uyuni tour reddit

• Work With Me

• Central America
• South America
• Solo Travel
• Budget Travel
• Digital Nomad Life
• Work Exchange
• Foodie Experiences
• Responsible Travel
• Winter Travel
• Backpacker Accommodation
• Accommodation In the UK
• Hostel Tips
• Hostel Packing List
• Work as a Hostel Volunteer
• Work in Exchange for Accommodation
• Travel Websites to Book Your Trip
• Travel Planning Checklist
• How to Travel for Free
• How to Save Money While Travelling
• Carry On Packing List
• Long Haul Flight Essentials
• Campervan Packing List
• Flight Tips
• Solo Travel Tips
• Accommodation
• Travel Insurance
• Packing Lists
• Eco-Friendly Travel Products
• Carry On Backpacks
• Backpack Essentials
• Filter Water Bottles
• Camera Gear
• Camping Gear
• Gifts for Travel Lovers
• Backpacking Gifts
• Hiking Gifts
• Campervan Gifts
• Beach Gifts
• Personalised Travel Gifts
• Small Travel Gifts
• World Map Gifts
• Gift Experiences
• Privacy Policy

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.

This website contains sponsored and affiliate links. If you click through the links on this page and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Thank you for your support. [Learn more]

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.

CHECK FLIGHTS NOW

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.

BOOK YOUR HOSTEL NOW

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.

READ MORE ABOUT BACKPACKING IN BOLIVIA

If you’re looking for travel insurance for your trip to Bolivia, get a quote now from World Nomads .

Like this post?  Pin it to read later:

Just to let you know, this post may contain paid or affiliate links, which help to maintain Tales of a Backpacker and give me the chance to keep travelling, and to keep creating awesome content for you!

Tales of a Backpacker is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.  I only recommend goods and services I believe are useful and reliable.

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.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Antarctic Circle
• Antarctica Facts
• Antarctica from Australia and New Zealand
• South Georgia
• Falkland Islands
• Canadian Arctic
• Russian Arctic and North Pole
• Spitsbergen
• Belize & Guatemala
• Honduras & Nicaragua
• Panama & Costa Rica
• Machu Picchu
• Pantanal & Wetlands
• Photography
• Travel Tips
• Wine and Dine
• Sustainable Travel

Your Best Guide to the Uyuni Salt Flats

With its never-ending sparkling horizon, the mesmerising Uyuni Salt Flats are one of South America’s most astonishing sites. Remote, breathtaking and unique, Salar Uyuni – as Bolivia’s salt plains are known – are the world’s most extensive salt flats and by far one of the most revered Latin American destinations of all.

Many say the Uyuni Salt Flats are a photographer’s dream , but we say that it’s the Salt Flats which brings out the avid photographer in us all. Playing with light, reflections and the kind of optical illusion only found in superbly endless horizons, Salar Uyuni is a dream subject to photograph ad infinitum, and a visual feast like no other.

A visit to Uyuni, and an adventurous jaunt across the spellbinding Bolivian Salt Flats, is often quoted as the epitome ‘incentive’ for first-time travels through South America . And only once you’ve experienced this most ethereal landscape, can you really appreciate their immense appeal. The Uyuni Salt Flats aren’t just one of the many highlights of South America: this is one of the most magnificent places on earth.

What Are the Best Salt Flats Highlights?

No matter what time of year you visit, you will find an incredibly enthralling sight. The Salt Flats are blindingly glistening at any time of year, either resplendent in their arid whiteness at dry season, or breathtaking under a layer of water in rain season. Either way, you’ll no doubt cherish the visual spectacle they offer. Photographic outings are the order of the day here, with stop overs on cactus-filled islets and salt-made hotels also included in all explorations. The best highlight for many, however, is overnighting on the Salt Flats, enjoying a spectacular sunset and, if at all fathomable, an even more impressive sunrise. The stillness and remoteness of the Uyuni Salt Flats is soul-reviving, so try not to rush your experience if you can. Once here, we can guarantee, you’ll never want to leave.

One of the great things about a trip to the Uyuni Salt Flats is that it grants you the chance to explore the areas of southern Bolivia and northern Chile, both fantastic and rewarding destinations in their own right. Combine a visit with further exploration of Chile’s Atacama Desert , or Bolivia’s southern highlands, and you can enjoy a rather unforgettable tour-de-force.

What’s the Best Way to Visit the Uyuni Salt Flats?

Bolivia is one of South America’s best destinations, offering an immense array of attractions within relatively short distances. When visiting the Salt Flats of Uyuni, you could take a flight to Sucre, one of the country’s most charming cities and a UNESCO-listed architectural gem. Spend a day meandering through the cobbled streets before driving on to the Salt Flats, which are only a 6-hour drive away. Half way, make a stopover in Potosi, a very interesting high-altitude mining town which you can explore for the afternoon. Next day, drive for a couple of hours to reach Uyuni, making sure your itinerary includes at least 2-3 nights.

Uyuni is the base town for Salt Flats explorations from the Bolivian side and is one of the most distinctive towns you could visit in the whole continent. There’s a certain quirkiness to Uyuni that makes it exceptionally endearing, even though the town – in general – doesn’t look like much at first glance. Visit the Train Cemetery at sunset to hone in on your photographic skills, and indulge in some of the most delicious food you could ever hope to find in the middle of nowhere!

How Long Should You Spend in the Uyuni Salt Flats?

Once in Uyuni, you have two options: you can explore the Salt Flats on return day trips or, if you have more time, set off on a multi-day journey to cross them entirely. On the other side, you’ll come up to the border of Chile, where you can include a few days in splendid San Pedro de Atacama . The trip can be done in reverse too, naturally.

The Uyuni Salt Flats offer quite a few accommodation choices: from the luxurious Uyuni Airstream Camper to amazing hotels made entirely of salt (which should be experienced for novelty-value alone!) and a number of more basic overnight lodges. Whatever your budget and comfort desires, we’ll find a suitable option that ticks all your boxes, if your priority is to spend a night (or 3) on Salar Uyuni.

What’s the Best Time of Year to Visit the Uyuni Salt Flats

Any time of year, of course!

Every season offers a different perspective of Salar Uyuni, so it’s more of a personal matter of time (as in, when can YOU visit?) rather than any ‘ideal’ Salt Flat period. The two iconic pictures you probably have in mind are the endless white plains coupled with crystal clear blue skies, or the astounding reflections of a flooded salt plains with overcast skies. The most important thing to keep in mind is that, unless you travel for an extended period of time, you won’t experience both on the one trip. So choose you must…  Travel between May and November for bright blue skies and arid plains

Or between January and March, the rainy months, for that ultimate flooded spectacle…

What to Pack When Visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats

The unique landscape of the Uyuni Salt Flats require a bit of astute packing. Here are our top packing tips for hassle-free days of explorations:  – Sunglasses & cap – you will be amazed at the kind of glare these salt flats can emanate. Protect your eyes from UV radiation and pack dark sunnies as well as a cap and plenty of sunscreen.  – Backpacks – infinitely easier to transport than rigid suitcases, especially on 4WD adventures, where bags are usually stacked on the roof of vehicles.  – Windbreaker & thermals – temperatures can plummet dramatically out here, so be prepared with warm clothing, and include a cap and scarf. You’ll find beautiful woven alpaca-wool items for sale in Bolivia, so buy them before heading out to explore the Salt Flats.  – Extra memory cards – don’t get caught out with a full SD card! Plan ahead and bring plenty of spares, you’ll be surprised at just how many photos you are likely to take.

These are the absolutely essential items to bring along from home. A more detailed packing list will be supplied once you’ve decided on your trip, and will be determined by all the other destinations you include as well.

At Chimu, we pride ourselves in offering the very best tours to Uyuni and the Bolivian Salt Flats. We can play cupid and match you with a pre-planned tour that’s right for you, or devise a cunning bespoke itinerary to suit your individual wishes and likes. Want to fall in love with Bolivia? We can make it happen! Contact us for more details.

• About Bolivia
• Information

• Our tours: >>
• 3 DAYS TOUR
• 2 DAYS TOUR
• UMAJALANTA ECO-LODGE
• Extra option Rappel
• TAYKA 3 days 2 nights
• 3 DAYS TOUR ENGLISH GUIDE
• 3 DAYS TOUR SPANISH GUIDE
• SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA TO SAN PEDRO
• 5 DAYS COMBI LA PAZ TO UYUNI VIA SAJAMA NP
• San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni salt flats
• 1 DAY TOUR ON MOTORCYCLE
• Flotel Reina de Enin
• Pinky Lakes, Madidi Travel 3 days – 2 nights
• Chapare Adventure, 3 days 2 nights
• Madidi Jungle & Parabas, 2 Days 1 Night
• Combo, Wabu and Dolphins 5 Days 4 Nights
• COMBO: Madidi and Pampas – 3 Days 2 Nights
• El Choro Inca Trek 3 Days
• Tuni Condoriri Laguna Chiar Khota, 1 Day Trek
• Takesi Classic 2 or 3-Day Inca Trek
• Trekking Pico Tunari 5050M
• Lakes of the Pirhuata massive.
• From Condoriri to Huayna Potosi summit 6088 Meters. 5 days.
• Trekking CONDORIRI – HUAYNA POTOSI 3 DAYS
• Tunari Condor Trekking, 2 days, 1 night.
• PICO TUNARI – 5050M
• Huayna Potosi 3-Day Climb
• Illimani 4-Day Climb
• Sajama 6549 M
• Pequeño alpamayo, 5370 M
• Climbing Pico Tunari 5050M
• Inca Llajta, Biggest Bolivian Inca city
• Cochabamba City & Museums Tour
• Rafting adventure & Carrasco national park
• Incachaca – Yungas
• Toro Toro National Park 3 days
• Cochabamba – Incallajta – Totora – Sucre. 2 days – 1 night
• City tour – La Paz Off the beaten track
• La Paz off the beaten track & Moon Valley walking tour
• Death Road – Mountain Biking
• Tiwanaku Pre-Inca Ruins
• La Paz to Uyuni via Sajama NP – 5 days
• LAKE TITICACA & ISLA DEL SOL – 2 DAYS
• KAYAKING ON LAKE TITICACA DAY TRIP
• KAYAKING TRIP TO ISLA DEL SOL – 2 DAYS
• Inca trail & Maragua full day
• 3 days, 2 nights trekking Inca Trail, dinosaur prints, Maragua crater Sucre
• Potosi Silver Mine Tour
• Sucre City Tour
• Sajama National Park – 3 days 2 nights trip
• Refugio los Volcanes – AMBORO NATIONAL PARK
• SAN MIGUELITO – JAGUAR CONSERVATION RESERVE
• Jardin de las Delicias WATERFALLS – One day
• Las Lomas de Arena / Sandboarding
• Samaipata El Fuerte & Museum
• Wines of Bolivia
• Inca Llajta, biggest Bolivian Inca site
• Tiwanaku Pre-Inca ruins
• In the footsteps of D’orbigny.
• Personalized Package

Uyuni Salt Flats 3 Days Classic Tour / English Guide

Both nights private Rooms and private bathrooms only!

DAY 1 – UYUNI – COLCHANI – INCAHUASI / ISLA PESCADO – ATULCHA

We will leave Uyuni in the morning around 10.30 / 11:00 am and first visit the train cemetery where you can see the old rusting trains from decades ago. After this we process to Colchani and witness how the salt is processed before we arrive to the Salt Flats themselves and see the “Ojos de Sal” where water bubbles up through the salt plains. We will see where the salt has been laced in mounds ready to be transported, the original salt hotel (no longer used for guests) and visit Inca Huasi (Fish Island) to see the giant cacti and have great views of the salt flats all around. There will be plenty of time for taking amazing photo and the salt before we head toward the village of Atulcha where we will spend the night (the salt hotel is called Kachi Wasi).

