Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia Salt Flats)

Table of Contents

Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia Salt Flats)

Why you should add Salar De Uyuni to your Bucket List today!

Are you ready for an incredible and unforgettable experience? Then your next trip should be to visit Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia! Need someone to visit the other-worldly destination?

Our 4×4 jeep for the 3-day tour with Red Planet

Sign up for Travel Vivir, find your adventure friend, and travel to the ends of the world.

Salar de Uyuni is the world’s most enormous salt flat in the southwest region of Bolivia. Spanning over 11,000 square kilometers, this immense white salt is one of the most unique places on earth. The salt flats are the remains of a prehistoric lake that dried up millions of years ago and left behind a stunning landscape that looks like it’s from another planet.

The area is known for its astonishing beauty, and with good reason. During the rainy season, a thin layer of water coats the Salar creating a mirror-like effect that reflects every detail above it. The endless reflections make for some unforgettable photos! On sunny days, you can see a kaleidoscope of colors due to the varying thicknesses of salt deposits scattered amongst the flat terrain.

Salar de Uyuni isn’t just beautiful – there’s so much more to discover. In addition to being home to some fantastic wildlife, such as flamingos, foxes, and vicuñas, there are also many geological wonders here waiting for your exploration. The most famous is Incahuasi Island, where you can witness majestic cacti towering up to 12 meters tall!

Salt Flats, Bolivia

The Best Salar de Uyuni Tours

Hands down one of the best trips I have ever taken. The salt flats will be something I talk about on my deathbed.

Before visiting Salar de Uyuni, I spent a lot of time researching the best option/tours for Salar de Uyuni. Let me save you some time – you cannot go alone. It is challenging to get to, and you will pay more than the tour.

I booked a tour with Red Planet. Arguably the best tour guides for Uyuni. I highly recommend the 3-day tour.

Although you can find cheaper tours for the Salt Flats, Red Planet is the only company with a night under the most magnificent stars you have ever seen. You can observe the milky way in the natural hot springs making it one of the most magical destinations you might ever visit.

If you are looking for 1-2 day trips, Red planet does offer this option. However, you will miss the expansive night sky, and hot springs. Which was one of the best parts (for me!)

For cheaper options, you can book in the city of Uyuni. There is a row of travel guides just waiting to take you on a trip of a lifetime.

How to Get to Salar de Uyuni

Most visitors to Uyuni usually travel via La Paz, the capital of Bolivia and the nearest major city. Travelling from La Paz to Uyuni is most cost-effective by overnight bus, a journey that typically takes 10-11 hours.

Hot tip – take the overnight bus to save on a 1-night stay. We got great sleep in the lay-flat beds. We woke up in Uyuni, ready to start our incredible journey! We highly recommend Todo Turismo.

The Terminal de Buses: Lapaz in central La Paz is the departure point for these buses. Several bus companies provide this service, such as Trans Titicaca, Cruz del Norte, and Panasur.

However, many prefer the Todo Turismo bus, which offers superior comfort with its lie-flat seats for around $20-30 per ticket. It also provides dinner (including wine!) and other services at just a few dollars more.

It is essential to book your tickets in advance, as they sell out quickly on peak days.

Another great option is to fly directly from El Alto International Airport in La Paz to Uyuni’s Juana Azurduy de Padilla airport. Even though flights are relatively expensive compared to buses or cars, they offer a much shorter journey time of approximately 90 minutes for direct flights.

For those looking for something different, taking a train from Oruro Station in central Bolivia could be an exciting alternative. This scenic journey will take about seven hours along a historic railway line with very reasonable prices starting from around $15 per ticket.

We traveled from La Paz (check out our ultimate travel guide to La Paz) to Salar de Uyuni via Todo Turismo. Then from Salar de Uyuni to Sucre. Unfortunately, Todo Turismo does not go to Uyuni. However, a much cheaper bus (~6 USD) called Octobre 6 has a route.

Note- For Octobre 6, you can purchase a ticket day off at the bus port.

Friends from Travel Vivir traveling to Uyuni together

The best time to go to Salar de Uyuni

Choosing when to embark on your journey to the picturesque Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is an important decision that will determine your experience. The salt flats are only flooded during the wet season, thus providing you with a few months out of each year to witness the breathtaking reflection this location is renowned for.

Regardless of the time of year you visit, it’s sure to be unforgettable, as this landscape can only be described as simply mesmerizing!

December until April

A period known as the wet season is when you should plan your voyage. At this time, temperatures tend to be cooler, and there’s more chance of rain and overcast skies, but also increased opportunities to view the flares’ glimmer.

January or February are optimal times for travelers looking for that mirror-like effect on the Salt Flats. It’s an enchanting sight that has captivated visitors for centuries!

May to November,

The weather in Salar de Uyuni is usually dry and sunny. This means you won’t get to enjoy the famous reflection effect off of the Salt Flats when you visit during this time of year. However, it also means that you’ll experience fewer crowds, warmer temperatures, and even more affordable prices on tours of the area.

Though these months are generally drier and warmer than others, keep in mind that Salar de Uyuni is still located at a high altitude. Meaning that temperatures can plummet quickly during the night-time hours. To ensure your comfort and safety throughout your visit, be sure to pack jackets, sweaters, and other warm items, such as hats and gloves, for use in colder periods. This will allow you to make the most of your experience no matter what time of year you decide to visit.