The world's largest salt marsh. Poor flora and fauna. Video: Reflections from Uyuni

Salar Uyuni - (Spanish version of the name Salar de Uyuni, Salar de Uyuni) - the world's largest salt marsh with an area of 10,582 km².
Uyuni is located in southwestern Bolivia at an altitude of 3,656 meters above sea level.
It is covered with a salt crust of 2-8 meters.
The salt marsh contains a reserve of 10 billion tons of salt. And also up to 50% of the world's reserves of lithium chloride, from which lithium is obtained.

The salt marsh is subject to flooding during the rainy season, as it is flooded by the nearby Poopo and Titicaca. Water covering a layer of salt turns it into a mirror. Tourists here have the impression that the sky is above their heads and under their feet.

In the dry season, polygonal furrows form on the surface of the salt marsh like a honeycomb.

Uyuni salt marsh on the map

Attractions around Uyuni

Cemetery of steam locomotives (Spanish: "Cementeriode Trenes")

Located 3 km from the city of Uyuni.
This town was once major center Bolivia with a developed network of railways. A sharp drop in the extraction of minerals in the surrounding mines in the 40s. of the last century led to the complete collapse of the railway communication in this region. Huge locomotives, electric locomotives, wagons and trolleys were abandoned to the mercy of fate.

Edionda Lagoon (Spanish: La Grande Laguna Hedionda)

Edionda - salt Lake, favored by migrating pink and white flamingos. In the vicinity of the lake you can see herds of llamas and alpacas.

Colchani (Spanish: Colchani)

The small village is located on eastern edge salt marsh, 22 km from Uyuni.
A feature of the village are houses built from salt blocks.

Pescado Island (Spanish: IsladelPescado)

An island with an area of about 2 km², located in the very center of a huge salt marsh, is the top of an ancient volcano. It rises 100-120 m above the salt desert. The island is covered with fossilized coral deposits and giant cacti, some of which are over 1000 years old. On the island are the ruins of ancient Inca settlements.

Salt hotels

Walls, floors, ceilings are made of salt, as well as most of furniture and interior decoration of the hotel - sculptures, beds, tables, chairs and even clocks.

Laguna Colorada (Spanish: Laguna Colorada)

A small salty lake of reddish color. Located on the territory of the Andean Fauna National Reserve (Spanish: Reserva Nacionalde Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa). Microscopic algae "algae" give an unusual red tint to the reservoir. Lake Colorada is notable for its large colonies of flamingos.

Sol de Magnan Geyser Basin (Spanish: Solarde Manaña)

The geyser is located 50 km from Lake Colorada. Not far from the geyser pool is the thermal reservoir Termas-de-Polques, the temperature of which is pleasant for swimming.

Laguna Verde (Spanish: Laguna Verde)

Verde is a salt lake at the foot of the Licancabur volcano (Spanish Licancabur; 5920 m), located on the border with Chile. The green color of the lake is given by sedimentary deposits containing copper. Verde is famous for its hot springs and picturesque scenery.

How to get to Uyuni Salt Flats

Tourists usually get to the salt marsh from the capital of Bolivia, the city of La Paz.
Where is the first thing you need to get to.
There are no direct flights from cities in Russia and the CIS to Bolivia; you will have to fly with two transfers, often by different airlines.

Monthly flights from Moscow to La Paz:

departure date Date returned. Airline Find a ticket Transplants

2 transfers

Salar de Uyuni (Spanish version of the name Salar de Uyuni, Salar de Uyuni) is the world's largest salt marsh with an area of 10,582 km². It is located in the southwest of Bolivia at an altitude of 3656 meters above sea level and is covered with a salt crust with an average thickness of several meters (in some places up to 10 m). According to some estimates, the Uyuni salt marsh contains up to 50% of the world's lithium reserves. Tourists from all over the world come here to watch ancient volcanoes, flocks of pink flamingos, roaming herds of wild llamas, giant cacti 10 meters or more high, lakes changing color daily and magical fields of geysers.

Education and geology

All solonchaks were formed on the site of former lakes and other water basins. If the lake does not have a flow of water into the river, and the evaporation rate exceeds the amount of precipitation, the concentration of salt in the water increases over time. After complete evaporation of the water, a hard crust of salt forms on the surface and the area turns into a salt marsh.

The Uyuni salt marsh is part of the Bolivian Altiplano, a mountain plateau over 3,000 meters above sea level. The plateau has a number of freshwater and salt lakes, salt marshes, all surrounded by mountains and volcanoes.

The geological history of the Uyuni salt marsh consists of the successive transformation of several huge lakes. Approximately 30,000-42,000 years ago, its territory was part of the giant prehistoric lake Minchin. Lake Minchin (named after Juan Minchin) later transformed into Lake Tauca and then (about 11,500 - 13,400 years ago) into the youngest prehistoric lakes of Coipas. When it dried up, there were two modern lakes (Poopo and Uru Uru) and two salt marshes - Salar de Coipasa (Salar de Coipasa,) and much larger Salar de Uyuni (Salar de Uyuni). Both salt marshes are separated from each other by a series of hills. Lake Poopo is a neighbor of the much larger Lake Titicaca. During the rainy season, the level of Titicaca rises and the water flows into Lake Poopo, which, in turn, causes flooding of both salt marshes - Coipas and Uyuni.