DAY 2 – Atulcha – Lagunas – Laguna Colorada – Geysers – Hot springs – Polques

We awake early and have breakfast before leaving to travel further south. You will first have the chance to visit the Sora Canyon and see llamas in their natural environment before continuing through the Chuguana desert area where the scenery will include a number of extinct volcanoes plus the semiactive Ollague. As the journey continues we will pass by high altitude lagoons that are home to 3 species of flamingo before arriving into the desert of Siloli and the “tree of rock”. We then move onto the “Laguna Colorada”, an amazing red colored lake full of flamingos. Here is where we enter the Eduardo Avaroa National Park. In late afternoon we then go to visit the “Sol de Mañana” geysers and see the bubbling mud pools and steam jets. We will then continue to Polques where we find the hostel where we will spend the night. After dinner, you can decide to relax in the warm water pools of the local hot springs while enjoying the breathtaking starry sky.

DAY 3 – LAGUNA COLORADA – GEYSERS – LAGUNA VERDE – UYUNI

Today we have an early start at 5.00 am to visit “Sol de Mañana” geysers and see the bubbling mud pools and steam jets. We will then continue to some hot springs where you will have a chance to relax in the warm water pools and we will also breakfast here (hot springs are sometimes visited the evening of the second day). After our relaxing break we continues via the “Dali desert” to see “Laguna Verde” where, if conditions are correct, we see the green mineral waters of this lake at the foot of Volcan Licancabur (from here we do the transfers to San Pedro de Atacama – there is an additional fee for this transfer and it is available on 3 day tour only, you arrive in San Pedro approximately midday). We then start our return journey back to Uyuni where we arrive approximately 16.30 / 17.00, perfectly on time if having a late flight or an overnight bus back to La Paz.

If you want to go Chile the third day after the green lake the company can also organize  your transfer by bus that will take you to san pedro de Atacama.

Included in tour:

• Transportation in 4×4 vehicle
• English-speaking guide
• Driver (sometimes guide can also be driver depending on availability)
• Meals during the tour (take extra snacks as food can be quite plain)
• Both night private rooms and private bathrooms

Not included :

• Transport to Uyuni
• Sleeping bags (can be rented the morning of the tour during the check-in for 50 Bs per person)
• Entrance fees 180BS total for the 3 days
• Breakfast on first day, dinner on last day

GROUP SIZES

Group size is up to 6 customers per car.

• - Guides with passion and enthousiasm
• - Our team speaks English, Spanish and Dutch
• - CERTIFIED GUIDES
• - Our teams and client to guide ratios are kept small
• - Discover the highlights as well as authentic Bolivia
• - Our work is our greatest passion, this is also reflected in the positive feedback on Tripadvisor

Uyuni Salt Flats Tour In Bolivia – A Complete Guide

A Uyuni Salt Flats Tour is a must-do on everyone’s Bolivia itinerary!

Uyuni Salt Flats (also known as Salar de Uyuni) is the world’s largest salt flat, stretching for more than 11,000km². It truly is one of the most remarkable vistas on planet earth!

I spent one full day exploring the incredible Bolivia Salt Flats and have put together this detailed guide with everything you need to know about the Uyuni Salt Flats Tour including where to book and what to expect.

Table of Contents

WHERE IS SALAR DE UYUNI?

The Uyuni Salt Flats are so massive that it actually crosses the borders of three countries in South America – Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina.

Click here to see the location on Google maps.

Most Salar de Uyuni tours operate out of Uyuni in Bolivia, a small dusty town approximately 540kms south of La Paz.

HOW TO GET TO SALAR DE UYUNI

There are two options to consider when looking at how to get to Salar de Uyuni and they are by bus or plane.

Bus from La Paz to Uyuni:

The cheapest and most common way of reaching Uyuni is by taking an overnight bus from La Paz to Uyuni and the journey takes around 8 hours.

You can book your bus ticket online in advance for just $30 USD and the bus leaves from Terminal De Buses Lapaz.

You can then travel back from Uyuni to La Paz by bus after the one-day Salt Flats Tour.

La Paz to Uyuni flights:

A faster and more convenient way of reaching Salar de Uyuni is by taking a 50-minute flight from La Paz to Joya Andina Airport in Uyuni.

La Paz to Uyuni flights operates on a daily basis.

The BEST Backpack For Backpacking!

Less is more with the Atmos AG 50L , the newest arrival in the Osprey backpacking range!

From weekend explorations to month-long expeditions, this EPIC backpack is up to the task and will stand the test of time.

WHERE TO BOOK A UYUNI SALT FLATS TOUR?

There are dozens of tour operators and offices located in both Uyuni and La Paz to book a Uyuni Tour, but in my experience, it can be overwhelming trying to decide which operator to book a tour through without being ripped off.

Alternatively, you can book your tour online in advance to avoid the hassle of having to organize a trip once you have arrived.

I recommend finding a tour that best suits you on the Get Your Guide website . They have thousands of travel deals worldwide that are affordable and reliable!

Click Here to search for all Salar Uyuni Tours and book online ahead of time.

Have you got travel insurance for your trip?!

We all know accidents can happen and having Heymondo Insurance will save you thousands of dollars if something goes wrong.

Heymondo offers low-cost Travel Insurance to keep you covered on all your adventures.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON THE TOUR

A one-day Uyuni Salt Flat Tour not only includes a 4×4 trip out onto the world’s largest salt flat but also a visit to the Uyuni Train Cemetery, lunch at a local restaurant, salt museum and village markets, Hotel de Sal (the world’s first salt hotel), giant cacti at Incahuasi island and an unforgettable sunset at the largest mirror in the world!

The tour begins at 10 am and finishes after sunset at around 6 pm.

Book Now → Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Best time to visit bolivia salt flats.

The best time to visit Bolivia Salt Flats, funnily enough, is in the rainy season which is December to April in order to witness the reflective mirror effect on the salt flats.

During the dry season, from May to November, temperatures are much cooler and the ground hardens.

The peak season is typically from June to August and prices are known to rise during this time.

SALAR DE UYUNI FACTS

Before visiting, here are some Salar de Uyuni facts you may find interesting:

• Uyuni altitude is 3,700m above sea level
• The salt flats measure 11,000km² making it the world’s largest salt flat
• 11 billion tonnes of salt are believed to be within Salar de Uyuni
• NASA uses Uyuni Salt Flats to figure out the positioning of its satellites
• Formed by prehistoric lakes that evaporated long ago
• Pink flamingos have been spotted at Uyuni

WHERE TO STAY IN LA PAZ

La Paz has hundreds of accommodation options to choose from, so I have narrowed it down to a few of my favorite places to stay in La Paz to fit the needs of budget backpackers and luxury travelers.

See the list of accommodations below that I personally recommend:

Luxury:  Ritz Apart Hotel

Ritz Apart Hotel, a modern 5-star hotel centrally located in La Paz, provides air-conditioned rooms with flat-screen TVs and private bathrooms, a fitness center, hot tub, sauna, in-house restaurant, room service, and free WiFi.

Perfect for travelers with a larger budget.

Mid Range:  Selina La Paz

Selina La Paz is a 3-star property that is perfect for families, couples, and solo travelers!

Great location in La Paz offering double, triple, and dormitory rooms at an affordable price. Selina also features a billiards table, an in-house restaurant, and a bar for all guests.

Budget:  The Rooftop Bolivia

The Rooftop Bolivia is rated one of the best accommodations in La Paz for budget travelers.

Featuring a bar, shared lounge, city views, restaurant, shared kitchen, free wifi, and a nightclub!

The Rooftop has dorms and private rooms available and breakfast is included.

For all other La Paz accommodations, Search on Booking.com

What to pack for bolivia.

When visiting Bolivia, here is a list of items I highly recommend bringing with you;

Must-Have Travel Essentials

Hidden money wallet.

Keep your cash and other valuables safe with this anti-theft hidden money wallet!

Reusable Water Bottle

The GRAYL GeoPress is the best reusable bottle that allows you to purify water from anywhere!

Travel Backpack

The Nomatic Travel Backpack has 20+ innovative features, perfect for everyday use!

Quick-Dry Travel Towel

The most compact, lightweight, and quick-dry towel for traveling!

Portable PowerBank

Keep your phone, laptop, and accessories charged while you’re on the go with the Anker PowerBank!

MORE CENTRAL & SOUTH AMERICA TRAVEL GUIDES

• Mexico: 4 Week Mexico Itinerary
• Cuba: 10 Day Cuba Itinerary
• Peru: Backpacking Peru – 3 Week Itinerary
• Bolivia: Things To Do In Bolivia
• Brazil: 2 Day Rio De Janeiro Itinerary
• Argentina: Things To Do In Argentina
• Chile: Things To Do In Chile

FINAL THOUGHTS – SALAR DE UYUNI TOUR

If you have any questions about Salar de Uyuni, please leave me a comment below this post and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

Search and book accommodation worldwide.

Compare and book cheap flights to anywhere.

Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.

Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.

Search all rental cars in your next destination.

Need travel insurance for your next trip?

THANKS FOR READING

Hey friend, thanks for reading this guide!

Please know this post may contain affiliate links. When making a purchase through one of my links, I earn a small kickback at no extra cost to you and it’s a big help to keep the site up and running. Rest assured, I only promote products and services that I personally use and recommend.

Click here to find out how you can support the site organically .

Many thanks!

PIN IT FOR LATER

4 thoughts on “Uyuni Salt Flats Tour In Bolivia – A Complete Guide”

Hey Jonny, Thank you for the insightful blog.

I am not sure if they are still running the 50-minute flight from La Paz to Joya Andina Airport in Uyuni or if they still operate on a daily basis as I am unable to find any direct flight from La Paz airport to Uyuni. I understand you took the overnight bus but do you know by any chance the name of the airline that goes directly there and how to find it online?

Hey Ali, unfortunately I am not sure about this flight, perhaps since the pandemic things may have changed. I hope you can find your way and have a safe trip!

Hey Jonny, We are planning our South America trip for next year. A question about using the overnight bus to and from La Paz to Uyuni Salt Flats with the 1 day tour like you did. Did you travel with only a day pack? And if so where did you leave your main bag? Or did you travel with your main bag as well and then what did you do with it during the tour? Many thanks Natalie x

Hi Natalie, great question, I traveled with just an overnight bag and left my main luggage in storage at my hotel in La Paz, they had no issues holding it for me so this is something that I’m sure you could do also! Have a great trip!

Leave a comment Cancel reply

Notify me of follow-up comments via e-mail.

Work with us

Support the site

Plan Your Trip

Travel guides

Destinations

Hotel guides

Find best tours

Travel Gear

Travel resources

How to start a blog

Photography guides

Follow On Socials

© 2024 Jonny Melon Adventure Travel Blog. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy | Terms | Sitemap

The Best Tours in Uyuni

The Bolivian Salt Flats have become Bolivia’s most popular attraction and a must-see for anyone traveling through South America. Their otherworldly nature and surreal beauty attracts tens of thousands of visitors every year. Read below to find everything you need to choose the perfect Salar de Uyuni tour!

Quick tips:

• If you have a bit more time, choose a 3 or 4 Day Tour to get to enjoy everything Salar de Uyuni has to offer!
• Unfortunately, there have been cases of tour operators scamming tourists who try to book a tour when they arrive to the salt flats. If possible, book in advance through a trusted operator.
• Findlocaltrips.com is a highly recommended website that finds and compares local tour operators. Check them out to find the best Salar de Uyuni tours.

Salar de Uyuni tour options

With the natural beauty of Salar de Uyuni and all its breathtaking surroundings, it’s no wonder the Bolivia Salt Flat is one of the world’s most popular tours. Luckily, theres an option for all travelers, whether short on time or traveling at a slower pace. Let’s take a look in more detail.

One-day tours are a great way for those who don’t have much time to see the salt flats. Due to the time restriction, you won’t get a chance to visit the incredible surrounding attractions. However, you will be far from disappointed when you leave as these tours still give you plenty of time to soak in the magic of Salar de Uyuni and capture jaw-dropping photos that you didn’t even know were possible.

One-day tours can only be taken from Uyuni. Buses arrive here very early in the morning to allow enough time for those on board to do take the tour the day they arrive. These tours start at around 10am and finish at around 5pm, allowing enough time for those on the tour to catch an overnight bus to their next destination.

