Uyuni lies in a remote region in the southwest corner of Bolivia known for the world’s largest salt flats, flamingos, extinct volcanoes, deserts, and turquoise lakes.
Salar de Uyuni (the salt lakes of Uyuni) is the world’s largest salt flats measuring more than 10,500 square km. Located at an altitude of 3,656 m above sea level in the Daniel Campos Province, this region is remote, unique, and inhospitable.
We extensively explore the area and bring you our Top 9 sights not to miss when you visit.
1. The Salar of Salar de Uyuni
Unquestionably the highlight of the region is the vast salt flats near the town of Uyuni. You will really stand in awe when, as far as the eye can see, it is salt. Edible salt as in common table salt.
You can drive for miles on end, with no road but faint tracks from the previous vehicle crossing. This area measures more than 10,500 square km which makes it the world’s largest salt flats. Located at an altitude of 3,656 m above sea level, you may even get dizzy if you run around the flat surface. Be here during the wet season and the entire area becomes a vast lake. A shallow salty lake with beautiful reflections which makes for some great photos!
2. Turquoise Lagoons
We all get mesmerised with the word “turquoise”. In particular when we are thinking of turquoise lakes. In this part of the world, there are so many turquoise lakes that after a few days you may be thinking it is just another turquoise lake around the next volcano. But, it is not.
Seems like every turquoise lake has something special to it. Whether its a different backdrop of conical-shaped volcanoes, or a different flock of flamingos, or the collection of llama, alpacas, and vicuñas grazing along the edges of the lake – every turquoise lake is different, and seemingly more brilliant and unique than the previous ones you explored.
Some lakes have a vibrant reddish glow to them encircled by islands and fringes covered in white borax. Brilliant!
3. Llamas and Flamingos
If you are coming for the flamingos, llamas, alpacas, and the shy vicuñas, you won’t be disappointed.
The most impressive wildlife in this part of the world are the flamingos. James’s flamingo, Chilean flamingo, and the Andean flamingo. Early November is breeding time for the flamingos and they come in large numbers to feed on the pinkish coloured algae.
Bring along your long telephoto lens for close-ups, though if you are stealthy, you could get quite close to these birds as they are not too fearful of humans. Should they take to flight en masse, and they will be ready with your high-speed shutter to capture the most memorable in-flight motions.
4. Árbol de Piedra Rock Formation
South America’s Altiplano plateau is surpassed in area and altitude only by that of Tibet. It is a harsh and inhospitable environment with intense, and relentless winds.
Over millennia, strong sand-laden winds have eroded the leftover landscape from pre-historic volcanic eruptions. What we see today are beautifully sculpted rock formations which seem to be carefully carved by skilful artists. View them from all angles, close-up, and be amazed what blowing sand can create.
5. Sol de Manana Thermal Area
You have been to Yellowstone National Park in the U.S. state of Wyoming. You have been to Rotorua in New Zealand. Iceland. Sicily. Hawaii. Costa Rica. You have done all the great thermal active areas. If you haven’t done Sol de Mañana in Bolivia’s Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, then you should!
You most likely will find yourself with no other tourists, no safety railings, no cafes or visitor centre. This place is raw, natural, dangerous, and an adrenaline rush. You’ll get dizzy!
6. Volcanic Mountains
Southwestern Bolivia sits on the Altiplano tectonic plate which has some of the world’s highest volcanoes. Most volcanoes are located along the border with Chile which is part of the so-called “ring of fire”. The volcanoes run down from Chile in the south to Peru to the north.
While most of the volcanoes here are not extremely active, they continuously show that they are more alive than dormant. Depending on the time of the year, many of the peaks are covered in snow.
7. Isla De Pescado (Fish Island)
As you gaze over the vast salt lake, you will see some rocky islands. Quite a few of them. These are the summits of prehistoric volcanoes which once rose from a deep and massive lake, which now is a dry salt flat.
The most prominent islands are Isla Incahuasi (3,687 m) and neighbouring Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) at 3,726 m. The islands are covered in slow-growing columnar gigantic cacti, some of which are over 10 m tall. Watch out for colonies of rabbit-like long-tailed rodents called viscachas
8. Salt Hotels
Check your travel-achievement list. Have you ever slept in a salt hotel? A hotel almost entirely built from blocks of salt. The walls, the furniture, the sculptures, all made of salt. Locally.
“Don’t lick the walls” reads a sign in your bedroom. “It degrades our hotel”.
The first hotel was built in 1993 smack in the middle of the salt flats but with no proper sanitary disposal, it was forced to dismantle a few years later. Now, built on the edge, new hotels are ready to take lots of your money!
9. Train Cemetery
ow many train cemeteries have you ever visited? This could be your first and you will find it a moving experience. A sad occasion indeed, but only if you are a true train lover.
In the middle of nowhere, with the vast Salar de Uyuni as the backdrop, several rusty steam locomotives with their cars, dating from the early 20th century, are lined up on an equally rusty steel track. “How did they get here?” you may ask out loud. As nobody is around to answer, better stop wondering and just take another look.
Known as the official home of Santa Claus, Rovaniemi is also the capital of Finnish Lapland. The town has been aptly called “An urban oasis amidst the Arctic wilderness, where culture, adventure and fairy tales come together”.
☛ Read more: Bolivia’s Rugged Salar de Uyuni
☛ Read more: Wildlife of southern Bolivia
Blog post and photos by Peter who has been travelling almost full-time since 2005 and has been to over 122 countries. He visited several countries, such as Japan, more than 20 times. Peter is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of GlobeRovers Magazine, an independent travel magazine focused on intrepid destinations.