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Uyuni Salt Flats Bolivia 3 Day Tour

On Uyuni Salt Flats Bolivia 3 Day Tour you’ll get salt flats guided tour and stay Palacio. Then head to Tayka hotel through desert and lagoons. Return to Uyuni.

This is a private trip starting with the Salar of Uyuni tour, staying at Palacio de Sal Hotel, next day you’ll head to Siloli desert for an overnight under the sky. Last day, you’ll cross the border to Atacama.

Your Tour Features

Tour Type Private

Tour Duration 3 Days

Pick-up time 8:00 AM

Drop-off time 8:00 PM

Pickup at Hotel, airport

Drop-off Hotel

What You’ll Do

DAY 1: Your day begins with the visit of the Eye of the Salts, Dakar Monument, Playa Blanca First Salt hotel then head to Incahuasi Cactus Island. Here you’ll hike up the Cactus Island then after have lunch in the salt flats. Later, take the funniest perspective pictures and wait for the magic sunset.

DAY 2: Today you’ll depart from Palacio de Sal Hotel in Colchani village and head towards Siloli desert along the way you’ll stop at the train cemetery, San Cristobal village, Sora Canyon, the Black Lagoon, Lost Italy and the Valley of the Rocks before arriving at Tayka del Desierto Hotel.

DAY 3: You’ll be transferred on a private vehicle from Siloli desert to Uyuni city through the same off road in the Bolivian highland. With additional sightseeing stops at the Laguna Colorada, Sol de Mañana Geysers, Polques Hot Springs, Dali desert, White and Green lagoons.

Your Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

7:00 am – 8:40 am – Eyes of the Salt

You’ll be collected by your guide and driver at your hotel in Uyuni town or at the Uyuni airport (arriving from La Paz).

Your trip starts with the first stop at the Eyes of the Salt, literally means “Ojos de Sal”, these are where you could see how the salt flats were formed. These bubble springs are outlets for subterranean rivers flowing under the surface of the meters thick salt but thereafter just salt as far as the eye can see and Fish Island will maroon in the salt.

The Salt Flat is covered with water during the rainy season after raining (from December to March). Then the sun and the wind dry the surface and a layer of white crust is formed. The crust will eventually crack as the salt, which is still wet, underneath dried up and protrude to the surfacing. The end result is polygon patterns that you see during the dry season.

Dakar Statue

After the first stop in the edge of the Salar and taking the first perspectives pictures, you’ll migrate towards the Dakar Monument.

A slat statue honoring the annual rally raid started in 1978, organized by the Amaury Sport Organization, contestants driving across South America in this off-road competition with different motor vehicles – crossing dunes, crossing dunes, mud, camel grass, rocks, and erg.

The Uyuni Salt Flat was the stage of the rally since 2014, and the dramatic terrain of the Bolivian highland and the salt flats remained one of the most awaited parts by spectators.

Playa Blanca First Salt Hotel

You’ll continue your journey and you’ll reach an old fashioned hotel in the heart of the salt flat. The Playa Blanca Salt Hotel was once in operation, but now it’s a pit spot for tourists to take pictures of the flags and have a walk inside.

The outside of the hotel has many country flags hanging on a series of poles. In fact, these flags were brought there by the tourists.

Incahuasi/Cactus Island

After the openings in the salt you’ll head to what they call an Island on the Salt!

You’ll arrive on time for lunch/picnic in the Salar. This lunch will have you revived to explore more spots in the area such as the Incahuasi Island, an island full of cactuses!

Well, since it’s a salt flat, the entire area is really, just salt.

There are several “Islands” in the salt flat and the Incahuasi Island is in the center of the Salar. It’s undeniable that the Incahuasi Island is a visually captivating place. The island is a hilly and rocky outcrop of the land – “Incahuasi” literally means “Inca House” and the island is a giant rock that is filled with coral-like structures and gigantic cactuses.

That’s why sometimes it is called the “Cactus Island” as well. It is also a great view once you reach the top of the island. The view of the salt flat is boundless, and it looks so much more amazing if the salt flat is filled with water but it’s not reachable.

Drive away in the endless white layer for perspective photos with toys, llamas, dinosaurs, etc. 

Perspective Photos

It is t3ime for taking the craziest and funniest optical illusion pictures. The reflection of the water after the rain is the perfect setting for epic photos that allows you to show off to your friends. True, that’s probably the reason that you visit the salt flat. But in case the weather doesn’t go your way, the vast, white flatland is still very impressive.

The dry land may be even friendlier for you to take optical illusion pictures. Imagine the flatland is filled with nothing but salt as far as your eye can see. This is the perfect canvas for taking optical illusion pictures and letting your mind go wild. Play with proportions, and play with distance – the horizon will give the perspective that the objects nearer to the camera are larger than those farther away, and there is nothing else in the frame to ruin your illusion, and there is nothing else in the frame to ruin your illusion. 

