the rainy season (January to April), the landscape disappears underwater to create the famous Bolivia salt flat mirror effect you may have seen on the ‘Gram. And there’s actually a lot more to see here, including islands of cacti, three species of flamingos, “salt hotels” and abandoned trains you can explore. 

If you have a knack for adventure and a passport, visiting Salar de Uyuni should be at the top of your travel list. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the fun!

View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Discoveries Of – Julianna Barnaby (@thediscoveriesof)

Take a Peek on the ‘Gram

Things to do at the salar de uyuni.

Think a trip to the Salar de Uyuni is only about seeing the flats themselves? Think again. There is a lot to see here, whether you choose a guided tour or want to explore the hexagonal patterns across the stark white desert all on your own. Here are a few of the must-see attractions. 

Climb to the Top of Fish Island 

There are lots of cacti-laden islands that pop up in the vast desert landscape of the salt flats. Fish Island is one of my favourites.

You’ll see gigantic cacti (I’m talking 10 metres high), which is really an unexpected botanical wonder compared to the mostly desolate setting.

Stretch your imagination and look closely enough from above, and you might see why the island got its name. Supposedly it looks a lot like a fish (I’m still a bit sceptical, myself).

Nonetheless, it’s a beautiful change of scenery, with the Trichocereus (cereus) cactus and viscacha (a rather adorable rodent) offering a rare brush with nature in the otherwise rather barren plains.

You can also visit Incahuasi island – another cactus-covered island in the middle of the salt flats – do the 15-minute hike to the top for stunning views of the salar .

Play With Perspective and Take Some Weird Photos & Videos

Look, I won’t lie – cheesy as the photos may look, it’s so fun taking pictures that mess around with perspective while you’re on the salt flats! There are very few places where you can find somewhere so large and flat, so it’s the perfect spot to take all manner of weird and wonderful pictures.

Your guide will probably bring some props, but if there’s anything specific you want to do, make sure you bring any necessary props with you.

Visit The Train Cemetery

One of the stranger attractions near Salar de Uyuni is the train cemetery just outside of the city of Uyuni.

Say what? Yes, a cemetery of trains. Back in the 19th and 20th centuries, this region was a thriving mining area, and trains from the UK transported minerals from Uyuni to other regions. Flash forward a few decades, and the industry dried up, trains sat out in the Bolivian salt flat desert, and they formed what’s now the Train Cemetery.

It’s a cool place to spend an hour or so with your camera and catch some shots of the abandoned trains and the desert skies.

Check Out the Colourful Flags from the Dakar Rally 

Ever heard of the Dakar Rally? You know, the gruelling race that involves taking your UTV, quad, motorbike, or truck through some of the world’s most inhospitable climates Mad Max style  – well, it took place in the Bolivia Salt Flats a few years back.

People participated from all over the world, and you can still see their national flags proudly standing on a salt block against the whitewashed ground and bright blue sky.

It’s worth a stop for some great photos and a glimpse into the international event.

Explore the Old Playa Blanca Salt Hotel 

You’ll see a lot of “salt hotels” when you’re exploring Bolivia salt flats luxury hotels. There are quite a few worth visiting, but Playa Blanca stands out because the hotel sitting smack dab in the middle of the flats is no longer operating – meaning it’s a great place to use as a shelter from the sun and see a salt hotel up close too. It’s next to the Dakar Rally flags and has a gift shop and restrooms, making it a nice place to check out when you need a break from the blistering heat in the middle of the day.

Pop into the Salt Museum at Colchani

Although the small town of Colchani might not look like it has a lot going on other than its (pretty cool) market, it is worth popping into on your way to or from the flats if you can. 

Why? There’s a cool museum where you can learn more about salt processing and mining, and the marketplace actually has some cool handmade souvenirs. The Museo de la Llama y la Sal gives you a chance to see a building and sculptures made from salt, and learn more about how it’s processed by locals. 

Continue the Journey to Laguna Colorada 

Have you ever seen a blood-red laguna before? Well, you’re about to now. Laguna Colorada, isn’t in Salar de Uyuni, but it’s close enough that you’ll definitely want to add it to your trip. 

Why? It’s one of the best places to see flamingos in the region. Go in the summertime, and you’ll see literal thousands of them feasting on algae in the bright red lake in Southern Bolivia. 

The lake itself is a photographer’s dream – the contrast of the crimson waters and bright white borax is a spectacle you have to see yourself to believe.

