Uyuni Salt Lake. Salt marsh of Uyuni. Bolivia. Dry salt lake. Two-day tour of Uyuni and Tunupa Volcano

In hotels located on the edge of the Uyuni salt marsh, walls, ceilings, floors, furniture and even clocks are made entirely of salt. At the same time, all rooms provide modern amenities, including a sauna, bath, bathhouse, and jacuzzi. One night in such an establishment will cost a tourist twenty dollars, and he will be required to comply with the main rule of the hotel, which appeared after the owners began to notice that the furniture began to shrink in size: “No licking!”

The Uyuni Salar is notable for being the largest dry salt lake in the world: its area exceeds 10.5 thousand km2, and it is located at an altitude of 3.5 thousand m above sea level. m. The Uyuni salt marsh is located in Bolivia, in the south of the high desert plain of Antiplano, near the city of Uyuni.

From the capital of Bolivia, La Paz, this unique natural phenomenon is separated by about 500 km in a southern direction, and on the geographical map this area can be found at the following coordinates: 20° 11′ 14″ S. latitude, 67° 32′ 57″ W. d.

Local residents are convinced that the salt lake is the bitter tears of the abandoned Tunula, whom her husband, Cusco, left with a baby in her arms and went to another, Cousin. After his departure, the woman sobbed bitterly for long days and nights - and her tears, mixed with breast milk, formed a huge salt lake, the Uyuni salt marsh (interestingly, that’s what the Bolivians call this area - Tunula). The gods, seeing this, enchanted the three people - and now they rise high mountains on the outskirts of the salt marsh.

Geologists explain the appearance of this phenomenon differently. They claim that 40 thousand years ago there was Lake Minchin here, which dried up over time: the lack of tributaries and the hot sun did their job. In its place, several ordinary lakes and two salt marshes were formed, separated from each other by mountains.

The appearance of the Uyuni salt marsh was influenced by the formed reservoir, which did not have any tributaries. The water in it evaporated much faster than precipitation fell, as a result, the amount of salt at its bottom constantly increased. After the water had completely evaporated, a solid layer of salt formed in place of the lake, turning the area into a salt marsh.

Description

The layer of salt that covers the Uyuni salt marsh is uneven and its thickness ranges from a few centimeters on the outskirts of the salt lake to ten meters in its center. During the rainy season, a layer of water 30 cm thick accumulates on the surface of the salt marsh, which creates a mirror effect: the sky, sun, clouds and other objects are so accurately displayed underfoot that it seems as if all the people around are literally floating in the clouds.

But during the dry period, grooves appear on the surface of a dried-up reservoir, which, connecting with each other, form a “honeycomb” - these are mostly hexagonal shapes, but can often be seen with five, seven or even eight sides.

In the very center of the Uyuni salt marsh there are the destroyed remains of the craters of long-dormant volcanoes, which at the time of Lake Minchin were completely under water. Their tops are covered with fossils and algae, and only bushes and cacti grow on them - the only vegetation adapted to life in this area.

Flora and fauna

Since the Uyuni salt flat is completely covered with a layer of salt, it is not surprising that there is practically no vegetation and fauna here. Among the wild animals that live here are foxes, viscaches (rodents that resemble rabbits), and alpacas. The only plants you can see are huge cacti, the height of which reaches twelve meters, or several types of shrubs.

During the rainy season, more than eighty species of birds fly to the Uyuni salt marsh, among them the South American pink flamingos, which acquired their amazing colors by eating algae algae growing here.

Birds live here because the algae and crustaceans on which they feed are not found in freshwater, and therefore, being the only food for these birds, force them to live in not very favorable places: the water here is so alkaline that, if not for the extremely thick skin, could easily corrode living flesh.

Minerals

It is interesting that under the thick layer of salt (and there is more than 10 billion tons of it here) there is brine - water containing, in addition to salt, magnesium, gypsum, and also the lightest metal - lithium. Geologists say that the Uyuni salt marsh contains about 100 million tons of this metal, which is more than half of the world's reserves.

Lithium is considered a very promising metal: it is used in the manufacture of laptops, cell phones, batteries and other equipment, and presumably will soon find use in the mass production of batteries for electric vehicles.

