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Desert to Salt Lake: San Pedro to Uyuni

cost

GBP £230

departure

Daily

duration

4 Days

locations

Salt flats, Salt Lakes, Uyuni, San Pedro de Atacama

purchase this tour

A 4-day rough-and-ready adventure through the most spectacular scenery in South America

Driving across the world’s largest salt lake, the Salar de Uyuni, is truly one of the greatest experiences available to the South American traveller. This short trip is simply bursting with natural wonders: coral islands at over 4,000m (13,000ft); multicoloured lakes; rocks sculpted by the wind; craters bubbling with lava; volcanic landscapes giving way to the eerie stillness of the desert. Unmissable.

Day 1: San Pedro de Atacama - Vilamar

Today we take a bus from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile to Hito Cajon on the Bolivian border: here we meet our driver and four-wheel-drive transport.

Highlights of the day include the spectacular Sol de Mañana Geysers, craters of boiling lava, and Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) which is jade coloured … and arsenic-laden!

We spend the night in the unspoilt village of Vilamar.

Day 2: Vilamar - San Juan: All meals

Today, we drive through the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna: one highlight is the Laguna Colorada (Coloured Lagoon), so named on account of the striking contrast of the white shores, encrusted with salt and borax, and the flaming red of the algae-rich waters. This lagoon is also home to the world’s largest population of the rare James Flamingo.

We continue to San Juan where we spend the night in a basic hostel.

Day 3: San Juan - Uyuni: All meals

This morning, we depart San Juan in our four-wheel-drive vehicle, for our first glimpse of the world’s largest salt lake (salar).

Driving across the Salt Lake, we arrive at Fish Island (Inkawasi), a solitary outcrop of rock in the middle of a white ocean, where hundreds of giant cactus bloom - the only vegetation to be seen. On the way to the town of Uyuni, we stop in the village of Colchani to see traditional methods of salt-extraction in action.

We continue to Uyuni where we spend the night in a hotel.

Day 4: Uyuni

Transfer out to continue your journey.

END OF OUR SERVICES

This journey can be done from to Uyuni (Bolivia) to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile). See Salt Lake to Desert: Uyuni - Atacama.

This tour is designed to be fitted together with our other tours in Boliva, such as La Paz Stopover or Chile, such as Atacama Dreaming.

Desert to Salt Lake-Fast Facts

Accommodation	Tourist class hotel in Uyuni Basic lodges
Inclusions	3 nights’ accommodation Driver (Spanish-speaking) Meals as stated in itinerary: NB. box lunches Entrance fees Transfers
Difficulty Rating	3 (High altitude; basic accommodation)
Sustainability	Local foods used on tour Carbon Offsets not available for this tour
Single Surcharge	$US 70 (or other currency equivalent)
Notes	We would recommend packing clothing suitable for a mountain environment, including sun protection. A sleeping bag is necessary. Weather at high altitude can change very quickly and the sun reflected off the Salt Lake is particularly strong. A private version of this tour with English-speaking guide can be organised
Price dependent on:	Availability

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