From above, the salt marsh is covered with a hard crust of salt of various thicknesses: from several tens of centimeters to 10 meters in the center. From below, lake silt is interspersed with layers of brine - an aqueous solution saturated with sodium chloride, lithium chloride and magnesium chloride. The most valuable of these minerals is lithium chloride.

In the center of the Uyuni salt marsh there are several "islands", which are the remains of the peaks of ancient volcanoes, completely submerged in water during the era of the existence of the prehistoric Lake Minchin. Now their surface is covered with fragile deposits, often consisting of fossils and algae, on top of which grow cacti and shrubs.

Economic importance

For centuries, the Quechua Indians survived by mining and selling salt. Salt is scraped off, transported to nearby villages, where it is processed, packaged and shipped to consumers. About 25,000 tons of salt are mined annually - a drop in the bucket compared to reserves of 10 billion tons.

Under a thick layer of salt is brine - an aqueous solution with a 0.3% concentration of lithium, the lightest metal, which is predicted to have a great future. For two decades, lithium has been used in laptops, mobile phones and other devices. But its main application is expected to be in the production of batteries for electric cars, which could replace gasoline and diesel fuel for cars in the near future. A lot of lithium is found in the rock and sea water. But almost all reserves suitable for industrial development are in the form of brine under salt marshes. The invention of the pneumatic tire turned rubber into a valuable commodity in the 19th century. The global trend towards green energy has every chance of doing the same with lithium in the 21st.

Attempts to extract lithium by foreign companies in the 1980s and 1990s met with strong opposition from local population. Despite their poverty, the locals frown upon the idea of mining the precious metal. The Bolivian government does not intend to allow foreign corporations to develop it and plans to build its own plant.

Due to its location and ideal plane (average elevation change across the area is only one metre), the Uyuni salt marsh is one of the main driving routes through the Bolivian Altiplano, except during the rainy season.

effects

During the rainy season from November to March, the salt marsh is covered with a layer of water up to 30 cm. When a thin layer of water covers the surface of the salt marsh, a mirror effect is created. Clouds are visible not only from above in the sky, but also from below under your feet. The landscapes are simply unimaginable. The impression is as if people and cars are floating in the clouds.

In the dry season, polygonal furrows form on the surface of the salt marsh, similar to a honeycomb, but less regular in shape. Mostly there are hexagons, but there are also pentagons, heptagons and even octagons. Such forms of furrows several centimeters high are formed in the process of water evaporation.

Flora and fauna

The salt marsh is practically devoid of any wild animals or plants. Plants are dominated by giant cacti. They grow at a rate of 1 cm per year to a height of up to 12 meters. Other plants are represented by shrubs.

Every year in November and December, the Uyuni Salt Flats attracts three species of South American pink flamingos: Chilean, Andean and James. The pink coloration of flamingos comes from feeding on pink micro algae (algae). About 80 other species of birds live in the area, including the horned coot, the Andean goose, and the Andean mountain star hummingbird. The animal world is represented by the Andean fox, some places of the salt marsh (in particular, the Island of Fish) have small colonies of viscaches (a rodent similar to our rabbit).

Interesting places (attractions)

The Uyuni Salt Flat is a popular tourist attraction in Bolivia. It attracts about 70,000 tourists annually. This article describes a "standard" itinerary for a trip through the salt marsh and its surrounding lagoons. Tour operators use off-road vehicles (usually Toyota Landcruisers), and the driver is often responsible for cooking. Most 3 and 4 day tours have the same itinerary for the first two and a half days (the first day includes a visit to the Uyuni salt marsh, then heading to southwestern Bolivia to lakes and volcanoes, and there the tour routes diverge). Specific places to visit depend on the chosen tour. Accommodation, as a rule, in simple houses, despite the cold weather is not always heated, but the amazing scenery is worth some of the sacrifices.

First day of the trip - salt marsh

On the first day you will visit the salt marsh. During the dry season, the landscape is exceptionally white. During the rainy season, the surface of the salt marsh perfectly reflects the blue sky and clouds.

Plaza Arce(Plaza Arce). Most trips start at 10:30 am from Plaza Arce, located next to the Uyuni train station.

train graveyard(Cementerio de Trenes). Usually, the first stop of the tour is the train graveyard, but some operators prefer to end the tour at this point. Uyuni, a small town of just over 15,000 people, was once a major railway hub in Bolivia. With the decline of the mining industry in the 1940s, the railroad also fell into disrepair, and trains were left to fend for themselves in the vicinity of the city. Some locomotives are over 100 years old. The Train Cemetery is the town's most popular attraction.

