Adventure 4x4
3d2n Salar de Uyuni Exclusive
3d2n Salar de Uyuni Exclusive
This programme is based on a private tour, staying in some of the best hotels in the Salar de Uyuni region, but without being luxury hotels, offering the possibility of enjoying comfort at night and resting well for the day's adventure.
The Salar de Uyuni, named the best natural tourist attraction in South America for 2019 by the World Travel Award, is located in the southwest of Potosi, Bolivia, and is one of the best adventure destinations you should know. The tour starts and ends in Uyuni, we can also help you with air or land transport to get to Uyuni and back to La Paz or on to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile).
We guarantee a safe and comfortable service. The three-day tours are carried out with four passengers per vehicle.
Salar de Uyuni
The magnificent Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, covering 10,582 square kilometres. It is located in the department of Potosi in south-western Bolivia, close to the Andes and at an altitude of 3,650 metres above sea level.
40,000 years ago, this region was part of a huge prehistoric lake, Lake Minchin. But when it dried up, it left behind two lakes: Poopó and Uru Uru. It also left two large salt flats: the Salar de Coipasa and the larger Salar de Uyuni. For reference, the Salar de Uyuni is about 25 times larger than the Salar de Bonneville in the United States of America.
Every November, the Salar de Uyuni is the breeding ground for three species of South American flamingo: the Chilean, the James and the Andean. In the middle of this sea of salt lies a desert oasis: Isla Pescado, so called because it is shaped like a fish. The island is covered in giant cacti and is the only sign of life for miles.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS:
- One of the most beautiful regions in Bolivia
- The largest salt flat in the world with more than 10,000 km2
- Nominated as the number 1 wonder by international magazines.
- The perfect place to enjoy sunsets and surreal landscapes. - Enjoy the hot springs and views of the geysers and volcanic activity.
- Home to several flocks of pink flamingos. - Incredible views of multicoloured lagoons.
DAY 1: Uyuni - Salar de Uyuni - salt hotel
Hours 9:30 Beginning of the tour: Visit to the train cemetery: you can see old locomotives and wagons from the 19th and early 20th century exposed to the elements - Colchani town: Artisanal salt processing workshops, you can buy salt crafts and typical fabrics - Entrance to the largest salt flat in the world, measuring 10,582 km2, the salt comes from the sea - Piles of salt in the process of dehydration to be transported to Colchani - Salt water eyes: Visit to the old salt hotel where you can see typical salt architecture - Arrival at the Aymara town of Coquesa on the banks of the salt flat (lunch) - Ascent to the Mummies of Tunupa Hill: it is a cave that shows a pre-Inca cemetery - Viewpoint of the salt flat from where you can see the immensity of a white desert - Chantani Museum of Stone Animals: it is a collection of volcanic stones and lakes that have taken the shape of different animals due to erosion. Arrival at the Tawa Salt Hotel. Private accommodation, dinner and overnight.
Dinner and overnight: Lunch and dinner.
Accommodation: Salt Hotel Luna Salada or similar.
DAY 2: Tawa - Inka Wasi Island - Desert Hotel
Hrs. 6:00 Sunrise observation (optional). Hrs. 7:30 breakfast, hrs 8:30 start of tour: Salar - Isla Inka Wasi: a small island northwest of the salt flat with an impressive ecosystem and basic services, hike through the Cactus Valley - Gruta de las Galaxias de Awakisa: large, circular, deformed cavern with delicate, thin, whitish eggshell-like layers coming off its interior walls - (lunch) - panoramic view of the high plateau of Lípez - Ejército de Rocas: a group of rocks formed as a result of volcanic lava and water - Ollagüe Volcano Viewpoint: you can see wide alleys with giant rock walls that were moulded by the intense volcanic activity. From this viewpoint you can also see the smoke emanating from the active Ollagüea volcano at 5.865 m.a.s.l. Altiplanic lagoons: Kañapa, Hedionda and Ch'iar Quta (lunch) are the first coloured lagoons with high Andean flora and fauna. Arrival at Hotel del Desierto at 17:00 hrs. Private accommodation, dinner and overnight stay.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel del Desierto or similar.
DAY 3: Árbol de Piedra - Laguna Colorada - L. Verde - Uyuni
Breakfast at the hotel (time to be agreed). Hours. 6:00 Start of the tours: Siloli Desert (entrance to the Eduardo Avaróa Andean Fauna National Reserve) - Stone Tree - Laguna Colorada - visit to the geysers (fumaroles and boiling mud craters) - hot springs - panoramic view of the Dali Rocks (from the road) - Laguna Verde, (Transfer to Chile - optional) - Return to Uyuni via Laguna Colorada, Villa Mar, Rock Valley, Alota, model town of Kulpina - Colonial church of the reconstructed town of San Cristóbal - Arrival in Uyuni at 18:00: 00 (end of the tour).
Meals: Dinner and lunch
Accommodation: not included
PRICES PER PERSON: 600 usd, base of 4 clients
IMPORTANT! Please note that due to weather and route conditions (especially during the rainy season: December to April), this itinerary may vary without prior notice, which is why the detailed program should be taken as a reference only. Please note that this tour involves a drive of more than approximately 1000 km on unpaved roads at high altitude.
Included in the tour:
- Spanish speaking driver-guide
- 4×4 transport with first aid kit and oxygen bottle on board
- All meals.
- All activities listed in the itinerary.
- Accommodation in comfortable hotels Taykla, Salt Hotel (built entirely with salt - in the rainy season or on request we use other salt hotels such as Luna Salada or Palacio de Sal), Piedra (built with rocks) and Desert (only 40 minutes from Laguna Colorada). They have rooms with private bathroom, hot water and heating.
The tour does not include
Entrance fees to the sites visited.
Snacks, alcoholic drinks, tips.
Transportation La Paz - Uyuni - La Paz
Optional:
Bus ticket to Potosí, Sucre or La Paz.
Hotel reservation in Uyuni before or at the end of the tour.
Tour Guide
Private transport to Sucre, La Paz or Potosí.
What to bring: The route to the Salar is very cold, windy and sunny. During the day it is generally sunny and the temperature is pleasant. It is recommended to bring
- Warm and thick clothes.
- Gloves.
- Wool socks.
- A woolly hat to cover your ears and protect you from the sun.
- Wellington boots.
- A towel.
- Swimming costume.
- Lip moisturiser.
- SPF 30+ sunscreen.
- Very dark sunglasses with UV filter.
- Torch.
- A raincoat is recommended between December and April.
- A copy of your passport.
The hotels mentioned are for reference only and may be replaced by others of the same category, subject to availability.
We also offer these options:
Salar de Uyuni with private rustic hotels: https://www.pukinatravel.com/en/Aventura4x4/3d2n-Salar-de-Uyuni-privado-con-hoteles-rusticos
Salar de Uyuni shared with basic lodges: https://www.pukinatravel.com/en/Aventura4x4/3d2n-Salar-de-Uyuni-Compartido