So Now You Know What to See, Here’s a Little More Info About the Salt Flats Too

The formation of the salt flats .

If you’re looking at the Uyuni Salt Flat and think it looks like something from a long lost time – you’re not wrong. The largest salt flat on the planet dates back to prehistoric times – when it was a massive lake. 

It turned into a snow-white desert landscape somewhere around 40,000 years ago when Lake Minchin lost its water as shifting tectonic plates changed the landscape forever. 

Now, it’s over 10,000 km of desert-like landscape, defined by the 10 billion tons of salt resting on the top layer. 

Location 

The Uyuni Salt Flats are a lot higher up than you may think. Situated at an elevation of 3,656 metres, the Bolivia Salt Flats are perched high in Southwest Bolivia near to the border with Chile . Uyuni is the nearest big city and is located on the eastern side of the flats. From Uyuni you make your way to the Altiplano, which is a plateau featuring the Sol de Mañana Geysers, several stunning lagoons and the blood-red Laguna Colorada.

It’s a Mining Hotspot 

The salt flat in Bolivia is the largest you can find anywhere in the world, so there must be more than meets the eye, right? Well, as I mentioned earlier – the former lake dried up thousands of years ago, leaving this IG-famous landscape that people travel worldwide to see. But not only is it filled with the seemingly endless white salt, but it’s also rich in lithium – and accounts for around 50% of the world’s lithium reserves. Next time you see an EV on the road, it’s a safe bet that the battery is powered by lithium from Salar de Uyuni. 

It’s Even Used By NASA

Ok, fun fact. NASA actually uses the salt flats to calibrate satellite orbits due to the large, flat surface area that the Bolivia salt flats lie on. You’ll know why when you see just how long, flat, and consistent the Salar de Uyuni landscape is.

Planning Your Visit to Salar de Uyuni 

When to visit.

The rainy season lasts from November to February, making summer the best time to get the mirror-effect on the flats.Temperatures are usually relatively mild, often not getting much hotter than 70°F.

Wind and sun are factors much of the year, due to the high elevation and wide open flats.

Weather is much colder in the winter, with temperatures dipping below freezing, so be sure to pack for the weather if you visit from May to September.

The Best Time to Visit the Salt Flats

Seeing the Salar de Uyuni On a Tour 

Frankly, taking a Bolivia salt flats tour is the best way to learn more about the destination, especially if you get a local guide.

You’ll need to be patient, as many of the tours aren’t quite as smooth as they should be. I recently took the Cordillera Traveller tour. While my guide was outstanding, the first day was a rough one, with no lunch and an aggressive driver.

Recommended Tours

An In-Depth Guide to the Different Bolivia Salt Flats Tours

What Are the Different Tours Available?

Here’s a brief overview of the most common Salar de Uyuni tours available. I’ve gone into more detail about each of them below. 

• One-day salt flats tour from Uyuni
• Two-day salt flats tour from Uyuni
• Three-day Bolivian altiplano tours from Uyuni
• Four-day Bolivian altiplano tours from Tupiza (recommended)
• Four-day tours from San Pedro de Atacama

Why Do I Recommend the Tour from Tupiza?

Although arranging a Bolivian salt flats tour is easily done from Uyuni itself, someone had tipped me off that the trip from Tupiza to Uyuni was much better. Why? Mainly because you get to see more of the area’s natural scenery and attractions.

So many people visiting the Bolivian salt flats do the same old tour. The landscapes are incredible enough that you’re pretty much guaranteed to be blown away whichever one you choose. But if there’s an option where you get to see more amazing stuff, quite frankly I don’t know why you wouldn’t choose it.

Sometimes a journey is as much of an experience as the destination and much as you’re in a hurry to see the Salar de Uyuni, it would be a shame to miss the other striking landscapes of the Bolivian altiplano.

Salar de Uyuni from Tupiza Tour Itinerary

Awesome sceneries abound in Bolivia. Perhaps none more so than on this Bolivian altiplano tour from Tupiza to Uyuni salt flats in the country’s wild west.

Here’s my trip report from the Tupiza to Uyuni salt flats tour I took to help you to understand what to expect.

The adventure on our Tupiza to Uyuni tour began as soon as we left the town. Within a few minutes, we were climbing up a steep road with a sheer drop, and a stunning landscape on one side.

The first stop was at a wide gorge dotted with unnatural-looking precipices. Jagged triangular cliffs soared up at awkward angles below. “This is the Quebrada de Palala,” said our driver, Jose.