Kolchani(Colchani). This is a small village about 22 kilometers from Uyuni on the eastern edge of the salt marsh. The main occupation of its inhabitants is salt mining. Salt is processed and sent to other regions of Bolivia, part of it is exported abroad. Kolchani serves as the first stop on most excursions. In addition to salt mining, many of its inhabitants survive on tourism. A feature of the village (besides stopping to drink some water and buy souvenirs) are its houses built from blocks of salt. In appearance, the village is not very attractive and snow-white, but where else in the world will you find such a street or such buildings made of salt? The Salt Museum displays animal figurines and furniture made from this material, and demonstrates construction technologies using salt.

salt mining area

Visiting places where salt is manually raked from the surface of the salt marsh into heaps weighing a ton or more, and left to dry in the sun before being transported to a factory for further processing.

salt hotel

Due to the high cost of conventional building materials, many visitors stay in hotels built almost entirely (walls, roof) of salt blocks. Juan Quesada was the first to propose the idea of building a salt hotel, as salt has been the most practical building material in the area for centuries. The first such hotel was built in 1995 in the center of the Uyuni salt marsh, and it quickly became a popular tourist attraction. But the location of the hotel in the center of the salt marsh caused a number of sanitary problems. Serious environmental pollution prompted the authorities to close and dismantle the hotel in 2002. Later, several new salt hotels were built on the outskirts of the salt marsh in full compliance with environmental standards.

One of these hotels (Hotel Palacio de Sal Hotel & Spa) is located in the village of Colchani on the eastern outskirts of the salt marsh. In addition to walls, floors and ceilings, most of its interior decoration is also made of salt: chairs, tables, beds, clocks and even sculptures. The luxury hotel of 4500 m² has all modern amenities, including dry sauna, steam bath, jacuzzi, bathtub. It can accommodate 48 people at the same time in 16 double and 8 single rooms. Previously, salt was considered only a vital component for cooking, but in the Uyuni salt marsh region, this mineral was used in a completely different capacity. You can book a room on the hotel website www.palaciodesal.com.bo

fish island(Isla de los Pescados)

The name comes from the Spanish word "pescado", which means "fish". The thing is that during the rainy season, the reflection of the island on the surface of the salt marsh resembles a fish. The island is covered with fossilized coral deposits and 1000 year old cacti. These cacti (the tallest ones are 9-10m) grow at a rate of 1 cm per year, so you can easily calculate their age. On the island you can see several viscachas (South American rodents that look like hares). You can walk around the island, enjoy the panorama of the salt flat and take beautiful photos (this the best place to take a picture of the salt marsh). Most tourist groups dine on the western "shore" of this island. There is a small fee to visit.

Stopover for the night. They usually stay overnight in San Juan, although for a real treat, you can look for a travel agency that provides accommodation closer to the salt marsh. Then you can get up before dawn and see a beautiful sunrise.

The second day of the trip - a trip to the Colorado Lagoon

Continuation of the journey to the southwest towards the colored lakes (red, blue, white, yellow and green) located in the National Reserve of the Andean fauna of Eduardo Avaroa (Parque Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa). The water is colored by a range of different minerals washed away from the surrounding volcanoes. Some tours include a visit to the Cueva Galaxia and the Devil's Cave (Cueva del Diablo).

Laguna Edionda(Laguna Hedionda) is a salt lake notable for several species of migrating pink and white flamingos. The Spanish name "La Grande Laguna Hedionda" means "big smelly lake". Laguna Edionda is one of nine small salt lakes in the Andean Altiplano. The 3 km² lake is located at an altitude of 4121 meters and is surrounded by salt marshes and wetlands. From time to time, llamas and alpacas can be seen grazing in the lake area. Laguna Edionda is a popular stopover and lunch spot.
Viscacha habitat. A short stop on a rocky ledge where a viscacha colony lives. Tour guides lure them out of their hiding places with the help of carrots.

Arbol de Piedra(Arbol de Piedra) - a stone in the shape of a tree. Over the years, water and wind have carved a sculpture out of a huge boulder, resembling a petrified tree that seems to be growing out of the ground.

Laguna Colorada(Laguna Colorada) is a shallow salt lake located on the territory of the National Reserve of the Andean fauna Eduardo Avaroa (Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa) near the border with Chile. The red lake is located at an altitude of 4278 m. Algae - microscopic algae give the lake a red tint. The lagoon contains many other minerals that form a breeding ground for the development of microorganisms that feed on flamingos. The Colorado Lagoon is best known for its large colonies of flamingos. The most common are the James flamingos, less often the Andean and Chilean flamingos. There is a small fee to enter the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve.

Accommodation. Living in the Colorado Lagoon area in simple brick shacks, sometimes without heating. Electricity is supplied within a few hours. Please note that at night in the month of July, the temperature can drop to -10 ° C or lower.

Third Morning - Geysers and Hot Springs, Verde Lagoon

The journey will continue in the early morning (wake up at 4 am) without breakfast to visit the following places:

Sol de Magna geyser basin(Solar de Manana). The geyser pool is located at a distance of 50 km from the Colorado lagoon at an altitude of 4850 meters above sea level. In this place, seething sulfuric reservoirs, fumaroles and geysers emit sulfuric gas with an unpleasant odor. rotten eggs. Sometimes geysers raise hot steam into the air for tens of meters. The geyser pool is usually visited at the time of sunrise.