The historical and intriguing train graveyard is the first stop on the one-day tours. This is followed by Colchani, the salt production site, where you will be taught the process of producing salt and visit one of the iconic salt hotels. A trip to Isla Incahuasi follows, where you’ll be able to discover giant cacti up to 10m high, incredible rock formations made of petrified coral and a enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of the tremendous salt flats.

Lunch is also served here as groups get their props at the ready for crazy, perspective photos set on the blinding white surface of the salt flats. The tour ends in magnificent fashion as you observe the sun magically set over the flats.

1 Day Tour include:

• The train graveyard
• A Salt hotel
• Isla Incahuasi

Recommended 1 Day Tour

Uyuni Salt Flat Full Day Tour

Red Planet Expedition

Perla de Bolivia

3/4 Day Tour

The most popular and recommended way to discover Salar de Uyuni is by taking a 3 or 4 day tour in a 4×4 jeep. Three day tours depart from either Uyuni or San Pedro de Atacama and finish in Uyuni. The three day tour starting in San Pedro de Atacama and ending in Uyuni is ideal for those looking to continue traveling north after their visit to Salar de Uyuni. Alternatively, you can do the 4 day tour which starts and finishes in San Pedro de Atacama. This tour visits the same places as the 3 day tours but requires an extra night in order to make the relatively long journey back to Chile.

Day one is the same as the one day tour – departing from Uyuni at the same time and visiting the same places. Following a long day of exploring, you will spend the first night in one of the iconic salt hotels or salt hostels. These remarkable designs are made up almost entirely of salt blocks, from the bed and toilet to the walls and ceilings. Get yourself an early night sleep here as days two and three begin at the crack of dawn, with breakfast at 7am and 5am respectively. Across the next two days you will see everything that Salar de Uyuni has to offer. Of course, you will also be given plenty of time to capture an abundance of photos of one of the picturesque places on Earth The second night is spent in very basic accommodation beside the Polques hot springs, where you will find yourself blown away by the magical stars of the Salar.

The itinerary for those who start their tour in San Pedro de Atacama is reversed as they visit the desert, lagoons, hot springs etc. at the beginning of the tour and the salt flat at the end. The third night of the 4 day tour is spent in a basic hostel in Villa Mar village. You will wake up at 4.30 am to continue your journey, finally arriving back to San Pedro de Atacama at around 2pm.

3/4 Day Tour include:

• The lagoons Polques hot springs
• Arbol de Piedra
• Valle de Rocas
• Sol de Mañana geyser
• Dali Desert
• San Cristobal de Lipez
• A salt hotel
• Chiguana desert

Recommended 3/4 Day Tour

Uyuni Salt Flat Tour 3 Days / 2 Nights

Visit the largest salt mine

in the world in 2021

• Work With Me

• Sierra Leone
• South Africa
• United States
• New Zealand
• Falkland Islands
• Netherlands
• Accommodation
• Electrical Gear
• Essential Gear
• Working Abroad
• Blogging Resources

Americas , BOLIVIA , South America

Salar de uyuni tours: everything you need to know.

One of my absolute highlights in South America, the Salar de Uyuni is, without doubt, one of the most remarkable sights on this continent.

Situated high in Bolivia’s altiplano, this flat, expansive otherworldly landscape is truly unforgettable and certainly should not be missed during your trip to this part of the world.

Best accessed by a 4wd, due to its remote and inhospitable terrain, Salar de Uyuni really is best experienced as part of a tour – with even this ardently independent traveller having to admit this really is the ultimate way to see these magnificent salt flats.

So, if you are heading to this part of Bolivia soon, then check out this article for the full lowdown on which sort of tour to take, how to book and organise it, how much to pay, what to pack and a whole heap of other tips drawn from my personal experience of travelling to this wonderful part of the world as a solo female backpacker…

Related Posts

• 55 Best Things To Do in South America
• 21 Best Things to Do in La Paz, Bolivia
• Top 5 Things to Do in Copacabana, Bolivia

This page contains affiliate links meaning Big World Small Pockets may receive a small commission on any purchases at no extra cost to you.

Why Visit Salar de Uyuni?

Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni is one of the world’s largest salt flats.

The Spanish name for what us English speakers would call the Uyuni Salt Flats , this huge, high altitude landscape, which stretches as far as the eye can see, used to be part of an ancient prehistoric lake.

Drying out over thousands of years, the result we are now left with is almost 11,000 sq km of flat, white, lunar-like territory that looks, quite frankly, like something from another planet!

No surprise therefore that this is one of South America’s most dazzling sights and one of its most visited too.

From comedy photoshoots to epic 4wd drives, jaw-dropping views and the chance to visit a cactus island, Salar de Uyuni is utterly unique in every way.

No question, it’s an absolute bucket list must!

Where is Salar de Uyuni?

Salar de Uyuni is situated in the southern end of the country of Bolivia in South America.

Part of the province of Potosi, and close to both the Argentinian and Chilean borders, Salar de Uyuni is the place many travellers either start or end their time in Bolivia.

This is mainly due to the proximity of the Salt Flats to these international borders; with land crossings to Chile and Argentina both easy and common, many people either arrive into or leave Bolivia from here.

Uyuni is the main Bolivian access town, situated only a short drive from the edge of salt flats, and close to the Chilean border.

Otherwise, Tupiza is the alternative Bolivian jump-off point for the Salar, and is situated slightly further away and closer to the Argentina border.

Learn about how to get to both these destinations later in this post.

The other thing to know about the location of the Salar de Uyuni is that this Andean salt flat is situated at quite an altitude!

Yes, located some 3,656m above sea level, this is the sort of place you need to work up to visiting… literally!

Some previous time at altitude (either in the Bolivian highlands, the North of Chile or Northern Argentina) is highly recommended before you attempt to visit Uyuni, where the lack of oxygen in the air at this elevation is bound to make you feel quite unwell if your body isn’t used to it.

You must, ABSOLUTELY MUST, take altitude issues seriously when you come to Salar de Uyuni and spend at least a couple of days acclimatising before taking a tour here.

As an FYI, I’ve had altitude sickness myself in Ecuador and can definitely attest to the fact it is not nice!

Indeed, it can be very serious and sometimes lead to hospitalisation and even death.

Please do not take this issue lightly when travelling to Uyuni and if you start to suffer any symptoms then take the necessary precautions.

You can learn more about altitude sickness, what causes it, what the symptoms are and how to avoid or treat it in this useful article .

When to Visit?

Located at such a high elevation, climate and weather in Salar de Uyuni is always an interesting topic.

A dry, desert-like climate it can be extremely sunny up here with temperatures well over 20 degrees celsius during the day.

But at night, the temperature drops and things can get pretty chilly, pretty quickly – often plummeting to below zero celsius, especially in the coldest months of July and August.

With temperatures always fairly extreme therefore, the main factor in deciding when to take your Uyuni Salt Flat tour is really down to the season, namely the wet or the dry one.

The dry months in Bolivia run from May to October, while the wet season runs from December to March.

In between, during the months of April and November, the weather is in flux and can be either dry or wet!

Most tourists embark on Salar de Uyuni tours during the dry season when the whole area (and country) is very accessible.

Although it can be slightly colder at this time, the days are wonderfully sunny, the skies clear and the visibility across the whole of the salt flats excellent.

During the wet months, on the other hand, transport around this off-road area can prove more difficult and not all parts of the salt flats are accessible.

However, to make up for it, visitors are often rewarded with some incredible reflective views, as the few cms of rain that often sit on top of the Uyuni salt flats, regularly transform it into the world’s largest mirror!

If you take a Salar de Uyuni tour in the shoulder months of either April or November (as I did), then you could be treated to either of these spectacles – not a bad chance to take!

Learn more about when to visit Bolivia as part of these 19 top tips for visiting the country .

Travel Insurance for Bolivia

Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.

Just enter your details below and I'll email it you - simple!

Information will be sent to the email provided above

The 4 Types of Salar de Uyuni Tours

The first thing to say is that you really should take a tour when you visit the Bolivian salt flats.

A remote and barren environment, which requires a 4wd vehicle, there are some travellers who self-drive this landscape, but the chances of you getting lost and not finding the top spots are high if you chose to go it alone.

Plus you have to be well prepared with gas, food, fuel and water etc.

In line with this, it’s worth knowing that you have a few options when it comes to Salar de Uyuni tours.

Indeed there are 4 main types of tours, which begin from different destinations, have different lengths and include different things.

Here’s an outline of the 4 main types of tours you can enjoy on the Uyuni salt flats…

#1 Longer South America Tour

The first option is to build your Salar de Uyuni tour into part of a larger South American or trip with a reputable company like these ones which offer extended excursions in the region.

Generally speaking, these longer South America tours operate as a packaged trip where you can join a group to visit the top highlights in several countries in the area.

The starting point for this type of Salar De Uyuni tour will depend entirely on where your longer tour starts and finishes, with the options too varied to list here.

#2 Full Bolivia Tour

The second option is to build one of the Salar de Uyuni tours into a longer Bolivia only tour.

Again, several companies organise package Bolivia itineraries that will help you traverse the lengths and breadths of this country as part of a group trip with professional guides and pre-arranged activities and accommodation.

It’s highly likely that building a trip to Salar de Uyuni into a Bolivia-wide tour, like these ones , will begin and end in La Paz and last anything between 1 and 3 weeks.

#3 Uyuni & San Pedro de Atacama Tours

Just across the border from Uyuni in Bolivia is the San Pedro de Atacama desert in Chile and many people combine these 2 attractions together, visiting them as part of the same trip.

In fact, you can actually book tours that incorporate both locations i.e. Uyuni and Atacama as part of a 3 day excursion.

More about this later in this article, but suffice to say, these sorts of Salar De Uyuni tours will either begin in the Bolivian towns of Uyuni, Tupiza or the Chilean destination of Atacama, depending on which direction you’re travelling in.

Such tours normally involve you joining a small number of other travellers in a 4wd vehicle and include 2 nights accommodation out on the salt flats as well as 3 meals a day.

Most 3 days tours continue onto Atacama from Uyuni (or visa-versa) with a border crossing built into the itinerary, but some 3 day tours do return to Uyuni too and never enter Chilean territory.

#4 Salar de Uyuni Tours

And the final option when it comes to Salar de Uyuni tours is to take one that simply explores this salt flat landscape in 1 day.

Needless to say, this is the cheapest and shortest option, which begins and ends in the Bolivian access town of Uyuni.

Usually, you’ll join a small group of other travellers in a 4wd vehicle from around 10am – 6pm.

This sort of tour is ideal for those on a short timeframe, a low budget or who, perhaps, have already visited Atacama and don’t want to take a longer tour that involves this landscape too.

That’s because even the 1 day trips in Uyuni cover all the main highlights of the Bolivian salt flats including the train cemetery, an artesian market, a salt hotel, the flag station, a perspective photo session, the cactus island and an amazing sunset.

Learn more about these sorts of 1 day Salar de Uyuni tours here .

How Long Do Tours Last?

I’ve covered this a little bit in the above section, but to break it down for you simply, here’s the details on how long Salar de Uyuni tours last.

#1 Longer South America tours that include a Uyuni Salt Flat visit are likely to allow 3 days for this section as you’ll visit the Bolivian Salt Flat and then the Atacama desert… or visa-versa depending on the direction of travel.

#2 Similarly, longer Bolivia-wide tours that include a Uyuni visit are likely to allow you 3 days to visit the Salt Flats up to the Chile border.

#3 Independently arranged Uyuni & Atacama tours last for 3 days.  2 days have full adventure itineraries that involve exploring the Salt Flats and desert, while the 3 rd day mostly involves driving across the Chile border to Atacama. (Please note that if you’re coming from Chile into Bolivia, then the itinerary will be slightly different.) Sometimes you can also get 3 days tours of this nature that both finish and end in Bolivia if that suits your travel plans more.

#4 The Uyuni-only tours (i.e. tours that don’t take you on to Atacama) are 1 day long. They depart from and finish up in the town of Uyuni. You still see many of the highlights of the salt flats in just 1 day, although obviously, you don’t get as deep into the landscape as those on the 3 day programme do.

