Bolivian desert. Salt desert (Salar de Uyuni) in Bolivia. What to take on tour

In Bolivia there is a unique place where you can feel like you are in endless outer space. This is the Salar de Uyuni salt desert, located in the south of the Altiplano plain at an altitude of 3650 meters above sea level.

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Many thousands of years ago, there was Lake Minchin on the plain, which dried up over the years due to an excessively dry climate. From the big lake there were two small ones left: Poopo and Uru-Uru. The rest of the vast territory of more than 12,000 square kilometers has turned into a vast salt desert, on which the richest deposits of table salt in the world are located - Salar de Caipasa and Salar de Uyuni. The latter is named after the desert itself, reminiscent of the silent white Arctic: the only difference is that instead of bitter cold there is a burning sun, and instead of eternal snow there is salt.

Anyone who finds himself here comes to the thought of the impossibility of any kind of life here, among the salt silence. But the first impression is deceptive: once you start moving along it, you begin to understand that here, too, there is its own unique, special life, the unique flavor of which you will not see anywhere else in the world.

The peculiar life of a salt desert

It’s hard to believe, but even the most beautiful birds – pink flamingos – come here after the rain falls in November and the salt surface is covered with a layer of water. It's mating season for flamingos, so it's no wonder why they choose such an unusual place. Seeing such a spectacle is a real unearthly happiness - a living pink miracle on a mirror surface, reflected in the water along with white clouds. It seems that nothing else can surprise here more than this truly divine contemplation. However, it is too early to think so, because in the Salar de Uyuni there are still corners with incredibly unusual landscapes, looking at which you find yourself in an unreal world of living nature.

Such an amazing corner of the desert is the small cone-shaped island of Inkausi, formed from stony limestone, formed over centuries by the remains of corals and sea shells. Otherwise, this island can be called a reserve of giant cacti, completely covering its surface and representing a fantastic alien picture. The height of some of them reaches 7 meters, and the age is more than 1000 years; the brownish-greenish trunks are so powerful that local residents make furniture from them.

Every day hundreds of tourists in jeeps come here to forget about urban civilization for a while, to feel like aliens from another world, admiring the relic giants. Here you can hide for a few minutes from the scorching sun in a cool grotto located in the center of the island.

The busiest places in the Salar de Uyuni are the lagoons, which are full of life despite the rather uncomfortable climate: huge colonies of geese, flamingos, swans, and ducks live here. Each lagoon has its own specific color created by minerals. Blanca is a white body of water: this is how boron ore colors it; Verde has a greenish color due to copper minerals; Celesto – bright blue due to manganese and magnesium; Amarilla is colored yellow by the sulfur present in it, and Colorada, the most densely populated lagoon, is colored gray, white and reddish.

An exotic natural exhibit is a stone tree, created by the forces of two creators: wind and water. There are springs in the vastness of the desert in which water bubbles, but not ordinary water, but saturated with sulfur and which is healing. There are also geysers floating on the white plain; You can swim in them; hot water perfectly relieves fatigue.

Tourist infrastructure of Salar

The modern tourism industry has mastered all the mysterious unique places on the planet, and Salar de Uyuni also now has the status of a tourist Mecca, where four-day travel routes have been developed. The first day is devoted to viewing the desert itself - an endless white space; The starting point for tourists is the railway station, next to which there is a “train graveyard” left over from salt mining in the first half of the 20th century.

On the second day, you can visit the village of Blogues lt Sal, where the Salt Museum is located, which displays a wide variety of objects made from salt: animal figures, furniture, dishes, household appliances.

The third day is dedicated to getting to know the sulfur springs and geysers and swimming in them, so everyone takes swimming gear with them.

The fourth day of the trip takes place in places with beautiful landscapes and ends with a visit to another unique place, Siliar, where there are giant clay columns formed by wind erosion. The impression is that you are in the Ancient Colosseum; it's hard to put into words.

Unusual hotels in Uyuni

The pilgrimage of tourists entailed the problem of accommodating them, and hotels began to be built here from improvised material - from salt. Salt hotels are also a miracle of their kind - the walls of the building, the roof, the ceilings, furniture, stairs - everything is salt. Tourists who find themselves in them don’t believe their eyes at first, but then they taste everything and are convinced that it really is salt. Hotel owners were forced to introduce measures prohibiting licking and feeling the insides of the room, so as not to spoil the appearance. Among the desert hotels, there are two with 3 stars, 2 with free breakfast, 1 equipped with a Spa center, 1 family-friendly.

All of them are equipped with great comfort: there are showers, baths, steam baths, swimming pools with salt and fresh water, and various medical procedures are carried out. There are also cultural and entertainment programs, tennis courts, golf courses, discos, and bars.

There is no need to worry about food: Bolivian cuisine is very tasty, real delicacies are prepared baked in salt. Nowhere else will you taste llama meat or chicken cooked in such an unusual way, like everything in this fantastic place called Salar de Uyuni!

If you think you know everything about salt and it won’t surprise you, then you should go to Uyuni to get to know it again in the endless snow-white desert.

Uyuni is the largest salt marsh in the world. It covers 12,106 km2, which is 5 times the area of ​​Luxembourg.

The huge mountain lake Minchin almost completely dried out 25,000 years ago, leaving behind a couple of small reservoirs and two giant salt marshes: Uyuni and Coipasa.

