Salar de Uyuni Tours

Want to do a Salar de Uyuni Tour? Not sure whether to do a 1 day tour or a 3 day tour? Trying to find the best companies to go with? Read below our complete guide to Salar de Uyuni Tours.

Quick tips:

  • All Salar de Uyuni Tours start in Uyuni. Bolivia Hop is the safest and most reliable bus company for travel around Bolivia.
  • There are 2 main Uyuni tour options – 1 day and 3 day tours
  • It is strongly recommended to book online before arriving to Uyuni and with a reputable company
  • Whilst tours of the Salar de Uyuni are safe, Uyuni itself is not such a nice place to spend much time in

    Differences between a 1 day and 3 day Salar de Uyuni Tour

    What you will see:

    The 1 day tour is focused on the Salt Flats, whereas the 3 day tour takes in lagoons, flamingo habitats, volcano views and more. Note that Day 1 on the 3 Day Tour is essentially the same as the whole 1 Day Tour.

    Will I get the famous Salt Flats “illusion” photos and videos on both tours?

    Yes, as day 1 is the same on both tours, you will get those amazing illusion photos that you have seen all over social media

    Time and Cost:
    • 1 day tours usually cost between $65 – $90usd
    • 3 day tours usually cost $189 – $239usd
    Physical effort
    • The 1 day tour requires minimal physical effort, as you spend a lot of the time in the jeep going around the Salt Flats
    • The 3 day tour is not difficult, but does require a moderate level of physical effort with a bit more walking involved
    Do both tours start in Uyuni?

    Yes, both begin in Uyuni and finish Uyuni. However, for those people coming up to Bolivia from Chile or Argentina, you can start the 3 day tour in San Pedro de Atacama and finish in Uyuni

    Best Salar de Uyuni Tour Companies

    As can be seen in reviews online, Most tour companies often have terrible websites and poor online customer service.

    For that reason, we recommend booking with FindLocalTrips. They only work with the best operators, and by booking with them, you will at least have a point of contact before, during and after the trip. You can see all their tours to Salar de Uyuni HERE.

Salar de Uyuni Tour Itineraries

Below are the typical itineraries for a 1 and 3 day Salar de Uyuni Tour

1 Day Tour

One-day tours are a great way for those who don’t have much time to see the salt flats. Due to the time restriction, you won’t get a chance to visit the incredible surrounding attractions. However, you will be far from disappointed when you leave as these tours still give you plenty of time to soak in the magic of Salar de Uyuni and capture jaw-dropping photos that you didn’t even know were possible.

One-day tours can only be taken from Uyuni. Buses arrive here very early in the morning to allow enough time for those on board to do take the tour the day they arrive. These tours start at around 10am and finish at around 5pm, allowing enough time for those on the tour to catch an overnight bus to their next destination.

Detailed itinerary

Start your tour off at 10:30 a.m. with a drive out to the Uyuni Salt Flats. The first stop is the haunting “Train Graveyard’, which is found on the outskirts of Uyuni. Get to see the first locomotives in Bolivia, and learn about their history, which connected several major cities. Now, corroded over time from the strong salt winds that run through this desert area, this makes for a great photo setting.

Then visit the small settlement of Colchani (salt miners’ workshops next to the salt flats), there, also find handicrafts made of salt, and textile art manufactured of llama and alpaca wool. These make excellent souvenirs to bring back home. Take photos as you cruise along the vast white expanse of salt, wade through “Ojos de Agua Salada” (salt water eyes), also visit: a hotel made completely out of salt which is currently used as a museum – restaurant, Flags of the world (Where you can bring yours and put there for free) and a Monument of Dakar racing.

After a morning of exploration, Lunch will be served near “Isla Incahuasi” (Fish Island), following that, have time to take a hike to the top of the island to see giant cacti and rock formations made of petrified coral. Next, take time to organize your group for fun perspective- and proportion-distorted photos, set on the blinding white surface of the salt flats, playing around with the scene, you can be sure to take some funny, and memorable shots!

