Salar de Uyuni and Colored Lagoons Private Tour
Departure: Date of your convenience
Trip Highlights
- Discover the sublime beauty of the Eduardo Avaroa National Park filled with unique Andean fauna, deserts, colored lagoons, geysers and volcanos
- Bathe at the Polques hot springs
- Marvel at the idyllic turquoise waters of the Green Lagoon
- See the adorable viscachas (Andean rabits)
- Witness pink flamingos lounging in their natural habitat at Colorada (Red) Lagoon
- Explore the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world!
- Stay in a unique Salt Hotel!
- Enjoy a beautiful sunset at the Uyuni Salt Flat followed by an unforgettable stargazing!
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Your trip at a glance:
Day 1:
Salar de Uyuni - Train Cemetery - Colchani - Ojos del Salar - Salt Statue of the Dakar Rally - Former Salt Hotel Playa Blanca - Incahuasi Island - Sunset inside the Uyuni salt flat
Day 2:
Chiguana salt flat - Observation of the Ollague Volcano - Laguna Cañapa - Laguna Honda - Hedionda Lagoon - Vizcachas Canyon
Day 3:
Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve: Siloli Desert - Stone Tree - Laguna Colorada - Geothermal Field, Sol de Mañana geysers - Polques thermal springs (Chalviri Lagoon) - Dalí Desert - Green Lagoons with views of the Licancabur Volcano - Villa Mar / Valley of the Rocks - Lost Italy - San Cristobal - Uyuni
Day 1:
Salar de Uyuni - Train Cemetery - Colchani - Ojos del Salar - Salt Statue of the Dakar Rally - Former Salt Hotel Playa Blanca - Incahuasi Island - Sunset inside the Uyuni salt flat
We will start our journey traveling 3 Kilometers away from Uyuni where we will find the Train Cemetery, a place that shelters dozens of old locomotives and wagons from the year 1890.
The remains of the trains take us on an imaginary journey towards a time of flourishing progress, today transformed into a rustic abandoned yard ideal for the romantic traveler who likes to photograph traces of a not so distant past.
We will then travel to the town of Colchani, a small town of salt producers located 20 km from Uyuni. In Colchani you will visit a traditional salt factory, where you can observe the way in which the salt extracted from the Salar is packed. You will have some free time to buy salt handicrafts.
We will then enter the wonderful Salar de Uyuni. At the entrance of the Salar you will see the Eyes of the Salar which are small streams of water that flow from the interior of the earth under the salt. It is said that this water has healing properties due to its saline acid concentrations.
In the dry season, the surface of the Salar de Uyuni has almost geometric shapes formed by the salt particles agglomerated in polygons. In the rainy season (December, January, February and part of March) the Salar is covered with water and resembles a giant mirror.
During our journey we will observe the Statue of Salt erected to mark the passing of the Dakar Rally in Bolivia. Then we will walk to the old Hotel de Sal Playa Blanca. Next to the Hotel there is a small mound with several flags from around the world. These symbolic flags have been left by travelers visiting Salar de Uyuni. We invite you to carry a flag of your country and leave it at this significant point.
We will have lunch enjoying the beautiful landscape inside the Salar.
We will continue our trip traveling to Incahuasi Island, home of millenary giant cacti (Echinopsis atacamensis) up to 10 meters high. The Incahuasi Island is a genuine spectacle of life inside the salt desert.
We will climb the island until we reach the viewpoint, from which we will have a 360 degree perspective of the Salar de Uyuni and a privileged view of the Tunupa Volcano.
Our expedition would not be complete without witnessing a wonderful sunset inside the Salar de Uyuni.
Lodging in a Salt Hotel. The Salt Hotels offer rooms with private bathroom, hot water, heating and WiFi Internet. Depending on availability, we will include lodging at Luna Salada Hotel, Hotel Palacio de Sal or at the Hotel de Sal Tayka.
Day 2
Chiguana salt flat - Observation of the Ollague Volcano - Laguna Cañapa - Laguna Honda - Hedionda Lagoon - Vizcachas Canyon
The second day of our expedition will take us to the southern part of the Uyuni region. This region offers visitors wonderful landscapes decorated by volcanoes, lagoons and Andean fauna.
During our tour we will cross the Salar de Chiguana, which has a lower salt concentration.
On the way we will see varied rock formations and the Ollague semi-active volcano (5870 m.s.) located on the border of Bolivia and Chile.
We will have lunch in the middle of nature.
We will enjoy the beauty of the Cañapa Lagoons, Chiarkota Lagoon, Laguna Honda / Corazón (4,114 m.) and Laguna Hedionda (4,532 m). The lagoons are surrounded by mountains, during the winter you can see the snowy peaks. This area is ideal for lovers of nature and photography, it is impossible to take a bad picture of these landscapes, they are all worthy of a postcard.
We will cross the Cañon de las vizcachas, where we will observe this adorable rodent, a close relative of the Chinchillas in its natural habitat.
We will end the day at the Hotel del Desierto Tayka located at the door of the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve in the middle of the high Andean desert.
The Hotel has rooms with private bathrooms, hot water and heating until 21:30 hrs. The hotel has oxygen cylinders at the reception, if required.
Day 3
Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve: Siloli Desert - Stone Tree - Laguna Colorada - Geothermal Field, Sol de Mañana geysers - Polques thermal springs (Chalviri Lagoon) - Dalí Desert - Green Lagoons with views of the Licancabur Volcano - Villa Mar / Valley of the Rocks - Lost Italy - San Cristobal - Uyuni
We will start the expedition at 06:30 a.m.
We will enter the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. The reserve has an area of 714,745 hectares and reaches an altitude of 4000 to 6000 masl. It has an exceptional scenic beauty, so it is one of the most important tourist attractions of Bolivia.
