Resumen
Tour Salar de Uyuni de Atacama 4 days / 3 nights departing from San Pedro de Atacama and ending in Uyuni. Welcome to an experience that will leave you impressed during the 4 days, you will travel in a 4×4 vehicle through 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.
Tour Salar de Uyuni de Atacama is located in the Department of Potosi in the plurinational state of Bolivia at 3650 metres above sea level, considered the largest salt desert in the world with an area of 12 kilometres.
Itinerario
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 and Verde lagoons, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. We will continue visiting the Salvador Dali desert and the Polques hot springs, where we will have some time for a swim. We will also visit the Sol de Mañana geysers, intermittent springs of water gushing at 90 °C.
Finally, we will visit the Colorada Lagoon, nesting centre 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
Day 2
The second day we visit the Valley of Rocks, 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. We will visit Laguna Misteriosa or Catal where you can walk and see the typical flora and fauna of the Bolivian Altiplano, Laguna Vinto, Mirador; Cañon de la Anaconda, at the end of the day we will transfer to the Salt Hotel in Colcha K, where we will spend the second night.
Uuyuni Salt Flat – Incahuasi Island – Colchani
Day 3
We will get 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 on to Incahuasi Island. Here, we will be able to take a short walk through this calcareous 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 village of Colchani, where we will make a stop to buy handicrafts.
Afterwards, we will pass by the train cemetery to take some pictures, before arriving in Uyuni. In Uyuni, we will say goodbye to our driver-guide, who accompanied us for the previous three days, and then we will have some free time for lunch and to explore part of the town. Afterwards, we will meet the driver who will take us back, stopping in Villamar for dinner and rest.
Villamar – San Pedro de Atacama
Day 4
We will get up very early in the morning to continue our return journey to the border of Chile and Bolivia. Once here, and after the corresponding formalities, we will change vehicle to a minibus to return to San Pedro de Atacama.
Incluye
Includes
Pick up at the hotel San Pedro de Atacama
Small groups
Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
Drop off in the centre or bus terminal in Uyuni.
Shared transport (minibus in Chile and 4×4 for 6 people in Bolivia).
Basic hostel accommodation
Spanish speaking driver.
Not included
clothes and personal expenses
Meals not mentioned
Entrance fees to parks (Bs. 186 per person).
Entrance to the National Reserve of Andean Fauna Eduardo Avaroa (Bs. 150 per person).
Entrance fee to Polques Hot Springs (Bs. 6 per person).
Entrance to Incahuasi Island (Bs. 30 per person).
Recomendaciones
Recommendations
Bring extra money, between Bs. 350 and Bs. 500 for expenses not included in the tour (entrance fees, tax, toilets, water and souvenirs, among others).
Sun block lotion
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 litre per person, for the first day. The rest of the days you can buy it on the way).
Preguntas
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 Uyuni Salt Flat?
Also known as the “Water Reflection” season, it runs from the end of 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 go 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 fees, taxes, access to toilets and water.
What to wear in the Salar de Uyuni?
Comfortable and warm clothes. Comfortable shoes (ideally trekking shoes). Bathing suit and towel (for Termas de Polques).
What can you eat in the Salar de Uyuni?
If you visit Uyuni, you can’t miss the delicious freshwater fish dishes, such as “trucha” 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 time to visit the salt flat as the weather is not extreme and there is great scenery with clear skies over the salt flat.
What is the Salar de Uyuni and where is it located?
The Uyuni salt flat, located in the Department of Potosi in the Plurinational State of Bolivia at 3650 metres above sea level, is the largest salt desert in the world with an area of 12,000 square kilometres.