Despite the prospects, Bolivians have a negative view of lithium mining in the salt flat, and therefore foreign companies that have tried to build factories here have encountered resistance and rejection from the authorities (which is not surprising, since the Bolivian government itself is planning to address this issue).

Climate

The warmest weather here in summer is in December and January, when the mercury shows daytime temperatures of +22°C, but the nights here are cold throughout the year. From November to March there is a rainy season. Tourists need to take this point into account, since the tour may well be canceled or rescheduled due to large amounts of precipitation: salt water can damage a car. This period is an ideal opportunity to watch flamingos, which just fly here to nest.

In winter it is not very cold here: temperatures fluctuate around +14°C, but frosts are common at night, and the mercury thermometer can drop to -11°C. There is little precipitation here at this time, and therefore the Uyuni salt marsh is an absolutely dense plain. Therefore, it is during this period that the peak tourist season falls - from June to August.

How to get to this wonderful place

Mostly tourists come to Uyuni from the capital of Bolivia, La Paz. There are several ways to get here from La Paz:

• Airplane – an airport was opened in Uyuni a few years ago. From La Paz you can fly here on planes of two airlines at once, which allows you to quickly get to your desired destination (especially if you give preference to a direct flight that does not transit to any city).
• Buses from La Paz go daily through Oruro, and therefore the total length of the road to be covered from La Paz to Uyuni is 569 km.
• With transfers - you can get from La Paz to Oruro by bus (the journey will take about four hours), and then transfer to a train going to Uyuni (since the bus station is located some distance from the railway station, you will have to take a taxi).

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 slightly strange system, but when registering, 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

During 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 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 water-filled salt lake, he looks like a fish out of 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 banal: 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.

When the Uyuni salt marsh is covered with water, it looks like a huge mirror reflecting the sky

The Uyuni salt marsh is made of gypsum, and its inner surface, which has a depth of 2 to 8 m, is covered with a layer of rock salt - halite. According to experts, it contains at least 10 billion tons of table salt.

From November to March, when the rainy season comes to the plateau, the surface of the salt marsh is covered with a thin layer of water, and then Uyuni resembles a giant mirror. The horizon line becomes almost invisible, the surface of the lake merges with the sky, and the landscapes around the Uyuni salt marsh acquire an unearthly beauty. Excellent conditions for photographers!

Many tourists from different countries of the world come to look at the endless snow-white ocean of salt or the wonderful mirror surface. The peak tourist season is from June to August. Especially for travelers, local residents have built hotels, the walls of which are made of salt blocks, and you can spend the night in them. A night in a salt hotel costs about $20. The owners even post notices for guests asking “not to lick” the interior items.

Next to the salt marsh is the mining town of Uyuni, home to 10.6 thousand inhabitants. Here you can see several monuments to workers, a monument to a railway carriage and sculptures in the steampunk style. The town is small; an hour is enough to explore it.

The inhabitants of Bolivia have a beautiful legend about the birth of the Uyuni salt marsh. It is framed by the Kusku, Kuzina and Tunupa mountain ranges. The Aymara Indians believe that these mountains were once inhabited by giant people. Tunupa was Kusku's wife and bore him a son. However, the beautiful Cousin separated the spouses, and Kusku went to live with her, taking with him the infant. Tunupa was very worried about what happened and cried. Her tears mixed with breast milk and gave birth to a huge salt marsh. Since then, local residents have called it Tunupa.

Origin of the Uyuni Salt Flat

In ancient times, on the Altiplano there was a huge reservoir called Minchin, the depth of which reached 100 meters. About 40 thousand years ago, due to the hot sun and lack of tributaries, it began to become shallow. Gradually, on the site of Minchin, two lakes (Uru Uru and Poopo) and two large salt marshes - Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa - formed. By the way, the Coipasa salt marsh with an area of ​​2,218 km² is the second largest in Bolivia after Uyuni.

Climatic features

On the high plateau where the Uyuni salt marsh lies, the air temperature is stable. From November to January, the thermometer during the daytime reaches +21...+22°C, and in June it drops to +13°C. Since the salt marsh is located at an altitude of more than 3500 m above sea level, it is cold at night at any time of the year. In July, temperatures drop below 0°C and can sometimes drop to -10°C.