What to Expect from a Salar de Uyuni Tour?

When it comes to tips about what to expect from the Salar de Uyuni tours, this is pretty wide-ranging and depends a lot on your previous experience with travelling at altitude or in South America.

I’d say the main thing to be prepared for when you take any of the above sorts of tours is the climate and requisite travel gear.

You can learn more about this in the dedicated packing checklist later on in this article, but basically, layers are key for braving this high altitude sunny, cold, dry climate.

Hats, sunglasses and sunscreen are also key, as is a good camera. My GoProHero 7 was perfect for this trip.

Outside of the gear, the only other main thing to know about are the conditions, which can be basic to say the least in this remote area.

If your tour involves an overnight stay this will likely be in a salt hotel – a basic and budget option where hot showers and heating are likely to be thin on the ground… so bring a lot of warm clothes and a good sleeping bag.

3 meals a day are usually provided too, and different diets such as vegetarian can be catered for if you ensure this is clearly stipulated at the time of booking.

Money for extra snacks, water and alcohol is advised and with no ATM available you’ll need to bring all cash with you.

With some artisan markets found on the edge of the Salt Flats, bringing money for some souvenirs might also be a good idea.

All tours are conducted in small groups, arranged around 4wd vehicles, so 4 passengers to a vehicle + a guide and a driver. Often small 4wd groups are clustered together in convoys to form larger travelling packs.

Also good to note is that, sometimes, drivers double as guides depending how much you’ve paid for your tour!

Things to Consider When Booking Your Tour

And this leads me on nicely to discuss the things you should consider when booking Salar de Uyuni tours.

We’ve already discussed when to go, where to depart from and how long for, so now we move onto more practical details.

First up, it’s good to know that all travel agents within Uyuni itself are basically operational sales team who work with drivers.

Agencies club together to fill the seats in a driver’s car, so if you book in Uyuni in person, you’ll almost always find that your group on the Salt Flat is comprised of people who booked at several different agencies.

What this means, is that the reputation of the agency isn’t that important, because it’s kind of pot-luck on the driver / guide you’ll get anyway.

Although, the 1 important thing to ensure is that the agency you buy tickets through vets the drivers.

Too many horror stories of drivers being drunk or leaving tourists behind on the Salt Flats exist, as do stories about poor quality 4wd or breakdowns, so do make sure your agency also works with good quality vehicles.

If you’re booking your Uyuni tour online in advance, as you can do here , then you don’t have to worry about all of this so much and can avoid a lot of the stress!

Budget Tips for Salar de Uyuni Tours

And now it’s time to discuss budget tips for saving some money on your Salar de Uyuni tour.

After all, this is a budget travel blog and you didn’t think I could get away with not mentioning some of my personal thrifty advice did you?!

So, the number 1 reason to as whether you pay a lot, or a little for your Uyuni tour will be mainly down to how long you go for, as well as when and where you make your booking.

#1 & 2 Longer South America and Bolivia Wide Tours

Needless to say, longer South America and Bolivia wide tours will be the most expensive options, because they run for longer and include / pre-arrange more facets of the trip such as accommodation, transport to the starting point and guides etc.

Such tours are usually booked further in advance, often from your home country, and therefore are more geared towards those with a less flexible timetable who want to be guaranteed of seeing a lot in South America in a short amount of time.

If this sounds like a good trip-type for your adventure, check out these excellent Bolivia-only tour options or these multi-South American country tours .

#3 Uyuni & Atacama Tours

Due to the fact they involve overnight stays (as well as all meals while on the salt flats), the 3 day trips are the next priciest option.

As we’ve discussed before, these 3 day itineraries include:

• Uyuni / Tupiza to Atacama trips
• Atacama to Uyuni / Tupiza trips
• Uyuni to Uyuni trips

Prices are fairly similar regardless of whether you travel Atacama to Uyuni or visa-versa, but are slightly higher if you travel to or from Tupiza.

That’s because Tupiza is slightly far away, and has less tourists travelling there. So, if you want to save some cash, then I’d suggest to heading to the more popular town of Uyuni to begin or finish your tour instead.

Check this top-rated Uyuni and Atacama 3 day tour for some idea of advance, online prices.

These trips are certainly cheaper than more extended, organised tours because they involve you getting yourself to the tour’s starting location, as well as covering your own accommodation on the night before and after the tour finishes.

3 day Uyuni and Atacama tours are often booked either online in advance or in person at a travel agency in Atacama, Tupiza or Uyuni.

For those who want to be assured of leaving on a certain date at a certain time, it may be best to book your trip in advance so you can be assured of a departure time with a reputable driver.

For those who want to save a bit of cash and are less worried or strict with their timeframe, then turning up to Uyuni or Atacama (even the night before) should allow you time to book on for a tour that leaves the following morning.

If you leave it to the last minute like this, you can expect to pay around 700 Bolivianos for a 3 day Uyuni & Atacama tour.

Tupiza may be slightly different because, with less tourists, tours (especially in the shoulder or offseason) don’t run every day, in which case booking online in advance, or being more flexible with your timeframe, will help.

#4 Uyuni Day Trips

And finally, the cheapest option is simply to enjoy one of the 1 day Salar de Uyuni tours, which leave and depart from the town of Uyuni.

With only a day on the salt flats, you can still cover a lot of ground with these tours, but obviously the smaller driving distances involved, lack of included accommodation and less meals ensure the prices stay lower.

You can book these day trips in advance, online , but again you’re likely to get a better price booking in person, through a travel agency in Uyuni itself.

Booking last minute and face to face, might even allow you to showcase some of your top negotiating skills!

In general, a 1 day Salar de Uyuni tour will set you back around 230 Bolivianos and can be reserved the night before.

How to Get to Uyuni (or Tupiza)?

And so, sticking with the theme that you may want to get the cheapest Salt Flat Tour possible, I’m going to concentrate the last section of this article on the more budget-friendly trips i.e. the independently arranged 3 and 1 day Salar de Uyuni tours.

Taking either of these will involve you having to travel independently to either Tupiza or Uyuni to pick up your group tour.

The good news is that both destinations are easily accessible from other cities in Bolivia, Chile and Argentina.

Uyuni is the most easy to access with several night buses every day running here from La Paz.

Personally, I recommend the bus service Norte Del Cruz – you can read more about why and how to make this journey in my specific La Paz to Uyuni post.

Buses to Uyuni can also be found from Potosi and Oroco in Bolivia as well as from Chile and Argentina.

It’s best to head for Uyuni if you’re planning on a 1 day Salar de Uyuni tour, as this is the only access point for them.

However, if you are in Potosi and planning on a 3 day tour in Uyuni and Atacama, then you may be better to head to Tupiza instead.

Tours across the Salt Flat and into the Chilean desert run from Tupiza and although it’s slightly further away and slightly more expensive, there’s far fewer crowds.

Tupiza is also closer to the Argentina border, so a good choice for Salar de Uyuni tours if you’re heading from this country into Bolivia.

Otherwise, buses (and trains) from Uyuni also run to the Argentina border crossing with Bolivia at La Quiaca / Villazon.

Learn all about this border crossing in the article I wrote about my experience here .

(If you’re entering Salar de Uyuni as part of a tour that starts in Atacama, you’ll need to make your way to this Chilean town instead to find your group!)

Where to Stay in Tupiza or Uyuni?

If you are travelling independently to either Uyuni or Tupiza like I did (likely from either La Paz, Potosi, or Argentina) then you’ll need to arrange accommodation for the night directly before and directly after your tour.

And even those coming from Atacama on a 3 day trip will need somewhere to sleep on the day their trip ends.

In Uyuni, I highly recommend Piedra Blanca Hostel, which is one of the best hostels I stayed in throughout Bolivia thanks to its excellent hot showers, huge kitchen, great wifi and super comfy beds.

The lovely roof terrace and spacious layout, along with good prices, only added to my super stay.

Learn more and book your stay at Piedra Blanca Hostel HERE .

In Tupiza, I strongly recommend Hostal Butch Cassidy , which gets repeatedly rave reviews from travellers thanks to its top location and very helpful staff.

Bonus Tip: If you stay in Uyuni, then definitely check out the Llama Cafe (+591 787 283 80) – great veggie food in a lovely little place that’s recently opened 🙂

What to Pack for Uyuni Salt Flat Tours?

Here’s a full packing list I’d advise for a multi-day tour of the Salar de Uyuni.

For the day trips, you can reduce the amount and the nighttime wear… although you will still need warm layers for your stay in Uyuni / Tupiza / Atacama before and after the tour.

• Sun Hat / Cap
• Scarf or Buff
• Waterproof, Warm Jacket
• Thick Socks
• Hiking Boots / Walking Shoes / Trainers
• Warm Sweater / Jumper
• Thin Long Sleeved Top
• Leggings or Trousers
• Sleeping Bag
• Camera + Lens + Batteries
• Charged Powerbank + Cables

PIN IT TO PINTEREST!

Phew and that’s finally it – everything you need to know for your Salar de Uyuni tour!

Have I missed any crucial information out?

Have you still got any burning questions?

Fire them both into the comments box below and I’ll get back to you…

Creator of Big World Small Pockets, Stephanie Parker is a travel addict! Originally from Jersey in the Channel Islands, Stephanie adventures the world collecting tips, advice and stories, to share with a smile

4 thoughts on “ Salar de Uyuni Tours: Everything You Need to Know ”

This article was quite informative and useful in helping me plan my trip next year.

Great to hear this Matt, thanks for letting me know. Happy travels, Steph 🙂

Happy I stumbled upon this article. Detailed and so helpful as I plan my trip. Thank you so much…keep you up the awesome job!

Thanks Sid, happy travels. Best wishes, Steph 🙂

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

An Expert Guide to Visiting El Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

By Author Sarah Ketchum

Posted on Last updated: 12th December 2023

If you’re visiting Bolivia, chances are, the Salar de Uyuni (aka the Bolivian Salt Flats or Uyuni Salt Flats) is on your must-see list.

The world’s largest salt flat – it covers a whopping 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 square miles), an area larger than Puerto Rico – is a truly amazing sight to behold.

If you want to experience the incredible richness of natural beauty and diverse landscapes that Bolivia has to offer, a tour of El Salar de Uyuni is the best way to do it!

Click to navigate this article:

How to get to the Salar de Uyuni

The Bolivian salt flats are located in southwestern Bolivia and within the Bolivian altiplano, a high-altitude plateau that extends from southeastern Peru into this neighboring country. Sitting at over 3,500 meters above sea level (11,995 feet), the Salar de Uyuni is a remote and remarkable landscape, featuring prehistoric lakes, perfectly conical volcanoes, and unexpected wildlife; as a result, getting here does take time and effort.

You can take a bus, train, plane, or a combination of all three to Uyuni, the town nearest to the location of El Salar de Uyuni.

Alternatively, you can take a tour from Tupiza, a town located some 200 kilometers south of Uyuni.

Tours departing from Tupiza take a different route to those leaving from Uyuni; because fewer tourists choose to start their salt flats tours from here, you can guarantee you’ll see fewer other tourists during most of your trip.

This is also because you’re taking a route northwest (whereas those from Uyuni are taking a loop west). 

A final alternative for visiting the Bolivian salt flats is from San Pedro de Atacama, a town across the border in Chile.

Tours are generally marginally more expensive (everything is in Chile compared with Bolivia!) but standards of tour operators are often better and it saves you having to take the long and uncomfortable bus across the border from Calama (Chile) to Uyuni. 

We’ll go into more detail about all of the above.

Planning Your Trip to South America?

Save time, stress & money with a customized travel itinerary planned for you by a South America expert

Getting to the Salar de Uyuni by bus

Buses from la paz to uyuni.

The most common route to Uyuni is from La Paz, a ten-hour, 540-kilometer (335-mi) bus ride away. If you want to take a bus, unless you’re traveling during a really busy holiday weekend in South America (like Carnaval), you’ll likely be able to walk right into any bus station in Bolivia and purchase tickets at the counter.

If you’re more of a planner like me, use Tickets Bolivia to purchase your tickets ahead of time. That way, you can be sure to get the times you want and a 160-degree lie-flat, or “cama,” seat if you are traveling overnight.

