4-Day Uyuni Salt Flats from La Paz to Atacama in Chile

5 (2)
Duration
4 days
Group Size
1 to 15 people
Ages
13 - 99 yrs
Languages
English

Tour Overview

Depart La Paz for an unforgettable expedition through the vast and blinding-white salt flats of Uyuni and into the desert of southwest Bolivia. Along the way, visit tiny villages, salt hostels, multi-colored lakes with flamingos, geysers, and thermal hot-springs at 4,000 - 5,000m. Highlights: - Take wacky pictures in the famous Salar de Uyuni - Drive through the Bolivian Altiplano’s moon-like deserts - Marvel at breathtaking red and green colored lakes - See active volcanoes and relax in therapeutic hot springs

Additional information

  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • This itinerary is subject to change without prior notice according to weather conditions, strikes, roadblocks, or force majeure events which are beyond our control. We will always do our best to follow the itinerary as close as possible.
  • During the rainy season from January to April, the salt flats fill up with water so it is not possible to cross them in the same way as during dry season. As a consequence, the itinerary is modified during that period. The main changes are usually as follows: Instead of stopping at the Incahuasi (Fish Island), we stop at a place where the water reflects the sky and where it seems that the sky and the ground merge into one. On day 2, we might sleep at another location. We visit the Sol de Mañana Geyser and hot springs at the end of day 3 instead of in the morning of day 4.
  • Altitude: This trip takes place at a very high altitude. The salt flats are around 16, 500 feet (5,000 meters) above sea level, and most guests will be able to feel the effects. We recommend acclimating yourself to above 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) before the trip and bringing along medication for headaches and tablets for altitude sickness in case you feel unwell. And remember, the real key is to drink lots of water!
  • Accommodation / Facilities on Tour: The reality of visiting a remote area and immersing yourself in nature is that you will be far from modern facilities and the services will sometimes be slow and quite basic. Due to the harsh terrain, vehicle breakdowns are not uncommon, but the drivers are very used to fixing them and wait times are rarely excessive. The accommodations will be very basic, with cots and shared rooms, and the electricity and running water in the National Park are not as dependable as they are back at home. Toilet facilities will be available only on the first day and may have a small local cost. Make sure to bring snacks, some water, toilet paper, and plenty of warm clothes. That said, with some patience, preparation, and an appetite for adventure, this trip will certainly be a positive and unforgettable experience.
  • Suggested packing list: Sun hat, sunglasses (to protect your eyes from the bright glare off the salt plains), sunblock, coat, gloves, wool hat, trekking shoes, warm socks, swimsuit and towel for hot springs at Sol de Manana Geysers, extra bottles of water (we recommend bringing a 5 liter bottled water so you can have enough water for the whole trip), snacks, personal medication. Flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card, charger (electricity available in most hotels), hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit. You will be sleeping up to 14,190 feet (4,300 meters) above sea level and depending on the season, temperatures can drop well below freezing (reaching below 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 degrees Celsius), in the winter months of June and July) and the wind chill can be harsh, so bring plenty of warm clothes like a scarf and wool hat for the chilly evenings.
  • Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions

Pickup

• This voucher is not the final confirmation and will not be valid to board the bus or join the tour. • Bamba will make sure to send you a formal confirmation with all the information that you need in order to get your bus tickets and board your trip. • It can get very cold especially during the winter months of June and July so bring extra warm clothes along like a scarf and wool hat to keep warm. We also recommend bringing an extra 5 liters of water so you can have enough water for the whole trip. • During the rainy season from January to April, the Salt Flats fill up with water so it is not possible to cross them in the same way as during dry season. As a consequence, the itinerary is modified during that period. • Altitude: This trip takes place at a very high altitude (5,000 m). We recommend acclimating yourself to above 3,000 meters before the trip and bringing medication for headaches and altitude sickness in case you feel unwell. Remember to drink lots of water! • Packing list: Water (we recommend bringing a 5 Liter bottled water so you can have enough water for the whole trip), snacks, personal medication, toilet paper, sun hat, sunglasses (to protect your eyes from the bright glare off the salt panes), sunblock, coat, gloves, wool hat, trekking shoes, warm socks, swimsuit and towel for hot springs at Sol de Manana Geysers, flashlight/torch, camera, extra batteries and memory card, charger (electricity available in most hotels), hand sanitizer, personal first aid kit. • It can get very cold especially during the winter months (June and July) so bring extra warm clothes, like a scarf and wool hat to keep warm

What's included

Lunch: 3
Dinner: 3
Breakfast: 2
Bus from La Paz - Uyuni
Local driver & English-speaking guide on tour
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Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Uyuni (D)
Enjoy a free day at your leisure. You will need to make your own way to the bus station to catch your overnight bus to Uyuni. Your bus departs at 9 PM, so make sure to be there in time. Overnight in the bus.

Overnight in night bus (unguided)

Dinner:

Day 2: Uyuni Salt Flats (L/D)
We'll start our journey at 10:00 AM, departing from our starting point. At 10:30 AM, we'll visit the Train Cemetery, a fascinating graveyard located in the Uyuni Salt Flat. Then, we'll head to Colchani to see the salt extraction process. Next, we'll explore Salt Crafts and Salt Piles, witnessing the creative use of salt and the vast salt flats. We'll also see Salt Eyes, small water pools in the salt flats. Finally, we'll visit Incahuasi Island, home to cacti. By 8:00 PM, we'll check into the Hotel de Sal, constructed entirely from salt bricks, where we'll dine together and spend the night (shared bathroom).

Overnight in a small salt hostel.

Lunch:

Dinner:

Day 3: Uyuni, Bolivia (B/L/D)
We will start the day with a 7:30 AM breakfast before departing at 8:00 AM. We will visit Volcán Ollague which is an active volcano, as well as Lagunas con Flamencos (Cañapa Hedionda - Honda), which are saltwater lagoons that are home to thousands of flamingos. We will also visit Desierto de Siloli (Siloli Desert) which is a desert that is located in the Andes Mountains and is known for its unique rock formations. After lunch, we will visit Montañas de 7colores (7-Colored Mountains), El árbol de Piedra (The Stone Tree) and Laguna Colorada (Huayllajara) which is a red-colored lagoon that is home to thousands of flamingos. We will spend our second night at the Albergue Laguna Colorada (shared bathroom).

Overnight in Laguna Colorada

Breakfast:

Lunch:

Dinner:

Day 4: Uyuni - Atacama, Bolivia (B/L)
Today we will depart at 05:00 am to visit the active geysers of Sol de Mañana, which are located at an altitude of 4,900masl. Marvel at the fumaroles or boiling lava at a temperature of 90° C. Then, we will continue to the thermal waters of Polques, where we can take a hot bath. We will pass through the Dalí desert until we reach the spectacular Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. We will pass through the Dalí desert until we reach the Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. After this, we will continue to the border of Hito Cajon. After the migration process, we will take a shared transportation to San Pedro de Atacama.

Breakfast:

Lunch:

FAQ

Can I get the refund?

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

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Adult (13 - 99 years)
Minimum: 1, Maximum: 15
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