Uyuni Salt Flat Tour : from San Pedro de Atacama 3D/2N
Summary
Uyuni Salt Flat Tour from San Pedro de Atacama
Uyuni Salt Flat Tour from San Pedro de Atacama 3 days – 2 nights departing from San Pedro de Atacama and ending in Uyuni. Welcome to an experience that will leave you impressed, because, during the 3 days you will travel in a 4×4 mobility all the natural wonders of the altiplano, such as: the Salvador Dalí desert, the Polque hot springs, the Eduardo Avaroa Natural Reserve, the spectacular altiplanic lagoons, the largest salt desert in the world, where you will contemplate one of the most magical sunrises that exist and the captivating immensity of the salt desert.
Uyuni is located in the Department of Potosi in the plurinational state of Bolivia at 3650 meters above sea level, considered the largest salt desert in the world with an area of 12 kilometers.
Itinerary
Uyuni Salt Flat Tour from San Pedro de Atacama
1
Day 1
The tour starts with the pick up from your accommodation at 7:00 am (varies according to the hotel) once the whole group is together we will leave in a minibus from San Pedro de Atacama to go to the border between Chile and Bolivia. After passing through the offices and completing the corresponding formalities, we will change to a 4×4 vehicle for 6 people.
The first day we will visit places of the Bolivian altiplano, such as the Blanca Lagoon and the Verde Lagoon, located at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano. We will continue visiting the Salvador Dalí desert and the Polques hot springs, where we will have some time for a swim. Also, we will visit the Sol de Mañana geysers, intermittent sources of water gushing at 90 °C.
Finally, we will visit the Colorada Lagoon, nesting center of more than 30,000 flamingos.
The first night we will stay in a hostel in Villamar.
Valley of the Rocks – Vinto Lagoon – Anaconda Canyon
2
Day 2
The second day we visited Valle de Rocas, the World Cup, Italia Perdida; a place where the volcanic rock took the shape of what seems to be an abandoned city.
Then we will visit the Camel, where you can see animals of the area. Mysterious Lagoon or Catal where you can walk and see the typical flora and fauna of the Bolivian Altiplano, Vinto Lagoon, Mirador; Cañon de la Anaconda, at the end of the day we move to the Salt Hotel in Colcha K, where we will spend the second night.
Salar de uyuni – Incahuasi Island – Colchani
3
Day 3
We will wake up early to take our vehicle and transfer to the salt flat.
We will see the sunrise over the white mantle formed by the accumulation of salt, and then move to Incahuasi Island. Here, we can take a short walk through this limestone rock formation, which contains giant cactus and from where we have a great perspective of the salt flat.
Afterwards, we will visit the Salt Museum and leave the salt flat through the town of Colchani, where we will make a stop to buy handicrafts.
Then, we will pass by the train cemetery to take some pictures, before arriving in Uyuni, where we will finish our tour.
Includes
Incluye
Pick up at San Pedro de Atacama hotel
Small groups
Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Drop off in the center or bus terminal in Uyuni.
Shared transportation (minibus in Chile and 4×4 for 6 people in Bolivia).
basic hostel accommodation
Spanish-speaking driver.
Does not include
Tips and personal expenses
Food not mentioned
Park entrance fees (Bs. 186 per person).
Entrance fee to Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve (Bs. 150 per person).
Entrance fee to Termas de Polques (Bs. 6 per person).
Entrance fee to Incahuasi Island (30 Bolivianos per person).
Access to restrooms on the way (approximately Bs. 6 each access).
Recommendations
Recommendations
Bring extra money, between Bs. 350 and 500Bs. for expenses not included in the tour (entrance fees, tax, bathrooms, water and souvenirs, among others).
Sunscreen
Hat
Rain Poncho
Bathing suit and towel (for Termas de Polques).
Personal hygiene items
Toilet paper
Walking shoes
Sleeping bag
Passport or identity card. If you are a foreigner resident in Chile you must bring both to present them at customs.
Water (1 liter per person, for the first day. The rest of the days you can buy it on the way).
Questions
How to go from Atacama to Salar de Uyuni?
If you chose to go on your own, the best option is to take a bus from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama (at the town’s bus terminal) and then take another bus directly to Uyuni. Tickets can be bought the same day, but it would be good, in high season, to buy them on-line a couple of days in advance.
When not to go to the Salar de Uyuni?
Also called the “Water Reflection” season, it runs from late December to mid-April. During this season, due to the amount of rainfall, the salt flat fills with water and – for the safety of visitors, according to the regulations of the department of Potosi – it is forbidden to enter more than 15 km.
How to get to the Salar de Uyuni from Calama?
The cheapest way to get from Calama to Salar de Uyuni is to bus and Tour which costs $320 – $340 and takes 16h 21m.
How much money to take to Uyuni?
We recommend taking at least Bs. 500 per person for expenses not included in the tour, such as park entrance, tax, access to restrooms and water.
What to wear in the Salar de Uyuni?
Comfortable and warm clothes. Comfortable shoes (ideally trekking shoes). Bathing suit and towel (for Polques Hot Springs).
What can you eat in the Salar de Uyuni?
If you visit Uyuni, you cannot miss the delicious freshwater fish dishes, such as “trout” and “pejerrey”.
When is the best time to travel to Uyuni?
During the months of May to April and October and part of December is the ideal season to visit the salt flat because the weather is not extreme and you have great landscapes with clear skies of the salt flat.