I’ve used this website multiple times and my reservations have always been honored. Once, when we had a problem at the terminal due to a “Dia de Peaton” (Pedestrian Day… a fun Bolivian tradition that can be a bit less fun if it interferes with your travel plans), the website even refunded our tickets for lost time.

Buses to Tupiza

If you want to take a tour starting in Tupiza, it’s a four-hour bus journey from Uyuni, with buses leaving a couple of times each day from the bus terminal in the latter. Expect to pay around $30 BOB  ($6 USD).  

Alternatively, if you’re coming from Argentina, you can get a bus north from Villazon. It’s a journey just shy of three hours and should cost around 15 BOB ($2.7 USD). A handful of companies run this route. For vaguely up-to-date bus timetables, check out this website . 

Buses to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)

San Pedro de Atacama is the most visited town in northern Chile. However, to get here from southern Chile, departures are more frequent to nearby Calama. Buses to here from the Chilean capital, Santiago , cost between $40,000 CLP and $64,000 CLP ($50 USD to $70 USD) and take 23 hours.

However, flights are often the same price and significantly more time efficient. Further information about this is located below. 

From the bus terminal in Calama, buses leave hourly for San Pedro de Atacama; you can find departures and book here . The journey costs $5,500 CLP ($7 USD). 

Getting to the Salar de Uyuni by train

From La Paz, it’s also possible to take a four-hour bus to Oruro and then hop on a train to Uyuni, another six or seven hours away. A one-way trip using either method will cost about 32-120 BOB ($5-17 USD).

This train connects Oruro with Tupiza (5.5 hours after Uyuni; 56-239 BOB ($8-$35 USD) and Villazon (3 hours after Uyuni) further down the line. 

Trains leave four times weekly:

• The more expensive (and more comfortable) Expreso Del Sur  departs Oruro on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2.30pm .
• The cheaper Wara Wara del Sur departs Oruro at 7pm on Wednesdays and Sundays ; I haven’t been able to confirm what time the return journey leaves.

Prices and (probably!) up-to-date prices and timetables can be found on this website . 

Getting to the Salar de Uyuni by plane

Flights from la paz to uyuni.

Uyuni also has a small airport. If you want to save time – and avoid the twisty, turning Bolivian roads – the flights from La Paz to Uyuni take only about an hour.

Depending on the time of year, these flights can vary between 1,100 and 1,800 BOB ($170-250 USD) and are typically operated by Boliviana de Aviación, the national Bolivian carrier.

You can find flight times and make a reservation through their website .

Flights to Calama (Chile)

If taking a tour of the salt flights from San Pedro de Atacama, the most efficient means of getting to this town is by flying into Calama, a city situated 100 kilometers northwest. 

Aeropuerto Internacional El Loa (CJC) receives around a dozen flights from Santiago with carriers  LATAM  (expensive), Sky Airline (low cost), and Jet Smart (super low cost). I suggest checking for the lowest prices through Skyscanner and then booking directly with the airline.

If you book at least a few weeks in advance, you can secure flights for as little as $33,000 CLP ($48 USD) – although with Sky Airline and Jet Smart, you are required to pay for cabin baggage and hold luggage in addition to the quoted fee. Flights take around two hours and 10 minutes. 

The airline LATAM is typically more expensive and have multiple daily direct flights (2.5 hours) from Lima to Calama, costing from $72,000 CLP ($90 USD). 

From Calama, you can take a shared transfer directly to San Pedro de Atacama ($15,000 CLP ($19 USD) one-way or $28,500 CLP ($36 USD) return) with  TRANSVIP  or  Transfer Pampa Expedition . Transfers are timed to pick up passengers from the arrivals hall just after flights land. 

When should you visit the Bolivian Salt Flats?

The Salar de Uyuni is amazing at any time of year, but how your trip looks depends entirely on the season.

Visiting El Salar de Uyuni between December and March

Rainy season in Bolivia is when the Salar turns into the world’s largest mirror, making it, for some, the best time to go!

Lasting from around December to March, the rainy season sees a thin sheet of water cover the crusted white salt of the flats. You’ll definitely want to visit during these months if you’re hoping to snap amazing reflection photographs where the horizon seems to completely disappear.

Because of the standing water sitting atop the flats, the sunrises and sunsets are spectacular, while, at night, the stars can appear in double, reflected by the watery mirror on land. You can read Steph, Worldly Adventurer founder’s experiences of visiting the Salar de Uyuni during this period .

While wet season visits are great for photographers, there are also some downsides to visiting during this time. Rain makes mud, so the going gets tough at points along the road.

While 4WD vehicles and drivers are well-equipped to handle the terrain, more mud means a greater risk of getting stuck. You also might miss out on some of the activities, like riding bikes across the flats.

Visiting El Salar de Uyuni between April and October

Dry season in Bolivia lasts from around April to October and during this time, the salt flats look less like a giant mirror and more like… well, a giant salt flat.

It’s still pretty spectacular, and the expanse of white stretches on forever! You’re also still able to take some sweet photographs – particularly the hilarious perspective shots. Be sure to take along some props for your perspective photos, like a frying pan or toy dinosaur!

Be aware that it’s winter during these seasons, so you can expect temperatures to drop to below freezing once the sun goes down (around -6°C (-22°F)). Night skies are also guaranteed to be clearer because of a far lower chance of rain than in the rainy season!

Visiting El Salar de Uyuni in late March or late November

For the best of both worlds, visit in late March or late November. You might get lucky and find a part of the salt flat that is dry and a part that’s covered in water. During this time, you should be able to enjoy taking photographs that use the flat and seemingly endless backdrop of the world’s largest salt flats to create optical illusions, while capturing the incredible watery sunsets and sunrises, too.

What can you expect from Salar de Uyuni tours?                     

Salar de uyuni tours from uyuni.

Many companies in the town of Uyuni offer salt flat tours. If you’re not a planner like me, it’s fairly easy to walk into a tour office upon arrival and book a tour the same day.

Most tour companies offer one to three-day tours of the salt flats, lakes, and surrounding region.

If you are short on time and funds and only interested in seeing the salt plains themselves, a one-day tour or day trip will suffice.

Two-day tours add the region’s colorful, mineral lagoons, while in three days, you can see it all – salt flats, lagoons, deserts, and dramatic rock valleys.

My suggestion is to choose a three-day tour option . If you’re going to stay in Uyuni for multiple days, you might as well go big and see all there is to see!

Group tours or private tours are also options. Private tours are obviously pricier but grant more flexibility; to meet new people and save money, go for the group option!

On a three-day tour  you can expect to see and experience the following:

• The Salar de Uyuni!
• The train graveyard… a strange, but cool homage to Uyuni’s commercial past.
• A night in a hotel made out of blocks of salt and situated right in the middle of the salt flats themselves.
• Laguna Colorado, Laguna Verde, and other Altiplano salt lakes home to vast flocks of Andean flamingos.
• The colorful Dalí and Siloli deserts.
• A bubbling, steaming geyser field.
• Unique Bolivian wildlife, such as Darwin’s rheas, vicuñas, vizcachas, and, of course, flamingos.
• A dip in hot springs.

Recommended tour guides for El Salar de Uyuni

While there are many tours and companies to choose from, I highly recommend Quechua Connection .

This company’s guides are fluent in English and were very helpful. The first night’s accommodations have hot showers (a big plus!) and you spend it near the hot springs, where you can enjoy an evening soaking under the Milky Way.

Salar de Uyuni tours from Tupiza

Another alternative is a four-day tour from Tupiza . These include all of the destinations listed above but in the opposite order. The extra day sees you touring some of the country’s most remote scenery, where a series of deserted mining towns, volcanic peaks, and deserted altiplano plains filled with native wildlife are the highlights.

Your final day at the Salar de Uyuni also starts at sunrise, meaning you get the absolute best views of this grand natural site – and get to appreciate it before the hordes of vehicles from Uyuni arrive!

Whereas tours from Uyuni all take the same route which means you can expect to be in a procession of other 4WD vehicles packed with tourists – who all get out at the same spots at the exact same time – because there are only two tour agencies departing from Tupiza, you’ll likely only see a handful of other cars during your trip. 

What’s more, tour agencies in Tupiza have a reputation for being far more responsible, with vehicles kept in better condition and generally a higher standard of guides being employed.

This reputation also extends to safety; drink-driving can be a real issue on the Salar, so it’s essential to book with a company that is reliable and takes the safety of their passengers seriously. 

Recommended tour guides from Tupiza

Steph (the founder and editor of Worldly Adventurer) saw the salt flats via a tour from Tupiza with Tupiza Tours . La Torre are also another highly recommended operator based here. Tour guides should speak English; be sure to confirm this when you book. 

Because there are fewer tourists starting from here, you may need to wait a day or two for a complete group of tourists to form (you need at least four in your tour group before it can depart).

Tours are a little more expensive than those from Uyuni, starting from around 1370 BOB ($199 USD) per person. You can arrange to drive back to Tupiza or instead stop in Uyuni; both companies also can terminate the tour across the border in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. 

Salar de Uyuni tours from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)

If you’re in Chile and want to pop across the salt flats, a tour from San Pedro de Atacama makes the most logistical sense.

Three- or four-day tours depart San Pedro de Atacama and stop at the most popular sights along the route: Laguna Verde, Laguna Colorada, El Salar de Uyuni, and the Termas de Polques hot springs.

They also offer a visit to a salt factory and end their three-day tour with a hike through a giant volcanic rock valley, which was one of the highlights of our trip. They can also drop you in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile for an additional cost of around $15 USD. 

Another great tour operator is Banjo Tours . While we have experienced many different guides during our Bolivian travels, our best by far was from Banjo. They offer many tour options leaving from Uyuni, including one from La Paz to Uyuni via lesser-visited Sajama National Park, where you can see Bolivia’s highest peak and visit pre-Incan burial sites before visiting the salt flats.

Three-day tours start from around 1240 BOB ($180 USD). 

Recommended tour guides from San Pedro de Atacama

From Chilean border town, San Pedro de Atacama, the most recommendable agencies include Chilean company  Cruz Andina Travel .

You can either end in Uyuni (from $96,000 CLP ($120 USD)) or back in San Pedro de Atacama ($200,000 CLP ($250 USD)). 

This agency can also organize private tours for a much higher price. 

Top tips for taking a tour of the Bolivian Salt Flats

One thing you can expect from all tours is to spend a substantial amount of time in a car. While the scenery flying past your window will be beautiful, the fact is you will probably sit for hours per day jostling around in a 4×4 vehicle down precarious roads.

If you get car sick easily, take medicine and sit in the front seat!

My biggest suggestion, especially if you opt for a private tour, is to be upfront with your guides about exactly what you’re hoping to get out of the tour.

Want some extra time on the salt flats for pictures? Tell them! Don’t care so much about the train graveyard or the Laguna Colorado and want to spend more time in the hot springs? Let them know!

Most guides want you to be happy with your experience; I’ve found that being clear about what we wanted out of our tour was best for everyone.

What should you pack for visiting the Salar de Uyuni?

Conditions on a tour of the Salar de Uyuni are variable. Hiking and sleeping at 3,600 meters (about 12,000 ft.) above sea level can get pretty chilly, especially at night.

If you choose a three-day tour, those will take you up to 4,500 meters (almost 15,000 ft.)! That said, the sun can be really strong at high altitudes, meaning you’ll want to pack plenty of layers.