Inside the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve strange landscapes and wind formations are can be seen with basaltic rocks and ignimbrites, gigantic volcanoes, thermal waters and fumaroles.
The most important rock formation shaped by the wind from basalt rock is without doubt the Stone Tree. We will make our first stop here and then move to Laguna Colorada, favorite nesting place for flamingos. We will observe three species of flamingos: Chilean, James and Andean.
We will go to the Sol de Mañana fumaroles and geysers located at 4850 meters above sea level. We will see lava boiling intensely; the fumaroles and geysers emit mixed vapors of water and hot steam that reach heights of 10 to 50 meters, product of the pressure with which they are emitted; these phenomena allow us to appreciate a landscape that seems to date back to the age of the formation of the Earth.
We will rest at the hot springs of Polques where you can take a relaxing bath. There is a small pool and changing rooms in the place. The recommended time to stay in the pool is 20 minutes. The thermal waters are at about 4500 meters above sea level
We will have lunch in a dining room located in front of the thermal water pool.
Our adventure will continue to cross the Salvador Dali Desert itself that will lead us to the dormant volcanoes Licancabur and Juriques. These volcanos are part of the volcanic mountain range of Los Andes, in the Southwest of Bolivia. Both are the border with Chile, at the foot of both volcanoes lies the Laguna Verde.
The intensity of the green color of the water in the lagoon depends on the wind in the area. In case there is no wind you can see the reflection of the Licancabur Volcano in the crystal clear waters of the lagoon.
We will start our return trip to Uyuni by visiting the White and Black Lagoons. During our tour we will cross small forests of queñuas, and high Andean bofedales and wetlands.
The Quetena Grande wetland is one of the most important and representative due to its good state of conservation. It is inhabited by flamingos, vicuñas, the Andean cat and the suri - incorrectly called "ostrich", this bird is similar to a ñandú and is found exclusively in South America.
Before arriving at the town of Villamar we will make the last stop in our expedition visiting the Valley of the rocks, also called lost Italy.
Our 3-day adventure through the deserts of Sal, colored lagoons and magnificent landscapes will conclude in the city of Uyuni at around 7:00 p.m.
End of our services
Make your tour truly special with these extra activities:
Stargazing
Barbecue inside the Salar de Uyuni
What to bring
- Comfortable and warm clothing.
- Comfortable footwear (ideally for trekking).
- Swimsuit and towel (to bathe in the thermal waters of Polques).
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen.
- Cap or hat
- Additional beverages and water
- Pills to alleviate altitude sickness
- Pick up from your Hotel in Uyuni, Uyuni Bus Station or Uyuni Airport.
- Private Transportation: 4x4 vehicle only for people requesting the tour.
- Food: Day 1: Lunch. Day 2: Breakfast and Lunch. Day 3: Breakfast and Lunch. Drinks during lunch included.
- Lodging: Day 1: Hotel Luna Salada, Hotel Palacio de Sal, Hotel de Sal Tayka (depending on the availability of the Hotel). Day 2: Hotel del Desierto Tayka or the Hotel Mallku Cueva. (depending on the availability of the Hotel).
- Experienced driver in the area. The driver speaks only Spanish.
The rate does not include:
- Entrance tickets to:
- Incahuasi Island: 30 Bs.- per person = 5 $ us.- per person.
- Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve 150 Bs. - = 22 usd per person. Bring currency in Bolivianos to pay for the entrance tickets. It is not allowed to pay with dollars or another currency.
- Tourist guide in English
- Dinners at selected hotels.
Map
Frequently asked questions
What travel documents do I need to enter Bolivia?
- Valid Passport
- Visa if applicable.
What's the baggage allowance?
We can transport 1 baggage per person - 20 kg
What level of Wi-Fi access should I expect?
You will have WiFi internet access at Hotel del Desierto Tayka and most hotels in Uyuni town. There is no internet or even cellphone coverage during most of the trip in the desert and inside the salt flat. There is no WiFi inside Eduardo Avaroa National Park.
What days of the week does the tour leave?
The tour can leave on the day of your convenience. Reservations need to be made in advance.
How far in advance should I book the tour?
Due to the high demand in the hotels included in the tour itinerary, we recommend booking at least one month in advance.
What is the weather like during the tour?
In summer (December to March), the temperature varies from approximately 4 ° C to the lowest, up to 23 ° C as the maximum. In winter (June to September), the temperature varies from approximately -20 ° C to the lowest, up to 16 ° C as the maximum. Radiation from the sun is always high due to the altitude, so the use of sunscreen is highly recommended.
How much money should I bring for the tour?
We recommend to take at least 100 Bolivianos per person for the border tax (30 Bolivianos per person), access to bathrooms at the rest stops and purchase of souvenirs.
How likely is one to suffer altitude sickness during the tour?
Most of the tour itinerary is over 4000 meters above sea level, so one is quite likely to suffer from mild altitude sickness, especially during the first day of the tour. The 4x4 vehicle in which you will travel is equipped with an oxygen bottle. In any case, we recommend taking medicines that help you alleviate the altitude sickness.
What about the tour in case of rain or snow?
In case of rain, snow, or other extreme weather events, the tour route is subject to change, as some roads may be closed. In addition to the above, the Salar de Uyuni may be covered by water and access to Incahuasi Island (located in the middle of the salar) may be closed. In this case, you will not visit Incahuasi Island and you will enter the salar only to a distance that does not represent a danger to the passengers.
When is it possible to see the mirror effect in the Salar de Uyuni?
The mirror effect occurs when there is water accumulated on the salt flat. This occurs only during periods of rain (January and February) and after (March).