La Paz - Uyuni - La Paz Tour By Plane

Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) and South Lipez - Uyuni tour and South Lipez 3 days

This 3-day tour of the Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) and the South Lipez is the classic tour of this spectacular area. From Uyuni, you visit the train cemetery, the picturesque village Colchani, and "Ojos del Salar ", as well as the island Incahuasi.

The first day ends after a visit to the "Cuevas Galaxias" in Chuvica in the Lipez desert. On the second day we drive through the Lipez Desert and visit the Salar de Chiguana, the Ollaguë volcano, and the Siloli desert (with the stone tree) and we drive along the famous Jewel Route (lagoons Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiar Khota, Honda, Ramadita, Khara and the Laguna Colorada).

On the last day, we cross one of the most desolate regions of Bolivia and we can bathe in the thermal springs of Polques, see the geysers of "Sol de Mañana", and the Laguna Verde at the foot of the Licancahur volcano. We cross the Salar de Challviri and visit the "stone city", Alota and San Cristobal before we again reach Uyuni.

Day 1: La Paz - Uyuni - Colchani - Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) - Incahuasi Insel - Cueva de las Galaxias - San Pedro de Quemez

In the morning you are transferred from your hotel (La Paz center) to the airport in El Alto for your flight to Uyuni. During the short flight, you can observe the Altiplano, and if the weather permits you’ll have a great view of the different lakes and Salt Flats of the region. From the airport, you are transferred by a shuttle from the airline company (allow for approx. 8bs per person) to Uyuni.

We start our journey from Uyuni around 10h30 in the morning and our first stop will be the locomotive cemetery which is a vestige of more prosperous times. From here we continue to Colchani which is a small village situated on the edge of the Salar and whose inhabitants live from salt exploitation.

In Colchani we discover how the salt is processed manually and we visit the small salt boutique, which also serves as a museum, where we can see large salt carvings and other objects (pottery, jewelry, tools, etc.). After this impressive visit with the craftsmen on the top of the world we enter the famous Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats); the biggest salt desert in the world with an acreage of 10.582km²/4.086mi2.

One of the particularities of the Uyuni Salt Flats is that it contains a reserve of 9 million tonnes of Lithium which represents 40% of world production. We head to the Island Incahuasi which mistakenly is better known as the Fisherman’s Island. This geological formation is a remnant of petrified coral and is covered in giant cacti that can get up to 12m/39.37ft high.

From the top of the island, we have a wonderful 360° view of the Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats). After lunch, our journey continues in the direction of Puerto Chuvica. We have the possibility to visit the “Cueva de las Galaxias” which is a strange phenomenon of fossiled algae which reminds us that the ocean was present here all the way to Oruro.

In the adjacent cave, we can observe the Chullpares which are Inca funerary remains. We climb to the viewpoint from where we have an unobstructed view of the desert and if we take a closer look we can also observe the fossil coral that once was part of an impressive coral barrier.

After this impressive visit, we continue to San Pedro de Quemez situated at the doors of the Lipez desert. We arrive at San Pedro de Quemez around 16h00 and the evening is free. L/D

Day 2: San Pedro de Quemez – Salar de Chiguana – Ollagüe Volcano – Siloli Desert – Ruta de las Joyas Alto Andinas (Lagunes Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiar Khota, Honda et Ramaditas) – Ojo de Perdiz

We continue our tour of south Bolivia and from Puerto Chuvica we pass the Uyuni – Ollague railway, which is the property of the FCA (Empresa Ferroviaria Andina), before crossing the Salar de Chiguana. We observe the still active volcano Ollague and even from far we can see its fumarole. We follow the famous Jewel Route which is composed of the Lagunas Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiar Khota, Honda, and Ramadita. We arrive at Ojo del Perdiz in the Siloli Desert where we spend the night. B/L/D

Day 3: Ojo de Perdiz – Stone Tree - Reserva Nacional de la Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa - Laguna Colorada – Geyser de Sol de Mañana – Polques Thermal Spring – Dali Desert – Laguna Verde – Salar Challviri – Ciudad de Piedra - Alota – San Cristóbal – Uyuni - La Paz

Today we visit the Stone Tree (please refrain from climbing on the rock) planted in the middle of the Siloli desert and later we enter the Reserva Nacional de la Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa where we arrive at the Laguna Colorada. This Alto Andina Laguna gets its name because of the red color which is caused by microscopic shellfish which is the principal nutriment of the rose flamingos that live in this area.

Due to climate changes (lack of rain) and the high evaporation of the Altiplanic basin the water level of the region Lagunas is reduced rapidly which year after year also reduces the population of the flamingos.

Our tour continues in the southern direction to the Laguna Verde – one of the most southern points in Bolivia. We leave the Laguna Colorada in order to go even deeper into the Reserva Nacional de la Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. We visit the boiling geysers of Sol de Mañana which is an impressive geothermal field with pits of boiling mud and strong smells of sulfur.

Our tour continues in the direction of the thermal bath of Polques, a natural source of hot water where we have the possibility to go for a swim. We continue through the South Lipez and we observe the “Damas del Desierto” which are enormous rocks planted in this barren landscape and carved by the wind and weather over the years. We also cross the Dali Desert, which was named in reverence to the Catalan artist because of the resemblance of the landscape with the unreal yet natural colors to the masters’ work.

We continue to the Laguna Verde and Blanca at the foot of the Licancahur where we stop to take a few pictures. The Laguna Verde gets its green color from the high concentration of lead, arsenic sulfur, and calcium – please refrain from bathing From the Laguna Verde we start our drive back north.

We pass by the small village Villamar which seems lost in the middle of the gigantic Lipez desert before passing by the biggest mining project in Bolivian history at San Cristobal. We arrive around 18h00 in Uyuni and we will be transferred straight to the airport. Upon arrival in La Paz, a member of our team will transfer you to your hotel (La Paz center). BL End of our services

General Information

Highlights: Train Cemetery, Colchani, Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats), Incahuasi island, Jewel Route, Laguna Colorada, Stone Tree, Polques thermal springs, Laguna Verde, Siloli Desert, Stone Town

Support Team: Spanish speaking driver/guide or Spanish speaking driver and English speaking guide depending on the chosen option

Guaranteed departure: from 2 people

Transportation: Arrival and departure by plane with transfer Town hotel - Airport - Town hotel

Difficulty Level: Short hikes

Comfort: 2 nights in the hotel with a private bathroom

Elevation: La Paz between 3600m/11.810ft and 4200m/13.780ft, Uyuni 3650m/11.980ft/11.980ft and South Lipez up to 4900m/16.080ft

Included in the price:

- Transfers and transport as outlined in the program
- Accommodation in hotel in Uyuni (2 nights)
- Meals as indicated in the day a day program (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, and D=Dinner)
- The assistance of your driver/guide or driver and guide depending on the chosen option and his expenses and fees

Not included in the price:

- Entrance fees to parks, sites, and museums
- Everything not mentioned in “Included in the price”
- Obligatory personal travel insurance
- Possible visa expenses
- Personal equipment

Expenses during the tour:

- Tips, drinks, and other personal expenses
- Meals not mentioned