Private 4x4 Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats

Pick up and start of the tour

Your driver will pick you up at your accommodations in Uyuni between 9:00 and 10:00 am. If you need a transfer from the airport or bus station in Uyuni, please select this option in the "extras" section.

Train Cemetery

Shortly after beginning the tour, you’ll stop at the Train Cemetery, where old locomotives have been abandoned, creating a unique landscape surrounded by emptiness and desert. Ultimately, the cemetery’s topography reflects the economic splendor Uyuni once experienced.

Colchani and Salt Museum

Colchani: the gateway to the Uyuni Salt Flats. It’s also a small town on the itinerary that features the Salt Museum and the Refinery where salt is processed. Before heading off, you’ll also visit the local artisan shops selling goods made with alpaca wool and salt.

Uyuni Salt Flats

Now onto the Salt Flats! you’ll be visiting the Salt Piles, the Salt Flat Eyes, and finally, the Playa Blanca Museum, built with salt blocks. When you arrive, don’t forget to pull out your camera and take a snap! The photos will turn out great, especially if you ask your driver for a hand (they always get your good side)

Incahuasi 🌵

Amidst the vast sea of salt is a small hill, an island if you will, containing a unique ecosystem of giant cacti known as "cardones". Thanks to the island’s elevation, it provides unparalleled views of the Salt Flat, the perfect spot for a pensive thought or more photos. You’ll have time to get to know the island as well; walk its trails and eat lunch at the foot of the island if the weather permits.

Sunset in the Uyuni Salt Flat - Salt Lodging

As the day goes by and you tick off sites on your itinerary, you’ll start to think of that cozy bed waiting for you in your accommodations. Before you eat dinner and lay your head down, enjoy the unique sunset at the Slat Flats. 

Valley of the Rocks, Sora Canyon, and Altiplanic Lagoons

Rise and shine! You’ll have an early start today. After breakfast, hop in the 4x4 and head to the San Cristobal Church. Then visit the Valley of Rocas and Sora Canyon, with the Ollague Volcano looming in the distance. Finally, arrive at the Capaña, Hedionda, Hona, and Ramadita Lagoons, also known as altiplanic or colored lagoons. For each lagoon, your driver will stop to give you time to admire each of them.

Eduardo Abaroa National Andean Fauna Reserve and Siloli Desert

The day continues with a visit to the Eduardo Abaroa National Andean Fauna Reserve. Interestingly, the reserve sits at an altitude of over 16,400 feet (5,000 meters) above sea level. Next, you’ll enter the Siloli Desert featuring an incredible volcanic landscape with an array of colors and a famous stone tree. You’ll round out the day after arriving at the lodge, where you’ll enjoy dinner and rest for the night.

Laguna Colorada and Sol de la Mañana Geyser Field

On your last day, enjoy an early breakfast before you’re off to Colorada Lagoon, a site full of pink flamingos. Continue the morning and visit the Sol de la Mañana Geyser Field with its unique formations. The fumaroles are especially striking during the early hours of the morning; a result of the temperature difference.

Polques Hot Springs and Salvador Dali Desert

The last visit on your itinerary is probably the one you’ll enjoy the most: the hot springs of Polques, where you can bathe in its natural hot springs while gazing at the unforgettable landscape.

💬Howlanders tip: *The contrasting temperature of the cold air vs. the hot water is especially high in the winter months (June-September) so be prepared to dry off quickly when getting out and snack on something sweet before bathing to prevent your blood pressure from dropping. 

After your swim, head to the Salvador Dali desert and visit the Green and White Lagoons. From these lagoons, you’ll have incredible views of the Licancabur Volcano. Don’t forget to take a few snapshots for the memories. 

At this point, the itinerary is adapted to the chosen option:

- Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama: you will make a short drive to the border to take another vehicle that will take you to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile) where you will arrive between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. (available as an extra).

- Return to Uyuni: you will start your way back to Uyuni, making a short stop in Laguna Negra for lunch, until you finally arrive in Uyuni around 7:00 p.m.. As this is a private tour, you will be able to adapt the arrival time in Uyuni according to your needs.