The dry salt lake of Uyuni is the main attraction of Bolivia. Visit to the salt marsh. Hundreds of tourists come here every day to see unearthly landscapes. Most often, people try to get to Uyuni during the rainy season - from late January to February - at this time the salt desert is covered with a layer of water and becomes a giant mirror in which the blue sky is reflected in contrast. But even in the dry season, the Uyuni salt marsh is incredibly beautiful, and there are even more photo opportunities in the boundless blinding white desert.

About 20 tons of salt are mined here every year, and Uyuni's total salt reserves are estimated at 10 billion tons. The value of the salt marsh is not limited to salt. Uyuni contains about 100 million tons of lithium, representing up to 70% of the world's reserves - enough to power all the smartphone batteries produced in the next 100 years.

Holidays in Uyuni. Surreal landscape of a dry lake

Uyuni is a fantastically beautiful place, one of the most incredible places on our planet, where the sense of space is erased. to see exactly this cosmic landscape and feel like an inhabitant of another planet.

The most popular entertainment on the dry Lake Uyuni is creating surreal photos.

The sun, bright blue sky and endless expanse of salt, without filters, will make your shots unearthly and vibrant. And even if you find yourself here out of season, when the salt marsh is completely dry, your photos will still be fantastically beautiful! That is why Uyuni is one of the most favorite places for photographers around the world.

Tourists take pictures here standing, sitting, lying down, and jumping. To create the most original photos, guides take with them the author’s paraphernalia - from frying pans on which tourists are “seated” in the frame, to dinosaurs that add fantasticality to the shots.

By the way, evening and night photography - sunset and starry sky reflected in the water - is another special pleasure for photographers; keep this in mind when choosing the duration of excursions.

In addition to visiting the salt lake, you can also visit a number of unusual places in the vicinity of Uyuni - from the “train graveyard” to geysers, thermal springs and habitats of pink flamingos:

1. Cactus Island / Inca Island Incahuasi (IslaIncahuasi)

During the times of the Incas, when caravans of llamas and chasque messengers crossed the Altiplano, this island in the middle of the salt desert served as a shelter for them to take a short rest.

The island is covered with a forest of giant cacti, and from its top there are truly magical views of the salt marsh and the mountains around.

The island can only be accessed during the dry season; during the rainy season there is no access to the island.

2. Kolchani (Colchani) - salt mining village

Salt is the main source of income for the residents of Kolchan. Guides bring tourists here to show how salt is collected, processed and packaged and how houses are built from salt blocks. Colchani is also known for its souvenir market, where you can buy unique products in traditional Bolivian style - these are not sold outside of Uyuni.

3. Train Graveyard

The junkyard of rusty 19th-century steam locomotives, left over from the days when Uyuni had a train factory, is especially interesting to tourists from Europe - such sights are new to them. Although others might find it interesting to climb around old trains and take a few apocalyptic photos.

4. Volcanoes and glaciers

There are many glaciers and volcanoes in this region that you can climb: the Licancabur volcano (5960 meters), the Candelaria glacier (Nevado Candelaria, 5995 meters), the active Ollague volcano on the border with Chile (Ollague, 5865 meters).

The active volcano Uturuncu (6020 meters) is an excellent opportunity to add a climb of 6000 meters to your achievements. And while climbing the Tunupa volcano (5432 meters) from the village of Kokesa, you can also visit caves with pre-Inca mummies. The ascent and descent usually take 10 hours.

Climbing volcanoes is not included in the program of standard group tours, but they can be included in an individual itinerary.

It is necessary to first undergo acclimatization at altitude for several days before starting the climb.

5. National Reserve of Andean Fauna named after Eduardo Avaroa (ReservaNationalDeFaunaAndinaEduardoAvaroa)

The landscapes of the Eduardo Avaroa National Park are beautiful and mesmerizing. One of the places is even called “Salvador Dali’s Desert” - because the views are as surreal as the paintings of this artist. There is so much color here: colorful quinoa fields, red, yellow and green lagoons with pink flamingos, snow-white mountain peaks and dark volcanoes.

Herds of wild vicuñas, domesticated llamas and alpacas with colored pom-poms and tassels in their ears graze on huge desert fields, wild foxes run and - what is quite surprising! - wild ostriches.

Flora and fauna have adapted to the harsh local climate: piercing winds, scorching sun and night frosts. In some months the temperature at night drops to -25C.

6. Attractions of the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve

- Stone tree

Just as water wears away a stone, so gusts of wind change its shape over the centuries. Photos of the famous “stone tree” can often be seen on postcards and guidebooks. A huge block of stone standing on a thin “leg” is truly amazing.

- Colored Lagoon (LagunaColorada)

The largest of the colored lagoons - Laguna Colorada - occupies 60 km2, while the maximum depth of the lagoon is only 80 cm, and the average is 20 cm. The rich red-orange color of the lagoon is given by seaweed and plankton, which also provide food for numerous flamingos.

The white shore of the lagoon contains sodium, magnesium, borax and gypsum.

- Valley of Geysers Sol de Mañana (SoldeMan’ ana), height 4850 meters

It smells of sulfur, and the ground is covered with bubbling puddles of mud and clouds of steam. But the sight of the dawn valley with columns of steam gushing out of the ground here and there deserves an early rise.

