2 day tour Uyuni salt flats

2 day tour Uyuni salt flats

The beautiful Uyuni salt flats (or Salar de Uyuni) is with its 10.582 square km (4.085 square miles) the world’s largest salt flat. It is located in the Department of Potosi in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes, at 3.650 meters above sea level.

Some 40.000 years ago, the area was part of Lake Minchin, a giant prehistoric lake. When the lake dried, it left behind two modern lakes, Poopó and Uru Uru, and two major salt deserts, Salar de Coipasa and the larger Salar de Uyuni.  The Uyuni Salt Flats are roughly 25 times the size of Bonneville Salt Flats in the United States and is estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt of which less than 25.000 tons is extracted annually.

Every November, the Uyuni salt flats is also the breeding grounds for three species of South American flamingos – Chilean, James’s and Andean. La Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) located on the salt flat and full of giant cactuses is named this way as the ´island´ has the shape of a fish. It is the only sign of life for miles.

Heading to South America? But short on time or only able to visit one single highlight? This should be it: A visit to the Uyuni salt flats. Although, not able to come just yet? Then we definitely recommend you add it to the very top of your bucket list!

REFERENCE PROGRAMS

Uyuni-Uyuni (dry season)

REFERENCE PROGRAM 2D/1N Uyuni salt flats roundtrip from Uyuni

Day 1: UYUNI – TAHUA (Tayka Salt hotel or other salt hotel on request)
Uyuni – Train graveyard – Colchani (salt factory)
Colchani – Salt mounds – Ojos de sal
Ojos de sal – Salt museum – Incahuasi island
Incahuasi island – Chantani museum
Chantani – Tahua (Tayka Salt hotel).

Day 2: TAHUA – UYUNI
Tahua – Uyuni salt lake – Chuvica
Chuvica – Galaxia Cave – Necropolis in San Juan
San Juan – Salar of Chiguana – viewpoint Ollague volcano
Viewpoint volcán Ollague – Cañapa lagoon
Cañapa lagoon – Hedionda lagoon – Chulluncani lagoon
Chulluncani lagoon – Valley of the Rocks – San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal – Uyuni.

Optional: It is possible to include Laguna Colorada as well in a 2 days program. Contact us for more detailed info.

IMPORTANT! Due to weather and road conditions the routes and hotel reservations can sometimes be changed without notice. This is the reason why the itinerary is only for reference, and is not to be taken as an exact itinerary of what this tour implies. Rain, snow, ice and strong winds for example can cause some parts of the route to temporarily become impassable and may oblige us to make changes in the itinerary. But take notice that if we have to make changes it is for your own safety. The surroundings of Uyuni are one of most isolated areas in the world.

Rainy season: the rainy season is roughly from January to April (subject to change). During this period parts of the Salar may be covered with water. This means that even though it will still be possible to do the trip and to visit the Salar, the water on the Salar may prevent us from being able to cross it for several hours like you would do during the dry season. You will therefore not be able to get to Isla Incahuasi / Fish Island. Also the Tayka Salt Hotel in Tahua can often not be reached during the rainy season and we will therefore use another salt hotel such as Luna Salada or  Palacio de Sal instead. When the Salar is covered with a little bit of water it also becomes one big mirror which is a beautiful setting for pictures. Many photographers even specifically visit the Salar during this rainy season in order to capture beautiful pictures. With too much water however the mirror-effect is gone. Needless to say we cannot predict whether or not it will rain before or during your trip, it’s up to Mother Nature.

Uyuni-Uyuni (rainy season)

Day 1: UYUNI – COLCHANI (Hotel Luna Salada or Palacio de Sal)

Uyuni – Colchani (salt factory) – salt mounds

Salt mounds – Salt museum – Incahuasi island (only if accessible during the rainy season)

Incahuasi island – Colchani

Colchani (salt hotel Luna Salada or Palacio de Sal).

Day 2: COLCHANI – UYUNI.

Colchani – train cementery

Train cementery – San Cristóbal

San Cristóbal – Alota – Valle de rocas

Valle de las rocas – Turquiri lagoon – Cañapa lagoon

Cañapa lagoon – Hedionda lagoon – Chulluncani lagoon

Return to Uyuni and transfer to your hotel or to the airport.