Thermal pool Termas de Polques located near the Sol de Magnana geyser basin. Swim if you want to really enjoy the thermal spring. The mineral composition of the water is believed to relieve the symptoms of arthritis and rheumatism. The temperature of the reservoir is pleasant for swimming, but in the morning at an altitude of 4400 meters above sea level the air is quite cold, so many people prefer to watch. Popular place for breakfast.

Laguna Verde(Laguna Verde) - a salt lake on the Chilean border, in the water of which the nearby Licancabur volcano (5920 m) is reflected. The green color of the lagoon is due to sedimentary deposits containing copper and other minerals. The lake is located at an altitude of 4300 m above sea level. Laguna Verde is well known for its picturesque scenery and hot springs. A small corridor separates the lake from Laguna Blanca.

Laguna Blanca(Laguna Blanca) - a lake 5.6 km long and 3.5 km wide, located at an altitude of 4350 m. The characteristic white color of the water, which gave the lake its name, is caused by a high concentration of borax (sodium pyroborate). A narrow corridor separates the Blanca lagoon from the smaller Verde lagoon.

tupisa

If you choose a four-day tour that includes a visit to Tupiza, then you should see the following places:

Celeste Lagoon(Laguna Celeste). The lake is bluish in color with a high content of magnesium and manganese. It is located at an altitude of 4529 m, the area is 2.3 km².

Laguna Amarilla(Laguna Amarilla). A greenish-yellow lake with a high concentration of sulfur.

Ruins of the colonial city of San Antonio(San Antonio). This is an abandoned mining town of the sixteenth century.

Uyuni

On the way back to Uyuni, you will make stops in small villages, and also visit the Stone Valley (Valles de Rocas) - a place with unusual rock formations formed by wind erosion. The small village of Alota is a relatively popular place to stop for the night.

The fourth day of the trip - arrival in the city of Tupisa

Continuation of the trip along the road from beautiful scenery nature. The last sight before arriving in Tupiza will be El Sillar - heavily eroded rock formations.

The fourth day of the trip - arrival in the city of Uyuni

The last day of the trip includes a visit small town San Cristobal, whose main attraction is old church, and then return to Uyuni.

How to get there

There are several ways to get from La Paz to Uyuni:

Airplane. On July 11, 2011, Bolivian President Evo Morales opened El Aeropuerto Joya Andina Airport in Uyuni. The airport is currently served by two airlines: Amaszonas (www.amaszonas.com) and Transporte Aereo Militar (abbreviated as TAM, www.tam.bo). Transporte Aereo Militar offers flights to Uyuni from La Paz (with a transit stop in Sucre) every Monday, Friday and Saturday. Return flights from Uyuni to La Paz (again, with a transit stop in Sucre), also on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. To date, Transporte Aereo Militar does not provide ticket booking through its website. The disadvantage of flying with the Transporte Aereo Militar is that the flight from La Paz to Uyuni lands in Sucre and if there are bad weather flight may be temporarily cancelled. The preferred option is with Amazonas, which offers daily flights to Uyuni from La Paz.

Bus. Tourist night bus. There are several tourist night buses running from La Paz to Uyuni and vice versa. Buses leave every day. There are no day buses. The trip takes about 10 hours, but may take longer during the rainy season (November to April). All buses transit through Oruro. The total distance is 569 km (from La Paz to Oruro 229 km on an asphalt road, and from Oruro to Uyuni 340 km on a dirt road). The bus leaves La Paz at 21.00 and arrives in Uyuni around 07.00. Take advantage tourist bus Todo Turismo (www.todoturismo.bo). This best bus Bolivia, friendly staff speaks English, offers hot meals in the bus. It runs between Uyuni and La Paz on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Bus - train. You can get from La Paz to Oruro by bus (about 4 hours) and then take the train from Oruro to Uyuni. You will have to take a taxi from the bus station to railway station in Oruro. Every Tuesday and Friday, the Expreso del Sur train leaves Oruro at 15:30 and arrives in Uyuni at 22:20. Every Sunday and Wednesday the train leaves Oruro at 19:00 and arrives in Uyuni at 02:20. The Wara Wara del Sur train from Uyuni to Oruro departs on Thursday and Sunday at 00:05, arrives in Oruro at 07.00, on Tuesday and Friday, departs from Oruro at 01.45, arrives in Uyuni at 09:10. See below the departure schedule for the Expreso del Sur and Wara Wara del Sur trains ( read the article Transport in Bolivia (buses, trains)). You can book train tickets online at www.fca.com.bo.

Climate and when to visit

Between November and March (summer in Bolivia) is the rainy season. The average temperature in December-January is +21°C, but it is cold at night throughout the year. When it rains, water accumulates on the flat surface of the Uyuni Salt Flats and reflects like a mirror. The tour may be delayed due to a large number rainfall, as cars are severely damaged by corrosion from salt water.