- Polkes thermal springs (Polques)

You understand what happiness is when, after a cold night in a hotel with minimal amenities and a piercing icy morning wind, you find yourself in a pool with hot thermal water, where you can relax and warm up.

N.B.: Bring a swimsuit and towel for your trip.

- Green Lagoon

When a strong wind blows, the lagoon turns a rich green-blue color. This is due to the minerals contained in the water: lead, sulfur, arsenic, and calcium carbonates. These same minerals prevent the lagoon from becoming covered with ice even when the temperature drops to -20C.

During calm periods, the lagoon does not change color.

- Desert by Salvador Dali

The first tourists, driving past this desert, were struck by its similarity to the paintings of Salvador Dali. It’s hard to argue with this, judge for yourself.

Excursions and tours in Uyuni

Traditional excursion routes are designed for 1, 2 or 3 days.

One day excursion starts at 10am in Uyuni. During the day, tourists have time to visit the Train Cemetery, the village of Kolchani, the salt marsh, Incahuasi Island (during the dry season) and have lunch at the salt hotel. In the evening the group returns back to Uyuni.

Three daystour to Uyuni, the most popular, includes all the most interesting: the Uyuni salt marsh, the Incahuasi Cactus Island, the Colored Lagoons with flamingos, the Valley of Geysers Sol de Mañana, the Green Lagoon, the Dali Desert, the Stone Tree, an overnight stay in a salt hotel and swimming in hot thermal springs.

You can finish the tour in the city of Uyuni or in the Chilean city of San Pedro de Atacama.

What is included in the excursion:

• Travel by 4x4 jeep with a professional driver
• Accommodation in hostels or hotels
• Professional English speaking guide
• Meals: all breakfasts, lunches and dinners (except breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last)

Individual route makes it possible to create a program taking into account the wishes of tourists and, for example, add climbing to volcanoes.

When to go. Climate and temperature

Rain season

The rainy season in Uyuni lasts from December to February. This is exactly the time when the salt marsh becomes a giant mirror in which the sky is reflected. This period is considered the “low season,” but many tourists strive to get to Uyuni precisely when it is covered with water.

During the rainy season, some areas become inaccessible - the police close access there for security reasons. For example, you can only get to Cactus Island during the dry season.

Weather in Uyuni

Nights in the mountains are very cold, with temperatures dropping to -10C in some months. During the day, the air heats up and the sun heats up very actively. Therefore, you will definitely need warm clothes for the evening and night, and light ones for the daytime.

Warmest months: November to April. At this time during the day: +18 / +22C. At night: +3 / +7C.

Coldest months: May to October. Daytime temperature: +12 / +19C. Night: -7 / +1С.

Bring good sunscreen and a hat. And, of course, sunglasses - so much reflected sunlight can rarely be found anywhere else on Earth.

Acclimatization at altitude

Uyuni is located high in the mountains - during the excursion, tourists rise to a height of up to 4900 meters. Before traveling to Uyuni, make sure you are acclimatized and will not be affected by altitude sickness.

Tourist access to Uyuni

Keep in mind that there are no roads here; after rain, the surface of the salt marsh becomes slippery and dangerous, so we strongly recommend using the services of professional drivers.

There are also dangerous places on the lake, on the surface of which water boils - without knowing these places, you risk falling through with your car.

Another problem that tourists face during excursions in Uyuni is drunken guides or drivers, as well as jeeps that have not passed technical checks, which can break down at any time and anywhere. These are not just annoying little things, but life-threatening situations.

Hotels and more in Uyuni

You can visit Uyuni in one day: fly from La Paz in the morning and fly back in the evening. In this case, hotel accommodation will not be required. But if you want to spend more than one day in Uyuni, then spending the night in a salt hotel or right on the salt flat can be an unforgettable adventure!

Salt hotels

Walls and furniture made of salt blocks and a thick layer of salt on the floor - this is what salt hotels look like. Accommodation is expensive due to the unique nature of these hotels and you need to book them well in advance of your planned trip, as the number of places is limited. But be prepared for fairly basic accommodation conditions. There are no high-level hotels in the area of ​​the salt marsh and the national park.

Glamping /Glamping

Spending the night right in the middle of a salt marsh under a star-strewn sky sounds tempting, right? Glamping - tents on high poles that are installed on the salt surface of Uyuni in any season: both when the salt marsh is dry and when it is covered with a layer of water. Tourists have everything they need: a separate tent with a dry closet, delicious dinners and breakfasts and romantic solitude.

How to get to Uyuni

By plane

The fastest way to get to Uyuni.

Amazsonas and BoA airlines operate daily flights from La Paz to Uyuni, the flight takes less than an hour.

By bus

The journey from La Paz to Uyuni takes 10 hours.

Several local companies offer overnight travel in comfortable buses with reclining seats and meals. Buses arrive in Uyuni at 7-8 o'clock in the morning.

By train

Trains operate on the Oruro/Uyuni/Oruro route several times a week. The city of Oruro is 3 hours' drive from La Paz. There are buses from Oruro to Uyuni. The schedule must be clarified before planning a trip.

