Uyuni Salt Flats - Bolivia
Oh... Uyuni Salt Flats... Probably on my top 5 South America's bucket list! It's the world’s largest salt flat, stretching more than 4,050
square miles of the Altiplano, left behind by prehistoric lakes evaporated long ago. And one of the most remarkable things to see on earth: a mirror of floor and sky that matches perfectly in harmony: At certain times of the
year, nearby lakes overflow and a thin layer of water transforms the
flats into a stunning reflection of the sky. This beautiful and
otherworldly terrain serves as a lucrative extraction site for salt and
lithium. You can visit there the world's first salt hotel too.
Salar de Uyuni has two
distinct seasons, you will choose depending on what you want to see. In the rainy season (December to April) you can see the mirror effect (be aware of
the excessive rain in December and January, as it can cause tour
cancelations). I would totally go for this one! During the dry season (May to November) temperatures are
colder, the ground has hardened, and travelers can drive across the
stark white landscape to places that aren’t accessible in the other season. Tour operators consider June through August their high period,
and rates may rise accordingly.
How to visit:
There are so many options here... Salar de Uyuni is accessible from Bolivia (for those going south)
from La Paz, and from Chile (for those going north) via San Pedro de
Atacama Desert. From La Paz, it is usually 8 hours on a bed (cama) bus overnight,
allowing you to arrive early morning, which is the best time to arrive
to Uyuni. From San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, buses take around 11 hours,
factoring in the border crossing from Chile to Bolivia and involve a
combination of buses.
I would be there probably on sunrise, since there are not many tourists and you have the "sunset" effect, with the beautiful colors on the sky. So, you can go on your own or take a tour. Most agencies offer two basic Uyuni Salt Flats tours – one-day trip or three-day trip (in spanish or english, spanish tours are less expensive) which you can eventually end (or start) in Chile in the town San Pedro de Atacama.
Here are some links for you to see:
Happy journeys in Bolivia!
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