On the other side of the road lay an equally impressive valley, where the mountains and hills varied in hues from blue to bright orange. “The area is very rich in minerals,” he continued. “Each mineral makes the earth a different colour, which is why you have so many different colours in that valley.”

The rest of the day passed quickly: a maze of impressive landscapes as we gradually gained altitude.

Accommodation that night was basic, as were the nights to come but the meals were hearty and the beds comfortable – the best you’re going to find unless you pay a significant premium.

On the second day, we drove to the Laguna Verde , a green lake, and Laguna Blanca, a white lake, both of which were surrounded by a thick crust of salt, just a taste of what we were to see at the Salar de Uyuni on the final day of the Tupiza to Uyuni tour.

Driving along the roads, we saw locals warmly wrapped up in fleeces and clothes made out of precious llama wool.

As the day passed and we reached higher altitudes, the temperature continually dropped.

It wasn’t all about the jumpers, scarves and the elaborately patterned woolly hats favoured by locals and ‘gringos’ alike. We also pulled up at one of the much-welcomed highlights; the natural hot springs. Quickly donning our swimwear, we plunged into the pools and were welcomed by the warm water and a view of the adjoining lake.

Minerals have played a major part in Bolivia’s history and present, but they are most immediately tangible in the landscapes.

On the third day of our Bolivian salt flats tour, we visited the Laguna Colorada, a lake of a bright red colour; caused by the high concentration of microorganisms in its waters. Dotted by thousands of pink flamingos, the effect is a rare one — the red of the lake and the pink of the birds stretching out for miles.

One of the beauties of the trip from Tupiza to Uyuni is the sheer variety of things to see. Bumping along the rather rough road, we’d turn a corner and be confronted by a desert plain dotted with weird rock formations, including the so-called stone tree, named for its tree-like appearance.

Peeping around another corner revealed a large lake bubbling with grey sulphuric mud springs. Salt plays such an important part in the landscape and could be seen almost everywhere.

We stopped in each place and took time to explore, climbing the rocks and running around to keep warm in the chilly wind.

Stunning Bolivian landscapes that aren’t the Salar de Uyuni

On the final day, there’s no doubt that we all grumbled as our 4am wake-up call sounded.

Piling into the Jeep, we peered anxiously for a glimpse of the Salar de Uyuni — the reason for the whole salt flat tour. As the sun began to rise, we realised that we were already driving along it!

I thought I had seen it all until I gazed out on the never-ending panorama of Uyuni’s salt flats. Miles and miles of thick salt crust crisscrossed with a jagged pattern of intersections. If you looked hard enough, you could see the faint tyre marks of the 4×4 that had brought us out to the middle of the plains.

Over the past four days, I had seen red lakes, green lakes, white lakes, jagged valleys, sulphuric springs, small Andean communities and llamas and alpacas galore. Still, nothing had prepared me for this.

As the sun rose, the intersections between the interconnecting pieces of salt glowed orange. Gradually the light brightened, until our guide, Jose, warned us to put on our sunglasses to avoid snow blindness.

It was the perfect end to a four-day tour that had taken us from Tupiza to our final destination of the Salar de Uyuni.

We’d all faced the gruelling demands of the altitude (at the highest point in the trip, we reached 5,200 metres), along with which came the freezing nights that made you hurry for your sleeping bag as soon as the sun set.

We entertained ourselves for a few hours taking silly pictures and generally celebrating reaching our destination.

Finally, exhausted, we piled into the car and drove to the rather worn town of Uyuni, which was our final destination of the four days — many pictures and unforgettable memories later.

This tour is slightly different but covers the same destinations and includes sunrise on the salt flats

Alternative Tours

One-day tour from uyuni.

These usually start off with a visit to the train cemetery, then spend most of the day on the Salar de Uyuni with a trip to the “Fish Island” in the middle of the salt flats. Returns to Uyuni on the same day.

Book The One-Day Tour

Three-Day Tour From Uyuni

Same first day as the one day tour. These tours head further into the Bolivian Altiplano so you see more on the tour. You visit deserts, the Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca and the crater of the Sol de Manana volcano.

Book the Three Day Tour

Four-Day Tours from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile

On day one this tour leaves San Pedro de Atacama and visits Licancabur volcano, Laguna Verde and Laguna Colorada plus the Polques hot springs and Sol de Manana. Day two covers a variety of lagoons for some flamingo spotting, cave paintings and a few canyons. The third day heads to the Salar de Uyuni itself and on the final day you return to San Pedro de Atacama. 