The Uyuni Salt Flat is not just the main attraction of Bolivia and one of the most interesting places on the planet. This is truly another planet - a land where everything is completely different from what we are used to. Unreal landscapes, amazing places, sunsets, sunrises, salt, water, giant cacti, a locomotive cemetery, endless horizons, colorful mountains, hot springs, rushing geysers, colorful lagoons, llamas and flamingos - these are just the things that pop up in my memory first of all. In fact, there is much more beautiful and amazing there. It is worth adding that you look at all this natural splendor from the windows of a jeep, which looks very colorful in the endless white spaces.

All these incredible landscapes impressed me so much that I went to the salt marsh twice and would happily go again. Each time you travel, you can add something new, and, most importantly, depending on the time of year, the lagoons and salt sea can look completely different.

The Uyuni Salt Flat looks like it is impossible to describe in words. It's like salsa, which you can't learn, but only feel. This is mysticism, another universe, complete delight, the riot of nature, a combination of what we would never think of combining, harmony, explosion, unity of living and nonliving, contrast, life.

How to get there

Let's take a closer look at each route option.

From Bolivia

Tours, and this is the most popular and, by the way, quite convenient opportunity to see the most interesting places of a huge natural park at a very reasonable price, begin in the town of Uyuni, where you can get by plane or bus.

By plane

If you are already in Bolivia, then most likely you will get to from the picturesque highland city of La Paz, which is often mistakenly considered the capital.

Here are two airlines that fly to Uyuni:

• Amazonas;

The schedules of the two airlines are approximately the same. Every day there are two flights in both directions, as you can see, for example:

• morning - around 07:00–10:00;
• evening - at 19:00–21:00.

The cost of a round trip ticket will be about 160 USD, the travel time is about an hour. Airport Joya Andina is located just 3 kilometers from the village of Uyuni itself. You can get there by taxi for 3–5 USD or on foot, if time and lack of luggage allows (30 minutes).

Be careful when choosing an airline. When paying for an Amaszonas ticket online, you must use the bank card you have with you. If it is not available, boarding will be denied. This is a bit of a strange system, but during registration, company employees make a copy of the card, so you won’t be able to deceive them or slip another one.

Boa has a number of advantages: the planes are newer, and the amount of baggage allowed in hand luggage is higher (5 and 7 kilograms depending on the type of aircraft versus 3 and 5 kilograms for Amaszonas).

By bus

In Latin America, over the years of traveling, I traveled most by bus. This type of transport is very convenient. Firstly, intercity and international buses are most often quite convenient for long journeys. Secondly, you can get around cheaper and see the sights and views along the way. Thirdly, the bus is a great chance to get acquainted with the latest films in the local language, think about life or just relax. The main advantage of night buses is that they save money on hotels, and for poor travelers this can be important.

In the case of Uyuni, I took a bus from La Paz. Buses depart from the city's main transport terminal.

Several companies travel along the route, among which Panasur and Todo turismo are the most popular. The ticket price will be 7–10 USD, and the travel time will be 12–13 hours.

It is better to purchase tickets in advance, at least one way and at least a couple of hours before departure, in order to reserve a comfortable seat. You can also buy a return ticket right away, but it is not necessary. There shouldn't be any problems on site. Most often, seats on a bus are arranged in two rows: one has two seats, the other has one. The second option is more convenient. It is better to take a blanket and a warm jacket on the bus, as Latin American drivers love to use the air conditioning at full capacity.

In Uyuni, the bus arrives at the very center of the city, where guests are usually greeted by representatives of travel companies and sellers of everything in the world.

Overall, the bus is a convenient option. Tours start early in the morning (around 7-9 am) and end a few days later (most often on the third day) at lunchtime. There is time to walk around the town, eat alpaca meat in one of the many restaurants, chat with other travelers, drink beer on the main streets, buy souvenirs, buy a bus ticket and calmly return to La Paz the next morning.

By train

Train enthusiasts can travel to Uyuni by train from Oruro. Unfortunately, the train does not depart from Oruro railway station every day:

• Expreso Del Sur runs on Tuesdays and Fridays. From Oruro the train departs at 14:30 and arrives at 21:20. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 01:45 and arrives at 08:45.
• Wara Wara Del Sur runs on Thursdays and Sundays. From Oruro it departs at 19:00 and arrives at 02:20. In the opposite direction, trains leave at 00:10 and arrive in Oruro at 07:10.

The ticket price in regular class is 8 USD, in business class - 17 USD. Business class consists of two soft seats in a row, as in express trains; in addition, the ticket includes drinks and light snacks, and you can have a snack in the dining car. In regular class (salon), the conditions are similar: the seats are comfortable, but the ticket price does not include drinks and snacks, and there is no carpet on the floor, which, in principle, can be tolerated.

The train moves slowly, but the views from the windows are decent.

Now it is possible to buy tickets online, but many tourists talk about the unreliability of such an option. It is better to come to the box office, which opens at 08:00 and is closed on Sunday, and buy tickets. If you're lucky, you can buy tickets for the same day, or you may only have business class tickets left. Some time ago, the railway office began selling tickets several days in advance, which is only suitable for those who are going to spend a few days in Oruro. Therefore, my advice is to come early in the morning and hope that luck smiles on you.

From Chile

The salt marsh is located on the border with Chile, so tours are also organized from the Chilean side. In Chile, the tour begins in the town of San Pedro de Atacama, in the Atacama Desert of the same name. The famous picturesque altiplano - a vast plateau in the Andes, dotted with volcanoes - begins here.

