An apparently endless horizon, rough salt and pure air, in a place where you can experience the purity and magnificence of nature embodied in its most authentic meaning.
The Salar de Uyuni has become Bolivia's biggest tourist attraction and a favourite destination in the whole of South America.
To the south-west of the Bolivian Andes, at an altitude of more than 3,000 metres, there is a boundless desert. Not just any desert but an immense white blanket, the largest expanse of salt in the world, visible even from space thanks to its total area of 10,500 square kilometres. There is no exaggeration in saying that the Salar de Uyuni salt pan is one of the most evocative places in the world.
But how did this curious desert of salt form? In ancient times there was a giant inland sea, the Minchin, which dried up thousands of years ago giving rise to numerous salt lakes, such as the Salar de Uyuni and the nearby Salar de Coipasa. The Salar de Uyuni is composed of potassium, magnesium and boron and is also the largest reserve of lithium in the world. It is an important resource for the communities that live on its edges: tons of salt are used to make handicrafts and even buildings, as in the case of the Jukil Community Lodge.
During the rainy season, when the salt surface is covered by a light veil of water, walking in the middle of the Salar is like walking between two reflected skies that take your breath away. All it takes is a gust of wind for this mirror of the sky to shatter into a thousand pieces: an unmissable experience that just can’t be described.
During the dry season the spectacle is no less impressive: before you lies an infinite white surface, where everything seems far and near at the same time and all is as white as snow. A unique scenery ideal for taking pictures, in which the blue of the sky contrasts with the white of the ground for kilometre after kilometre. The Salar can be experienced and crossed in many ways, by 4x4 vehicle or even bicycle.
The Salar de Uyuni offers unique and unforgettable emotions that can only be experienced in Bolivia. Write to us to learn more, we will be happy to help you organise your trip.
Additional Info
We recommend warm and windproof clothing, comfortable hiking shoes, sleeping bag, hat, sunglasses and camera.
Suggested periods
- Autumn
- Spring
- Summer
Where
Salar de Uyuni, municipality of Uyuni, department of Potosí.
Transportation
By public transport
From the interdepartmental terminals of the cities of Oruro, La Paz and Potosí, buses leave that take to Uyuni; from there it is necessary to hire private transport to get to the Salar.
By private transport
From La Paz or Oruro by National Road 1 to Challapata; here you take State Road 30 to Colchani and then the road to the Salar de Uyuni. The duration of the trip is about 7 hours.
By air transport
Flights depart from El Alto International Airport to La Joya Andina de Uyuni International Airport.
Visiting Rules
For your own health and that of the local population, remember to respect all biosecurity protocols and codes of conduct before and during your stay: bring a mask and hand sanitizer, as well as a first aid kit, with sunscreen and medication for altitude sickness.
During your visit, remember to protect the region's cultural and natural heritage.