Optional: It is possible to include Laguna Colorada as well in a 2 days program. Contact us for more detailed info.

 

IMPORTANT! Due to the weather and road conditions the routes and hotel reservations can sometimes be changed without notice, reason why the itinerary is only for reference, and is not to be taken as an exact itinerary of what this tour implies. Rain, snow, ice and strong winds for example can cause that some parts of the route are temporarily impassable and may oblige us to make changes in the itinerary. But notice that if we have to make changes it is for your own safety. The surroundings of Uyuni are one of most isolated areas in the world.

Rainy season: the rainy / wet season is roughly from January to April (subject to change). During this period parts of the Uyuni Salt Flats may be covered with water. It’s still possible to do the trip, however with water on the Salar you cannot cross it for hours like in the dry season and you generally cannot get to Isla Incahuasi / Fish Island. Also the Tayka Salt Hotel in Tahua can often not be reached during the rainy season therefore we will either use another salt hotel such as Cristal Samana, Luna Salada, Palacio de Sal or the Tayka Stone Hotel instead. Other places that cannot be visited during the rainy season are Cueva de las Galaxias, Momias de Coquesa and Chantani, but notice that those places are not considered to be real attractions in the area. Some photographers specifically want to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats during the rainy season as when the Salar is covered with a little bit of water it becomes one big mirror which makes for beautiful pictures. With too much water however the mirror-effect is gone. Except for January, even in the rainy season the number of rainy days is below 5 per month. Needless to say we cannot predict whether or not it will rain before or during your trip, it’s up to Mother Nature.

Uyuni-San Pedro

REFERENCE PROGRAM 2 Day tour Colchani, Bolivia – San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Day 1: COLCHANI – OJO DE PERDIZ (HOTEL TAYKA DEL DESIERTO)
At 8:30 am we will pick you up from your salt hotel in Colchani.
Luna Salada o Palacio de Sal hotel – Salt mounds
Salt mounds – Salt Museum
Salt Museum – Incahuasi island
Incahuasi island– Puerto Chuvica –Necropolis of San Juan del Rosario
San Juan – viewpoint of Ollague volcano
viewpoint Ollague volcano – Cañapa lagoon
Cañapa Lagoon  – Hedionda Lagoon
Hedionda Lagoon – Chiarkota Lagoon – Honda Lagoon
Honda Lagoon – Ramaditas Lagoon
Ramaditas Lagoon – Paso del Inca
Paso del Inca – Ojo de Perdiz

Day 2:    OJO DE PERDIZ – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA
Ojo de Perdiz –Árbol de Piedra – Red Lagoon (Laguna Colorada)
Laguna Colorada – Gueiser Sol de Mañana
Geiser Sol de Mañana – Termas de Polques – salar of Chalviri
Termas de Polques – Valle de las Damas
Valle de las Damas – Green Lagoon (Laguna Verde)
Laguna Verde – Hito Cajones (border with Chile)
Drop off in your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama around 15:00

IMPORTANT! Due to the weather and road conditions the routes and hotel reservations can sometimes be changed without notice, reason why the itinerary is only for reference, and is not to be taken as an exact itinerary of what this tour implies. Rain, snow, ice and strong winds for example can cause that some parts of the route are temporarily impassable and may oblige us to make changes in the itinerary. But notice that if we have to make changes it is for your own safety. The surroundings of Uyuni are one of most isolated areas in the world.

Rainy season: the rainy / wet season is roughly from January to April (subject to change). During this period parts of the Uyuni Salt Flats may be covered with water. It’s still possible to do the trip, to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats and the beautiful lagoons, the highlights of the trip for most people. However with water on the Salar you cannot cross it for hours like in the dry season and you generally cannot get to Isla Incahuasi / Fish Island. Also the Tayka Salt Hotel in Tahua can often not be reached during the rainy season therefore we will either use another salt hotel such as Cristal Samana, Luna Salada, Palacio de Sal or the Tayka Stone Hotel instead. Other places that cannot be visited during the rainy season are Cueva de las Galaxias, Momias de Coquesa and Chantani, but notice that those places are not considered to be real attractions in the area. Some photographers specifically want to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats during the rainy season as when the Salar is covered with a little bit of water it becomes one big mirror which makes for beautiful pictures. With too much water however the mirror-effect is gone. Except for January, even in the rainy season the number of rainy days is below 5 per month. Needless to say we cannot predict whether or not it will rain before or during your trip, it’s up to Mother Nature.