Uyuni Salt Flats Sunset

How the Sunset in the rainy season (from January to March) would look like.

By the late afternoon before the sun is gone, before you return to your hotel in Colchani or Uyuni town, bundle yourselves into warm jackets and go out the 4WD transport to watch the sunset over the salt flats.

The vast expanse of salt will turn pink as the sun sinks and the sky deepens to an orange glow reflecting on the ground, this would be the perfect mirror to what is above, an amazing sight which augured well for the days to come.

Since the area is so flat you’ll likely witness some insane color in the sky which provides a great juxtaposition to the endless white color of the ground.

At the end of the tour you’ll be dropped off at Palacio de Sal Hotel.

Included:

  • Private 4×4 WD transport
  • English speaking tour guide
  • Entry tickets to Incahuasi Island
  • Lunches in the Salar
  • Gum boots (December to March)
  • Drop-off at your hotel in Colchani village

Excluded:

  • Breakfast at Palacio de Sal Hotel
  • Extra expenses
  • Cameras
  • Gratuities
  • Photographer

Day 2: Uyuni to Tayka Hotel

7:00 am – 8:40 am – Departure from Uyuni to Tayka Hotel

You’ll be picked up from Palacio de Sal by our team (driver and guide) then head to the Siloli Desert with sightseeing stops along the way.

Train Cemetery

Here steel giants have been abandoned and destroyed by salt winds becoming a cemetery for trains, for locomotives. Most of the trains that can be found in the Graveyard date back to the early 20th century and were imported from Britain. There are many train cars with unique structure and occasional graffiti.

In other places in the world, the mighty steel trains would have held up better. The salt winds that blow over Uyuni, which hosts the world’s largest salt plain, have corroded all of the metal. Without guards or even a fence, these pieces were picked over and vandalized long ago.

Following that, your trip will continue on to the Bolivian highland.

San Cristobal Village

This is a village located 45 minutes away from Uyuni city and characterized by the silver mining. Stop at this place if you’d like to use bathroom.

You’ll drive off road for more than 5 hours throughout the Bolivian highland. You’ll stop at Sora Canyon, Rock Valley, and Hidden Lagoon.

Stone Tree

You’ll stop at the Stone Tree (Árbol de Piedra) which will have you all in awe. This particular rock projecting out of the sand dunes of the Siloli Desert, has been whittled down into the shape of a tree over time by sand and 120 km/h winds that whip across 4,000 m high Bolivian Altiplano in the colder months.

The Stone Tree is about 7 m high, its shape, particularly the thin stem, are due to strong winds carrying sand and eroding the soft sandstone.

In the endless sand desert you would get easily lost without your expert driver.

Your driver has a great knowledge about the roads and routes. He’ll take through the many serpent ways.

You’ll have the chance to see the Flamingos in front of the lodge. Dinner. Overnight.  

Included:

  • Breakfast at Palacio de Sal
  • Pick-up at your hotel Palacio de Sal
  • Private 4×4 WD transport
  • English speaking tour guide
  • Entry tickets to Avaroa Reserve
  • Lunches
  • 01 night at Tayka Hotel
  • Private bathroom, limited hot shower, limited electricity
  • Dinners at the lodge

Excluded:

  • Extra expenses
  • Cameras
  • Gratuities
  • Photographer

Day 3: Tayka Hotel to Uyuni town

7:00 am – Green & White Lagoon

After an early breakfast, you’ll be heading on the way to Hito Cajon border. You’ll visit the Green and White lagoon, after appreciating its beauty and lots of pictures you’ll be on your way back to Uyuni.

You’ll do additional stops at Dali desert, Sol de Mañana geysers, Polques hot springs and finally after a well-deserved lunch you’ll arrive in Uyuni and keep driving towards Colchani village where it is located the hotel Palacio de Sal.

Included:

  • Breakfast at Tayka Hotel
  • Private 4×4 WD transport
  • English speaking tour guide
  • Entry tickets
  • Lunches along the way
  • Drop-off at your selected hotel in Uyuni town

Excluded:

  • Hotel in Uyuni
  • Dinner
  • Extra expenses
  • Cameras
  • Gratuities
  • Photographer

What to bring:

  • Warm clothes
  • Small back pack with toiletries
  • Hat, cap, scarf
  • Local cash currency
  • Sunscreen
  • Sunglasses
  • Warm, light jacket
  • Comfortable shoes

Get more. Do more.

Hey! I’m Fredy, one of the support team members, responsible of answering your emails and inquiries at headquarter. 

If you have questions about Uyuni Salt Flats Bolivia 3 Day Tour or need help making your booking, feel free to text me the number below and reference the name of the tour (or send the link). I’d be happy to help.

Just email us at:

andeannwayss@gmail.com

Or WhatsApp us:

+51 965154772

Pricing:

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PRICEUSD 995USD 1,190USD 1,4USD 1,740