To be fully prepared for the Bolivian salt flats, you’ll want to pack the following when visiting the Salar de Uyuni:

• Sunscreen , lip balm, and a sun hat to block those rays!
• A beanie, gloves , and a scarf or buff for those cold, windy days.
• Warm clothes for sleeping… especially a pair of good, thick socks !
• Sleeping bag . While the basic accommodations on most tours will provide beds and blankets, I like a little extra warmth when I’m sleeping, and I didn’t regret having my own sleeping bag.
• Flip flops , especially if visiting during the rainy season. You don’t want to walk out into the salty water with a pair of your nicest hiking boots or favorite shoes. The salt is a pain to get off! On that note, you might want capris or pants that easily roll up (read: not skinny jeans) if you visit during rainy season.
• Swimsuit if you choose a multi-day tour and are visiting the hot springs.
• Rain jacket , especially if visiting during rainy season.
• Headlamp ! Many of the hostels have generators that shut off at night, and if you’re planning to visit the hot springs at night, you’ll need some light to navigate by.
• Camera! You’ll definitely be taking some cool shots! Also, bring fun props for perspective shots.
• Aux cord . Since you’ll be spending a lot of time in a car, most of the drivers will let you plug in your own tunes for the ride.
• Water! While most tour companies will include water with meals, you might want to pack an extra few liters for yourself as it’ll be expensive to purchase en route. Nothing cures altitude sickness better than chugging water and staying hydrated!

For more tips, based on seven years exploring Bolivia and South America, read our guide to what to pack for a trip to South America .

Where to stay in Uyuni, Bolivia

To be honest, I would suggest not actually staying in Uyuni. You can save yourself time and money by taking overnight buses or early morning flights and jumping straight onto a tour without actually spending the night in the town of Uyuni.

If your schedule doesn’t permit this option, however, there are plenty of hostels in Uyuni that you can visit.

One good option is Casa de Sal (Av. Potosi, $80 USD double), a hotel made almost entirely from salt. Typically, you only stay in salt hotels that are right in the middle of the flats themselves, so this is an unusual option right in the center of Uyuni. Bedrooms are large, the top-floor restaurant has outstanding sunset views and the showers are hot – exactly what you’ll want after a tour!

If you don’t mind being outside of town and want to see the Salar de Uyuni at night, stay closer to the salt flats at one of the more expensive, salt hotel options near the village of Colchani. These include the Hotel Palacio de Sal  (Orillas Salar de Uyuni, Colchani, $225 USD double) modern lodgings that are supposedly the first salt hotel in the world, and Hotel de Sal Luna Salada  (Orillas Salar de Uyuni, Colchani, $205 USD double), which even has salt floors!

Where to stay in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

On the northeast side of San Pedro, Ckuri Atacama  (Los Laureles 170, $78 USD double) has really beautifully-furnished bedrooms with shower rooms, large double bed, and a small dining area with your own fridge and plates and cutlery for you to serve yourself breakfast (it’s not included in the price). The owners are wonderful and know plenty about the area making them a great first port of call for information about tours or dining recommendations!

For those on a smaller budget, Backpackers San Pedro Hostel  ($23 USD dorm, $47 USD double) is clean and had plenty of communal space (including two large kitchens) but was a little out of town (which shouldn’t be too serious but it is hot and difficult walking at 2,400 meters above sea level in a desert!). It’s a more relaxed option than many of the other hostels in town, although noise can still be an issue here.

FAQs about visiting the Salar de Uyuni

Are the uyuni salt flats worth it.

Totally! These Mars-like landscapes are both mindboggling to look at and an absolute photographer’s dream thanks to the perspective shots you can capture; the salt flats behind offer a brilliant backdrop for all sorts of whacky compositions!

Tours are also very affordable, starting at just $180 USD for a three-day, two-night 4WD tour that takes you not only to the salt flats, but to thermal springs, a series of curious rock sculptures within what’s known as the Dali Desert, plus vast salt lagoons in a myriad of colors (including pink, believe it or not!). 

The trip also takes you deep into the Bolivian altiplano, which shields wildlife such as flamingoes, vizcachas (fluffy chinchilla-like creatures), and vicuñas (the wild relative of the alpaca). The surrounding terrain is also unique: perfectly conical volcanoes rise up into the distance, making the location even more otherworldly.  

Ultimately, the Bolivian salt flats are high up on our list of the destinations you can’t miss in South America .

How much does it cost to go to the Bolivian salt flats?

It depends on the length of your tour and also from which town you start. If starting and ending your tour in Uyuni, Bolivia, three-day tours (the best option if you want to see the key highlights of the Salar de Uyuni) cost from $180 USD pp for a group tour. 

Alternatively, you can start in Tupiza, a town three hours south of Uyuni. Tours from here tend to be four days and three nights and cost from $195 USD pp for a group tour. The extra day is well worth it for the remote scenery you get to explore, as well as the fact you arrive at the salt flats at sunrise – before all the tours from Uyuni!

The final option is to take a tour of the salt flats from San Pedro de Atacama, a town across the border in Chile’s Atacama Desert. These tours tend to take three or four days (depending on whether you want to return to San Pedro de Atacama or continue to Uyuni) and cost from $190 USD. 

Private tours starting from each of the above destinations are also available. You can expect to pay a lot more, as you’re paying for an entire car, rather than a seat in one; prices start from $1,500 USD per group.

Can you drive to the Uyuni Salt Flats?

Traveling to the salt flats independently is possible but certainly not recommended. This is due to the lack of roads found across the salt flats, which can make it easy for drivers to get lost and struggle to find their way back to Uyuni.

An unforgettable trip to the Salar de Uyuni

For a traveler visiting South America or Bolivia, visiting the Salar de Uyuni is a must. The natural beauty and uniqueness are things you’ll never forget! Learn more about places we think you should visit in Bolivia , what to do in San Pedro de Atacama , the Chilean town across the border, as well as how to pack for your trip to South America .

Did you find this Salar de Uyuni travel guide helpful? Don’t forget to pin it for later!

Monday 20th of March 2023

Hi, I am a solo traveller and planning to visit uyuni salt flats tomorrow (monday 20 March / Tuesday 21 March). I'm considering if you have suggestions for a group guide / tour from La paz. Thanks.

Steph Dyson

Hi Tolu, You need to get to Uyuni and take a tour from there - it'll be much cheaper than paying a tour company in La Paz (who will just charge you for the bus/transport to Uyuni and then the cost of a tour from there). Steph

Thursday 15th of September 2022

Narasimha kotha

Thursday 21st of April 2022

Firstly, thanks for the information shared above. Really helpful.

I am a solo traveller and planning to visit uyuni salt flats during first week of May. Just wondering, will I able to find tours to join a group of other people as I am travelling solo or i am obliged to take private tour. Please let me know.

Thanks in advance.

Friday 22nd of April 2022

Hi Narasimha, you should be able to join a tour with other travellers! Best wishes, Steph

Jolien Vanwijnsberghe

Thursday 6th of January 2022

Thank you for all the information. Do you also know if it is possible with the current covid-19 restrictions to cross the borders by bus between Chile and Bolivia? Or can you perhaps refer me to a website with recent guidelines about this topic? Your topic "is Patagonia open for travel" is very clear, but I find it difficult to find information about the passage from Chile to Bolivia by land. Thank you in advance!

Sunday 9th of January 2022

@Steph Dyson, thank you for your respons!

Saturday 8th of January 2022

Hi Jolien, as far as I'm aware, currently it's not as there are no passes between the two countries currently open. You can find information about those that currently are here. Steph

Mindy Green

Thursday 9th of January 2020

Hello - thank you for the detailed info. Very helpful. We are trying to do a 3-day tour starting in Uyuni and ending in Calama in late Feb. There are four of us and we'd like our own vehicle and nicer hotel accommodations. We're getting quoted anywhere from $450-$600 pp. Does that sound about right? Seems slightly on the high side. Let me know if you have any insight. Thank you!

Monday 13th of January 2020

Hi Mindy, you are likely getting quoted higher because normally they take five in a vehicle (so you're paying for the extra person) and nicer hotels will cost more. It does seem a little high though, so I suggest you contact a couple of other tour companies to get comparable quotes. Steph

THE 10 BEST Uyuni Tours & Excursions

Uyuni tours.

• Multi-day Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Walking Tours
• Private Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• Likely to Sell Out
• Special Offers
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. 3-Days Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flat and Colored Lagoons +Sunset+Mirror Effect

2. Uyuni Salt Flat 1 Day Tour +Sunset in the Salt Water Region with Mirror Effect

3. Uyuni Salt Flat 2 Days/1 Night +Sunset at Salt Water region with Mirror Effect

4. SALT FLATS PRIVATE FD+SUNSET (water region/mirror effect photography)

5. Full Day Private Tour to Salar de Uyuni

6. Uyuni Salt Flats 3 Day Tour from La Paz city

7. Uyuni Salt Flats (Day Trip) English Guide

8. Private Tour in Uyuni Salt Flat Bolivia With Lunch and Bikes

9. 2-Days Uyuni Salt Flats including Laguna Colorada

10. 3 Days Tour Uyuni Salt Flats, Sunset plus Funny Photos

11. Salar de Uyuni with lodging - 3 full days - With lagoons

12. 3-Day Tour to Salt Flats and Lagoons

13. Full day Salar- Sunset and Stars; Magic Salar

14. Uyuni Salt Flats And Colored Lagoons_3 Days_shared Tour_english Speaking Guide

15. Uyuni Salt Flats Private 3 day tour (Palacio Sal 5* & Tayka 3* hotels)

16. Private Day Trip Salar de Uyuni

17. Uyuni Salt Flats 3 Days/ 2 Nights with English Speaking Guide

18. Uyuni Salt Flats Full Day Tour

19. Private: Sunset and starlight tour in Uyuni salt flats.

20. Standard Uyuni Salt Flats 3 Days with Spanish-speaking driver

21. Salar de Uyuni - 1 full day tour

22. Classic Uyuni Salt Flat

23. Uyuni Salt Flats (3 Days) English Speaking Guide

24. 2-Day Tour to the Salar de Uyuni from San Pedro de Atacama by Bus

25. Private Multi Day Tour At Uyuni Salt Flat and Laguna Colorada

26. Private experience Biking in the Uyuni Salt Flats

27. Uyuni Salt Flats Private Night Tour from Uyuni

28. Private Salt Flat Full-Day Tour Including The Cemetery of Trains and Lunch from Uyuni

29. Uyuni Salt Flats _ 3 Days/2Nights _ Shared Tour_English Speaking Guide

30. Uyuni Full Day

What travelers are saying.

• Uyuni Salt Flat 1 Day Tour +Sunset in the Salt Water Region with Mirror Effect
• 3-Days Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flat and Colored Lagoons +Sunset+Mirror Effect
• Uyuni Salt Flat 2 Days/1 Night +Sunset at Salt Water region with Mirror Effect
• 3-Day Tour to Salt Flats and Lagoons
• 3-Days and 2-Nights Tour Salar Uyuni ending in Atacama Chile
• Salt Dream Travel
• Andes Salt Expeditions
• Uturunku Travel
• Tours Transandino
• Salty Desert Aventours
• Skyline Traveller
• Joker Expedition, Bolivia.
• Extreme Fun Travel
• Atacama Mistica Travel
• Uyuni Expeditions
• Nomada Experience
• Andrea Tours
• Turismo Ollague
• Tito Tours - Private Day Tour
• Banjo Tours
• Perla De Bolivia

3-Day Private Tour of Uyuni Salt Flats and Colored Lagoons Roundtrip from Uyuni

• Professional bilingual guide
• 2 nights of lodging in TAYKA HOTELS.
• Bottled water
• Pick up and return to the hotel.
• Transportation by private vehicle 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser
• Entrance to all tourist attractions.
• Entry/Admission - Train Cemetery
• Entry/Admission - Isla Incahuasi
• Entry/Admission - Laguna Hedionda
• Entry/Admission - Laguna Canapa
• Entry/Admission - Uyuni
• Pick up from your hotel in Uyuni, bus station or airport.
• Uyuni Joya Andina Airport, Uyuni Bolivia
• Wheelchair accessible
• Pushchair accessible
• Infant seats available
• Transportation is wheelchair accessible
• Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Confirmation will be received at time of booking
• Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
• This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
• Train Cemetery