By plane

Closest airport to San Pedro de Atacama El Loa is located 100 kilometers in the city of Kalama. A taxi from the airport for 40–50 USD will take you to San Pedro in an hour and a half.

Flights from Santiago are operated by Latam and Sky Airlines. The flight time from the capital is 2 hours, a round-trip ticket will cost 80–100 USD.

By bus

This type of transport from the capital of Chile, Santiago, departs from the Alameda terminal.

Travel time is about 12 hours, the ticket price varies between 60–100 USD, depending on the class of the bus. Popular companies operating flights on this route:

• Turbus;
• Pullman;
• Andesmar.

When to go

The Uyuni Salt Flat can be visited all year round, because if you managed to see this natural miracle with your own eyes, then this is already a colossal success.

However, at different times of the year there are slight differences in what exactly you will see in the vast uninhabited expanses of the national park.

From January to early Marchthat precipitation falls actively here, so the salt marsh turns into a giant mirror, which reflects the incredible sky, tall cacti, all-terrain jeeps and everything that pleases the eye.

At other times of the year the landscapes are no less beautiful. In the sunset rays, the salt diamonds seem ideal, besides, in the “dry” season (from May to October) you can get to all places, because sometimes, when there is too much rain, some of the curious corners become difficult to access, and guides prefer not to take risks.

Therefore, my advice is this: go to the Uyuni salt flat any time you can and the opportunity presents itself.

What is the price

As I said, the tour is a convenient opportunity to see the national park.

The main advantages are the price and the opportunity to communicate with tourists from different countries. The downside is that several people in the jeep may be cramped, and fellow travelers may be on different wavelengths or (as in my case) not know Spanish. Therefore, I had to work as a free translator all the way, since the guide spoke only nominal English.

If you have the opportunity and desire, then it is better to order an individual tour, then you will stand and look at the flamingos as much as you want and will not depend on the fact that someone did not hear the alarm clock and did not get up for breakfast.

However, all these current moments lose all meaning when you find yourself in the face of the eternal and beautiful, and this is exactly how and only this way I can characterize nature in those parts. The spectacle is so captivating that the guide’s ignorance of the language, the light morning frost, and the talkativeness of some members of the group become unimportant.

The cost of the tour may vary depending on the hotel you will sleep in, your bargaining skills and, of course, your level of language proficiency. However, the price for a three-day tour, which includes almost everything, is still so low that even taking into account the tourist overpayment, this opportunity is more than affordable. The cost of such a package is on average 180–230 USD per person, subject to a full jeep, which is 5–6 tourists.

The cost of the tour from the Chilean side is approximately the same. Thanks to the park’s favorable location at the junction of two countries, it is convenient for travelers to plan the route as they please. For example, you can travel from Bolivia to Chile and vice versa. Jeeps always clarify what tourists’ plans are in order to take those who wish to the border on the third day.

In general, all companies offer approximately the same range of services and approximately the same price level. I personally used the services of OIivos and can confidently recommend it. Tours are purchased on the spot, but you can contact the agency in advance and pay a deposit. However, I would not advise doing this, because anything is possible. My bus got into repair work and was 5 hours late, so my tour had already left. It would have been sad if an advance payment had been made, but I spent all my money and energy looking for a new tour departing later.

The price of a private tour is, of course, higher. It starts from 120–200 USD per day, depending on the level of the hotel, the number of tourists and the chosen guide.

Additional expenses

You need to take some money with you in the local currency Boliviano (BOB). In addition to the paid tour, you will have to additionally pay for a visit to the observation deck on the island of fishermen, if desired (5 USD) and a mandatory entrance ticket to the national park (22 USD). Sometimes there may be paid toilets (0.5 USD).

Food and accommodation

Food is usually included in the tour. The food is quite filling and good; at the places where you spend the night you can buy wine or drinks with chips. Staying overnight is one part of the adventure, because for one night you sleep not just in a hotel, but in a hotel made of salt.

Usually electricity here only works after sunset, and it is also very cold at night (it can even be -10-15 ° C), but the hotels still have their own special charm. And warm blankets.

And when the tour begins early in the morning, bright stars, which are rarely seen in such numbers in cities, are clearly visible in the frosty air.

At such moments you realize how beautiful our world is.

The second overnight stay as part of a standard tour takes place in hostel-type hotels, where 2-6 people can sleep in one room.

Despite the spartan conditions, there is everything you need to have a good night. For an additional fee you can spend the night in a hotel with a higher category of comfort.

Main tourist spots

As part of the three-day tour, tourists visit several interesting places, which are shown in this image:

I'll briefly tell you what to expect from each of them.

Steam Locomotive Cemetery (Cementerio de Trenes)

The Locomotive Cemetery is the attraction where the tour most often begins. A few kilometers from Uyuni there used to be railway tracks, and the traffic was very busy.

However, over time, mining activity declined, and the locomotives went to live out their lives in the cemetery, which is now used as a tourist attraction. It is interesting and photogenic here: you can climb over rusty railway participants or think about the eternal, looking at the endless rails going into nowhere.

Valley of Geysers "Morning Sun" (El Sol de Mañana)

If you have been to, then the geysers of Bolivia are unlikely to impress you. I haven’t been to Iceland yet, and I liked the Valley of Geysers. The fact is that in Uyuni nothing can be perceived in isolation.

