Picture a place where land and sky merge, the horizon fades, and where reality feels like a disguise. This is Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia’s otherworldly salt flat — the strangest and most beautiful desert on earth.
In the dry season, it’s a stark white playa, cracked under the desert sun, with endless salt hexagons stretching to the horizon. When the rains fall, it becomes a mirror, reflecting the sky and releasing you to wander amongst the clouds. Remote, elevated, and hauntingly barren, it’s one of the most incredible places you’ll ever travel. A photographer’s paradise, a playground for thrill-seekers, and a dreamer’s must-visit, this guide covers the best time to go, top activities, and tips for maximizing your experience at the stunning Salar de Uyuni.
High in Bolivia’s Andes Altiplano, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, spanning over 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 square miles) at 3,656 meters (12,000 feet) above sea level. Formed by ancient lakes that dried up millennia ago, it now shimmers under the Andean sun, creating a surreal, otherworldly landscape.
The salt flats of Bolivia really feel like it’s from another planet. Endless hexagonal salt patterns cover the ground, forming a blinding white desert seemingly cut off from civilization. The landscape itself is so unique that this is a place where filmmakers come to shoot otherworldly movies. With its almost perfect level of flatness, the salt flat is used as a place to calibrate satellite instruments.
In addition to serving up some unique beauty, the Salar de Uyuni figures heavily into the country’s economic system. The region holds the world’s largest lithium stockpile, a key battery component, and remains a hub for salt collection. If you’re heading from La Paz to Uyuni, this natural masterpiece is a must-see for backpackers exploring South America’s salt flats. Whether for photography, adventure, or witnessing one of the most beautiful natural phenomena, Uyuni Salt Flat is a must-visit place.
The magical mirror effect: When to visit for the perfect reflection
If you’ve ever wished to stroll on clouds, the Bolivian salt flats are your place. During rainy season, December to April, Salar de Uyuni becomes the world’s largest natural mirror, an absolutely incredible site to see. Too good to be true. Just a thin layer of water (half a foot) sits atop the surface, reflecting everything — the sky, the sunset, the night sky. With no real horizon, it feels like you’re walking (or driving, in our case) through the heavens.
The salt flats in Bolivia are a dream for photographers, too. Each step sends ripples across the surface that are perfect for perspective photos and optical illusions. Whether you’re photographing a sunset that seems to exist below your feet or the Milky Way reflected on the land around you, you can’t take a bad picture.
The most vibrant reflection occur in January and February, though some areas may be underwater. But the trade off is more than worth it. This surreal experience feels otherworldly and belongs on every bucket list.
The dry season: A dazzling white desert adventure
While the wet season offers a mesmerizing mirror effect, those preferring a drier experience should visit during the dry season (May–November). With little standing water, the salt flats transform from a reflective surface into a vast, otherworldly white desert.
It’s the ideal time to explore the flats up close and immerse yourself in the endless white expanse. There is something very peaceful and meditative about walking through a land so vast and silent. Plus, with the dry salt, you’re not going to encounter streams or surprises under every step.
What to see and do during dry season
During this season, a 4×4 adventure takes you across the flats with stops at unique sites like Incahuasi Island, where towering cacti rise from the endless salt. You’ll also visit the eerie Train Cemetery, a haunting yet photogenic relic of Bolivia’s industrial past, where rusting locomotives contrast starkly against the white desert.
Then, there are the endless opportunities for optical illusion photos. With endless white salt stretching to the horizon, perspective plays tricks, making small figures appear much larger or farther away.
For people looking to get out and about and not be contained by their surroundings, this is the perfect season. For a higher vantage point, embark on a multi-day hike up Tunupa Volcano, where breathtaking views of the dazzling white plains await. Thrill-seekers will appreciate the rugged beauty of this remote landscape and the resilience of nature in such extreme conditions.
Wildlife and unique ecosystems around Salar de Uyuni
Despite its seemingly barren landscape, Salar de Uyuni and its surroundings host diverse ecosystems that thrive in extreme conditions. One standout is Eduardo Avaroa National Park, a protected area near the salt flats.
This region boasts striking geological wonders, including the surreal Red Lagoon (Laguna Colorada) and Green Lagoon (Laguna Verde). Their vivid hues, created by mineral-rich waters from nearby mountains, make them truly breathtaking sights. If you’re passing through, this is a photographer’s dream—be sure to have your camera ready.
Observe the wildlife
You’ll also see raw natural beauty in the region’s animal life. Observe graceful pink flamingos wading through the algae-infested waters of the lagoons, usually found en masse. Famingos may seem out of place in this arid landscape, but they are perfectly adapted to high-altitude environment. Alongside Andean gulls and ducks, these pink-hued birds thrive in the cold, feeding on the mineral-rich waters of the lagoons.
Llamas and alpacas graze on the dry volcanic plains surrounding the salt flats, while Andean foxes roam the desert. It’s a fascinating sight—wildlife thriving in a landscape that seems almost uninhabitable.
Not to miss
With such diverse wildlife and flora, the salt flat’s surroundings offer a captivating landscape to explore. Hike through the national park or simply watch the animals as you drive on your Bolivia salt flats tour. There’s life all around, no matter how untouched and barren it may appear. Great for animal lovers or photographers, you’d regret not bringing a camera and exploring the surrounding salt flats for a chance to spy some creatures, big and small.
