Cidade Turismo
Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni

Potosí · Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni

A salt desert of more than 10,000 km², at about 3,660 m, with the dry white salt, the water mirror in the rainy season, Isla Incahuasi and the train cemetery.

Altiplano

In the photo: Salar de Uyuni with a sheet of water

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

The Salar de Uyuni covers more than 10,000 km² in southwest Bolivia, in the department of Potosí, at about 3,660 meters of altitude. It is the largest salt desert in the world, the remnant of ancient lakes that dried up thousands of years ago and left a salt crust several meters thick, almost perfectly flat. Beneath it lies a brine rich in lithium, one of the largest reserves of the metal on the planet.

For most of the year, the salar is a white, dry plain, cut by salt hexagons, where the lack of reference points creates the perspective photos visitors take. In the rainy season, usually from January to March, a thin sheet of water often covers parts of the salar and reflects the sky, forming the water mirror. In the middle of the salt, Isla Incahuasi is a rocky hill covered with giant cacti.

The town of Uyuni, at about 3,700 meters, was founded at the end of the 19th century as a junction of the railway that carried ore to the Pacific. Today it is the base for excursions, which depart from local agencies in 4x4 vehicles. Nearby are the Train Cemetery, with abandoned locomotives in the desert, and Colchani, the village where salt is extracted and processed.

Besides the one-day tour, agencies run three- or four-day itineraries across the southern Altiplano, with the Colorada and Verde lagoons, geysers and the Lípez deserts, which end in Uyuni or at the border with Chile.

This destination brings together 1 city: Uyuni.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Salar de Uyuni is
Uyuni

Contornos: GeoBolivia, via geoBoundaries (CC BY 4.0). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Salar de Uyuni

✈ Aeropuerto Joya Andina (UYU), in Uyuni · 2 km to Uyuni

Check before booking. There are flights from La Paz to Uyuni airport, 2 km from the town. By land, overnight buses from La Paz take 10 to 12 hours, and the train from Oruro reaches the station in the center; confirm schedules.

The local experience

Things to do in Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni
Uyuni · Potosí · Landscape

Salar de Uyuni

Salt desert of more than 10,000 km² at about 3,660 m, flat and white, with salt hexagons in the dry season and the water mirror that usually appears from January to March. Visit with a local agency, in 4x4.

Cementerio de Trenes
Uyuni · Potosí · Monument

Cementerio de Trenes

Dozens of steam locomotives and rusted wagons, from the early 20th century, abandoned in the desert 3 km from Uyuni, beside the old line that carried ores to the Pacific.

Uyuni · Potosí · Town

Colchani

Village on the edge of the salar, about 22 km from Uyuni, where families extract salt into piles, dry it, iodize it and pack it by hand, with small salt craft workshops and a salt museum.

Isla Incahuasi
Uyuni · Potosí · Island

Isla Incahuasi

Rocky hill in the middle of the salar, about 80 km from Colchani, covered with giant cacti several meters high, with a trail to the top and views of the white salt flat stretching to the horizon.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

In the rainy season, usually from January to March, the water mirror tends to appear in parts of the salar; rain can flood sections and change the routes. From April to December the salar is usually dry and white, with clear skies; from June to August nights fall well below zero.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Two days: the arrival day, visiting the town and the Train Cemetery, and the one-day salar tour, with Colchani, the salt hexagons and Isla Incahuasi, up to sunset. Those who want the southern lagoons take the three- or four-day itinerary with an agency.

Which city to stay in

In Uyuni, hotels and guesthouses are in the center, around Plaza Arce and Avenida Ferroviaria, close to the agencies. On the edge of the salar, near Colchani, there are hotels built with salt blocks for those who want to wake up facing the white expanse. On multi-day routes, agencies use simple refuges in the villages along the way.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Salar de Uyuni

When does the Salar de Uyuni become a mirror?

In the rainy season, usually from January to March, when a layer of water tends to cover parts of the salar. The effect depends on the rain each year and does not occur across the entire salar.

Do I need an agency for the Salar de Uyuni?

Yes. The tour is done with a local agency, in a 4x4 vehicle and with a driver who knows the routes over the salt. Driving alone on the salar is not recommended.

What is the altitude of Uyuni?

The town is at about 3,700 meters, and the salar at about 3,660. Many travelers feel the altitude in the first days. Arriving after spending a few days in La Paz, Sucre or Potosí helps. Talk with your doctor before the trip.

Is it cold in the salar?

By day, in the sun, temperatures are mild and the reflection on the salt is strong. At night it gets very cold, especially from June to August, with temperatures well below zero. Bring layered clothing, a hat, gloves and sunglasses.

Can you go from the Salar de Uyuni to Chile?

Yes. The three-day itineraries through the southern lagoons can end at the border with Chile, from where you continue to San Pedro de Atacama. Check document requirements to cross the border.

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