Uyuni Salt Flats Bolivia 3-day Tour
(Important: this itinerary is a literal transcription of FindLocalTrips.com)
Price: From US$ 209 per person
A prehistoric lake that dried up, now a desert-like landscape of bright-white salt rock formations, and cacti-studded islands.
AVAILABILITY: All year round
DURATION: 3 days
START LOCATION: Red Planet Expedition Office, Avenida Ferroviaria, between Sucre & Camacho Street, Uyuni
END LOCATION: Red Planet Expedition Office, Avenida Ferroviaria, between Sucre & Camacho Street, Uyuni
OPERATOR NAME: RED PLANET EXPEDITION
START TIME: 11:00
PHYSICAL LEVEL: Low
See the beautiful “Laguna Colorada”, home to three species of flamingo
Take the trip of a lifetime and discover everything the salt flat offers All tours are given in English by local guides
A unique place in the world - it’s the legacy of a prehistoric lake that dried up, leaving behind a desert-like landscape of bright-white salt rock formations, and cacti-studded islands. Though wildlife is rare in this unique ecosystem, it does harbour many pink flamingos. You can finish your tour at San Pedro de Atacama, it is included in the tour price!
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Minimum age: 7 years old – Must have parents’ permission
Maximum age: 60 years old - Medical proof of optimum health status
Day 1: Uyuni - Colchani - Incahuasi Island - Altucha
From the Red Planet Expedition office, you will depart at 11:00 am in a 4x4 Toyota land cruiser. You will head to the train’s graveyard to see the first locomotives in Bolivia. Have your camera ready for some cool photos!
Afterwards, you will go to the tiny village of Colchani (salt miners’ workshops next to the Salt Flats) to visit the factories, and see the traditional means of table salt production. You will then be taken to the great Salt Flat of Uyuni (Salar de Uyuni), where you first will see the salt mining, and the piles of salt (pyramids of salt). After this, you will go to see the Eyes of the Salt. These are big holes in the salt flat, from which bursts out water at high pressure (this water comes from beneath this dead lake).
Following this, you will go straight to the salt-made hotel (the only hotel allowed on the salt flats). Here, you’ll have time to explore the various rooms, salt sculptures, and the hotel’s lobby (Playa Blanca), as well as take photos! At this very hotel, you’ll enjoy a delicious lunch.
After the food, you will make your way to Incahuasi Island (Fish Island), located in the centre of the salt flats. Here, you’ll see the giant cactus and the coral rock formations. There’ll be the opportunity to stop here, right in the middle of the flats, to see the unusual hexagon- and pentagon-like formations. You’ll have a lot of fun here with your camera – play around with the vast perspective for some incredibly bizarre results!
The final stop of the day will be at the small village of Atulcha, to spend the first night. Arriving there, you’ll enjoy some hot coffee or chocolate, and later a delicious dinner.
Accommodation: Salt hostel "Villa Candelaria in Atulcha - private toilets. 10 Bs extra for a hot shower.
Day 2: Desert of Chiguana - Andean Lagoons - Desert of Siloli -Red Lagoon
This day starts at 7:00 am. Wake up for breakfast, and then get ready to begin an amazing day (check your room carefully when packing up, don’t leave anything).
You’ll first visit the small desert of Chiguana, located on the south side of the Uyuni Salt Flat. This desert is surrounded by many volcanoes, including dormant and extinct ones, as well as a semi-active volcano called Ollague (5840m high). You will see Ollague from the lookout, and spot the steam that still comes out from the top.
The next part of the journey will be heading south. You’ll reach the Andean lagoons, where flamingos can be seen hanging around in their hundreds (three species of flamingos live here). Going further south, you will get to the big Siloli Desert, which sits at 4550m high. This is the highest and driest desert in the world.
Once you cross this desert, you will see the Rock Tree (a lava-cooled rock formation).
Later that day, the last stop will be at the amazing Red Lagoon to see some pink flamingos, and the redness of the water from the viewpoint. Afterwards, the car will take you to the top of a big volcano called Sol de Mañana. Upon entering the crater, you will see the fumaroles and boiling mud pots (volcanic activity, 100 Cº).
Following this volcanic visit, you will go down the hill to our shelter point, "Efames" to spend the second night (basic accommodation, big dorms for 5 or 6 people). Hot chocolate or coffee and a delicious dinner will be waiting for you when you arrive.
After your meal, you can drink a glass of wine in the darkness, and watch the stars.
If you fancy a dip, the hot springs are just 100 metres from the shelter. This is nice clean water, and 35 Cº, so don’t forget your swimsuit.
Accommodation: Polques - Basic dorm accommodation - private toilets. No hot shower.
Day 3: Dali Desert - Green Lagoon - White Lagoon - Uyuni
Following a 7:00 am breakfast, departure will be at 8:00 am for the Dali Desert.
