Travel across the most symbolic route of Bolivian tourism: Salt flats, islands, cactus valley, Lipez high plains, moun-tains, rivers, lakes, fauna and trails, protected natural area

This Tour May Run Backwards

If you are arriving from Villazón (border Argentina-Bolivia)

it is just one and a half hours from the border to Tupiza. We can also arrange a transfer-in for an extra cost

Accommodation / Facilities on Tour

The accommodation on the Uyuni Salt Flats tour will be bare-bones basic with basic cots in shared rooms. On occasion there may not be electricity or running water due to lack of in-frastructure and services in the national park. You will be travelling in the middle of the desert – toilet facilities will only be available on the first day of the Uyuni tour and might have a small local cost.

NOTE: If you come back to the departure point, please ONLY BRING the necessary material & clothes during the tour.

Travel across the most symbolic route of Bolivian tourism: Salt flats, islands, cactus valley, Lipez high plains, moun-tains, rivers, lakes, fauna and trails, protected natural area.

Important Info

For those that wish to finish at San Pedro de Atacama in Chile instead of coming back to Uyuni: Guides will assist with your border crossing at 10:30 am, and you should arrive in San Pedro at 12:00 pm on the third day of the tour. The drop off is at San Pedro de Atacama’s main square.

Important: During the rainy season (from November to April), it is not possible to access Incahuasi Island. However, there is the possibility of visiting the island if on the day of your tour it does not rain. We also may sleep in a different location due to road access. The itinerary and the transfer to San Pedro de Atacama may change depending on the weather conditions.

Important: During the winter season (from June to August), it is not possible to access Eduardo Avaroa National Park (red lagoon, Dali dessert, green lagoon). However, there is the possibility of visiting black lagoon and rock valley, changes to the itinerary maybe made without prior notice depending on the weather conditions. You may also sleep in different locations depending on vehicle access.

REMEMBER: It can get very cold especially during the winter months of June and July so bring extra warm clothes along like a scarf and wool hat to keep warm. We also recommend bringing an extra 5 litres of water so you can have enough water for the whole trip.

This tour is perfectly tailored for all arrivals in Uyuni, being by bus or by plane. The operator´s office is only 5 minutes away by taxi from the bus terminal and the airport

NOTE: The operator provides water and soft drinks at lunch and dinner.Also, sleeping bag ( you must inform the operator before the tour starts)

Day 1

Start your tour leaving Uyuni town at 11:00 a.m. with a visit to Uyuni’s train graveyard. Then visit the small settlement of Colchani (salt miners´s workshops), see handicrafts made of salt and textile art made of llama and alpaca. Next, visit “Ojos de Agua Salada” and a hotel made completely of salt which is currently being used as museum.

Following, take a short hike to “Isla Incahuasi” to see giant cactii and rock formations made of petrified coral. Then have lunch.

Afterwards, enjoy a unique experience of seeing a beautiful sunset over the salt flats, and finally arrive to Ajencha town to have dinner and night stay in the hostel (double rooms).

Day 2

Start off at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast. First stop, Galaxy Caves and then go visit the Chiguana Desert on Uyuni salt flats South side, surrounded by volcanoes such as Ollagüe (5840m), which is still active and that can be seen from the lookout point. Then, continue along the rocky road that´s called “El Pasito Tuntun”. Later, visit: Cañapa, Hedionda and Chiarcota Lagoons in which flamingoes can be seen.

Finally in the day, enter “Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve” (NATIONAL PARK ), visit the Desert of Siloli at 4550m (the highest and driest in the world), take a picture next to the ‘Rock tree’ (a lava rock formation). Before arriving to final destination, stop at the overlook point by the Red Lagoon to see more pink flamingos in their natural habitat and admire this intense red-colored lake. Stay the night at a shared family lodging in Porques, have the opportunity to take a bath in an open air Hot Springs at a 35 Cº water.

Day 3

Get off to an early start around 5:00 a.m. to visit the Sol de Mañana Geyser (5,000m) and walk next to fumaroles and steaming craters filled with boiling pots of mud at 150-200 Cº. The next places to appreciate are the Dali Desert where Salvador Dali found his inspiration from boulders sprinkled in the middle of the desert, and then the Green Lagoon (toxic copper water at the foot of the big Licancabur volcano at 6000m, a few kilometers from the Bolivia-Chile border). Lunch time.

In the afternoon, visit Rock Valley that presents fickle formations , various geysers. Finally arrive to Quetena Chico town for dinner and night stay in the hostel.

Day 4

Beginning the adventure with some stories of Huaca Huañusca, place of last heist of legendary Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in Tupiza. Also a rocky road and valley where vicugnas wander free all over the place as if it was a huge farm. Going high to 5000 meters it is quite possible to see San Miguel, and Lipez communities.

The ride may take most of the day but with incredible views that will amaze your eye. Finally arrive to Tupiza.

Videos

IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS TOUR, WE INVITE YOU TO FILL OUT THIS FORM AND AS SOON AS POSSIBLE ONE OF OUR ADVISORS WILL CONTACT YOU