San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni 2 Day Tour
US$ 698 per person (based on 2 people)
San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni 2 Day Tour is a shared transfer and private 4x4 car ride through the Bolivian highland with stops and lunch, followed by a unique private guided experience on the salt flats.
On your first day of Atacama to Uyuni 2 Day Tour you’ll go through an impressive ethereal landscape.
The south western corner of the Bolivian Altiplano is an awe-inspiring, otherworldly landscape. Trundling along the dusty tracks of the Siloli Desert and the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve in a private 4WD, you’ll find yourself dwarfed by the sheer scale of the place.
By the late afternoon, upon arrival you’ll stay the night at Atipax Hotel or similar. Next day, you’ll explore the Salar de Uyuni on a private guided tour.
What You'll do on "San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni 2 Day Tour" (Overview)
DAY 1: Atacama to Uyuni
You’ll be transferred on a shared vehicle from Atacama to Hito Cajón border. From here, you’ll meet up with your Bolivian driver and ride for more than 8 hours from Hito Cajon to Uyuni Town, with quick optional stops for pictures at the Lagoons, Stone Tree and the Geysers; and for a well-deserved lunch or optional bath in the Polques hot springs along the way.
DAY 2: Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
In the morning, your English speaking tour guide will meet you at your hotel and head on a private 4x4 vehicle to Colchani Souvenir Market, Salt Refinery, Ojos de Sal, Incahuasi Island and get a memorable sunset in the Salar. After the lunch and hike at the Incahuasi Island, you’ll visit the Playa Blanca First Salt Hotel, Dakar statue and drive away from the crowds for the best and craziest perspective photos and wait for the sunset.
Uyuni to Atacama 2 Day Tour Features
TOUR TYPE: private service (in Bolivia)
START PLACE: Atacama, Chile
START TIME: 6:00 am or 7:00 am, first day.
END PLACE: Uyuni Town, Bolivia.
END TIME: 6:30 pm, second day.
San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni 2 Day Tour Itinerary
DAY 1: Atacama to Uyuni
This day you’ll stop at (if weather and time permitting)
> Paso Fronterizo Hito Cajón (Chile)
The first Chilean passport control
> Hito Cajón border
Where you’ll do paper work to enter Bolivia
> Aduana Nacional
Another check point to enter Bolivia
> Estación Avaroa
Entry ticket control for the national reserve
> White and Green Lagoon
First sightseeing stop
> Dalí Desert
Quick stop for pics
> Polques Hot Spring
Optional bath and dip
> Sol de Mañana Geysers
You’ll see boiling mud
> Laguna Colorada
The lunch place and flamingo habitat
> Stone Tree
The shape of a tree standing in the sand
> San Cristobal Village
Stop for use of toilet, 45 min away from Uyuni Town.
Atacama to Hito Cajón border
6:00 AM - 7:00 AM your Chilean driver will show up at your hotel for the shared transfer from Atacama to Hito Cajón border. He might text you when approaching, along the way you’ll stop at a series of Chilean paper work control pass (Paso Ollague).
Hito Cajón Border
8:30 am estimated arrival time at Hito Cajón Chile and Bolivia borderline. You’ll have a “quick” breakfast (provided by the Chilean transport) then meet your Bolivian English speaking tour guide and personal driver. At Hito Cajón border you’ll be at an elevation of more than 4,000 meters above sea level, the place is dusty and the weather is freezing and windy.
Tourist Visa for Bolivia
Please check out if your nationality requires applying for the Bolivia Tourist Visa, if so it’s your whole responsibility. However your guide is going to assist you at the Bolivian immigration. You should bring all documents and USD in cash.
Then drive off road through the mesmerizing and impressive ethereal highland landscape until you arrive to Uyuni town with sightseeing stops along the way.
Estación Avaroa
After you’ve left Hito Cajón border for Uyuni town, you’ll stop twice at the ADUANAS (customs) and Estación Avaroa which is the entry ticket control pass. Just let your guide arrange this for you as your tickets are included.
White and Green Lagoon
Your first sightseeing stop will be at the Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde, located at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano a few minutes driving away from the last control. A magnificent view of the lagoon divided into two different colors across the desert.
Dalí Desert
10:06 AM it is a large plateau surrounded by imposing mountains that will remind you of the paintings of the famous Spanish surrealist artist painter. You’ll stop at Dalí Desert for more pics and besides the dusty road you’ll see some cute Vicunas. This stop is only for less than 10 minutes.
Polques Hot Springs
The adventure continues on to the Polques Hot Springs, you’ll arrive after 15 min driving, where you will like this remote natural hot springs in the Bolivian High Andes, because taking a bath in the warm thermal water is a really nice and relaxing treat after the bumpy off-road ride to get there (but really optional).
One of the best things about the Polques Hot Springs is the view from the thermal pools overlooking the picturesque pastel landscape of Salar de Chalviri.
Sol de Mañana Geysers
The next stop will be at the Sol de Mañana Geyser field, a great site at almost 15,000 feet (4,570 meters), only reachable through a very rocky road by expert driver and guide.