Book the Four Day Tour from San Pedro

Starting Your Tour

As I explained above, there are three main starting points for trips to the salt flats: Uyuni, Tupiza and San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Here’s how you get to each one of them. 

How to Get to Uyuni

From La Paz you can get an overnight bus to Uyuni. It gets a bad rep but I did it in the other direction (from Uyuni to La Paz) and it wasn’t a big deal. The bus station in La Paz is a bit rough, just watch your bags as pickpockets are pretty rife.

The trip from La Paz to Uyuni takes about 7.5 hours. If you choose to take a bus, it will cost you about £16 to £23.50 ($20 to $30) each way. 

By Train 

You can take a train from ​​Oruro to Uyuni. Oruro is about 3.5 hours by car from La Paz, so you’ll need to arrange transportation there first. The bus ride is relatively inexpensive, at around £4 ($5). From Oruro, the train ride takes around 7 hours, but it’s a beautiful ride and costs around 8 £ ($10). 

Alternatively you can fly direct from La Paz to Uyuni. Getting from La Paz to Uyuni by plane takes around 1 hour and is typically around £157 ($200). 

How to Get to Tupiza 

Now, I’m not going to lie. Getting to Tupiza is a little more difficult than going direct to Uyuni, and generally involves an uncomfortable bus journey from one of the major cities.

The bus I took seemingly sought out potholes to bump over just for the sh*ts and thrills but it got me there and I came out in one piece so no stress. Just a bruised ass. Totally worth it though.

Fly to the Bolivian capital, La Paz, and catch a bus to Oruro and then a train to Tupiza.

Alternatively, fly to Salta in Argentina (via Buenos Aires), get a bus to the Bolivian Border at La Quiaca/ Villazon (six hours) and then catch a bus to Tupiza (three hours).

How to Get to San Pedro de Atacama 

If you are getting to San Pedro de Atacama from Santiago , Chile’s capital, you are best flying to Calama airport and then either booking a transfer or catching a bus to San Pedro de Atacama.

How to Choose Your Tour Company?

There are a lot of tour operators offering very similar tours to the Bolivia salt flats so it can be difficult to choose between them. Although it is tempting to go for the cheapest tour, it’s a decision that can come to bite you in the ass.

Spending the extra $ can make the difference between doing the tour in a vehicle that breaks down all the time with a guide who doesn’t speak your language and spending nights in super-basic accommodation and… not having to suffer any of those things. I exaggerate not.

As a guideline, you should find out:

• Does the driver speak your language? Many drivers do speak English but some don’t – make sure you check ahead.
• Will they pick you up from your accommodation?
• How many people are there per vehicle?
• How new are the vehicles?
• Where does the tour start and end?
• What food and drink is covered?
• Does the tour include entrance to the national park? Heads up: the answer to this is usually no.

Where to Stay for Salar de Uyuni

Hotel de sal luna salada (luxury).

Want to spend the night in a Bolivia salt flats hotel? Hotel de Sal Luna Salada is about as cool as it gets – as the hotel walls feature salt blocks from the nearby flats. 

Located in Colchani in the heart of the salt flats, you can choose twin or full-size beds in this well-designed accommodation with views of the mountains and flats.

Enjoy local Andean cuisine at breakfast, fun activities in the game room, and a gorgeous viewing deck with fire pits for chilly evenings. 

Check Rates and Availability 

Casa del Sal (Mid-Range)

Another of the famous salt hotels in Uyuni, Casa del Sal , offers affordable rooms that feature brick-walled interiors with nature-themed decorations and exposed beams on the ceilings. 

Rooms are plenty spacious and available at good rates, making it a good choice if you’re visiting on a budget.

Check Rates and Availability 

What to Pack for Salar de Uyuni 

So, the altiplano is that difficult combination of having super-strong sun and very cold temperatures at night. Wrap up warm and wear layers you can easily remove as the temperature is incredibly changeable.

I suggest a thermal base layer top and bottom, a mid layer, a jumper and a softshell to help keep you snug against the wind.

