Bolivian Salt Flats
3 days
from La Paz to La Paz
From
$ 598
Duration3 days
Travel from La Paz to the spectacular Salar de Uyuni. Experience the surreal beauty and overwhelmingly vast expanse of Salar de Uyuni on this journey to one of South America’s most striking natural landscapes. This is a place where things are put in perspective; where the enormity of the scene highlights the fragility of everything else, where harsh is beautiful, time is obscured and reality seems more like a dream.
This tour is operated by
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Duration: 3 daysService level: Standard
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Starts in: La PazPhysical Grading: Light
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Ends in: La PazAges: 5+
Tour Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1: La Paz
Start place: La Paz
Kamisaki! Welcome to Bolivia. Today is arrival day so there are no activities planned until an important welcome meeting at 6 pm in the hotel with our local representative.
Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details to provide to your leader. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, you may wish to arrive a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).
Day 2: Salar de Uyuni
This morning you will be transferred to La Paz airport in time for your unescorted flight to Uyuni. The exact flight time will be advised at your evening meeting on Day 1.
At Uyuni airport you will be met by your Uyuni local guide who will accompany you for the duration of the Salt Flats tour.
The remote town of Uyuni sits on the edge of the high altiplano, which extends towards the border with Argentina and Chile. Your first stop will be at the Train Cemetery. Uyuni was once a distribution hub for trains carrying minerals on their way to Pacific Ocean ports. In the 1940s the mining industry collapsed and many trains were abandoned.
Next, visit the small town of Colchani, where you'll see how the locals farm and process salt from the Salar.
Finally it’s time for highlight of this trip: the Uyuni's salt flats. The flats are a 12,000-square-kilometre expanse of perfectly flat salt. Spend a full day exploring the lake by 4WD. Make sure you snap some classic perspective-bending photographs with your group. Discover the cacti and coral-like structures on the rocky island of Isla Inca Wasi.
Weather depending, you will be at the flats well into the evening to watch the sun set over the Salar, before heading back to your hotel in Uyuni Town.
This day tour of Uyuni is operated in pool basis (shared with other travellers) and accompanied by a private English-speaking local guide for you and any other Intrepid traveller taking part of this day tour.
The other non-Intrepid travellers you will share the vehicle with have contracted this one-day tour or the salt flats from Uyuni and their service includes a Spanish-speaking guide only. This “guiding” service is provided to them by the driver of the vehicle.
While in the vehicle, your private guide may share information which will be (inevitably) to the benefit of all passengers on board the vehicle (Intrepid and non-Intrepid)
During activities outside the vehicle, your private guide will provide information to you and any other Intrepid traveller separately to the rest of the group. We have asked other travellers (who may also speak English) to avoid tagging along you and your private guide and to allow your private guide to deliver the service you and your fellow Intrepid travellers have paid for.
The vehicles used during this activity are normally Toyota Land Cruisers and they can take up to six passengers plus the driver.
At Uyuni airport you will be met by your Uyuni local guide who will accompany you for the duration of the Salt Flats tour.
The remote town of Uyuni sits on the edge of the high altiplano, which extends towards the border with Argentina and Chile. Your first stop will be at the Train Cemetery. Uyuni was once a distribution hub for trains carrying minerals on their way to Pacific Ocean ports. In the 1940s the mining industry collapsed and many trains were abandoned.
Next, visit the small town of Colchani, where you'll see how the locals farm and process salt from the Salar.
Finally it’s time for highlight of this trip: the Uyuni's salt flats. The flats are a 12,000-square-kilometre expanse of perfectly flat salt. Spend a full day exploring the lake by 4WD. Make sure you snap some classic perspective-bending photographs with your group. Discover the cacti and coral-like structures on the rocky island of Isla Inca Wasi.
Weather depending, you will be at the flats well into the evening to watch the sun set over the Salar, before heading back to your hotel in Uyuni Town.
This day tour of Uyuni is operated in pool basis (shared with other travellers) and accompanied by a private English-speaking local guide for you and any other Intrepid traveller taking part of this day tour.
The other non-Intrepid travellers you will share the vehicle with have contracted this one-day tour or the salt flats from Uyuni and their service includes a Spanish-speaking guide only. This “guiding” service is provided to them by the driver of the vehicle.
While in the vehicle, your private guide may share information which will be (inevitably) to the benefit of all passengers on board the vehicle (Intrepid and non-Intrepid)
During activities outside the vehicle, your private guide will provide information to you and any other Intrepid traveller separately to the rest of the group. We have asked other travellers (who may also speak English) to avoid tagging along you and your private guide and to allow your private guide to deliver the service you and your fellow Intrepid travellers have paid for.
The vehicles used during this activity are normally Toyota Land Cruisers and they can take up to six passengers plus the driver.
Meals: B, L
Day 3: Uyuni/ La Paz
This morning you'll take an included flight back to La Paz airport, where sadly your adventure comes to an end. If you are booking a departure flight from La Paz for this day please ensure it's no earlier than 2pm. Alternatively please check with us within 30 days from departure and we can advise you what time your flight from Uyuni is due to arrive in La Paz.
If you need additional accommodation in La Paz and/or a transfer into the city, we'd be happy to help. Just have a chat with your booking agent.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback helps us understand what we are doing well and what we could be doing better.
Leave your feedback here - www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback
If you need additional accommodation in La Paz and/or a transfer into the city, we'd be happy to help. Just have a chat with your booking agent.
After your travels, we want to hear from you! Your feedback helps us understand what we are doing well and what we could be doing better.
Leave your feedback here - www.intrepidtravel.com/feedback
End place: La Paz
Meals: B
Inclusions
Included
- Uyuni - Full-day 4x4 tour of Salar de Uyuni including a visit to Isla Inca Wasi
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Transport
4x4, Plane -
Accommodation
Hotel (2 nights)