There are lots of smaller mud holes, one largish geyser as well as a smaller one, and lots of water vapor coming out of the natural burrows. It creates surreal atmosphere, unexpected and interesting feature. One thing for sure is that there will not be too many other people about to share your experience.
There is strong dour of hydrogen sulphide gas, lots of minerals and hot bubbling mud. The walk around there could be a real health issue to infirm of any sort, be cautious of the danger.
The fumaroles place is quite small and would probably need only 5 minutes to walk around. The steady streams of hot vapor are not like geysers in Iceland or Yellowstone. If you have visited them then you can pass this place!
Laguna Colorada (lunch)
After a few hours travelling off road from the border of Chile, you’ll arrive to a rare natural wonder a Red Lagoon, filled with hundreds of pink flamingos. There are more flamingos during the rainy season (from December through April).
The Laguna Colorada is a shallow salt lake and contains white borax islands, whose white color contrasts with the reddish color of its waters, which is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae. Curiously, the flamingos are naturally white; they look pink because the red algae stains their feathers. It spans 6000 hectares, but is less than a meter deep.
Thanks to Laguna Colorada’s abundant supply of plankton three of the world’s six species of flamingo can be found here: the Chilean, Andean and the James’ Flamingo.
James’ Flamingo is only found in the high Andean plateaus and was thought to be extinct until a small population was rediscovered in 1956.
You will have lunch at this spectacular landscape after exploring its surroundings and before heading towards your hotel located in Uyuni town.
Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve last entry ticket control check.
After the lunch, your 1-day off-roading 4WD tour continues onto Stone Tree (Árbol de Piedra)
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.
Moises has a great knowledge about the roads and routes. He’ll take through the many serpent ways.
You’ll stop to see and take pictures of cute Llamas before you take the highway. If you’re lucky you’ll see many herds of Llamas pleasantly posing for your photos.
San Cristobal Village
4:50 PM estimated arrival time at San Cristobal village. You can stop at this village for bathroom or just keep passing until Uyuni town, located 45 minutes away. San Cristobal is a village characterized by the silver mining.
Uyuni Town
6:30 PM estimated arrival time at your Salt accommodation in Uyuni town for a well-deserved rest and go out for dinner (not included).
Included:
- Atacama to Hito Cajon border group transfer
- Breakfast at Hito Cajon (upon arrival)
- Private 4x4 WD vehicle from Hito Cajon to Uyuni Town
- English speaking tour guide
- Entry ticket to Avaroa National Reserve
- Stops for pictures and optional bath in the hot springs
- Lunch on the way
- Drop-off at your Salt 3-star Hotel
- 01 Night accommodation at Atipax Hotel or similar in Uyuni Town
Excluded:
- Dinner
- Extra expenses
- Tourist Visa (if required)
What to Bring:
- Warm clothes
- Gloves, scarfs
- Hat that covers yours ears and protects you from the sun
- Sunscreen 50+
- Sun glasses
- Lip moisturizer
- Towels
- Flip flops
- Swimming suit (optional for Polques Hot Springs)
Day 2: Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
This day you’ll visit/do (if good weather permitting)
> Train Cemetery
Visit the old remains of the oldest locomotives, just on arrival at Uyuni town
> Colchani Souvenir Market
Bring cash for buying handicrafts
> Salt Refinery
Learn about the industrialization of the salt
> Salt Museum
See some amazing salt handicraft
> Eyes of the Salt
Your first stop in the white salt flat
> Incahuasi/Cactus Island
Stop for lunch and hiking
> Playa Blanca First Salt Hotel
Learn from your guide about the first Salt Hotel
> Dakar Statue
In honor of the rally car race
> Perspective Photos
Drive away for the craziest and funniest pics
> Salt Flats Sunset
Wait with a glass of wine the sun setting over the salt flat
Today will be an especial day due to you’ll spend the time on the salt flats and wait for a magical sunset over it.
Train Cemetery
9:30 AM After an early breakfast, you’ll start your day trip with the visit to the train cemetery which is located on the otherwise deserted outskirts of Uyuni town, a small trading region high in the Andean plain.
Located on the otherwise deserted outskirts of Uyuni town, 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 world’s largest Salt flats.
Eyes of the Salt
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 January 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!
12:30 pm estimated arrival 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 is not reachable.
Drive away in the endless white layer for perspective photos with toys, llamas,
Perspective Photos
3:00 PM time 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.
6:30 PM estimated time to return to Uyuni town and drop off at your selected place in Uyuni town (hotel or bus station).
Included
- Breakfast at the hotel
- English speaking Tour guide
- Entry tickets to Incahuasi Island
- Lunch/Picnic in the Salar
- Drop-off at your hotel or bus terminal
Excluded:
- Extra expenses
- Dinner
- Hotel
- Bus tickets
What to Bring:
- Warm clothes
- Gloves, scarfs
- Hat that covers yours ears and protects you from the sun
- Sunscreen 50+
- Sun glasses
- Lip moisturizer
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- The Total Balance should be paid in USD or BOB local currency cash upon drop-off at your hotel in Uyuni town.
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