The Uyuni Salt Flats are one of the most unusual and out-of-the-ordinary places in the planet. This salt desert, which spans the size of Connecticut, boasts a perfectly white surface interrupted only by a few islands.
During the rainy season (from December to March), the Uyuni Salt Flats are frequently flooded with a layer of 10 to 15 centimeters of water, and therefore resembles a gigantic mirror.
Then, the 4×4 will set off across the immense salt desert, until you reach the Incahuasi island, 50 miles away from Colchani. From the top of this “island”, you will have a 360 º view over the Uyuni Salt Flats and the surrounding mountains, especially the Tunupa volcano, a rather extraordinary landscape. You will return to Uyuni at the end of the day.
You can also opt for a 2-day excursion, during which you will cross the Salt Flats, and will ascend the Tunupa volcano (5430m).
Be careful: during the months from January to March, if there is heavy rainfall the Salt Flats can become flooded. The landscapes become all the more beautiful and unreal, but there will no longer be access to Incahuasi Island. The excursions will therefore only take you round the edges of the Salt Flats.
On the first day, you will cross the Salt Flats, stopping by the Incahuasi Island. The next day, you will continue down South until you reach the Avaroa Park, in the Sud Lipez region.
Here you’ll have the chance to discover some spectacular lagoons, including the Laguna Colorada, with its astonishing red waters.
Your next stop, on the last day, will be Laguna Verde, a stunning emerald-colored lagoon. You will then have the option of making your way to the Chilean border, and over to San Pedro de Atacama. Otherwise, you would go back to Uyuni in the evening.
The last day of this excursion is particularly long, which is why some travelers prefer to complete the tour in 4 days. One option in this case would be leaving from Tupiza, stopping by Laguna Verde on day 2, Laguna Colorada on day 3 and finishing off with the Uyuni Salt Flats on day 4.
We feel the need to mention that this type of tourism is adventure-based with basic comfort conditions: long days in a 4×4 vehicle on dusty roads, simple accommodation often lacking hot water, altitudes reaching 4000 meters and temperatures sometimes dropping down to 5 ºF on some winter nights. But those who are up for the challenge will discover some incredible, virgin territories, with lagoons of astonishing colors.
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