Notice that during the past year –probably due to seismic activity- the Laguna Verde has lost much of its green color and is more towards brown nowadays, especially in the morning.

San Pedro-Uyuni
REFERENCE PROGRAM 2 Day tour  San Pedro de Atacama, Chile – Uyuni, Bolivia

Day 1: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – OJO DE PERDIZ
San Pedro de atacama – Hito Cajón (border Chile-Bolivia) – Blanca Lagoon – Green lagoon (laguna Verde)
Laguna Verde – Valle de las Damas
Valle de las damas – Polques hot springs
Polques hot springs – Morning Sun gueisers (Sol de Mañana)
Gueisers Sol de Mañana) –  Red lagoon (laguna Colorada)
Laguna colorada – árbol de piedra – Siloli desert
Siloli desert – paso del inca – ojo de perdiz (Tayka Desert hotel)

Day 2: OJO DE PERDIZ  – UYUNI
Ojo de perdiz – Honda Lagoon
Honda Lagoon – Chiarkota Lagoon – Hedionda Lagoon
Lagoon Hedionda – Cañapa Lagoon
Cañapa Lagoon – viewpoint Ollague volcano
viewpoint Ollague volcano – salar de Chiguana – San Juan (necrópolis)
San Juan – Chuvica – Incahuasi island
Isla Incahuasi – museo de sal – Salt mounds – Salt factory in Colchani – Train graveyard – Uyuni

IMPORTANT! Due to the weather and road conditions the routes and hotel reservations can sometimes be changed without notice, reason why the itinerary is only for reference, and is not to be taken as an exact itinerary of what this tour implies. Rain, snow, ice and strong winds for example can cause that some parts of the route are temporarily impassable and may oblige us to make changes in the itinerary. But notice that if we have to make changes it is for your own safety. The surroundings of Uyuni are one of most isolated areas in the world.

Rainy season: the rainy / wet season is roughly from January to April (subject to change). During this period parts of the Uyuni Salt Flats may be covered with water. It’s still possible to do the trip, to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats and the beautiful lagoons, the highlights of the trip for most people. However with water on the Salar you cannot cross it for hours like in the dry season and you generally cannot get to Isla Incahuasi / Fish Island. Also the Tayka Salt Hotel in Tahua can often not be reached during the rainy season therefore we will either use another salt hotel such as Cristal Samana, Luna Salada, Palacio de Sal or the Tayka Stone Hotel instead. Other places that cannot be visited during the rainy season are Cueva de las Galaxias, Momias de Coquesa and Chantani, but notice that those places are not considered to be real attractions in the area. Some photographers specifically want to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats during the rainy season as when the Salar is covered with a little bit of water it becomes one big mirror which makes for beautiful pictures. With too much water however the mirror-effect is gone. Except for January, even in the rainy season the number of rainy days is below 5 per month. Needless to say we cannot predict whether or not it will rain before or during your trip, it’s up to Mother Nature.

Notice that during the past year –probably due to seismic activity- the Laguna Verde has lost much of its green color and is more towards brown nowadays, especially in the morning.

Salar de Uyuni is estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt of which less than 25.000 tons is extracted annually.

Tour includes:

  • Overnight stay in the best hotels in the region, as described in program. These hotels have heating and warm water, although not 24 hours a day. At night the gas heating is switched off.
  • Meals
  • Transport in a well equipped 4X4
  • Spanish speaking driver-guide.
  • Also included: natural herbs and medication against altitude sickness and high pressure, oxygen and extinguisher.

Tour does not include:

  • Entrance fees
  • Alcoholic drinks, personal snacks and tips.

Optional:

  • Bus tickets to Sucre, Potosi or La Paz
  • Hotel reservations in Uyuni
  • Bilingual guides
  • Private transport in a 4WD to or from Sucre, Potosi and La Paz in Bolivia. And to Calama from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.

