Two of the 4×4 jeeps used by the tour companies to get you onto the Salar de Uyuni. We’ll go into more detail about all of the above. Tours are generally marginally more expensive (everything is in Chile compared with Bolivia!) but standards of tour operators are often better and it saves you having to take the long and uncomfortable bus across the border from Calama (Chile) to Uyuni. This is also because you’re taking a route northwest (whereas those from Uyuni are taking a loop west).Ī final alternative for visiting the Bolivian salt flats is from San Pedro de Atacama, a town across the border in Chile.

Tours departing from Tupiza take a different route to those leaving from Uyuni because fewer tourists choose to start their salt flats tours from here, you can guarantee you’ll see fewer other tourists during most of your trip. You can take a bus, train, plane, or a combination of all three to Uyuni, the town nearest to the location of El Salar de Uyuni.Īlternatively, you can take a tour from Tupiza, a town located some 200 kilometers south of Uyuni.

Sitting at over 3,500 meters above sea level (11,995 feet), the Salar de Uyuni is a remote and remarkable landscape, featuring prehistoric lakes, perfectly conical volcanoes, and unexpected wildlife as a result, getting here does take time and effort. The Bolivian salt flats are located in southwestern Bolivia and within the Bolivian altiplano, a high-altitude plateau that extends from southeastern Peru into this neighboring country.

How much does it cost to go to the Bolivian salt flats?.

Where to stay in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

What should you pack for visiting the Salar de Uyuni?.

Top tips for taking a tour of the Bolivian Salt Flats.

Recommended tour guides from San Pedro de Atacama.

Recommended tour guides for El Salar de Uyuni.

Salar de Uyuni tours from San Pedro de Atacama (Chile).

What can you expect from Salar de Uyuni tours?.

Visiting El Salar de Uyuni in late March or late November.Visiting El Salar de Uyuni between April and October.Visiting El Salar de Uyuni between December and March.When should you visit the Bolivian Salt Flats?.

Atacama to bolivia salt flats