4-Day Uyuni Salt Flats from La Paz to Atacama in Chile

Depart La Paz for an unforgettable expedition through the vast and blinding-white salt flats of Uyuni and into the desert of southwest Bolivia. Along the way, visit tiny villages, salt hostels, multi-colored lakes with flamingos, geysers, and thermal hot-springs at 4,000 - 5,000m.

Highlights:
- Take wacky pictures in the famous Salar de Uyuni
- Drive through the Bolivian Altiplano’s moon-like deserts
- Marvel at breathtaking red and green colored lakes
- See active volcanoes and relax in therapeutic hot springs

Itinerary

Day 1: Transfer to Uyuni (D)

Stop At: Salar de Uyuni, Uyuni Bolivia
Enjoy a free day at your leisure. We'll send a driver to pick you up from your La Paz hotel at around 20:00, and transfer you to the bus station. From here, you'll catch your overnight bus from La Paz to Uyuni and enjoy a light dinner on the bus.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in night bus (unguided)

Day 2: Uyuni Salt Flats (L/D)

Stop At: Salar de Uyuni, Uyuni Bolivia
We'll pick you up from the bus station around 07:00am and you'll have some leisure time to have breakfast. Then, your adventure begins at 10:30am! We'll first visit the Train cemetery to discover very old locomotives from the Carbon era. Next is the town of Colchani, where we will see the manual processing of salt, handicrafts and the salt museum. Then, we'll make for the Uyuni Salt Flats (12,000 km2) and will see the “Montones de sal” and how locals extract the salt. Next, we'll visit Playa Blanca hotel and the Incahuasi Island with its giant cacti that is located in the middle of the salt flats. It's the perfect spot to have lunch, enjoying an amazing view. Then, we will continue our trip to the town of San Juan or Atulcha (3,700 masl). Tonight will be spent at a small salt hostel.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in a small salt hostel.

Day 3: Eduardo Avaroa Andean Flora and Fauna Reserve (B/L/D)

Stop At: Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna, Bolivia
Today we will depart at 08:30am. We'll visit Salar de Chiguana, viewpoint of the Ollague Volcano (active), and then visit the Andean lagoons of Cañapa, Chiarcota, and Hedionda, located at an average altitude of 4,300masl. Here, you can see flamingos, vicuñas and other Andean fauna. We will then pass through the Siloli desert and visit the Stone Tree, formed due to erosion. In the afternoon, we will visit Laguna Colorada (4,300masl) where we can see more wild animals. We will continue to Huayllajara, where our small hostel is located at an average altitude of 4,300masl. Please consider that the temperature is very low at night (even -20 °C), so it is recommended to bring a sleeping bag.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight in Huayllajara in a small hostel.

Day 4: Sol de Mañana, Dali Desert and crossing to Atacama (B/L)

Stop At: Salvador Dali Desert, Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve Bolivia
Today we will depart at 05:00 am to visit the active geysers of Sol de Mañana, which are located at an altitude of 4,900masl. Marvel at the fumaroles or boiling lava at a temperature of 90° C. Then, we will continue to the thermal waters of Polques, where we can take a hot bath. We will pass through the Dalí desert until we reach the spectacular Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. We will pass through the Dalí desert until we reach the Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. After this, we will continue to the border of Hito Cajon. After the migration process, we will take a shared transportation to San Pedro de Atacama.
Duration: 18 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.