Colorful & surreal: the Salt Flats of Bolivia!
What sights in Bolivia should I really have seen? The salt flats Bolivia! We list everything for you so that you know exactly why and what to expect. Including a GOLDEN tip !
Why then the salt flats of Bolivia? Top 4!
1. This elongated salt flat is an unreal natural experience; surreal!
2. No man’s land; nature and you!
3. Very diverse landscape; from the ‘ice white’ to colorful lagoons and wonderful hot springs;
4. …And secretly also for the photos!
To do’s? Top 8 incl. 1 BONUS tip !
In this 3-day Uyuni Bolivia salt flat tour one of the most important things is: enjoy! What we liked:
1. Incahuasi: a large rock formation that rises above the salt flat with enormous cacti and volcanic rocks ;
2. Cueva del Diablo and Galaxia Cristal: special caves along the way;
3. Ollagüe: The volcano at Chiguana ;
4. Laguna Hedionda: With a remarkable smell, it contains a lot of sulfur! Pay close attention to the many light pink flamingos and other birds ;
5. Siloli desert including el Arbol de Piedra: the stone tree;
6. Laguna Colorada: the intensely red and mineral-rich lagoon is located at an altitude of approximately 4300 meters. Flamingos ‘graze’ throughout the day for plankton and algae. Wow!;
7. Laguna Verde and volcano Licancabur: From red to green! We quickly continue with viewing the green lagoon . Your eyes will feast on the different intense colors ! View the volcano and don’t forget to take a bath in a natural hot spring !;
8. Finally, Valle de las Rocas, the town of Culpina and Cementerio de Trenes (the train cemetery) are nice places to visit…
… But don’t forget our GOLDEN tip : spend the night in the salt hotel. If that’s not special, we don’t know what is! We’d love to help you!
When is the best time to visit the Bolivia Salt Flats?
When is the best time to visit the most beautiful salt flat in the world is different for each person! There are 2 ‘different’ moments, each with its own characteristics, namely:
1. Rainy season: the ‘mirror effect’ of the salt flat is visible! This is due to a wafer-thin layer of rainwater that causes this effect, in the months between December and April. However, it should be taken into account that there can be abundant rainfall in December and January, which can cause the tours to be cancelled.
2. Dry season: in the season from May to November it is cooled down, which you also notice in the hard ground. The advantage of this is that you can drive over the vast large white surfaces to places that are not reachable during the rainy season.
Tip! We advise to plan a tour to Salar de Uyuni during the dry season, because this highlight in Bolivia can almost always take place! Good to know when booking.
What is the route?
The 3 day tour of the salt flats Bolivia starts from Uyuni. Here we will tell you globally how the Uyuni tour can look like! For a more extensive day-to-day description you can look at the excursion ‘ Uyuni Bolivia ‘.
Day 1: From Uyuni you will go by jeep in the middle of the morning to the village of Colchani, on the edge of the salt flats. The inhabitants here are completely dependent on the production of salt! Then you will drive past the salt hotel and the ‘island’ of Incahuasi, known for its giant cacti and volcanic rocks. Tour the salt flats and see the caves Cueva del Diablo and Galaxia Cristal along the way.
Day 2: You can never get enough of the salt flats in Bolivia! So of course a 2nd day is definitely a must! During this day you will visit the most beautiful lakes, rock formations but of course also the impressive volcanoes such as the Ollagüe in Chiguana. Then you will visit the so-called ‘Laguna Hedionda’ including the many birds including the beautiful flamingos! After this you will continue to the Siloli desert and to the ‘stone tree’ or el Arbol de Piedra. This day will end at the beautiful colored ‘Laguna Colorada’.
Day 3: From Laguna Colorada it is time for a hot shower! And not like the one at home! During the last day of the coolest excursion of Bolivia you will visit a number of nice sights, such as geysers and colorful lakes. For example the green lagoon (Laguna Verde)! All this after you have experienced the special sunrise at the Laguna.
Tip! A personal highlight is the hot spring! So don’t forget to bring your swimsuit! After this you will be brought back to Uyuni.
In short: the salt flats Bolivia is a colorful and fragrant excursion . There is a lot to see in a few days. Definitely a story to tell at the next birthday!
Interested in the excursion Uyuni Bolivia ? Or perhaps in one of the trips such as the combination tour Peru and Bolivia ? Or the individual tour Bolivia ? Then please take a look! We are happy to help you with your trip to the salt flats in Bolivia .