Relative humidity in the mountain plateau area is always low - 30-45%. The air is dry and precipitation is low. Even during the rainy season, there are only five days of precipitation per month.

Industrial significance of the salt marsh

The Uyuni Salt Flat plays a large role in the Bolivian economy. Rock salt is mined there. Every year it reaches 25 thousand tons. Tourists can visit the small village of Colchani, located 22 km from the city of Uyuni, in the east of the salt marsh. Its residents have long been involved in salt mining, and most of the village's houses are built from rock salt blocks.

The salt marsh also contains huge reserves of lithium chloride. From this salt, the light alkali metal lithium, necessary for the production of batteries, is extracted. Uyuni contains from 50 to 70% of all lithium reserves on the planet - about 100 million tons. There are also large reserves of magnesium chloride here.

The Uyuni salt marsh has been used in space exploration of the earth's surface. It is used to calibrate and test remote sensing instruments carried on orbiting satellites. Calibration at Uyuni is five times more successful than at the surface of the ocean. The reason for this is the high reflectivity, large size and flat surface of the salt lake.

Salt in Uyuni is mined for the needs of the food industry and for making tourist souvenirs. Rock salt blocks are used not only to make walls, but also to make tables, beds and various interior decorations.

The first salt hotels appeared in the 1990s in the very center of the salt marsh, and they became very popular among tourists. However, due to non-compliance with sanitation standards, such hotels heavily polluted the environment, and local authorities decided to dismantle them. The hotels were rebuilt on the outskirts of the Uyuni salt marsh. Now they work in compliance with all sanitary rules and environmental standards.

Panorama of the Uyuni salt marsh

What you can see in the Uyuni salt flat

In November, when the rainy season begins, more than 90 species of birds come here to breed, including three species of flamingos. They feed on algae algae and crustaceans, and from this the feathers of graceful birds acquire a bright pink color. The salt marsh is also home to several rare species of hummingbirds.

The area surrounding the Uyuni salt marsh is home to rabbit-like rodents - viscachas, foxes and alpacas. Soft and extremely warm, alpaca wool is similar in properties to sheep wool, but much lighter. It has long been used by local residents to make blankets, rugs and clothing items.

The surface of the Uyuni salt marsh is covered with large salt “honeycombs”. At the beginning of spring, when the rainy season ends, the salt crust dries out. The water that has accumulated below begins to break out through it to the surface, and small cone-shaped volcanoes are formed.

Uyuni is almost completely devoid of vegetation. In its center there are several islands, which, by their geological origin, are craters of volcanoes extinct in ancient times. During the existence of Lake Minchin, they were entirely hidden under the surface of the water.

Many tourists travel by jeep to Fish Island (Isla de los Pescados), covered with coral deposits. Giant cereus cacti up to 10 m high grow here. Botanists believe that the age of individual specimens exceeds 1200 years. In addition to cacti, several types of shrubs grow on the island, and local residents use them as fuel. There are also three small restaurants on Pisces Island for travelers to rest and refresh themselves.

Fish Island

Another attraction of the huge salt marsh is the Valley of Stones (Valles de Rocas). This is the name of the place where you can see unusual stone remains. The bizarre shapes of these stone sculptures were created over many millions of years by the forces of wind, water and sunlight. And in the center of Uyuni there is a platform made of blocks of rock salt. Travelers leave flags of their countries on it.

3 km from the city of Uyuni, near the single-track railway line leading from Bolivia to the northern provinces of Chile, there is an unusual museum - the “graveyard” of steam locomotives (Cementerio de Trenes). Here, in the open air, you can see examples of rusted railway equipment that were used until the middle of the last century. Steam locomotives were abandoned as unnecessary after production from local mines fell sharply. Of particular interest are the articulated steam locomotives of the Meyer and Garratt systems.

Video: Reflections from Uyuni

Salt perfectly reflects sunlight. It glitters so much that it hurts your eyes, so it is difficult to do without sunglasses and a hat on the Uyuni salt flat. Experts advise to be sure to use sunscreen, because you can get very sunburned in 1-2 hours.