Finally, head to a spacious area for the unique experience of seeing a beautiful sunset over the salt flats, spreading its dazzling colors all over the Uyuni Salt Flats, and enjoying it with a glass of wine. Important: Due to the rainy season from the last week of December to the last week of April. (Depending the weather conditions), it is not possible to access Incahuasi Island instead we have a magnificent view of Mirror Effect. This tour is perfectly tailored for all arrivals in Uyuni, being by bus or by plane. The operator´s office is only 5 minutes away by taxi from the bus terminal and the airport

The historical and intriguing train graveyard is the first stop on the one-day tours. This is followed by Colchani, the salt production site, where you will be taught the process of producing salt and visit one of the iconic salt hotels. A trip to Isla Incahuasi follows, where you’ll be able to discover giant cacti up to 10m high, incredible rock formations made of petrified coral and a enjoy a stunning 360-degree view of the tremendous salt flats.

Lunch is also served here as groups get their props at the ready for crazy, perspective photos set on the blinding white surface of the salt flats. The tour ends in magnificent fashion as you observe the sun magically set over the flats.

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3/4 Day Tour

The most popular and recommended way to discover Salar de Uyuni is by taking a 3 or 4 day tour in a 4×4 jeep. Three day tours depart from either Uyuni or San Pedro de Atacama and finish in Uyuni. The three day tour starting in San Pedro de Atacama and ending in Uyuni is ideal for those looking to continue traveling north after their visit to Salar de Uyuni. Alternatively, you can do the 4 day tour which starts and finishes in San Pedro de Atacama. This tour visits the same places as the 3 day tours but requires an extra night in order to make the relatively long journey back to Chile.

Detailed itinerary

This 3-day adventure begins at 10:30 a.m. with a visit to the Train Graveyard on the outskirts of Uyuni. Then, head to the village of Colchani, known for its salt workshops and handicrafts made from llama and alpaca wool. Explore the vast Uyuni Salt Flats, stopping at saltwater springs, a museum inside a salt hotel, and the Dakar Monument.

End the day with a stunning sunset over the flats, paired with a glass of wine, and stay overnight in Agencha Village.

On day two, set out early through the Chiguana Desert, framed by active volcanoes like Ollagüe. Visit the colorful Andean lagoons full of flamingos, then journey into the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve to explore the Siloli Desert and its iconic Rock Tree. Wrap up the day at the Red Lagoon, home to more flamingos, before staying the night in a basic hostel at Huayllajara Village.

The final day begins at dawn with a visit to the bubbling Sol de Mañana Geyser and nearby hot springs, where you can relax in natural thermal pools. Pass through the surreal Dali Desert and the Green and White Lagoons at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano. After a picnic lunch, return to Uyuni with stops at scenic spots like Rock Valley and San Cristobal Village.

For those continuing to San Pedro de Atacama, a transfer is available (just make sure to coordinate in advance).

Day one is the same as the one day tour – departing from Uyuni at the same time and visiting the same places. Following a long day of exploring, you will spend the first night in one of the iconic salt hotels or salt hostels. These remarkable designs are made up almost entirely of salt blocks, from the bed and toilet to the walls and ceilings. Get yourself an early night sleep here as days two and three begin at the crack of dawn, with breakfast at 7am and 5am respectively. Across the next two days you will see everything that Salar de Uyuni has to offer. Of course, you will also be given plenty of time to capture an abundance of photos of one of the picturesque places on Earth The second night is spent in very basic accommodation beside the Polques hot springs, where you will find yourself blown away by the magical stars of the Salar.

The itinerary for those who start their tour in San Pedro de Atacama is reversed as they visit the desert, lagoons, hot springs etc. at the beginning of the tour and the salt flat at the end. The third night of the 4 day tour is spent in a basic hostel in Villa Mar village. You will wake up at 4.30 am to continue your journey, finally arriving back to San Pedro de Atacama at around 2pm.

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