During the rainy season, thousands of flamingos migrate to the area to mate and procreate. There are especially many of them around the Colorada and Verde lagoons. The best month to see flamingos is November and December.

In winter, especially in June and July, average temperature+ 13 °C, but at night it drops below zero, sometimes down to -10 °C and below. Winter is the dry season (April to October). During the dry season, the salt marsh is a perfectly flat plain. Precipitation varies from 1-3 mm per month from April to November and increases to 70 mm in January. The peak tourist season is from June to August.

Helpful information

The bottom of the salt lake in the south of the Altiplano high desert, and in a simple way - Uyuni Salt Flats ( Salar de Uyuni), located in the heart of Bolivia, everyone dreams of seeing. Unique in its nature, the phenomenon is at the same time the most ordinary place. Here at the bottom ancient sea, just always mined table salt. There is so much salt here that there will be enough for everyone for millions of years to come. The thickness of its deposits reaches 8 meters. And in the rainy season, the salt marsh is covered with water, turning into the largest mirror in the world! Tourists are allowed here quite calmly, without fear that they will spoil the precious material. And the Dakar race also moved to Bolivia and part of it takes place on the salt marsh.

Salar de Uyuni not only looks wild and prehistoric, it is. Bolivia is the richest country in terms of Natural resources. Russia and Peru will be compared with it. And oddly enough, for the most part, the rest of the world's population exploits the resources of these countries. Here are the richest deposits of tin, gas, oil, lithium, zinc, iron and other minerals. Bolivia was generously endowed. But she also generously allows herself to be robbed.

Forty thousand years ago, an ancient sea splashed on the territory of the salt marsh, from which a lake subsequently stood out ballywyan. Now only lakes remain from the sea ( Titicaca, Poopo And Uru-Uru) and solonchaks - Uyuni which is open to tourists, and coipas.

In Uyuni, the fine line between the use of resources and living in harmony with nature is most felt. Although the salt reserves are really large, there is a feeling that when we come here, we penetrate into the holy of holies of the planet and treat everything with due respect. It's not we who are so cool that we were able to buy a ticket to the other end of the world, it was Nature that let us come here.

At any moment, the fragile balance can be upset, volcanoes will roar and remake our world beyond recognition, as they have done many times already. - the place is beautiful, its beauty is indescribable. But at the same time, it is an open wound on the body of the Earth. And in this wound - salt. And salty tears are not noticeable here at all. The technogenic world has practically won. So let's be sensitive to the suffering of our Mother and respect her. Drop by drop and just a little bit. But small steps always lead to great happiness. Enjoy and rejoice in beauty, but do not violate it.

Salt Marsh Information

Name	Salar de Uyuni
Where is	In the south of the Altiplano high plateau in Bolivia near the city of Uyuni, near the border with Chile, at an altitude of 3650 m above sea level
What is	The largest salt marsh in the world. Salt reserves are about 10 billion tons
Origin	About 40 thousand years ago as a result of the drying up of the ancient lake Minchin. As a result, two lakes were formed - Poopo and Uru-Uru and two salt marshes - Salar de Uyuni and Salar de Coipas
Dimensions	The area of the Uyuni salt marsh is about 10,500 square kilometers, which is about 25 times the area of the famous Bonneville salt marsh in the United States
Lithium reserves	The Uyuni salt marsh contains about half of the world's lithium reserves - 100 million tons
GPS coordinates	20° 11′ 14″ S, 67° 32′ 57″ W -20.187222°, -67.549167°

Where to buy a tour to Uyuni Salt Flats

To see all the wonders Uyuni salt marsh, the easiest way to get to the town of Uyuni.

There are two ways to buy a tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats:

Book a place on the tour via the Internet, or by calling an agent of one of travel companies, sending tourists on an unforgettable journey to the Altiplano high plateau, but it will be more expensive and less clear than to fit into the tour on the spot. One of the advantages of booking is that you don’t have to wait, because in the hottest season you can wait your turn to go on a tour for a couple of days in the city of Uyuni.
Come to Uyuni and find a tour on the spot. Usually, the owners of inexpensive agencies meet visitors right at the bus and take them to their office, telling them about the advantages of working with them along the way. It's much cheaper and you can bargain.

We were not going at the peak of the season, and therefore we had more than enough options! And we bought a tour from those who offered the most cheap price along our route. Then we were simply put with other people in a common car.

Routes in the Uyuni salt marsh and high mountain lagoons

The standard itinerary includes three days and two nights in the wildest part of Bolivia. How much does a tour to Uyuni salt marsh cost? depends on how good you are at bargaining. We bought the tour for $100 (or 700 Bs) per person. This amount included everything - from food to transfer to the border with Chile. Separately, we paid only tickets to national park Eduardo Avora (150 bolivianos per person), which houses the amazing Colorada lagoon and high mountain thermal springs.

If you are interested in how to choose the right tour from Uyuni, then we decided to publish maps from all the guidebooks that somehow ended up in our hands. After looking at offers and maps of attractions, you can book your own tour and find someone who will take you exactly the way you like. A private tour, of course, will cost more, as will options with a choice of special meals and accommodation.

