Undoubtedly one of the absolute highlights from my South American trip was the 3 day Salar de Uyuni tour in Bolivia. It's 3 days of driving around in a jeep in the mountainous south west corner where Bolivia meets Chile. Prepare yourself for endless deserts, reflective salt plains, wildlife and gorgeous landscapes. This is a tour not to be missed! Here's my guide on how to book the Salar de Uyuni tour in Bolivia...and also how to prepare for it.
With the Salar, my first bit of advice is don't book it in advance - there is no need to do that. The best place to book it is in Uyuni, though you can also book it in Potosi or La Paz. Don't book it before you get to Bolivia.
The Salar de Uyuni tour can be booked in Chile as well as in Bolivia but I booked mine from the Bolivian side so this report tells you how to book it and do it from Bolivia.
How to book the Salt Plains tour:
- Ask at the hotel or hostel for help booking a 3 day tour. They normally can help you and the 3 day tour is the best option.
- Once they give you a price, head out and ask around to get the cheapest price - dont pay more than 100 dollars - you can easily get a decent tour for 3 days for $80.
- Be flexible with dates (I booked mine on a Tuesday night and started the tour on the Friday morning - this was over 2 days in advance, allowing me to see Potosi on the way to Uyuni).
- Make sure the cost includes getting picked up from your hostel and 3 days of food.
- Find out exactly when and where the start and finish point of the actual tour will be so that you can book a hostel or bus for the next part of your journey.
- Ask them what other costs you will incur - this could be tips, national park entries etc. Visiting Laguna Colorada has an entrance charge.
- Make sure they give you a receipt for the tour - you usually pay the full amount at the start.
Preparing for the salt plains tour:
- If you are heading across the border into Chile at Hito Cajun, ask about the passport situation (most people have to get their passport stamped in Uyuni before heading on the tour - this is important).
- Take a lot of water with you - around 4 litres should be fine. It's a desert you are visiting and although they provide drinks at mealtimes, they don't provide water.
- Bring some beer or wine with you - a great way to interact with your travel mates at night and no alcohol is provided on the tour.
- Bring sun screen and insect spray. You'll need them.
- Phone, internet, e-mail etc. is not available on the tour. It's probably a good idea to let your friends and family know this at the start.
- Try and leave your bags at a hostel before starting the tour (as long as you're heading back to Uyuni)
- Make sure you take your passport with you. Just in case you fancy heading to Chile spontaneously...(although you'd also need your Bolivian exit stamp in advance). You may also be asked for your passport at the entrance to Laguna Colorada National Park.
- Get your cameras, iPods etc. batteries all charged beforehand as the places you stay may not have sockets or electricity.
Well that sums it up for you - the salar de Uyuni is quite simply a brilliant tour and one that will linger with you forever in the memory. You will love it. Get out there and see it - the incredible salt plains of south western Bolivia.
With the Salar, my first bit of advice is don't book it in advance - there is no need to do that. The best place to book it is in Uyuni, though you can also book it in Potosi or La Paz. Don't book it before you get to Bolivia.
The Salar de Uyuni tour can be booked in Chile as well as in Bolivia but I booked mine from the Bolivian side so this report tells you how to book it and do it from Bolivia.
How to book the Salt Plains tour:
- Ask at the hotel or hostel for help booking a 3 day tour. They normally can help you and the 3 day tour is the best option.
- Once they give you a price, head out and ask around to get the cheapest price - dont pay more than 100 dollars - you can easily get a decent tour for 3 days for $80.
- Be flexible with dates (I booked mine on a Tuesday night and started the tour on the Friday morning - this was over 2 days in advance, allowing me to see Potosi on the way to Uyuni).
- Make sure the cost includes getting picked up from your hostel and 3 days of food.
- Find out exactly when and where the start and finish point of the actual tour will be so that you can book a hostel or bus for the next part of your journey.
- Ask them what other costs you will incur - this could be tips, national park entries etc. Visiting Laguna Colorada has an entrance charge.
- Make sure they give you a receipt for the tour - you usually pay the full amount at the start.
Preparing for the salt plains tour:
- If you are heading across the border into Chile at Hito Cajun, ask about the passport situation (most people have to get their passport stamped in Uyuni before heading on the tour - this is important).
- Take a lot of water with you - around 4 litres should be fine. It's a desert you are visiting and although they provide drinks at mealtimes, they don't provide water.
- Bring some beer or wine with you - a great way to interact with your travel mates at night and no alcohol is provided on the tour.
- Bring sun screen and insect spray. You'll need them.
- Phone, internet, e-mail etc. is not available on the tour. It's probably a good idea to let your friends and family know this at the start.
- Try and leave your bags at a hostel before starting the tour (as long as you're heading back to Uyuni)
- Make sure you take your passport with you. Just in case you fancy heading to Chile spontaneously...(although you'd also need your Bolivian exit stamp in advance). You may also be asked for your passport at the entrance to Laguna Colorada National Park.
- Get your cameras, iPods etc. batteries all charged beforehand as the places you stay may not have sockets or electricity.
Well that sums it up for you - the salar de Uyuni is quite simply a brilliant tour and one that will linger with you forever in the memory. You will love it. Get out there and see it - the incredible salt plains of south western Bolivia.
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