What we recommend you to take with you:

The route to the salt lake is cold, windy and with high solar radiation. During the day it is generally sunny and the weather is pleasant. Our recommendations on what to bring with you are:

  • Warm clothes.
  • Gloves.
  • Woolen socks.
  • Hat that covers your ears and protects you from the sun.
  • Rain or waterproof boots (important item! to walk “on” the water).
  • Lip moisturizer.
  • Sun glasses.
  • Sun block 30+.
  • Flashlight.
  • Raincoat (From December to March).
  • Extra water.
  • Passport and visa.

Check our pages about:

Please contact us in advance for more information.

We also offer the following 3 or more days tours in Uyuni:

Only 1 day in Uyuni? Check our 1 Full Day tour and our stargazing tours!

More info about the Uyuni salt flats tour? Check the following travel blogs:

REVIEWS

  • ´Nos han gustado mucho los dos tours. Los chóferes y guías muy bien en ambos casos. Los hoteles nos gustaron mucho y todo ha salido muy bien. El Salar y Lagunas espectacular. En general muy bien todo. Muchas gracias!'

    Estefania Roig y Jordi Garcia Spain
  • ´Gijs, the trip to Uyuni was very good thanks. We were impressed with the overall package and would not hesitate to use your services again. Many Thanks.´

    Simon Rodd UK
  • ´Nos han gustado mucho los dos tours. Los chóferes y guías muy bien en ambos casos. Los hoteles nos gustaron mucho y todo ha salido muy bien. El Salar y Lagunas espectacular. En general muy bien todo. Muchas gracias!´

    Estefania Roig y Jordi Garcia Spain
  • ´It was absolutely fabolous! Excellent driver and guide! And transport to Chile! Loved all we saw! Thanks for organising the trip and for answering all my questions!´

    Marianne Sundin Hestnes Norway
  • ´We had a wonderful trip for 3 days and the weather was nice apart from some snow and hail on the last day which made it kind of special. ´

    Dr. David Lewis Canada
  • ´Hi Gijs, I just wanted to say that we had a wonderful trip. The organisation was perfect - thank you for sorting it all for us. Best regards, Mike´

    Mike Adamson UK
  • ´Dear Gijs, I just wanted to thank you for an incredible experience in the Salar of Uyuni earlier this year. The nature and the people were unforgettable. Ottavio was a great enthusiastic guide. It could not have been better. All the best from Germany, Chris´

    Christian Kell Germany
  • ´Dear Gijs, we would like to thank you for organising such a fantastic tour for us. We had an amazing time. Wilson was a great driver, very professional yet a lot of fun too. We had heard many stories of people having bad experiences so were a little wary about booking a tour. The food was great and the vehicle was very comfortable. If any of our friends head this way, we'll be passing on your details. Thanks again. Regards John and Paul´

    Paul and John Australia
  • ´Dear Gijs, Thank you very much for following through with everything and making this part of our trip to South America go so smooothly. We have had several hassles with other bookings - people not turning up, or no name cards or wrong information etc. It is so refreshing to have everything go right. I shall have no hesitation in recommending you to any of our acquaintances. Regards, Carmen Wells´

    Carmen Well & family Australia
  • ´Gijs, de 3 daagse trip is prima bevallen. We waren heel blij met de omgekeerde volgorde. De eerste dag was best lang maar goed te doen. Onze chauffeur Freddy was helemaal goed. Vriendelijk en behulpzaam. En al kon hij bijna geen woord Engels hij deed erg z´n best on alles duidelijk te maken. Dat lukte ook vrij aardig. Wat we onderweg gezien hebben was top maar dat wis je natuurlijk al. Met name de laatste dag, het zoutmeer was indrukwekkend maar ook de lagunes en flamingo´s waren heel mooi om te zien. Van enige ontbering was geen sprake want de hotels waren prima. Ook hier eenvoudig maar goed. Ook het eten was prima. Onderweg en in de hotels.Je zult uit bovenstaand relaas begrijpen dat wij heel tevreden waren. Ook de prijs kwaliteitsverhouding vonden wij okay. Wel lekker dat we ons eigen tempo konden bepalen. Dus heel erg bedankt voor je dringende advies om naar Uyuni te gaan!Groeten, Suzanne en Kees'

    Suzanne & Kees Jasperse The Netherlands
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