Here, you will visit the Green Lagoon and the White Lagoon. At 11:00 am, we will start to make our way back to Uyuni. There will be stops along the way for lunch, bathroom breaks and leg stretching. You will be arriving back to Uyuni at approximately 6:00 pm.
For those that wish to finish at San Pedro Atacama in Chile instead of coming back to Uyuni: On the third day, in the morning after the visit to the Green Lake, the car will take you to the borderline, which is 35 minutes away from the Green Lake.
Once at the border, the tour guide will help you to swap into a bus. This bus will take you to San Pedro from the border (a 1-hour ride), and you will get to San Pedro by 2:00 pm (Chile time) on the third day of the tour. The drop off is at San Pedro de Atacama’s main square.
Important: During the rainy season (from January to April), it is not possible to access Incahuasi Island because it becomes dangerous as water melts near the island. We will spend the first night in a hotel (salt made) in Villa Candelaria o San Juan. The itinerary and the transfer to San Pedro de Atacama may change depending on the weather conditions.
Important: During the winter season (from June to August), it is not possible to access Eduardo Avaroa National Park (red lagoon, Dali dessert, green lagoon).
However, there is the possibility of visiting black lagoon and rock valley, changes to the itinerary maybe made without prior notice depending on the weather conditions. You may also sleep in different locations depending on vehicle access.
Note: Tour given in English and the operator provides sleeping bag (you must inform the operator before the tour starts)
TOUR TICKETS (MAY VARY BY DATE)
Ticket Price (USD)
ADULT + TRANSFER TO SAN PEDRO ATACAMA: 209.00 (USD)
ADULT: 209.00 (USD)
TOUR ITINERARY
DAY 1: 10:30 - 10:45 Meeting point at the Red Planet Expedition Office
DAY 1: 11:00 Depart Uyuni
DAY 1: 11:30 - 13:00 Visit the Train Graveyard, Colchani Village, the Salt Pyramids and the Eyes of the Salt
DAY 1: 13:00 Lunch at the Salt Hotel "Nuevo Amanecer"
DAY 1: 14:00 Visit Incahuasi Island to see the giant cactus and rock formations
DAY 1: 16:00 Arrive to Atulcha Village to spend the night
DAY 1: 19:00 Dinner
DAY 2: 07:00 Breakfast
DAY 2: 08:00 - 12:00 Visit the Chiguana Desert, the Ollague Volcano, see the Andean Lagoons
DAY 2: 12:00 Lunch
DAY 2: 13:00 - 16:00 See the Siloli Desert, the Rock Tree, the Red Lagoon, the Sol de Mañana Volcano
DAY 2: 16:00 Arrive to the shelter point "Efames" to spend the night
DAY 2: 19:00 Dinner
DAY 3: 07:00 Breakfast
DAY 3: 08:00 - 11:00 Visit Salvador Dali Desert and the Green Lagoon
DAY 3: 11:00 Return to Uyuni, with stops along the way for lunch, toilets, and leg stretching
DAY 3: 17:00 - 18:00 Arrive back to Uyuni
INCLUDED
- All transportation
- Oxygen tank and satellite cell phone
- All meals along the tour - first day (lunch and dinner), second day (breakfast, lunch and dinner), and third day (breakfast and lunch)
- Two nights’ accommodation (Salt Hostel "Nuevo Amanecer" on the first night, basic dorms in a shelter "Efames" on the second night)
- Guide (English-speaking)
- "Float" Accident Insurance
- Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile
- Sleeping bag
NOT INCLUDED
- Entrance fee 30 Bs for Fish Island
- Entrance fee 150 Bs for the National Park
- 10 Bs for a hot shower
Please note that these prices may vary according to the Government of Bolivia.
RECOMMENDED
- Sunglasses, sunscreen, torch, batteries, toilet paper
- Warm clothes for the night, light layers for the morning
- Towel, bathing suit, and flip flops
- Some snacks
- A hat/beanie
- Extra water
- Money for the park entrances fee, and toilets on the way
Request Further Information. Get more. Do more.
If you have questions and doubts about La Paz to Puno Transfer via Desaguadero + Uros Islands Tour, take your time in telling us your inquiries and we’ll show you a lot more options to do (or re-design the entire itinerary).
Just email us at:
andeannwayss@gmail.com
Or WhatsApp us to:
+51 965154772 (Fredy, the guy responsible of answering your emails and inquiries at headquarter)
How to book
- You can get it fully booked by paying an Initial Amount via PayPal and the Total Balance must be paid in USD or PEN cash at the end of tour, then this is how you’ll get your Tour Confirmation from us.
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- Additional information and requirements will be detailed on the email (or via WhatsApp).
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The exact amount and additional requirements will be sent to you later.
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