Drive across a boundless white plain to visit the train cemetery, Colchani salt workshops and cactus-covered Incahuasi Island. Time the trip for the wet-season mirror or dry-season clear skies and prepare for a long, high-altitude day.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
You step out of the 4x4 onto a white plain so vast the horizon refuses to meet you; wind chisels the air and the salt underfoot crunches like distant snow. The day unfolds as a series of sharp panoramas: rusting locomotives half-swallowed by sand, a village turning salt into craft, and an island of cactus rising like an atoll in a polished ocean.
Difficulty
moderate
Duration
14–15 hours
Fitness Level
Suitable for most fitness levels but requires stamina for a long day at high altitude; expect minimal walking but long periods in a vehicle.
Wildlife
History
The flats were once the bed of a giant Pleistocene lake; local Aymara communities have harvested salt for centuries and 19th-century mining left the rusted train cemetery nearby.
Conservation
The salt crust is fragile; stick to marked tracks, avoid driving off-route, and pack out all waste to protect the surface and local water sources.
Reserve your spot on the Full Day Private Tour of the Salar Uyuni today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Acclimatize before the tour
Spend 24–48 hours in Uyuni or Potosí to reduce altitude sickness risk; take it slow and hydrate well.
Sun and glare protection
Bring high-SPF sunscreen, wraparound sunglasses, and a wide-brim hat—the salt amplifies UV exposure.
Dress in layers
Temperatures swing from warm midday to freezing at night; a warm jacket and wind shell are necessary.
Respect the crust
Stay on designated routes and follow your guide to avoid fragile salt formations and hidden soft spots.
High-SPF sunscreen & lip balm
Protects skin from intense UV reflected off the salt flats.
Wraparound sunglasses
Reduces glare and prevents snow-blindness-like symptoms on the reflective surface.
Insulating layers and wind shell
Keeps you warm during cold evenings and blocks wind across the exposed plain.
Sturdy closed-toe shoes
Good traction for walking on uneven salt crust and rocky island trails.