I have to admit that before going to South America, I had never even heard of Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, which is the world’s largest salt flat. Now I know better. In my humble opinion, it is one of the most stunning places on our big, beautiful planet. In the span of 3 or 4 days, you can witness flocks of pink flamingos, lagunas (lagoons) of every hue, and an endless expanse of white, white salt.
Flamingos fly over a laguna
Hotel made entirely of salt
Sunrise over the Salar
Blooming cactus on an island of coral in the middle of the Salar. When this prehistoric lake dried up, becoming the salt flat it is today, this island was left behind.
Photo fun with perspective on the Salar
Harvesting salt
Most tours of the Salar last 3 days, starting and finishing in Uyuni. However, if you have the time, I would recommend doing a 4 day trip, starting from Tupiza (Bolivian cowboy country), and ending in Uyuni. This option allows you to experience even more dramatic landscapes, and the vistas get increasingly beautiful until the grand finale of sunrise over the Salar on the final morning. An additional perk is being on a different schedule than the 3 day Uyuni groups, so your jeep group will often have even the most popular stops to yourself.
The Salar is a travel destination secret worth telling your best friends about. You won’t regret visiting this amazing place!
What to do after the Salt Flats-Uyuni’s Train Graveyard
I found Uyuni to be a charmless little town- the only reason people are here is because they are waiting to depart on their Salar tour, or they just returned from it. However, if you find yourself with a few hours to spare, check out the local Train Graveyard. It is a bleak, isolated spot (make sure you do not visit alone or at night), where bits and pieces of unused trains have been abandoned to the elements, but it has its own desolate beauty.
Where we Stayed near the Salar
Accommodation during your trip to the Salar is included in all tours. But for the nights before and after your trip, there are a number of different options in Uyuni. My friends and I stayed at a tiny little hotel that was very basic- the best thing about it was the price. However, we had a lovely breakfast at the Tonito Hotel (60 Avenida Ferroviaria, Uyuni)- if you have a few extra dollars and feel like a splurge, I would recommend the buffet breakfast at this friendly, cheerful spot. Free wifi included!
Luxury travelers be warned- the accommodation on these trips is very basic, often with no electricity or running water. My group was given just one chance to use a pay shower- don’t miss this opportunity, or you might be a little smelly after your 3- 4 day adventure!
Be careful about staying in “salt hotels.” It’s a lot of fun to stay in a hotel made entirely of salt (walls, beds, tables, everything!), but make sure you do not stay in any that are located on the salt flat itself- they pollute the environment. The one I stayed in was in a nearby village, so it was a short jeep ride to the salt flats (a good thing when you want to get there before sunrise!).
Trip Packing tips
Layers!!! It is COLD at night. I wore every single piece of clothing I brought for the 4 day trip, all at once, for the 5am mornings; however, as the sun comes out, the temperature rises, so by 1:00 or 2:00pm I was comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans
Flashlight- I’d recommend a headlamp. There was no electricity in most of our accommodation/ homestays, so a personal flashlight is a must if you need to visit the outhouse after/before daylight
Small change for the bathrooms…there is a fee at the ones in the park
Toilet paper- I always bring extra- it’s not something I want to run out of, and there’s always someone who doesn’t have any!
Camera with extra batteries- there is often nowhere to charge your camera battery, so bring an extra battery pack if you can; also extra memory cards…you will want to take LOTS of photos
Sunglasses and sunscreen…you might be cold, but the sun is still bright & strong at the high altitude!
Extra snacks and water. I felt well fed on the tour that I did, but if you’re nervous you might be hungry, it’s best to be prepared…there is nowhere to buy anything on the 3-4 day trip. Also, the food we were given was mostly starch, so some people may want to supplement this with a few of their own protein bars, etc.
Props for photos on the Salar- everyone likes to take funny perspective photos, so you might want to bring along a toy animal, wine bottle, knick-knacks, etc.
Listening to her mom’s stories about living on a kibbutz in Israel in the 70’s made her want to see the world for herself. She’s lived in Korea and Japan, travelled Asia, Europe, North and South America extensively and when she’s not on the road, spends her time dreaming about where to go next. She’s become an expert in travelling on a shoestring, yet still being able to see and do ‘everything.’ But be forewarned, this Backpacker Diva follows an adventurous road.