But if you need to travel on a budget, you can still get an idea of how the tour is organized and find the tour operator that is closest to your desired itinerary.

Interesting fact. If you don’t want to drive through the wild altiplanos (high mountain desert), then you can limit yourself to visiting only the salt marsh and the unforgettable and otherworldly train graveyard. Many people come here hoping to catch the famous photo of the reflection of the sky from the water surface of the salt marsh (during the rainy season). To do this, you need to come to Uyuni, book a hotel here and ride the Salar de Uyuni for as many days as you want, waiting for the right weather. A selection of the best hotels in Uyuni is presented below.

Detailed map of Uyuni Salt Flats

Tour program

Itinerary on the Altiplano plateau

Various route options

One-day, two-day and three-day tours from Uyuni to Bolivia

Tour options in the Salar de Uyuni

One day tour

Hotel made of salt (Hotel de sal);
Return to the city of Uyuni.

2 day tour(two days, one night)

Cemetery of locomotives (Cementerio de Trenes);
Colcani Salt City + Souvenirs (Ceramica de sal);
Salt mines (Montones se sal);
Hotel made of salt (Hotel de sal);
Incahuasi Island with giant cacti (Isla Incahuasi - pescado);
Volcano Tunupa (Volcan de Tunupa);
caves;
Mummies.

3 day tour(three days, two nights)

Cemetery of locomotives (Cementerio de Trenes);
Colchani salt city and museum + souvenirs (Ceramica de sal);
Salt mines (Montones se sal);
Hotel made of salt (Hotel de sal);
Incahuasi Island with giant cacti (Isla Incahuasi - pescado);
View of the volcano Oyague (Volcan Ollague);
Lagoons (Lagunas altiplanicas - Canapa, Hedionda, Honda, Charcota);
Desert Silioli and stone tree (Desierto de Silioli y Arbol de Piedra);
Laguna Colorada;
Hot springs and geysers (Aguas Termales y Sol de manana);
Desierto Salvador Dali (Desert Salvador Dali);
Green and white lagoons (Laguna Verde y Blanca);
Volcano Licancabur;
Return to Uyuni city or transfer to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.

Lexus Tour by Salar de Uyuni

We went on a trip to the Uyuni salt marsh after 11 o'clock in the afternoon, one of the last in the city. We got a Lexus and four companions. And unexpectedly, an elderly couple from Uruguay left us on the morning of the second day of the tour: they did not like the service, they felt bad from the height (the tour takes place in the highlands at an altitude of 3 to 5 km above sea level) and they basically looked dissatisfied with everything that surrounded them . And then there were four of us. We were accompanied by lovely guys from Brazil, Tasiana and Augustu, with whom we became friends. Rosendo's driver also produced good impression. It only remained to get used to the Bolivian time: if they say that you have to get up at 4 in the morning, you can safely take your head off the pillow at five.

Uyuni salt marsh on the map

Uyuni in Bolivia

Uyuni is a city in Bolivia, famous for being located next to the world's largest Uyuni salt marsh. It is a place where salt is mined, and now it has also become a popular place for tourism. It is here that tours to the Salar de Uyuni and the high plateaus of the altiplano from Bolivia begin.

How we got to Uyuni from La Paz

We got to Uyuni by the cheapest bus from La Paz, driving along the terrible Bolivian roads. At night I could not sleep because of the constant shaking and cold. Although we were given a blanket, it was not enough. Our flight arrived in Uyuni at six in the morning and it was the very first bus arriving in the morning. The driver kept up the pace all night on a dirt road, and therefore it was absolutely impossible to sleep. Tired, we quickly found a travel agency and joined the tour starting the same day.

Hotels in Uyuni - where to stay

Uyuni is a rather small town. However, there are many hotels here and they are all quite expensive. Therefore, it is important to choose a really good hotel and pay for the quality of service, and not just for proximity to the salt marsh. It is worth settling in Uyuni if you want to look exclusively at the salt marsh or are returning from a tour of the Bolivian altiplano (or the same tour that starts from) and you need to recover from a rather difficult journey from a domestic point of view.

Hotel de Sal Casa Andina- grade 9.3 . Unique hotel in Uyuni made of salt blocks with beautiful ethnic decoration. Guests praise the spacious rooms and cleanliness. Bicycle rentals are available and breakfast is included in the price. Book >>
Jardines de Uyuni- grade 8.1 . Bright hotel in the city center with heating (very important!) and breakfast. Guests celebrate comfort and warmth. Book >>
Hotel Palacio de Sal- grade 8.4 . Great option to live right in the middle salt desert in a salt hotel. Spacious bright rooms, excellent Wi-Fi and breakfast. The hotel is located near the town of Kolchani (20 km from Uyuni), famous for its souvenir market. Book >>

Walk around the city of Uyuni

The town of Uyuni itself is also quite expensive. Compared to the capital, food in restaurants is much more expensive here. We took a little walk around the city, even twice. In general, you can get around the city of Uyuni in half an hour. We looked at the monument to the Dakar race, which is now held in Bolivia, went to the local market and were glad that we had breakfast in a decent cafe. We had no time to sleep, at 11 we were loaded into our Lexus, and we went to look at the mysterious salt marsh Salar de Uyuni.