A geyser is not just a hot stream, but an organic part of the surrounding landscape, which is always incredible. Therefore, these shooting steam jets from the ground against the backdrop of terracotta mountains did not leave me indifferent.

Hot Springs (Aguas Termales)

At the end of a busy day of travel, there is nothing better than dipping your impressed body into a natural pool of hot water at an altitude of over 3,000 meters above sea level. There is no infrastructure here, just a small house that is not always open, so you have to change clothes quickly. However, the disadvantages of inconvenience are more than compensated by the pleasure that you get later, sitting in hot water and watching the endless valley shimmering with different shades and colors.

By the way, the construction of a new comfortable locker room is currently underway, so the next travelers can expect comfort and warmth... Or maybe not, because the concept of “tomorrow” in Latin America is very conditional.

Don't miss the hot springs, because this is the best place to wash off the colorful dust of the roads and come out refreshed towards new adventures!

Salt marsh (Salar de Uyuni) and salt mines (montones de sal), square with flags (plaza de las banderas)

Actually, the most important place in the national park is a giant dry salt lake with an area of ​​10,000 square meters. km.

The range of entertainment here is wide.

From the enthusiastic contemplation of endless snow-white expanses to photographs of salt slides with an ideal geometric shape.

From staged photographs and games with scale to the search for your own flag in the “square”, where weathered and battered they flutter proudly in the wind.

The famous Dakar race takes place on the lake, and here you can also see the most beautiful sunsets, where the sun clearly outlines perfect crystalline diamonds on the salt surface.

Stone tree in the desert (Desierto de Silioli y Arbol de Piedra)

Stone Tree is exactly what the name suggests. Desert winds, climate and sand did their job and created this bizarre five-meter stone formation.

Previously, the “tree” was fenced with a rope, which interfered with beautiful photographs and added inappropriate artificiality to the landscape, but now everything is open and you can even climb to the top of the “tree” with the proper skill.

Desert of Salvador Dali

Dali, unfortunately, did not know about the existence of this place, and the desert received its name due to the similarity of the landscape with some of the paintings of the great surrealist.

Colorful lagoons (Lagunas coloradas)

The colorful lagoons are another highlight of the trip. The lakes are located in the Eduardo Avaroa National Park (Parque nacional de Eduardo Avaroa). In the morning, the group members meet the dawn in the local desert, greeting the sun emerging from behind the mountain.

Along with the light comes warmth, and acquaintance with the lagoons begins. It’s hard for me to say what impressed me most, because even on the second visit I practically couldn’t shut my mouth in admiration.

What else can you experience when you stand at an altitude of several thousand meters in the middle of the desert, in front of you is a huge lake of red and white color, pink flamingos are walking somewhere in the middle, and picturesque volcanoes rise as a massive background behind you.

Around the lagoons you can meet fluffy and friendly llamas and alpacas, as well as daring cyclists who ride from who knows where and who knows where. Then there were more lagoons (there are 4 of them), more flamingos, more colors, more emotions.

Bright mountains and endless valleys, and modest chinchillas.

Green Lake (Laguna verde)

The green lagoon stands apart from the list of colorful lagoons in the national park. It is closest to the border with Chile and is windy and cold, as its altitude is 4,350 meters above sea level.

However, all this ceases to have any meaning when an incredible panorama in rich colors opens up before the gaze that is tired of admiring it.

Fishermen's Island or Incahuasi (Isla Incahuasi o Isla de Pescadores)

The fishermen's island is famous primarily for its giant cacti, reaching 10 meters in height.

To climb to the observation deck at the top of the island, you need to pay a nominal fee of a few dollars. The island's relief is not high, but the view is beautiful.

From here you can see a pleasant combination of cacti, salt expanses and all-terrain jeeps looking harmonious against this background.

Fishermen's Island got its name because of its shape. During the rainy season, in the middle of a salt lake filled with water, he looks like a fish in water.

Little Italy (Pequena Italia)

The name is unusual for Bolivia, but local residents nicknamed this place because, in their opinion, it resembles the narrow streets of Italian Venice.

From a distance, the place really resembles a city with rocks that you can climb in search of a river panorama, a green valley, colorful llamas and bizarre stone figures.

Cascada

Cascada is a place where not all guides take you. You can ask for this yourself, but everything remains at the discretion of the driver: whether there is enough time and whether he has the desire. Remember, this is Latin America.

We were lucky and this little curious item was added to the program.

From the height of the majestic rocks there is a view of an almost grand canyon with a dried up serpentine river below... A great place for a photo!

What may be useful

I’ll give you some tips on what is best to take with you on a trip:

Other nuances

Remember that you are in Bolivia, which means punctuality not guaranteed here. I had a funny incident. The driver promised to come in the morning at 05:00 and pick us up. We were ready for this time and walked like sleepwalkers around the dark hotel, where there was no one except us. There was no light (that’s when flashlights came in handy), no breakfast, no clarity. The driver, who had only 4 fingers on his hand, said that this is the nickname everyone knows him by.

There was a light looming in the distance and a car was accelerating, and I decided to walk and look for our driver, because I didn’t want to waste precious time. I borrowed a lantern, dressed in everything warm and, breathing in the frosty air, set off into the darkness under thousands of stars.

Seeing an old man making a fire in one of the houses, I confidently walked towards him:

-Good morning, do you know where 4 fingers are?

-Well, yes, our guide with 4 fingers.

