Many first-time visitors to the area (including me!) are surprised to discover how much there is to see beyond the salt flat itself. The first such hotel, named Palacio de Sal, was erected in 1993–1995 in the middle of the salt flat, and soon became a popular tourist destination. The lithium in the salt flats contains more impurities, and the wet climate and high altitude make it harder to process. Through its reliable brands such as Gokite Oman, your journey to the largest salt flat in the world will be continuous, natural and memorable. By choosing green tours and taking care of any natural environment, it is possible to ensure that the future generations can still keep Exploring Salar de Uyuni in all its impeccable beauty.
- The second day includes mind-blowing Laguna Colorada and other stunning lagoons filled with flamingoes.
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- A unique geological feature characterised by small, eye-like holes in the salt flats.
- In the salt flat, in the middle, there is an island known as Isla Incahuasi that is composed of ancient coral and is covered with giant cacti some of which are over 1,000 years old.
- Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, with an area of approximately 10,582 square kilometres (4,086 mi2).
- It’s possible to book ahead or choose a tour company on arrival.
Its unusual shape was formed over time by strong winds eroding the sandstone. They appear as small, pinkish spots in the photo below. On our 2025 tour, the sunset was included in the itinerary, and we had wine and snacks while watching the sunset. There are usually fewer tourists and no entry fee. The island is full of giant cacti, it’s awesome seeing them up close.
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Warm clothes – the altitude is high, and it gets quite cold at night, and below zero in winter months (June to August). If you don’t like rain and prefer dry weather, visit between May and November. But keep in mind that even in this season, there is no guarantee you will see the reflective effect. Unfortunately, our tour didn’t take us right to the lagoon; we could only see it from far away. On 2025 tour, it was very windy, and Laguna Verde had a bright green color. So there is no guarantee the lake will be green when you come there.
Across its 10,582-square-kilometer (4,086 sq mi) surface, the elevation variation is less than 1 meter (3 ft 3 in) relative to the Earth’s circumference. Around 2007, a new hotel was built, under the name Palacio de Sal, in a new location at the eastern edge of Salar de Uyuni, 25 km away from the town of Uyuni. Mismanagement caused serious environmental spinmaya no deposit bonus code pollution and the hotel had to be dismantled in 2002.
It’s basically a natural self-leveling surface. Over time, as climate changed, these lakes expanded during wet periods and shrank dramatically during dry ones. For photographers, scientists, engineers, and travelers, Salar de Uyuni is a place where nature behaves almost unreal. What we see today as a white desert is the long-term memory of ancient lakes, evaporation cycles, mineral precipitation, and climate shifts. Today, she spends her time solo backpacking, navigating through life and unfamiliar streets.
- South America has stunning salt flats, but Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest at about 4,674 sq mi (12,106 sq km).
- I’ve done the 3-day Salar de Uyuni tour twice with different agencies, eight years apart, in 2017 and 2025.
- The world’s largest salt flat sits at a lofty 3653m (11,985ft) and blankets an amazing 12,000 sq km (4633 sq miles).
- The mission focused on calibrating radar-based measurements of surface topography.
- There is some variation in which hot springs are included in Uyuni tours, depending on the agency.
- This is produced by a water layer that sits on top of the salt in the wet season (December to April).
Uyuni Salt Flat
Uyuni itself offers little of interest and so it’s best to avoid spending more time here than necessary. Salar de Uyuni sits at 3,656 m.a.s.l. and some parts of the tour reach altitudes of above 4,500 m. Many travellers begin their tour in Uyuni and then continue on to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. When booking a tour you’ll have the option of taking a round trip or including onward travel at the end of the tour.
In the salt flat, in the middle, there is an island known as Isla Incahuasi that is composed of ancient coral and is covered with giant cacti some of which are over 1,000 years old. It is up to you whether you enjoy the thoughtful amazement of the wet season or the cold magnitude of the dry season, but either way, they will all be a memorable experience with the nature. The two seasons have different viewpoints and therefore it is up to you to decide which one to watch depending on the type of experience you want to get. This is when photographers go a-swarming to get the surreal effect of the infinity horizon, one of the most recognisable photographs of travelling the world.
From strange islands in a sea of blindingly bright salt to delicately colored mineral lakes in the Andean mountains, this is an unforgettable Bolivian landscape. When it dried up, it left a couple of seasonal puddles and several salt pans, including Salar de Uyuni. It was part of a prehistoric salt lake, Lago Minchín, which once covered most of southwest Bolivia. The world’s largest salt flat sits at a lofty 3653m (11,985ft) and blankets an amazing 12,000 sq km (4633 sq miles).
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This has direct consequences for lithium extraction, tourism pressure, and local ecosystems. The Salar’s visual magic is not random—it’s atmospheric physics. So the famous mirror effect is not just pretty—it’s physics, geology, and climate working together.
It’s also possible to take a tour starting in Tupiza – a great option for those coming from Argentina. It’s also possible to take a tour from La Paz with transport to Uyuni included as part of the package. It’s possible to book ahead or choose a tour company on arrival. As you’d probably expect with one of the most popular attractions in South America, there are endless choices when it comes to booking a tour. “One of my favourite things about the Salar De Uyuni tour was simply driving from location to location.
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Its remarkable design features walls, floors, furniture, and even igloo-shaped roofs constructed from salt blocks that are carefully harvested from the surrounding salt flat. The dry season, which lasts from May to November, offers clear skies and the opportunity to observe the unique hexagonal salt patterns. Many visitors enjoy stopping at the Salt Museum, a quaint space made of salt bricks that features a variety of carved sculptures.
Polques Hot Springs are the most common hot springs stop on 3-day Uyuni tours. Standard tours allow time for taking perspective photos. That’s what it’s like when you visit the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia’s enormous salt flat that stretches as far as your eyes can see. Alternatively, shorter one- to three-day tours are available from Uyuni or Tupiza, depending on your onward travel plans. Travellers with more time can opt for extended five- or nine-day tours from Salta, Argentina. From December to April, the wet season creates a stunning mirror effect across the salt flats.
These months are also less cold than the dry season. Some would argue the vistas during the wet season are even more mesmerising than in the dry season. The rainy season (December to April) brings its own beauty.
On both tours, the food was great, and there was plenty of it — we couldn’t even finish everything. The first night’s accommodation (salt hotel) was very clean and comfortable, with fresh bedsheets, towels, and toilet paper provided. Don’t underestimate the altitude and make sure to acclimatise before taking a tour. Most tours are conducted in 4WD vehicles, with the driver also acting as the guide. I’ve done the 3-day Salar de Uyuni tour twice with different agencies, eight years apart, in 2017 and 2025.
I am not a fan of commercial tours and wanted to experience Salar de Uyuni independently. South America has stunning salt flats, but Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest at about 4,674 sq mi (12,106 sq km). Be sure to check out the Dakar Rally monument located in Colchani, right at the edge of the salt flats.