Our itinerary through the Uyuni salt marsh and high mountain lagoons

On the first day we saw the train graveyard and the salt marsh itself. Then we marveled at the three species - the Chilean, the Andean and the James flamingo - that come to such a barren land to start a new life here.
Bizarre rocks and stones - this turned out to be so. And it ended incomparable and beautiful!
We started the morning with hot springs, and then through the desert of Salvador Dali we set off to the side.

Leaving Uyuni, we rode on the salt marsh and walked on the salt, saw an island of cacti in the sea of salt, even lay down and ate in a restaurant made entirely of salt, and at night slept in a salt hotel near the salt marsh. In the sun, from such a dazzling white light, it hurts the eyes, so sunglasses are just necessary thing on this journey!

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

Desert white sea

The Uyuni salt marsh, located in Bolivia near the city of Uyuni, is world famous. Its inner part is covered with hard salt deposits up to 10 meters thick, which during the day can change their shade due to the bright sun or pink dawn rays. From a distance, the desert looks endless, the cracked tiles of which seem to stretch beyond the horizon line.

At the very big place salt extraction (about 25 thousand tons per year) fearlessly let in amazed tourists, not being afraid for damage to the useful mineral, because they say that it will last for another 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. Here, lithium is mined on an industrial scale, which is used in the manufacture of batteries. Previously, the United States invested a lot of money in this particular production, but society reacted ambiguously to such an investment. Many advocated that all income received from lithium mining should remain inside Bolivia, and the local government has long been concerned about 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 come down to our time.

In prehistoric times, they were completely submerged in the Minchin water, and now the peeking out islets are covered with various fragile fossils. There is a version that ancient lake went underground, as it is known that the Uyuni salt marsh keeps a deep pool under its surface, filled with thick salt blocks. An amazing corner is surrounded by mountains, and all 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 salt marsh of 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) they fly here amazing beauty pink flamingos walking on the hard surface of a snow-white lake. Researchers know about 80 species of birds living on the salt marsh. A poor animal world is represented by colonies of rodents.

Amazing Salt Hotels

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. Built in the early 90s, hotels built of salt offered all travelers who have come a long way to relax in their rooms. Having learned about such an interesting innovation, tourists hurried 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 building standards and hygiene standards.

So salt in Bolivia is not only an enhancer of the taste of food, 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 placed in hotels with affordable prices for overnight stays, all travelers are strictly warned: do not taste anything. So far, however, few have resisted such a temptation. True, all those who spent the night in such a room note that salt remains literally everywhere: on clothes, hair and skin. Therefore, many people prefer exotic vacation traditional hotels.

Local residents of the village

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

By the way, next to the salt marsh there is a small local museum, which presents amazing figures made of salt. Yes, and the houses of the inhabitants, located on the outskirts of the village, are built from this solid mineral. Tourists freeze in place from the stunning view of the boiling-white streets and houses against the backdrop of the same snow-white endless field.

Uyuni Salt Flats: how to get there?

An amazing corner is located at an altitude of about 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 by regular bus. In a small settlement there is a huge number of tourist offices offering their services. If someone does not want to join organized excursion in jeeps, he can make an individual trip in a car with a driver who will quickly take you to the desert.

The phenomenon of the sky under your feet

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

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

True, many who arrive here experience an unpleasant state of dizziness and shortness of breath associated with acclimatization. And it takes a few 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 one more attraction of the small town, which once upon a time was the center of the country with railway lines passing here. The economic situation, which was not developing in the best way, led to a decrease in the income of the mining industry.

Abandoned wagons and locomotives on the territory of the salt desert, which has become a real cemetery of trains, are now reminiscent of the railway in the city. Local authorities have repeatedly raised the issue of creating a museum on this site, since many copies abandoned to the mercy of fate are over 100 years old, and they are all now in a ruined and rusty state. Unfortunately, there is still a cemetery under open sky no one is involved, and the question of preserving the heritage remains open for a long time.

Everyone who goes on a long journey needs to take certain things with them so that a trip to the Uyuni Salt Flats (Bolivia) brings only positive emotions.

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

Conclusion

Salt lake Uyuni (Bolivia) with extraterrestrial landscapes will always attract travelers who want to walk on the sky thrown to the ground and enjoy the unique views to the fullest. Stunning endless expanses will give free rein to the imagination, and a quiet place will remain in your memory for a long time, like a real giant mirror, in which clouds always hurrying somewhere are reflected.

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

Uyuni is the largest salt marsh in the world. It occupies 12106 km2, which is 5 times the area of Luxembourg.

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

The dried 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 tend to get to Uyuni during the rainy season - from late January to February - at this time salt desert 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.

Every year, about 20 tons of salt are mined here, and the total salt reserve of Uyuni is estimated at 10 billion tons. The value of the salt marsh is not limited to salt. Uyuni has about 100 million tons of lithium, which is up to 70% of the world's reserves - enough to power batteries for all smartphones that will be 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 feeling of space is erased. to see exactly this cosmic landscape and feel like an inhabitant of another planet.