Even in the pitch darkness, I could see a face full of bewilderment. The sound of a car approaching our hotel pulled me out of an awkward situation. I wished my grandfather a good day and walked towards the dawn.

Everything turned out to be trivial: the guide overslept. Therefore, be prepared that an inexpensive tour may have deviations from the program through no fault of yours.

Learn some Spanishaz, most often the guides do not know English. And although they don’t say anything particularly important, it can be nice to at least understand in general terms what they are talking about.

Feel young, regardless of age. Bolivians in the highlands look much older than their years. I was shocked when it turned out that the driver was my age, and the women in the village were not carrying their grandchildren on their backs in multi-colored scarves. An excellent opportunity to rejoice in the fact that we were well preserved.

Relax and have fun. The place is unique, and the fact that you see it will be great in any case, whether it happens in the rainy season or the dry season. Still, God is great at coming up with and implementing this in 7 days. It seems to me that the entire human imagination would not be enough to create such a miracle.

When I become an adult and rich, I will come here again, buy a private tour for 5 days and drive around colorful lakes, walk along fancy stones and while away hours in search of chinchillas and vicuñas.

Modern travelers, who travel around the world and have seen a huge number of sights, are rarely surprised by anything. It seems that all the monuments of nature, culture and history have already been explored. However, it is not. And Lake Salar de Uyuni proves it! In this article you will learn everything about this lake.

General information about the salt marsh

There are places on our planet that literally take your breath away. It's like you've arrived on an unknown planet. Uyuni is a salt marsh located in Bolivia, a country famous throughout the world for its deposits. Here, in the southwest of the country, at an altitude of almost 4000 above sea level, the largest salt marsh in the world is located. Its area is more than 10 thousand square meters. km.

The thickness of the salt layer sometimes exceeds 10 meters. Every year, crowds of tourists from all over the planet attack Uyuni, a salt marsh that attracts not only with its natural beauty, but also with many attractions. And taking a photo against the backdrop of the “heavenly mirror” is considered a real success!

The history of the formation of an amazing lake

Lake Uyuni is part of the Altiplano plateau. This mountain plateau is located at an altitude of 4 thousand meters above the sea and holds not only Uyuni, but also other small salt marshes, as well as dry lakes. How was the miracle of nature formed - the Uyuni salt marsh? Its history takes us back to ancient times. About 40 thousand years ago, the lake was part of the giant Lake Minchin. Under the influence of time, Minchin was transformed into the Tauka reservoir, then into Koipasa. After drying out, lakes Uru Uru and Poopa (still exist) and the salt marshes of Coipas and Uyuni remained. The salt marsh is subject to flooding during the rainy season as it is inundated by nearby Poopo and Titicaca. The water that covers the layer of salt turns it into a mirror. Tourists here get the impression that there is sky above their heads and below their feet. People seem to be floating in the air.

Climate of the area

The rainy season here lasts from November to March. The approximate air temperature in summer is 22 °C. As in many deserts and mountains, a hot day on the Bolivian plateau gives way to a cool night. Winter occurs in the summer months in South America, but despite this, the main influx of tourists occurs at such times. In winter, the air temperature near Uyuni (salt marsh) reaches +13 °C, and at night drops to -10 °C.

Due to the high altitude above sea level, many tourists (especially those unaccustomed to changes in altitude) experience inconvenience here. They feel dizzy and their ears are blocked. Attacks of nausea and vomiting occur, but the symptoms quickly pass. The body gets used to the climate, and the locals know how to help the tourist. They advise visitors to chew coca leaves - a strong tonic that helps relieve discomfort. However, people visiting the Salar de Uyuni salt marsh (Bolivia) should remember that coca leaves are not a weak drug!

Flora and fauna of a lake in the mountains

Due to the huge accumulation of salts, the local soil is unsuitable for life. There is almost no vegetation here. You can only notice tall cacti and rare shrubs, which the aborigines use as fuel. By the way, the cacti here are very interesting. Reaching a height of 12 meters, they all have different shapes and thicknesses. It is difficult to find two identical cacti.

In the summer, you can see a real miracle on the salt marsh: hundreds of beautiful birds flock here - pink flamingos, sedately walking along the mirror-like surface. Chilean, Andean and James's flamingos come here every year to breed.

About 80 species of birds live nearby. Among them there are interesting individuals, such as the Andean goose and the Andean hummingbird. You can also see Andean foxes and small viscacha rodents here. The appearance of the latter slightly resembles the rabbits we are used to.

Salar de Uyuni: economic significance

The salt marsh is of enormous importance to the Bolivian economy. Of course, its main wealth is its truly significant reserves of salt. Experts suggest that there are ten billion tons of salt here. This is a huge number! Moreover, about 25 thousand tons of mineral are mined from the lake every year. Lithium is also mined here. It is used to produce batteries. More than 50% of the world's supply of this substance is found in Lake Bolivia.

During the dry season, the flat surface of the salt marsh is one of the main thoroughfares of the Altiplano. And of course, it is considered one of the main attractions of the country. Crowds of tourists flock here, replenishing the state treasury.

Another fact in favor of the lake: it has a flat mirror surface, clear skies and dry air. These are excellent conditions for testing and calibrating orbiting satellites. This is why the Salar de Uyuni salt marsh is so dear to the Bolivian government.