Similar experiences

• Companion26775531857 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fabulous trip Fantastic trip . Pauli the guide / driver was excellent : knowledgeable, friendly and efficient . Everything went well , Bolivia was sensational , a real hidden gem . Cannot wait to return , will definitely use Pauli and Mundicintact expeditions again . Read more Written April 17, 2024
• 679happyn 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Easily the highlight of our entire South American trip Absolutely incredible 3 day trip! We were picked up at the airport by Lily (the guide) and Nestor (the driver), and we couldn't believe how many incredible things we saw in the 3 days. Both Lily and Nestor were super helpful and kind, the accomodation is terrific (and the food is excellent), and it was always super clear about where we were heading and what was happening. Lily is also amazing at taking pictures and making us look super cool, haha. Like another reviewer, we also booked via Ruta Verde. Pre-booking, we thought the cost was high, but I can guarantee you get so much more value than we thought to cross the Salar de Uyuni and Bolivian altiplano. Read more Written April 13, 2024
• T D 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Three Day Private Tour Uyuni Salt Flats with transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. I can not rate this tour and this tour company highly enough. My son and I both had the Salar de Uyuni on our bucket list and planned for February, the rainy season, to see the gorgeous mirror effect of the water in the salt flat. Next, I had to research and select the tour company for our adventure. Believe me, I read all the reviews and looked at all of the pictures. I chose Mundicontact because they were big enough to have great reviews and small enough to really care about each client. My communication with Doris ahead of the trip was very complete and very professional. We arrived in Uyuni at 6:45 AM on the night bus from La Paz and our guide Poli met us at the station. We had time to stop at a cafe for coffee and breakfast and to freshen up before getting on the road. The day at the Salar de Uyuni was magical and easily the most beautiful place on earth that I have visited. Poli set up both a delicious lunch and Happy Hour. The trick photos were fun but the setting is amazing. The Luna Salada is a quite nice hotel for the first night. Tayka del desierto the 2nd night was not as rustic as others have written and has great food. The border transfer was seamless. Thanks Poli and Mundicontact…it was wonderful. Read more Written March 30, 2024
• timholscher 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Like you're on another world We (a couple from the Netherlands) did a 3 day/2 nights tour from San Pedro to Uyuni. We booked through Ruta Verde but they contracted the tour out to MundiContact. The tour was epic. On the morning of the first day we were picked up at our hotel in San Pedro by a very friendly driver that brought us to the border and helped us through customs. Then, at the Bolivian customs, we were greeted by Polly, our driver and guide for the next couple of days. Polly is an amazing driver and very knowledgeable about the desert and salt flats. We had basic knowledge of Spanish, but Polly made sure to talk slow and clear. He was funny yet professional and was always ready to shoot the best pictures (and always a panorama) whenever we stopped for one of the many amazing sights. We mizs the 4x4, which felt like a second home by the time the tour ended. As cherry on top, Polly brought us to the salt flats during sundown. Thank you Polly for an amazing time. Read more Written February 6, 2024
• amydN7197ZL 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Fabulous Tour of Bolivian High Desert and Salt Flats! We (mom, dad and two adult daughters) did a 4D/3N round trip tour from SPDA to the Salt Flats in December 2023. We booked through Ruta Verde but they contracted the tour out to MundiContact. The entire tour was absolutely fantastic! We had a super-friendly English-speaking guide (Elias) and a fabulous driver (also photographer and chef!) who took us safely over the very difficult topography of the desert and salt flats. They were both very knowledgeable and accommodating and made us feel comfortable and safe at every point of the trip. We highly recommend this company and would use them again! Read more Written January 7, 2024
• SK00 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles A safe, flexible operator in Salar de Uyuni Hired for a 3-day private tour of the salt flats (going private primarily motivated by desire to avoid the mass tours focussed on gimmicky photo stunts :). Very knowledgeable of local spots and high on safety… a good choice for nature/photography based travels. Read more Written January 2, 2024
• helmuthS3875DJ 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amaxing Uyuni Salt Flats and surroundings tour We had a great few days in and around the Uyuni Salt Flats. Our driver Elmer was fantastic. He picked us up from the Chilean border and drove us safely and carefully through the sometimes rough Bolivian road conditions. We stopped at all locations in our itinerary: lagoons, thermal baths, geysers, special desert views, a pre Inca necropolis, a train cemetery, amongst other places. We saw all kind of local fauna and flora including countess flamingoes, lamas and vicuñas. Elmer also made an extra stop for us at the Green Lagoon, which wasn't initially in our program. It turned out to be the nicest lagoon visit for me personally. The Uyuni Salt flats were of course the highlight of the trip. Simply amazing. Thanks to our driver we got some 'Instaram worthy' pics and vids, by him instructing us what to do to get the most memorable shots of this special location. We also saw how salt is extracted and prepared for consumption. One small warning: You can take salt from Uyuni with you back over the border to Chile but make sure that it doesn't contain (or is mixed with) any herbs. Herbs are not allowed by Chilean customs into the country. Salt alone is however no problem. Another thing to remember is that the whole trip is taking part in high altitude (higest point reaching 4,930 meters above sea-level). You might need some time to get used to the high altitude and you might experience some altitude sickness or symptoms, such as short breath or headaches. I recommend Mundicontact Expeditions very much for trips in and around Uyuni. Read more Written December 16, 2023
• calebingaround 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Care and Resilience: Mundicontact's Guide to Exceptional Adventures! Mundicontact's guide and driver were absolutely thoughtful, courteous, and responsible throughout the entire journey. They consistently adjusted the tour based on weather and road conditions to ensure an ideal trip. When a friend fell victim to altitude sickness, they were taken care of every step of the way, receiving local remedies and engaging in less strenuous activities without compromising others' experiences. Impressively, when our vehicle broke down at 4700m, Mundicontact stepped up and arranged contingencies, allowing us to make our flight connection on a very tight schedule. Not to mention the very cool suggestions for taking interesting photos. Highly recommended. Read more Written December 15, 2023
• U4531PVjoannas 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Excellent Experience! My husband and I had a wonderful tour of the salt flats with Paola. Communication before the trip was great and we always felt like we were in good hands. Paola brought so much energy and was incredibly knowledgable and open to sharing with us. She took us to all the right spots and always had an answer to our questions. I recommend this company for anyone looking for a private tour of the salt flats and encourage you to request Paola as your guide! Read more Written December 10, 2023
• A9281IRab 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Amazing experience with above-and-beyond attention to details Mundicontact's guide and driver were nothing but thoughtful, courteous, and responsible from beginning to end. They were constantly adjusting the tour based on weather/road conditions to ensure an ideal trip. A friend came down with altitude sickness and was taken care of the whole way, given local remedies and less strenuous activities without compromising others' experience. Most impressively, when our vehicle broke down at 4700m, Mundicontact stepped up and arranged contingencies so we made the flight connection on a very tight schedule. Not to mention very cool suggestions for taking interesting photos. Highly recommended. Read more Written December 1, 2023
• realrickyl 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great Experience on 4d/3n Salt Flats Tour. We did a 4D/3N round trip tour from SPDA to the Salt Flats in November 2023, I believe MundiContact was contracted out by our agency for the job and they were great! Januea, our guide was great and especially caring for my partner who started feeling the effects of altitude. The driver was safe, the car was comfortable and we got to see everything. The company was accommodating when we told them we wanted to leave early to catch a flight, and made every effort to ensure we were taken care of on our trip. Read more Written November 27, 2023
• Arte11 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Outstanding Private Tour and Customer Service Our experience with Mundicontact Expeditions was fantastic. My wife & I originally thought about driving our own vehicle into Salar de Uyuni and Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. After some research, there were several factors that caused us to choose a tour company instead. We asked selected hotels who they would recommend for a private tour. We contacted both companies plus one other. Mundicontact Expeditions was the clear winner. Doris was very responsive and developed a private tour that met our particular needs. After selected them and wiring 50% of the cost as a down payment, our dates had to change due a minor medical issue. Doris was successful in changing the dates. Our actual tour was fantastic and part of this due to an excellent driver (Pole) and English speaking guide (Janeth). They were both professionals, very great people and were flexible on the schedule. The price was higher than the tours geared towards backpackers. However, it was worth every penny to us. My wife & I highly recommend this boutique tour company. Read more Written February 22, 2023
• R-Squared7 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Great experience, absolutely recommended We had such an amazing and unforgettable experience, with 2 days 1 night visit to the Salar de Uyuni and then heading south towards the border with Chile. If we could go back, we'd probably choose the 3 days 2 nights trip, totally worth it. Shout out to our guide, Eric, he's been the cherry on the cake. It made us feel safe and enjoy the trip 100%, turning into driver, chef and photographer at will! We had a nice car, clean and safe. The desert is incredibile and worth any long trip you might need to reach Uyuni. Read more Written September 7, 2022
• lywenp 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Best Private Tour of Uyuni Salt Flats and the Altiplano Don't let the lack of reviews fool you, Mundicontact Expeditions have over 15 years of experience in the business and it shows. (They're a service provider for another agency with hundreds of excellent reviews here on TA.) As a solo traveler, most agencies will simply quote a shared tour with up to 5-6 passengers in a vehicle or I would have to pay 5-6x the per person cost to do a private tour. Doris Rojas at Mundicontact was the only agent that gave me reasonable options: a) letting me join just a few other travelers (another plus: they will run a tour with just 3 passengers for the price/person that's competitive with other agencies shared tour costs) on a tour starting in Uyuni or b) I could do a private tour staying in hostels or hotels (both options with private bathrooms) starting in either Uyuni or San Pedro de Atacama. Of all the agencies I contacted, the offers Doris proposed for all the options mentioned above were the most competitive, price-wise and also in terms of quality/price ratio. (Well equipped vehicle with satellite tracking, oxygen, sat phone, all entrance fees, food and beverages during the tour included.) After some research, I realized that depending on your interests, your itinerary options depend heavily on your accommodation choices. For instance, to visit or stay in the Ojo de Perdiz desert above 4000m, your only options there or nearby are either the Tayka de Desierto Hotel or the Hotel los Flamencos. For the Uyuni Salt Flat part of the tour, if you want to stay further away from Uyuni in smaller villages like Coquesa or Tahua instead of the more touristy Colchani, your accommodation options are limited by what's available there. Many agencies do not even guarantee a stay or a visit at these smaller villages on the other side of the sal flat in the standard package tour. (Note: this option will not be possible if doing the tour when the Salar is flooded, unless you specifically want to go to the Tunupa volcano. In which case, it would be logistically more sensible to arrange to start/end your trip in Oruro) In the end, I ended up booking a private excursion for 3 days/2 nights from San Pedro de Atacama ending in Uyuni with stays at Tayka de Desierto and Tayka de Sal Hotels. Mundicontact has a counterpart in San Pedro de Atacama to coordinate the Chile-Bolivia transfer portion as well. To make the cost of the private tour for a single person within my budget, Doris let me choose a shared transfer from SPdA to the border (a short 40-min ride) and options to transfer back to Chile (a bus from Uyuni-Calama or Uyuni-SPdA via a shared service) the day after the tour. The tour included a sunset picnic over the Salar near the Tunupa Volcano. I chose to take the bus to Calama as I had a rental car to pick up there and wanted to overnight in Uyuni to rest up. All in all, Mundicontact tailored the trip to my wants in terms of itinerary and gave me recommendations that I was grateful for during my trip while staying within the constraints of my budget. My guide/driver/travel companion was Apolinar Flores (Poli) who has been driving for Mundicontact for many years. He was courteous, knowledgeable, and careful as an off-road driver. I'm accustomed to driving 4x4 tracks myself and was very happy with how Poli navigated the terrains. As a guide, he explained various topics from the geologic history of the visited areas, various indigenous communities, and the flaura/fauna. At the same time, he demonstrated intellectual humility when asked about things he did not know. He was also experienced in helping guests with altitude sickness, something I was grateful for as I experienced some mild symptoms during my first night staying at 4500m. The booking and payment process was via bank transfer in either USD or Bolivinos (price-wise it was better in USD at the current exchange rate). I was nervous at first, but within 24-48 hrs of paying the deposit (10-40%), I was forwarded direct confirmation emails from the hotels where I'd be staying. This was also helpful as I needed these documents to upload to the Bolivia's visa application portal. The final payment was only required by the end of the tour. For those wishing to pay with a cc, I used Wise for the transfer, which allows cc/apple pay funding options. This is a boutique family-run travel agency with an extensive knowledge in the region as well as many years of experience operating high-quality customized tours. I highly recommend Mundicontact and would consider them for my future trips to the area. Although I did the tour in Spanish, Mundicontact has also operated excursions with interpreters for international guests from a variety of backgrounds. Read more Written August 1, 2022
• R6917SProdrigos 0 contributions 5.0 of 5 bubbles Uyuni Salt flats Tour If I could leave more stars I would!!! Mundicontact Expeditions 100% recommended, we were in Uyuni for 3 days and had an exceptional time with our tour guide Poli. If you are like us and want a full detail explanation of what tours include, hotel and travel accommodations then these are the right people for the job. We were taken care of the whole time we were in Uyuni and more importantly we felt completely safe when we were in their care. Our 3 day tour consisted of a full day salt flats tour, an early star viewing with sunrise and a 3rd day at el centro turístico Coqueza that included a view of one of the most beautiful volcanic mountains we have ever seen. We initially came to see the mirror reflection in the salt flats but ended up getting more that we could have ever imagined including that mirror beautiful effect that we wanted. The pricing for our 3 days was exceptionally great and better than any other competitors that we inquired about. **MOST IMPORTANT FOR US** Communication! Doris Rojas at the main office was extremely attentive of our questions pre, during and after our trip to assure we had the most exceptional time! Our tour guide and driver Poli was the right person for the job! Keeping our safety at the forefront of his priorities, he was also very knowledgeable with the history of the area and as you will see from the pictures below he is one hell of a photographer. The tour was very fun entertaining and include lunches with views that will probably never get beat in my opinion. If you are looking to go to the Uyuni Salt flats look no further than Mundicontact Expeditions! Call Doris Rojas and leave the rest to her and her team! Read more Written March 2, 2021

