VI
EN
Salar de Uyuni stretches for over 10,500 km.2Located at an altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level, the area's terrain is completely flat and dotted with small "islands" such as Isla Incahuasi.
The salt flats were formed because the Altiplano plateau lacks drainage outlets, so when water evaporates under the harsh sun, layers of salt and calcium sulfate remain on the ground. Along with the wind, the salt in Salar de Uyuni is constantly changing over time.
When water accumulates, the salt field becomes a giant mirror reflecting everything.
Bolivian women, resplendent in traditional Cholita dresses, pose in the salt flats.
Scattered across the salt flats are remnants of volcanoes, forming striking black dots against the white landscape. Here, visitors will also find traces of coral and seashells, as the entire area was once a vast salt lake about 40,000 years ago.
The backlit shots taken at Uyuni also created quite unique images.
During the monsoon season in southwestern Bolivia, the thin layer of water transforms Salar de Uyuni into a giant mirror. The climate here is harsh, with freezing nights, strong winds, and rainfall reaching only 400 mm per year.
The most popular way to visit the Salar de Uyuni salt flats is by off-road truck tour. Each tour accommodates a maximum of 6 visitors. You should bring plenty of warm clothing, a sleeping bag, raincoat, boots, sunscreen, and accessories to protect your eyes and skin from the sun.
The best time to visit Salar de Uyuni is in July and October, when the weather is quite pleasant. However, to admire the giant mirror-like surface, visitors should come in March or April. Most tours to the salt flats depart from the towns of Uyuni or Tupiza.
Due to its remote location and altitude of up to 5,000m, tours can cause health problems such as altitude sickness, shortness of breath, and dizziness. To overcome this, tourists can acclimate to the altitude in La Paz for a few days or bring along medication.
The local boy lay flat on the salt flat, taking pictures of the dinosaur up close while tourists posed playfully in the distance.
To get here, visitors can choose flights to Ororo city, then connect by train or bus, a journey time of 7-8 hours. Alternatively, visitors can also depart from La Paz and Potosi cities.
Not only is it a popular tourist destination, this vast salt flat is also the source of livelihood for many Bolivian families.
Architectural structures made of salt in the Uyuni salt flats.
If you've visited Salar de Uyuni, you should experience a stay at the area's famous salt hotel. Due to the geographical difficulty in transporting materials, the locals have created bricks from blocks of salt. In addition, beds, tables, and toilets are also made from this material.
Many flags of countries around the world are planted at an old hotel in the Uyuni salt flats.
