Salar de Uyuni to Atacama Desert Tour - 3 Days

Our 3 day Uyuni tour begins in La Paz and will head to one of the natural wonders of the world. Located at 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above sea level, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat. Thousands of years ago, the area now occupied by the salt flat was home to a giant prehistoric lake. As it slowly dried up, the lake left behind two smaller lakes and the vast salt flats that we know today.  

 

It’s no exaggeration to say that Salar de Uyuni is one of the most spectacular natural attractions in the world. The Salar de Uyuni, better known as the Bolivia Salt Flats is the largest salt flat on the planet!  This otherworldly dried-out salt lake is the main attraction for visitors to Bolivia. It is unique due to its lack of scale and the never-ending salt hexagons, which allow you to play with perspective, which makes this gigantic salt flat a photographer´s Paradise! The Salt flats form polygons along the surface in the dry season, which is almost snow-like, but a lot harder!  In the rainy season, the salt flats turn into enormous mirrors with a thin layer of water that reflects the large expanse of salt.  There are even a few cactus-covered islands that we will visit on this amazing tour.  The salt flats are also used for commercial salt production, as well as lithium mining (70% of the world’s lithium is found here), and of course, tourism.

 

Beyond the Uyuni salt flat, the surrounding area is packed with fascinating geography, impressive volcanoes, spectacular brightly-colored lakes, and unique landscapes that are difficult to experience anywhere else in the world.  The region is rich in unique ecological features and wildlife that you will not see anywhere else.

 

Visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats is a bucket list item for many and has to be visited at least once in a lifetime! This tour will take you through the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve to colorful lagoons, that are home to flamingos, dramatic rock formations, the salt flat, itself, thermal springs, geysers, and more. 

 

Our final destination is across the border from Bolivia to Chile and to the San Pedro de Atacama desert on the Chilean side. This unique desert is a major destination for those traveling to this South American country. With impressive attractions such as the Valle de La Luna, Laguna Miscanti, the Tatio Geysers, Licancabur volcano, and Los Flamencos National Reserve. This desert used to belong to Bolivia until the War of the Pacific, which removed Bolivia´s access to the Pacific Ocean. The desert is much lower in altitude than on the Bolivian side, making it a lot warmer also, and is found at approximately 2400m /8000ft. elevation. Activities include trekking, climbing, archaeology, astronomy, exploration tours through the spectacular natural landscapes, and even sandboarding in the arid desert. 

 

This 3 day tour will explore the main natural attractions in both Bolivia and into Chile. It will also assist you with a seamless border crossing between the 2 countries as you explore the Uyuni Salt Flats and head to the Atacama Desert.