The Salar de Uyuni has become one of the world's most exotic tourist destinations. This site in southwestern Bolivia is not to be missed.
The world’s largest salt flat, the Salar de Uyuni in Southwestern Bolivia, is one of the most exotic place sceneries on earth. There is an estimated 10 billion tons of salt in the flats, 25 times the amount in the Bonneville Salt flats in Utah in the United States. With an astounding picture waiting to be shot every five minutes the site has become one of Bolivia’s largest tourist attractions.
The 4085 square mile salt flat looks like a scene from another planet. The endless sea of white salt is paired with small islands, which are small rocky hills of earth cluttered with odd plants such as cacti. The flats were once part of a large lake more than 40,000 years ago.
Most tourists that visit the site will go on a jeep tour that lasts 2-4 days and often combines trips to colored lakes, rare rock formations, and other unusual stops. The town Uyuni, where most of the tour operators and jeep tour activity are based, is built up solely for trips into this barren wasteland. At the end of the tour many are left of at the Chilean or Argentine borders to continue a long journey, or return they spend an extra day to return to Uyuni.
Prices are generally very cheap, although each of the dozens of companies in Uyuni offer a variety of upgrades. Bike and motorcycle tours across the flats are also popular as well.
A stay at a salt hotel is often combined in the tour. The hotels are completely made of salt from the walls, the floor, the ceiling, and even the beds.
Every November the flats become a flamingo breeding ground, with several species making an appearance. Chilean, James, and Andean flamingoes flock to the flats by the thousands.
Temperatures can drop to extreme lows at any time during the flats, so be sure to bring extra warm clothing.
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