salar de uyuni packing list

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Welcome to Bolivia! South America holds many charming natural places and in this Andean country is one of the most special. It is an extension of 11,000 km2 that corresponds to an ancient prehistoric lake that nowadays looks like a salt desert at an altitude of more than 3,600 meters above sea level. By the time you decide to take a Uyuni Salt Flats tour, today we want you to know what you should bring to have the best experience. Here you have a Salar de Uyuni Packing List.

What clothes should I take to the Salar de Uyuni?

First of all, we leave you here a post about the different seasons in the Salar de Uyuni, which may be useful to prepare your backpack taking into account when you go.

We start with the clothes, and it is very important that you wear comfortable clothes for the excursion, as they usually last many hours or even days, depending on your choice. Oh, you still don’t know what options you have? Check out all the tours available in the Salar de Uyuni, there is plenty to choose from!

Back to the subject, try to wear long-sleeved shirts to protect you from the sun. Specialized clothing for trekking is usually a very good option to fill your backpack or suitcase.

Traveling to Uyuni means traveling to an area full of salt and long trails, so make sure you pack good hiking boots that are breathable. Wearing comfortable shoes will avoid many foot problems that can ruin your experience in the salt flat.

Another recommendation we want to give you is to bring bathing suit and a towel, since many tours usually pass through the hot springs of Polques. Add some flip-flops to your backpack to be more comfortable in this place.

polques hot springs uyuni salt flats

Things to bring to the Uyuni Salt Flat

An essential thing to bring to the Salar de Uyuni is a good pair of sunglasses. The reflective effect of the salt is quite uncomfortable for your eyes, so be sure to protect your eyesight throughout the trip. We also strongly recommend that you take sunscreen to protect your skin.

Anything else?

Yes, our backpack is not yet full. And while we’re on the subject of backpacks, don’t forget to bring a small backpack in case you leave your luggage at the hotel and need space for the tour.

In that backpack you should put, first of all, something to avoid the effects of altitude sickness. A good natural remedy is coca leaves, which in Bolivia can be found in any market or store, as the locals have been using it for many years to combat the disease. Another option is to take medicines such as Acetazolamide from home.

Summary List

The main thing you have to bring to the Salar de Uyuni is the desire to know one of the most impressive natural sites in South America. So hopefully with all our recommendations you can enjoy this prehistoric place that, luckily, today we can enjoy as travelers. We leave you here the list of everything we have talked about in this post:

  • Long sleeve shirts
  • Specialized clothing for trekking
  • Hiking boots or breathable footwear
  • Bathing clothes
  • Towel
  • Flip-flops
  • Small backpack for everyday use
  • Sunglasses
  • Sunscreen
  • Medicine for altitude sickness

We hope you found this post with everything to bring to the Salar de Uyuni useful and that your experience was amazing. Would you add anything else to the list?

Lily

Lily is happy with a backpack on her back. Every year she travels through one country in Latin America and has repeated several times, especially Peru where she says she feels at home (although she says the same about Argentina, Chile and Bolivia).

She loves ceviche, hiking and Sunday picnics with her friends, although whenever you ask her, she's always planning her next destination.

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