Salar de Uyuni is more than just one of the coolest landscapes in Bolivia. It’s a journey through some of the most stunning scenery South America has to offer. Here are our top 5 highlights:
Isla Incahuasi: The Island of giant cacti
Rising out of the gleaming white landscape of the Salar de Uyuni, Isla Incahuasi is a welcome contrast to the desolate scene. This rocky island of petrified coral is covered in thousands of giant cacti, some of which are more than a millennium old. From the top of the island you can see the white plains stretch out for miles and miles in all four directions. After spending the day exploring, we recommend hanging out to watch the sunset. The salt flats turn a golden hue, making this surreal landscape even more beautiful.
Train Cemetery: A ghostly reminder of Bolivia’s industrial past
Just outside the town of Uyuni, you will find a post-apocalyptic scene – the Salar de Uyuni Train Cemetery. Once upon a time, these decaying machines buzzed around the country, carrying minerals across the land. But after the mining industry disappeared, the trains were left to rust, their metal cankered by the apocalyptic desert mists and the heat of the unforgiving salt flats. It’s a fascinatingly bizarre place to wander through and capture some unique travel shots.
Sleep in a salt hotel: The ultimate salar experience
It’s not a real Salar experience until you spend the night in a salt hotel. The entire structure, walls, floors, furniture, everything is openly made of salt. Imagine sleeping in a room made entirely of the same substance that you see for miles outside your window! Here are a few exemplary choices:
Palacio de Sal Hotel – One of the world’s first salt hotels, this place offers luxury accommodations, spa, and stunning views of the flats.
Luna Salada Hotel & Spa – A lovely boutique hotel with salty walls, comfy rooms, and sunset vistas over the flats.
Casa de Sal – A cobble and adobe salt hotel that offers a more charming, intimate, native experience.
Hotel Playa Blanca – This salt hotel was actually the first in the flats but isn’t an active hotel anymore. Instead, it serves as a hot attraction with a monument to this amazing structure made only from salt.
See the waters of the Salar: The surreal lagoons
Tucked away in the arid, high altitude landscape of the Bolivian Altiplano lies a few wonderous lagoons of vibrant colours and mineral content. Unusual in colour and character, the lagoons are inhabited by herds of flamingos and framed by stunning snow-capped mountains and volcanoes.
Discover Laguna Colorada – A red algae and sediment lagoon bordered by thousands of bright pink flamingos feasting off the algae and crustaceans in the shallow lake.
Visit Laguna Blanca – A milky white high-altitude lagoon surrounded by volcanoes.
Explore Laguna Verde – A green lagoon filled with copper content. The lagoon is framed by the Licancabur volcano reflecting on the water.
Head to Laguna Hedionda – Named after the putrid sulphuric smell seeping from the lagoon itself, the mineral-abundant, brackish lagoon also houses plenty of pink flamingos who wade in the mineral-rich water.
Tunupa Volcano: Hike to an epic viewpoint
High above the Bolivia salt flats, the sleeping giant of Tunupa Volcano offers one of the most rewarding hikes in the region. If you are up for the challenge, there’s a two-day hike to the peak where you’ll score an epic view over Salar de Uyuni. Can’t be bothered? No problem, you can catch the view from the base if you prefer to have the thrill with the comfort of your guide’s 4WD. Either way, seeing Salar de Uyuni from above is a truly unforgettable experience.
Essential travel tips: What you need to know before you go
Before going all out to make this trip memorable, here’s what you need to know:
Altitude sickness: The high altitude Uyuni is located at makes sickness pretty common. Have enough water, try not to exert much on the first few days and let your body get acclimated to Uyuni elevation.
What to pack: The weather at the salt flats can be ruthless if you are not prepared. So your skin can become parched if you do not apply enough sunscreen. The reflectiveness of the flats can also be quite harsh on the eyes, so dark sunglasses are necessary. Also, it can be hugely windy and many have reported suffering from chapped lips; some lotion, chapstick and clothes with a lot of coverage would be wise additions.
Currency and costs: While Bolivia is not an expensive country, you will need a lot of bolivianos to get what you need and want. This applies, whether it is a 3 day Salar de Uyuni excursion or something longer. Salt flats can get tricky and many of the places do not accept cards. Since there are plenty of things to pay for, make sure you’re prepped.
Sustainability: Like in any other tourist area, respect nature, stay on the marked paths and ensure you are not polluting. Bolivia Salar de Uyuni tour promotes environmental friendliness as much as possible.
Safety: More than anything, the biggest tip is to travel with an experienced Bolivia salt fields tour to Uyuni. It is very easy to lose your sense of direction and get lost in the middle of the plains. So be careful.
An otherworldly adventure awaits
Salar de Uyuni is a mythical destination. Whether you’re walking the Lithium crust to the horizon, taking pictures of the mirror image or enjoying the other-world rivers and lagoons abounding with flora and fauna that look like they come from another planet, there is something very special about this place. The other-worldly landscapes, unique experiences, and incredible backdrop for photos make it a standout destination for any traveller of the world.
Want an easy, affordable way to visit the Salt Flats and areas around it? Join a group trip to Salar de Uyuni. Set off with a group of like-minded adventurers and explore this beautiful natural wonder in the company of experienced guides. Wherever your interest lies, there’s a way to enjoy your visit to the salt flats. So pick up your gear, pack up your stuff and use Bolivia Tours Salar de Uyuni to get the best of the biggest salt flat in the world.