Some things you’ll definitely want to pack include: 

• Base Layer Top 
• Base Layer Bottom 
• Brushed Fleece Shirt 
• Warm Bottoms 
• Fleece Half-Zip 
• Outer Shell
• Waterproof jacket (if you’re visiting in the rainy season)
• Water bottle
• Hiking trainers / Hiking Boots 
• Sunscreen 
• Scarf / Buff 
• Woolly socks
• Quick dry towel

Read More Bolivia Travel Guides 

• 10 Days in Bolivia, The Perfect itinerary 
• The Best Bolivia Salt Flats Tours 
• 18 Amazing Places to Visit in Bolivia 
• Surreal Bolivian Landscapes that you Need to See to Believe 
• When’s the Best Time to Visit the Bolivian Salt Flats? 

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I’m Julianna Barnaby - a professional travel writer and geek extraordinaire. I started The Discoveries Of to help you to discover the best of new destinations from around the world.

Discovering new places is a thrill - whether it’s close to home, a new country or continent, I write to help you explore more and explore differently.

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7 Reasons Why Your Salt Flats Tour Should Begin in Tupiza Instead of Uyuni

Travelers flock to the windy ramshackle town of Uyuni in droves, each one on a mission to explore the otherworldly landscapes of the Salar de Uyuni and beyond. Yet many are unaware there is an alternative start point, one that is superior in many ways. So give Uyuni a miss and opt to start your salt flats adventure in Tupiza instead.

Tupiza is amazing.

One of the most compelling reasons to start your tour in Tupiza is that you get to actually visit Tupiza . This hopelessly underappreciated and charmingly authentic town sits right in the heart of Bolivia’s badlands, a wild west style region packed full of sunbleached quedabras and cactus-lined valleys.

You can take the train

The tour companies are better

Uyuni is renowned for some unscrupulous operators who cut corners to maximize profits at the expense of the tourist. Tupiza-based operators, on the other hand, are generally infinitely more responsible, featuring newer vehicles which are less prone to breakdowns, drivers who are courteous, and food which is surprisingly palatable. Options abound, although La Torre is worth considering for its solid reputation.

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Tours from Tupiza are safer

Superior comfort and services aside, Tupiza-based tour operators also have a notable regard for passenger safety. Tupiza operators tend to be selective of who they employ and typically test drivers for sobriety before allowing them to depart.

You’ll get an extra day

Tours from Tupiza last for four days instead of three, meaning travelers will get plenty of extra time to admire the stunning scenery en route. Admittedly, the extra day is not exactly the highlight of the trip, but it is an enjoyable addition extra nonetheless.

You’ll beat the crowds

The best thing about tours from Tupiza is the chance to avoid the masses due to the fact that jeeps arrive at the main attractions at different times to the hordes who left from Uyuni. If experiencing incredible landscapes in utter isolation is a priority, then starting your tour in Tupiza is an obvious choice.

You’ll see the Salar at sunset

As the grand finale of an unforgettable trip, Tupiza-based tours visit the Salar on the final day at sunrise. Photographers relish in the chance to snap this alienesque landscape during those bewitching hours, while others travelers will appreciate the age-old adage of “saving the best till last”.

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Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

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5 day trip from tupiza to Uyuni ciudad de roma and laguna celeste

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ROUTE OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

ITINERARY OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

Today you will visit  Quebrada de Palala , a spectacular jagged rock formation, formed over many years by intense erosion of the mountainside. After this you will head on to  El Sillar  where you will have a few minutes to get out and enjoy this dramatic landscape before we continue through Nazarenito, a small gold mining community. Then we will go to visit  Ciudad del Encanto , where you will see impressive rock formations. After that, you will arrive to  San Pablo de Lípez (4250m) , then we will go to visit Palacio Quemado , before we arrive to  Guadalupe , where we will stay during the night. During the afternoon, we will see Ciudad de Roma , from the viewpoint, where you will find many interesting rocks formations.

Comfort and Deluxe Options: We will go back to San Pablo de Lípez to stay there in a Basic Accommodation with private bath

After the breakfast, we will go back to San Pablo de Lípez and then we will go to Relave, an small town in the region. Then we will go to  Laguna Amarilla and  Laguna Celeste , which is located at the Uturuncu Volcano’s feet. After lunch, we will travel for around 2 hours to get to Quetena. During the afternoon, we will continue our trip crossing two small lagoons, Laguna Hedionda and Laguna Kollpa . Finally, we will arrive to Polques, the hot springs, where we will spend our second night. Here you can swim while appreciate a nice view of the stars.