More to explore in Uyuni

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

3-Day Private Tour of Uyuni Salt Flats and Colored Lagoons Roundtrip from Uyuni provided by Mundicontact Expeditions

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website.

• Red Planet Salt Flats Tour Uyuni - 3 Days

RED PLANET SALT FLATS TOUR UYUNI - 3 DAYS

Red Planet Expeditions are the most popular choice for travellers visiting the salt flats of  Uyuni . This is our  best selling, mid-range salt flats tour option and includes an English-speaking guide. Red Planet are one of the most experienced, safe and reliable companies for the Uyuni Salt Flats and have been for a number of years and for this reason they do fill up in advance. First night in double or triple room accommodation. We are the number one booking agency for Red Planet Salt Flats Tours and can highly recommend this option.

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 (can be rented) 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.

Click here to go to the  Salar de Uyuni - Salt Flats Tours  Category Page

The following is a typical tour but sometimes some things are omitted from a tour (for example during rainy season), sometimes additional things are included (such as train cemetery visit at the start or end of the trip) so this shouldn’t be seen as a rigid itinerary, although the most popular main sites are always included. 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.

Red Planet Expeditions are the most popular choice for travellers visiting the sa lt flats of Uyuni. This is our  best selling, mid-range salt flats tour option and includes an English-speaking guide. Red Planet are one of the most experienced, safe and reliable companies for the Uyuni Salt Flats and have been for a number of years and for this reason they do fill up in advance. First night in double or triple room accommodation. We are the number one booking agency for Red Planet Salt Flats Tours and can highly recommend this option.

DAY 1 – Uyuni – Colchani – Incahuasi – Atulcha

We meet at the office and leave Uyuni in the morning around 10.30 / 11:00 am and first visit the train cemetery where you can see the old rusting trains from decades ago. After this we continue to Colchani and witness how the salt is processed. We have lunch in the village and then move onto the salt flats themselves. We will see where the salt has been laced in mounds ready to be transported, the original Playa Blanca salt hotel (no longer used for guests) and visit Inca Huasi Island to see the giant cacti and have great views of the salt flats all around. There will be plenty of time for taking amazing photos and the salt before we head toward the village of Atulcha where we will spend the night (the salt hotel is called Nuevo Amanecer). If time allows, you might also have the chance to see the sunset on the salt flats (this depends on season and cannot be guaranteed, but is usually possible).

DAY 2 – Atulcha – Lagunas –  Laguna Colorada  – Geysers  – Hot springs  – Polques

We awake early and have breakfast before leaving to travel further south. You will first have the chance to visit the Sora Canyon and see llamas in their natural environment before continuing  through the Chuguana desert area where the scenery will include a number of extinct volcanoes plus the semiactive Ollague. As the journey continues we will pass by high altitude lagoons that are home to 3 species of flamingo before arriving into the desert of Siloli and the “tree of rock”. We then move onto the “Laguna Colorada”, an amazing red colored lake full of flamingos. Here is where we enter the Eduardo Avaroa National Park. In late afternoon we then go to v isit the “Sol de Mañana” geysers and see the bubbling mud pools and steam jets. We will then continue to Polques where we find the hostel where we will spend the night. After dinner, you can decide to relax in the warm water pools of the local hot springs while enjoying the breathtaking starry sky.

DAY 3 – Polques – Dalí Desert –  Laguna Verde – Uyuni

Today we have an early start at 6.00 am and have breakfast. We then continue our trip via the “Dali desert” (only visible from afar) to see “Laguna Verde” where, if conditions are correct, we see the green mineral waters of this lake at the foot of Volcan Licancabur (from here we do the transfers to San Pedro de Atacama -  there is an additional fee for this transfer and it is available on 3 day tour only, you arrive in San Pedro approximately midday). We then start our return journey back to Uyuni where we arrive approximately 16.30 / 17.00, perfectly on time if having a late flight or an overnight bus back to La Paz.

• Transportation in 4x4 vehicle 
• English-speaking guide
• Driver (sometimes guide can also be driver depending on availability)
• 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)
• 1 night accommodation in basic hostel (double/twin/triple/quadruple rooms with shared bathroom - depends on availability)
• Oxygen tank

NOT INCLUDED

• Transport to Uyuni
• Sleeping bags (can be rented the morning of the tour during the check-in for 50 Bs per person)
• Entrance fees - 30 Bs for the Incahuasi Island (if reachable), 150 Bs for the National Park and 6 Bs for the hot springs (subject to change)
• Water - we 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
• Dropoff at the bus terminal / at the airport at the end of the tour (bus terminal is walking distance whereas for the airport it will be easy for you to catch a taxi from the centre of Uyuni after the end of the tour)
• 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.
• Low season / high season - This price is the low season price and some years around July / August prices can rise for "high season". We only know when this will happen and by how much when it actually happens and usually it is with just a couple of days notice. This is because it is the decision of the drivers union in Uyuni and not our or the operators. The price rise is usually around 20$ more but we cannot know for sure until the time. For bookings around this time you should book with the low season price and we always try to get the operators to honour advanced bookings at low season price. If they do not we will need to ask for the price difference or, if you don't wish to pay, you can cancel also.
• Private tours -  In order to do this tour as a private tour you would have to pay for 6 people regardless of how many of you there are (this way you are paying for the 6 seats of the car and will have a car just for you). In addition to this, when booking please also write down in the Further Details section that you want a private tour.
• Pickups and dropoffs -  Pickups from the accommodations are not included. If staying overnight in Uyuni, then it will be easy for you to walk to the operator's office in the morning - Uyuni is small and you will have to walk only a few blocks. If arriving by plane, it will be also easy to find a taxi from the airport to the office (15-20 minutes drive). If you arrive by bus, and provide detailed information about the bus you will be on, we will then inform the tour operator about it and someone should meet you at the terminal upon arrival - should you not see anyone (this can happen if the bus gets there much earlier than expected for example and the guide might be not there yet), you can simply make your way to the office, which is going to be at walking distance of a couple of blocks anyway. We will provide detailed information about the office location (and contact details) when we confirm your booking.  You will be dropped off back at the office at the end of the tour.
• Accommodation  - The accommodation for the first night will be in double/triple rooms in a salt hotel, with private bathroom (in most rooms, otherwise it will be shared - depends on availability) and hot water shower, and 24 hours electricity. The second night will be in a basic refuge and whenever possible (usually is the case) the  6 people of your group will share the same room . There will be a shared toilet but no shower.  We recommend you take a sleeping bag to use in addition to the provided blankets in the accommodations - this can be rented on the morning your tour departs.
• Rainy season - Please note that during the rainy season (usually from January to May) the Incahuasi Island and the salt hotel might not be reachable if the salt flats are covered in water. We cannot know this in advance. In case the salt hotel is not reachable, you will spend the first night in a regular accommodation with shared bathroom (and not made of salt).
• Luggage - Bags are normally stored on top of the car, but the space will be limited and if there are people who will finish their tour in Chile in your group, for obvious reasons they will have the priority. This means that it might be not possible for you to take all your stuff on the tour, and in this case you will have to leave part of your luggage at Red Planet office and will collect it when you get back from the tour. We recommend you have your luggage ready for this evenience (in order to take things out easily etc.) should this be necessary.
• Group size - Up to 6 customers per car. Usually Red Planet arrange two cars going together: in one car 6 people + 1 driver (not English-speaking), in the other car 5 people + 1 driver + 1 English-speaking guide. The cars will do the tour together and the guide will give an explanation to both groups every time the cars stop.
• Health and safety - 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. The salt flats tours travel to altitude of around 5000 meters so the majority of people will feel some effects for altitude sickness. We recommend that you should be acclimitized to above 3000 meters before going on these tours and that you take headache tablets, "soroche" (local word for altitude sickness) tablets and any other medications that you may require.
• Transfer to Chile - If you want to add a transfer to Chile after the tour instead of returning to Uyuni, please see THIS product page.

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.

• Red Planet : English-speaking guide, sunset on the salt flats, salt hotel on the first night with private bathrooms (most of the rooms, not all of them - salt hotel only during dry season, otherwise will be a regular accommodation), accommodation near the hot springs the second night. This is the operator with the best reputation in Uyuni as they offer consistently good tours and are well established. For that reason they are are virtually always booked in advance and charge more than most other operators. Tours leave every day with Red Planet. Sleeping bag is not included in the price.
• Quechua Connection : English-speaking guide, sunset on the salt flats, regular hotel on the first night with private bathrooms (most of the rooms, not all of them, and it is not a salt hotel), accommodation near the hot springs the second night. This is another good tour operator that offer tours about the same standard as Red Planet and are growing quickly. During dry season they often include some 30 mins biking on the salt flats as well (conditions permitting). Sleeping bag is included in the price.
• Perla de Bolivia : English-speaking guide, sunset on the salt flats, salt hotel on the first night with private bathrooms (most of the rooms, not all of them - salt hotel only during dry season, otherwise will be a regular accommodation), accommodation near the hot springs the second night. This is another popular operator that is rapidly growing. They include a visit to the Galaxy and the Devil's Caves in their itinerary as well. Sleeping bag is included in the price.
• Standard Plus : Spanish-speaking guide, no sunset on the salt flats (they head to the accommodation earlier), salt hotel on the first night with shared bathrooms (shower available for 10 bs - salt hotel only during dry season, otherwise will be a regular accommodation), hot springs the third day in the morning. Sleeping bag is not included in the price.

* We state may have because tour itineraries can change due to external factors so these are typically what is included and i in general the differences are as above but we cannot guarantee this is always the case.

We also have a some comparison tables on our Salt Flats Tours category pages that show the differences in a nice and easy format

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

Yes , that’s not a problem. You would be in the same vehicle for the tour and then near Laguna Verde the people going to San Pedro are transferred to a different transport vehicle at the border and the 4x4 vehicle used for the tour returns to Uyuni with the remaining passengers. Iif you could inform us of this requirement when booking and give the passengers names so we know who to group together. Of course, the tours have to leave on the same date and each person choose the same tour operator.

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.

* Required Fields

You might also be interested in

Flight La Paz to Uyuni to La Paz (Amaszonas)

Todo Turismo Bus Uyuni to La Paz

Todo Turismo Buses & Red Planet Salt Flats Bundle

Regular Price: $294.00

Special Price $288.00

Hotel La Petite Porte - Uyuni

Todo Turismo Bus La Paz to Uyuni

Ask a question.