In addition, you need to understand that the salt marsh is located in the highlands, and some tourists at the beginning of the trip may experience signs of altitude sickness - lethargy, apathy, dizziness, nausea and sleep disturbances. It takes time for your health to normalize. A local acclimatization remedy is coca leaf tea.

The cheapest salt flat tours are sold in the city of Uyuni or online. They are usually designed for two days and two nights so that tourists can explore the main local attractions. Many people travel around the Uyuni salt flat on their own using rented transport.

How to get there

The Uyuni salt marsh is located 500 m south of the city of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. The nearest settlement is the small town of Uyuni.

Since 2011, an international airport (El Aeropuerto Joya Andina) has been opened next to the salt marsh. Two local airlines fly here from the Bolivian capital. Traveling by air is the fastest way to get to the salt marsh, as the flight takes only 40-45 minutes.

In addition, you can come to the Uyuni salt marsh by land transport - a rented car or bus. Tourist buses operate from La Paz and other major cities. The length of the road from the capital through the city of Oruro is 569 km. Tourists leave La Paz at 21.00 and arrive in Uyuni in the morning; accordingly, they travel from 10 to 15 hours.

There is another route option: you can travel from La Paz to Oruro by bus in 4 hours, and then get to Uyuni by local train.

The most interesting and unusual lake in the world is different from all the others. It amazes the imagination with absolutely fantastic landscapes - tons of salt turn after heavy rains into a smooth, almost mirror-like surface in which the sky is reflected, and it seems that the sky has inexplicably found itself on the surface of the earth.

Deserted white sea

The Salar de Uyuni, located in Bolivia near the city of Uyuni, is world famous. Its interior is covered with hard salt deposits up to 10 meters thick, which can change their color during the day due to the bright sun or pink dawn rays. From a distance, the desert looks endless, with cracked tiles seemingly stretching beyond the horizon.

Amazed tourists are fearlessly allowed into the largest salt mining site (about 25 thousand tons per year), without fear of spoiling the useful mineral, because they say that it will last for several million years. Uyuni (salt marsh) is of great importance for the development of the country's economy, and not only salt is the reason for this. Lithium, used in the production of batteries, is mined here on an industrial scale. Previously, the United States invested huge amounts of money in this particular production, but society had ambivalent reactions to such investment. Many have advocated keeping all profits from lithium mining within Bolivia, and the local government has long been preoccupied with building its own plant.

Geological history

More than 40 thousand years ago, this desert was part of the huge ancient reservoir Minchin, which, when dried, left 2 lakes and 2 salt marshes, separated by hills. In the center of the largest salt desert there are peculiar islands - the tops of previously active volcanoes that have survived to this day.

In prehistoric times they were completely submerged in the water of Minchin, and now the peeking out islands are covered with various fragile fossils. There is a version that the ancient lake went underground, since it is known that the Uyuni salt marsh stores a deep pool under its surface, filled with thick salt blocks. This amazing place is surrounded by mountains, and all the table salt remains at the very bottom of the lake, the water of which contains magnesium chloride and lithium chloride.

Poor flora and fauna

The Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia) is devoid of any flora. If we talk about plants, then only giant cacti make their way through the thickness of salt deposits. Growing up to 12 meters high on a flat desert, they are a truly fantastic sight. At the end of the year (for Bolivia this is summer), amazingly beautiful pink flamingos fly here, walking along the hard surface of the snow-white lake. Researchers know about 80 species of birds that live on the salt marsh. And the poor fauna is represented by colonies of rodents.

Amazing hotels made of salt

Now, near the place where the Uyuni salt marsh is located, there are unusual hotels that cannot be seen in other parts of our planet. Erected in the early 90s, hotels built from salt offered all travelers who had traveled a long distance to relax in their rooms. Having learned about such an interesting innovation, tourists rushed to stay in unique hotels. True, they were later dismantled due to sanitary problems, but soon Uyuni (salt marsh) was replenished with a new modern hotel, built on its outskirts in compliance with construction standards and hygiene standards.

