From Uyuni: Salt Flats 3-day Tour

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Discover the largest salt desert in the world with incredible and surreal desert landscapes. Travel n style by SUV and see south-east Bolivia.

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Highlights

Explore the largest salt desert in the world
See colored lagoons and Andean wildlife
Take a swim in hot-springs at 4500 meters above sea level

Description

Get ready for a full salt flat experience. This classic tour will take you to most attractions included colored lagoons, geysers, hot-springs, surreal deserts, and more. Located in the southwest part of Bolivia, the Uyuni Salt Flats is the largest know salt desert on the planet. Created by prehistoric lakes that evaporated long ago you'll see a thick crust of salt that extends all the way to the horizon. At particular periods throughout the year, neighboring lakes overflow and the shallow layer of water provides a great reflection of the sky above. DAY 1: At 10:30 AM leave Uyuni city and move towards the Train Cemetery to explore old train carriages from Bolivia’s abandoned railroad and learn about their history. Then travel for less than an hour to the village of Colchani, where you will see peculiar salt factories and shopping crafts. Begin your visit to the Salt Flats with a stop at the ground salty water formed by underground rivers. Head to Flags Square, where you will find many flags from countries all over the world. Here you'll also see the Dakar Monument, a representation of the Dakar Rally that took place in Bolivia between 2014 and 2018. This rally was considered one of the deadliest and most dangerous in the world. Enjoy lunch at the first hotel made entirely out of salt. Continue deep into the Salt Flats for a fantastic photo opportunity of the reflective lakes. Go on to explore Inchuasi Island, considered the largest of the salt flats. You’ll find giant cacti and from the top, you can see the Thunupa volcano, considered a sacred place for the indigenous communities. Finish the day seeing the sunset in the big Salar de Uyuni and then move to the accommodation for dinner and overnight. DAY 2: Andean Landscapes are on the itinerary today. Start the day with the first rays of the sun and a healthy breakfast to prepare for the next destination, Ollagüe Volcano viewpoint. This massive andesitic stratovolcano in northern Chile straddles the border with Bolivia. Throughout history, it's had constant intense fumarolic activity in its dome. Continue to see the first lagoons Cañapa and Hedionda, where most pink flamingos and other species can be found in big numbers. Lunch will be served nearby Hedionda Lagoon. In the afternoon, explore one of the driest deserts in the world, the Siloli Desert with an elevation near the 5000 meters above sea level. This desert is also home for the Stone Tree. Finish the day visiting the Red Lagoon observing pink flamingos, alpacas, and vicuñas. Then move onto the accommodation for a well-deserved rest and dinner. DAY 3: The day starts early in the morning to be able to see the sunrise in the geysers and fumaroles of Sol de Mañana, the area with the highest volcanic activity of Bolivia. Later, drive to Polkes to swim in the hot springs and chill. The trip continues through the Dali Desert to appreciate unprecedented and surreal rock formations. Then there is a stop at Verde or Esmeralda Lagoon, a point where you can see the Licancabur Volcano. Making the way back to Uyuni Town, enjoy lunch in a middle town and visit Valley of Rocks and San Cristobal Church. Approximate arrival time Uyuni Town is 5:30 PM.

Includes

Pickup from hotels, bus station, or train station in Uyuni Accommodation in a salt hostel and basic hostel (if option is chosen) Accommodation in a 3-star community-owned eco-hotel (if option is chosen) Spanish-speaking driver English and Spanish-speaking tour guide (if the option is chosen) Transportation by 4WD vehicle

Important Information

The itinerary may change without prior notice due to seasonal floods
You can choose to add-on a transfer to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, on 3rd day of tour at the checkout. Please note that those who take this transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, depart directly from Hito Cajones in Bolivia, so they won’t visit San Cristobal