The most popular entertainment dry lake Uyuni - creating surreal photos.

The sun, bright blue sky and endless salty surface without filters will make your shots ethereal and bright. And even if you find yourself here in the off-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 are photographed here standing, sitting, lying down, and jumping. To create the most original photo guides, they take with them the author's paraphernalia - from frying pans on which tourists are "seated" in the frame, to dinosaurs that add fantasticness to the shots.

By the way, evening and night photography - sunset and starry sky reflected in the water - is another separate 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 Incahuasi Island (IslaIncahuasi)

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

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

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

2. Kolchani (Colchani) - village of salt miners

Salt is the main source of income for the inhabitants of Kolchani. 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 the traditional Bolivian style - these are not sold outside of Uyuni.

3. train graveyard

A junkyard of rusty 19th-century steam locomotives, left over from the time when Uyuni had a train factory, is especially interesting for tourists from Europe - they are new to such views. Although it is also interesting for the rest to climb old trains and take some apocalyptic photos.

4. Volcanoes and glaciers

This region has many glaciers and volcanoes that you can climb: Licancabur Volcano (Licancabur, 5960 meters), Candelaria Glacier (Nevado Candelaria, 5995 meters), active volcano Ollague on the border with Chile (Ollague, 5865 meters).

The active volcano Uturuncu (Uturuncu, 6020 meters) is a great opportunity to add a climb of 6000 meters to the treasury of your achievements. And while climbing the Tunupa volcano (Tunupa, 5432 meters) from the side of the village of Kokesa, you can also visit the caves with pre-Inca mummies. 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 route.

It is necessary to preliminarily go through acclimatization at altitude for several days before starting the ascent.

5. Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Wildlife Refuge (ReservaNationalDeFaunaAndinaEduardoAvaroa)

The landscapes of the Eduardo Avaroa National Park are beautiful and mesmerizing. One of the places even bears the name "Desert of Salvador Dali" - because the views are as surreal as the paintings of this artist. There are so many colors here: colorful fields of quinoa, red, yellow and green lagoons with pink flamingos, snow-white peaks of mountains and dark peaks of volcanoes.

Herds of wild vicunas, domestic llamas and alpacas with colored pompoms and tassels in their ears graze in the vast desert fields, wild foxes run and - which is quite amazing! - 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

As water sharpens 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 in guidebooks. A huge stone block standing on a thin “leg” is really 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 algae and plankton, they also provide food for numerous flamingos.

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

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

It smells of sulfur here, and the ground is covered with seething puddles of mud in clouds of steam. But the view of the dawn valley with pillars of steam rising from the ground here and there deserves an early rise.

- thermal springs Polkes (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 of hot thermal water, where you can relax and warm up.

NB: Bring your bathing suit and towel with you.

- Green Lagoon

When it blows strong wind, the lagoon becomes a rich green-blue color. This is due to the minerals contained in the water: lead, sulfur, arsenic, and calcium carbonates. These same minerals keep the lagoon from freezing even when the temperature drops to -20C.

During the calm, the lagoon does not change color.

- Desert Salvador Dali

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

Excursions and tours in Uyuni

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

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

three daytour to uyuni, the most popular, includes all the highlights: Uyuni salt marsh, Incahuasi Cactus Island, Colored lagoons with flamingos, Sol de Magnana Valley of Geysers, Green Lagoon, Dali Desert, Stone Tree, overnight in a salt hotel and bathing 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 tour:

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 draw up a program taking into account the wishes of tourists and, for example, add climbing 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 low season", but many tourists tend to get to Uyuni just 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 get to Cactus Island only during the dry season.

Weather in Uyuni

It is very cold at night in the mountains, in some months the temperature drops to -10C. And during the day the air heats up and the sun heats very actively. Therefore, you will definitely need warm clothes for the evening and night, and light clothes for the daytime.

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

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

Take good sunscreen and a hat with you. And, of course, sunglasses - so much reflected sunlight few other places on Earth.

Acclimatization at altitude

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

Tourist access to Uyuni

Keep in mind - as such, 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.

Also on the lake dangerous places, on the surface of which water is seething - without knowing these places, you run the risk of failing along with the car.

Another problem that tourists face during excursions in Uyuni is drunk 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 in from La Paz in the morning and fly back in the evening. In this case, hotel accommodation is not 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 marsh 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 uniqueness 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. In the area of the salt marsh and national park no high end hotels.

Glamping /Glamping

Spending the night right in the middle of a salt marsh under a star-studded sky sounds tempting, doesn't it? Glamping - tents on high supports, which are set up on the Uyuni salt surface 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 operate daily flights on the route La Paz - Uyuni, the flight takes less than an hour.

By bus

The drive from La Paz to Uyuni takes 10 hours.

Several local companies offer overnight transfers in comfortable buses with reclining seats and meals. Buses arrive in Uyuni at 7-8 am.

By train

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