So in Bolivia, salt is not only a food flavor enhancer, but also an excellent building material, from which all blocks of hotels for tourists, furniture in rooms and even clocks with sculptures are made. When staying in hotels with affordable prices for overnight accommodation, all travelers are strictly warned: not to taste anything. However, so far few have resisted such temptation. True, everyone who spent the night in such a room notes that salt remains literally everywhere: on clothes, hair and skin. Therefore, many people prefer traditional hotels to exotic holidays.

Local residents of the village

The magical beauty of the salt marsh lake Uyuni amazes only foreigners with its landscapes, while local residents, accustomed to unusual views since childhood, have to work daily on the surface of the desert, extracting tons of salt. They fold it into neat small piles, which helps the water quickly evaporate, and then such mounds are easy to transport. Many try to survive due to numerous tourist excursions, selling souvenirs (all kinds of crafts), which simply amaze the imagination of tourists with their variety.

By the way, next to the salt marsh there is a small local museum where amazing salt figurines are displayed. And the houses of the residents, located on the outskirts of the village, are built from this solid mineral. Tourists are frozen in place by the stunning view of boiling white streets and houses against the backdrop of an equally snow-white endless field.

Salt marshes of Uyuni: how to get there?

This amazing corner is located at an altitude of approximately 3.6 thousand meters above the ground, which prevents many curious people from reaching their destination. But this even benefits the lost place, because its remoteness from civilization maintains a stable ecological situation.

To get to the most unique point on the globe, you need to get to the town of the same name Uyuni by train, plane or bus. In a small settlement there is a huge number of tourist offices offering their services. If someone does not want to join an organized jeep tour, they can take a private trip by car with a driver who will quickly take them to the desert.

The phenomenon of the sky under your feet

The rainy season here runs from November to March, and the temperature stays at 22 degrees Celsius. On days of heavy rainfall, excursions to the lake are suspended, as salt water can cause corrosion of cars. Despite the fact that winter is quite cool here, the period June-August is the season for tourists from all over the globe. The most beautiful phenomenon is when, after rain, the amazing salt marsh of Uyuni is filled with several centimeters of water. The photo of the mirror surface with the running clouds reflected on it causes genuine amazement in everyone who encounters this phenomenal landscape for the first time.

The space seems to expand, and a visual illusion arises in which it seems as if not the ground under your feet, but the sky itself is thrown down. Visible boundaries disappear in this place, forcing everyone who sees the world inside out to admire the natural attractions. The Salar de Uyuni, protected by mountains, is a quiet and peaceful area with a complete absence of winds. For the sake of the spectacle of the shiny surface, travelers from all over the globe rush to visit this enchantingly beautiful place.

True, many who arrive here experience an unpleasant state of dizziness and shortness of breath associated with acclimatization. And it takes several days for the body to fully get used to being so high above sea level.

Abandoned Train Graveyard

However, before getting to the salt marsh, all travelers visit another attraction of the small town, which once upon a time was the center of the country with railway tracks passing through here. The economic situation, which was not developing in the best way, led to a decrease in income from the mining industry.

The railway in the city is now reminiscent of abandoned carriages and locomotives in the salt desert, which has become a real train cemetery. Local authorities have repeatedly raised the issue of creating a museum on this site, since many of the abandoned specimens are more than 100 years old, and they are all now in a ruined and rusty state. Unfortunately, no one is still working on the open-air cemetery, and the question of preserving the heritage remains open for a long time.

Everyone going on a long journey needs to take certain things with them so that a trip to the Uyuni salt flat (Bolivia) brings only positive emotions.

• Moisturizing cream for constantly dry skin.
• Sunglasses. The light here is so bright that it hurts your eyes.
• Warm clothes, because even in summer there are always cool evenings in the desert.
• A sleeping bag for those who want to watch the sunrise by the lake.
• Rubber boots.
• National flag. There is a special area in front of the salt hotel, inside which tourists leave the symbol of the country as a souvenir.

Conclusion

Lake Uyuni Salt Flat (Bolivia) with its extraterrestrial landscapes will always attract travelers who want to walk across the sky abandoned to the ground and fully enjoy the unique views. The stunning endless expanses will give free rein to the imagination, and the quiet place will remain in the memory for a long time, like a real giant mirror in which clouds are reflected, always rushing somewhere.

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 dump 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 acclimatize 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

The place 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 from 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.