Early in the morning you can go outside of the accommodation and see an amazing sunrise in the hot springs. After breakfast, we will drive for 15 min to arrive to Desierto de Dalí , a place with mountains of surrealist colors, reminiscent of the photos of Salvador Dalí and rock formations of petrified lava. Then we will visit Laguna Verde (4250 m.a.s.l.), which presents an emerald green coloration due to arsenic and magnesium content in its waters. It is located at the feet of Volcano Licancabur (5868m), which represents the border between Chile and Bolivia. Then, we will travel back to hot springs (takes around 1 hour). Then, we will go to “Sol de Mañana” Geysers  (5000m above sea level). Then we will spend around 1 hour in  Laguna Colorada  and finally we will travel to  Villamar to spend the 3rd night (Basic Accommodation).

After the breakfast, we will start visiting  Valle de Rocas , where you will see many rocks formations like  Copa del Mundo  and  El Camello . Then we will go to  Italia Perdida , where you will have some time to walk around the rocks. After that, we will go to  Laguna Catal or Laguna Negra . Next is  Cañón de la Anaconda  which is a canyon where the Anaconda river runs. Some towns like  San Agustín and Julaca  will be passed in order to arrive to  Villa Candelaria  to stay there. This night you will stay in a basic salt accommodation.

Today we will cross the immense  Salar de Uyuni  (3650 m.a.s.l.) early in the morning to see the  Sunrise in the Uyuni Salt Flat.  With 12,000 km 2 , the Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt plain in the world, stretching away in all directions as far as the eye can see. From here you can see volcano Tunupa impressively overhanging. The salt flats are made up of 11 separate layers with a thickness that ranges from 2 to 10m. The depth of salt is 120 meters and with that it is the biggest reserve of minerals such as lithium, magnesium, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus and borax in the world. It has 14 small islands, the most important is the  Incahuasi Island . Around the island, you can see  Ojos de Agua , these are springs which act as pores for the salt flats. Leaving the salt bed, we will visit  Colchani , the village where the salt is processed. Here there are various salt souvenirs and alpaca or llama wool clothes. Finally, we will go to see  Cementerio de Trenes , where you will see a lot of ancient trains. Then we will go the central part of the city to finish the tour around 1-2pm.

Note: If you want to finish in Tupiza, it is possible, after we finish the tour in Uyuni, we will drive around 3 hours more to get to Tupiza.

PRICES FOR THIS EXPERIENCE

Please select if you are looking for a shared or private tour, shared tour, private tour.

A shared tour is the best option if you are traveling alone or if you want to meet other people during this amazing adventure. We will complete the group with other people, so you do not have to worry about that.

• Transportation in a 4x4
• Oxygen for emergencies
• Spanish Speaking Driver-Guide and Cook
• All food during the tour
• 4 Nights in Basic Accommodations
• Sleeping bags
• 5-bed dorm with shared bathroom
• Shower as extra service (when available)
• Private room (twin or double room for 2 people)
• Hot shower in the room
• We help to buy your bus tickets to Tupiza
• Pick up from any accommodation in Tupiza

A private tour is the best option if you want to travel with more comfort and like to travel on your own without following standard times for stops and photographies.

PLEASE, SELECT THE SIZE OF YOUR GROUP

• Guaranteed Departure
• Twin with shared bathroom
• Twin or Double room with private bathroom
• 2 Nights in Basic Accommodation
• 1 Night in Mallku Cueva Hotel or similar
• 1 Night in Palacio de Sal Hotel or similar
• Triple with shared bathroom
• Triple room with private bathroom
• Quadruple with shared bathroom
• 2 Twin or Double room with private bathroom
• Entrance fees, USD 32 per person: there are many entrance fees during the tour, but in total for the whole trip is Bs 221 (USD 32 approx.).  *You need to have this amount in bolivian pesos.
• Local Guide to visit Ciudad de Roma, USD 20 per group: In order to visit Ciudad de Roma, we must pay for a local guide since it is a help for the community.
• English guide, USD 250 per group: This cost is for the whole trip and whole group and it is totally optional. *In case you are taking a shared tour and the other members of your group don’t need english guide, you would have to pay the full amount in order to take this service.
• Use of public bathrooms , when available. Around Bs 5-7 (1 USD) per use.
• Hot shower , for Basic option in shared or private tours.
• Tips, this is totally optional and there is not a minimum nor maximum amount.

NEED TO BRING

• Warm clothes
• Comfortable shoes
• Sun glasses
• Toilet paper
• Personal care products

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