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SALAR DE UYUNI in BOLIVIA
Practical information to best organize your trip to this destination with details on when to go, necessary documents, how to get around and much more
SHORT HISTORY of the SALAR DE UYUNI
In ancient times the Salar de Uyuni was a body of water called Lake Minchin and today it has become the largest salt flat in the world with a surface area of over 10 thousand km2. It is considered to be a lake that progressively dried up about 40 thousand years ago, leaving behind an immense expanse of saline rocks. Today it is an important tourist destination but it is also essential for the extraction of lithium, an essential element for the production of batteries for electric cars.
WHERE IS the SALAR DE UYUNI
The Salar de Uyuni is located in the Daniel Campos province of Potosì, Bolivia. It is located on the southern Andean plateau at approximately 3650 m above sea level. The main city is Uyuni, while many hotels are in Colchani (in the Salar). The main airport is Uyuni, with flights from La Paz.
WHEN TO VISIT the SALAR DE UYUNI
The Salar de Uyuni can be visited all year round but the best time to visit it is the southern summer (from November to March), the rainy period. In fact, in this period the salar is completely covered with a thin layer of water which transforms it into a mirror.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO GO to SALAR DE UYUNI
4x4 jeep tours usually last 3 days, but prices vary depending on the experience you want to have. A standard jeep excursion to be shared with other travelers costs between € 150.00 and € 500.00 depending on the category of Tour Operator you choose. If you are staying in Uyuni you can also opt for a day tour with lunch included.
HOW TO VISIT the SALAR DE UYUNI
It is not possible to visit the Salar de Uyuni independently but an organized 4x4 tour lasting one or more days is required, depending on the starting point. Those who land in the capital, La Paz, can arrive in Uyuni by plane with a national flight of the Amaszonas or Boliviana companies, or alternatively by land with night buses that operate the La Paz-Uyuni route (between 10 and 12 hours). Another alternative is the train that passes through Oruro, but seats are limited and must be booked promptly.
WHAT TO SEE in the SALAR DE UYUNI
WHAT to SEE near UYUNI (Southern part - Lagoon area)
WHERE TO SLEEP in the SALAR DE UYUNI in BOLIVIA?
The Hotels made of Salt from the Salar de Uyuni
the 5 Best Hotels made of Salar de Uyuni Salt?
Colchani - Hotel Palacio de Sal
Colchani - Hotel de Sal Luna Salada
Uyuni - Casa de Sal - Salt Hotel
Uyuni - Hotel Cristales De Sal
Uyuni - Hotel Jardines de Uyuni
CITIES to VISIT near the SALAR DE UYUNI
In addition to visiting the Salar de Uyuni we recommend visiting these splendid towns:
Potosì
During a trip to Bolivia, it is impossible not to visit the town of Potosí which, with its 4060 meters above sea level, is one of the highest cities in the world! There are many things to see in Potosí, which owes its existence to the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) that looms above the city, arguably the richest source of silver the world has ever seen. Today Potosí, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a treasure of colonial art and architecture.
Sucre
Sucre is defined as the most beautiful city in Bolivia, so much so that UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in 1991. Sucre today is the constitutional and historical capital of Bolivia. It is currently the seat of the Supreme Court of Justice and other public bodies. Known as the White City for the color of its colonial buildings. Sucre contains much of the history of Bolivian and South American independence. Unmissable: the Casa de la Libertad, Catedral Metropolitana de Sucre, the Convento de San Felipe Neri, the Recoleta or Monasterio de Santa Ana de Montesión and the Mirador La Recoleta.
San Cristóbal
An important commercial center, with a strong presence of farmers, traders and artisans. The city is also famous for the production of coffee and honey. It is also a place of tourist interest, with its forests, mountains and lakes. The San Cristobal mine is the largest mining operation in the country and one of the world's largest producers of zinc, lead and silver.
WHERE TO EAT near the SALAR DE UYUNI
BEST TYPICAL RESTAURANTS near the SALAR DE UYUNI in BOLIVIA Quality/Price
Uyuni - €€€ - Tika Restaurante en Uyuni
Uyuni - €€ - The Hot Spot Uyuni
Uyuni - €€ - Level Club
Uyuni - €€ - Bouquet Du Vin Vinoteca
Uyuni - € - Llama Cafe
TRAVEL TIPS to VISIT the SALAR DE UYUNI in BOLIVIA by World Mappers
How best to visit the Salar de Uyuni? Simply by choosing 4x4 jeep tours and it is highly inadvisable to venture alone and on foot as the desert is so large and uniform that getting lost would be all too easy!
How to dress? During the day there are pleasant temperatures (24-25°C), but as soon as the sun goes down the temperatures drop below zero. The difference is very noticeable and therefore we advise you to dress in layers and bring at least a heavy fleece and a windbreaker.
We relied on Joker Expedition, Bolivia (ask for Jose - seen by the World Mappers) for a 3-day tour (Day 1. Salar de Uyuni + Day 2. Valle de Rocas & Laguna Vinto + Day 3. Transfer from Uyuni to Potosì and then to Sucre - price $425.00 per person)
CHEAP CAR RENTAL in BOLIVIA
To travel around Bolivia you need a rental car. We have chosen to rely on DiscoverCars.com, the best car rental website where you can search, compare and save up to 70%, a real bargain right? They will help you choose the perfect car for your next trip, without having surprises of car delivery surcharges, and where it suits you best. Then just download their App to manage your booking wherever you are.
TRAVEL INSURANCE for BOLIVIA
Before any trip it is good to take out insurance to cover any inconveniences that could ruin the experience. We always rely on HeyMondo which allows you to choose the right insurance for every need. We recommend that you always protect yourself with health insurance and coverage for any cancellations, delays and, if you use them, for theft or breakage of electronic equipment. Medical treatment in Bolivia can be very expensive. Health insurance in this country is not mandatory by law but is strongly recommended; without it, even a routine visit can make you shell out staggering amounts.
You will get an immediate 5% discount
INTERNET & PHONE CALL in BOLIVIA - eSIM CARD
How many times do we go abroad and the first thing we do is call home to say we have arrived. How often are we in a city on vacation and we need to find a place to eat using Google Maps or the internet. How many times do we need to send messages and photos on WhatsApp without spending a salary.
Tired of spending millions when abroad calling or using the internet?
Here is the SOLUTION we use: Holafly, a new technology with eSIM. Order your eSIM on the website and within minutes you will receive an email with a QR code. Just scan it and you'll be connected to the internet right away. You save time, stress and above all do something good for the environment by not having a physical SIM. If you are in a hurry and have to leave tomorrow and have not thought about the internet problem, you can solve it very quickly with this eSIM, and there is no problem that you could accidentally lose it or damage it while traveling. Most importantly, with the eSIM you don't have to change or remove your regular SIM card, you can leave it in the phone and use the eSIM instead of the physical one.
Don't waste time and above all don't spend millions, activate your Holafly eSim.
It is very easy, but how to do it? It only takes 3 steps and voila!
Holafly also offers data plans with unlimited data to many of the main destinations in the world: for example USA, Indonesia, Europe, Mexico, Thailand and many more.
This is a "new" technology and not all devices are compatible with it, but you can check which phones are already compatible with the eSIM at this link: https://esim.holafly.com/how-to/esim-phones.
You will get an immediate discount of 5% with the "WORLDMAPPERS" Discount Code
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