Local Attractions: Locomotive Cemetery

The locomotive cemetery is located three kilometers from the city of Uyuni. Now this once large town has a population of 15 thousand people. But once upon a time the most important railway lines of the country passed here. In the 40s of the 20th century, production at the mines fell, and the city gradually began to empty out. The collapse of the railway service was not long in coming... Locomotives and carriages were abandoned just like that.

Tourists can even see steam locomotives here that are more than a century old. But unfortunately, all these historical objects are in a terrible and unkempt state. The authorities have tried to raise the issue of creating a museum, but so far to no avail.

Salt hotels

Bolivians who work to extract salt use it for more than just food. Traders offer visitors to the country souvenirs made right here from salt. But the inventive people didn’t stop there! People visiting the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia and wanting to experience the local flavor as closely as possible, stay overnight in hotels made from blocks of salt.

The first hotels were built in the 90s of the last century. They were erected in the middle of the lake. Due to sanitation problems that had a negative impact on the environment, the hotels were demolished and rebuilt in compliance with all regulations. Now the famous salt hotels are located on the edge of the lake.

The Hotel Palacio de Sal is one of the most famous hotels made of salt. The walls and roof, floor, furniture, sculptures here are made of salt. Tourists will also be offered a sauna and jacuzzi. The only prohibition of all salt block hotels is that you cannot lick the surroundings!

Pescado Island

Another attraction of Uyuni is located right in the middle of the lake. Pescado Island (translated as “fish”) during the rainy season actually resembles a fish in its outline. The area of ​​the island is approximately 2 square meters. km. The mouth of an ancient extinct volcano rises above the salt desert.

It is covered with many fossilized corals and huge cacti. The cacti here are ancient; there are even thousand-year-old specimens. Pescado Island is famous for the ruins left over from the Inca settlement.

Other local attractions

When visiting the village of Kolchani, a tourist should definitely look into the local museum, where interesting pieces of furniture and sculptures made from the mineral are exhibited.

The lagoon of Lake Edionda is also interesting. There are flocks of flamingos here, and you can also spot llamas and alpacas. Flamingos also fly to the nearby Colorado Lagoon.

50 km from Lake Colorado there is a geyser basin called Sol de Mañana. The reservoir bubbles and emits sulfur gas with a characteristic unpleasant odor. Not far away you can swim in a thermal spring. This is especially useful for people suffering from arthritis.

If these attractions aren’t enough for you, then head to Laguna Verde. This green salt lake is located almost on the state border with Chile. Sedimentary deposits with copper give the water an interesting color.

Aymara Indians tell tourists an ancient legend. The mountains surrounding the salt marsh, according to the aborigines, were giants in ancient times. Kusku was married to Tunupe, but was fascinated by Cousin. The giant abandoned his wife and little child, and Tunupa shed bitter tears for a very long time. Streams of tears mixed with the milk she fed the child, and a huge lake was formed. Locals greatly respect the legend of Tunul and believe that the area should bear her name.

Reminder for tourists

When going to a new and unknown place, do not forget to take everything you need with you. Take sunglasses if you don't want to squint all the time. If you want to take a night photo of the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia, bring warm clothes.

The nights here can be very cool. Waterproof shoes and moisturizer should definitely fit in your suitcase, because the local climate makes your skin very dry.

If you'll be staying in a budget hotel, take a blanket or sleeping bag. Such hotels are often not heated.

The best place to visit Uyuni is February; it is in this month that the lake truly becomes a giant mirror. Don't forget to take photos of the local cute llamas walking along the shore. Their ears are decorated with funny earrings of different colors.

Salar de Uyuni: how to get there?

Tourists usually get to the salt marsh from the capital of Bolivia, the city of La Paz. Several types of transport run to the famous lake. So, how to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia?

If you want to admire a truly wonderful view of an endless mirror lake, flocks of charming pink flamingos, stay in an exotic hotel made of salt blocks and watch an ancient volcano, then be sure to visit the dry Lake Uyuni in South America.

Salar de Uyuni- this is a salt marsh, that is, a dried salt lake. Salar de Uyuni has the world's largest salt field at 10,582 km². Salar is located in southwestern Bolivia, at an altitude of about 3650 m above sea level,close foothills of the Andes.

The thickness of the salt layer here is more than 10 meters in the center. During the dry season, the salt occupies a completely flat space, and during the rainy season, the salt marsh is covered with a thin layer of water, turning into the world's largest mirror, which creates stunningly beautiful reflections.

The lake was formed 13,000 thousand years ago as a result of the retreat of the ocean from the depths of the continent, and now there is what many know as the Altiplano or Lake Titicaca (remember Jack London and his “Love of Life”?).

In the middle of this formation there are two wells of natural origin, with a diameter of 10-15 centimeters and a depth of 120 meters.

Many tourists get an unforgettable experience crossing the salt field by car in the summer. During the summer season, everything looks very original - clear blue skies and snow-white salt below. Everything ends at the horizon - and it is difficult to understand where the earth ends and the sky begins.

In addition, during the rainy season, when the salt is covered with a small layer of water, the lake is the largest mirror in the world. Probably, each of us would like to see this beauty with our own eyes.

Yes, winters in this place are quite harsh - and imagine how unusual the snow drifts on the salt lake look. Frozen water crystals are very difficult to distinguish from table salt crystals...