Gateway to the world’s largest salt flats, Uyuni is a small town in the remote altiplano region of southwestern Bolivia.
Beyond marveling at the saline wonders, taking in breathtaking vistas, witnessing unique cultures, and understanding the remnants of a bygone era are some of the the things to do in Uyuni, Bolivia.
In this comprehensive guide, to help you plan your own trip, we are going to share the best activities and tours to do in Uyuni, along with other travel planning logistics like how to get there, where to stay, best time to visit, and more.
Uyuni: Quick Overview
🌟 Top Experiences: Exploring the vast Uyuni Salt Flats, visiting the eerie Train Cemetery, hiking Isla Incahuasi’s giant cacti, watching sunset on the salt flats, stargazing under the Milky Way, and staying at a unique salt hotel.
Most visitors experience these on a 1-day or 3-day tour from Uyuni town.
🛻 Book A Tour: We went on this 3-day salt flats tour and loved it.
❓Comparing Options? Read our guide on choosing the best salt flats tour.
🗓️ Best Time to Visit
| Season | Months | What to Expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | May to November | Clear skies, easier driving, colder nights |
| Wet | December to April | Mirror effect, possible road closures |
🚌 Getting There: La Paz to Uyuni | Sucre to Uyuni
🏨 Where to Stay:
| Type | Our Pick |
|---|---|
| Salt hotel (luxury) | Palacio del Sal |
| Salt hotel (premium) | Hotel de Sal Altipax |
| Mid-range apartment | The Little House ApartHotel |
| Budget hostel | Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel |
11 Things to Do in Uyuni, Bolivia
We explored Uyuni and its surrounding attractions as part of a three-day tour from Uyuni, Bolivia to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
To conclude the three-day Salar de Uyuni tour, they do come back to the starting point in Uyuni.
But if you wish to travel onwards to Chile, you can mention that at the time of booking. It will be handled accordingly.
Whether you explore Uyuni Salt Flats and around on a multi-day tour or take day trips or book individual activities or drive your own camper van or vehicle, here is our roundup of all the things to do in Uyuni, Bolivia.
Skip Uyuni Town
Sure, you did not expect this on the list!
Particularly when we always start our destination guides with activities like , “book a free walking tour”, “wander around in town” and “explore the neighborhoods on foot”.
While Uyuni town is your launchpad and a practical base for trips into the mesmerizing salt flats of Bolivia, the town itself offers limited attractions and lacks an interesting character of its own.
You will find quiet streets, some souvenir shops and a range of accommodations. But the atmosphere in Uyuni seems to be covered in a film of salt and sand.
During the time we spent in the town itself, we felt Uyuni looked like the set of a dusty town during the day, while the nights were too cold to venture out. There isn’t much to do anyway at night in town.
So, our personal view is that, travelers may find it more rewarding to focus their time on the natural and historical wonders outside of the town of Uyuni. Having said that, a brief exploration can offer insights into the daily rhythms and struggles of a remote Andean community.
Explore Salar de Uyuni: The World’s Largest Salt Flats
A trip to Uyuni would be incomplete without setting foot on the iconic Salar de Uyuni. Stretching over 10,000 square kilometers, this vast salt desert forms a blindingly white landscape that sits on the remnants of ancient lakes.
The salt flat’s sheer size and the play of light provide the opportunity for the perfect perspective-bending photographs.
During the rainy season, the surreal nature of the flats becomes even more magical. The temporary water layer settled on the salt table creates the illusion of a sky on earth, often referred to as the world’s largest natural mirror. This creates remarkable reflection photography opportunities.
We visited Uyuni Salt Flats in the dry season. So we did not get to see this mirror effect. Yet, the scenery was no less spectacular. The sight of salt flats spanning as far as the eye could see in the distant horizon, and the interesting polygonal shapes in the foreground, painted a mesmerizing scene.
To witness the spectacle of Salar de Uyuni for yourself, book one of these tours. Note that, some of these tours may include few of the other things to do listed in this article.
Group Day Trip of Salar de Uyuni
Uyuni Salt Flat 1 Day Tour +Sunset in the Salt Water Region with Mirror Effect: From train cemetery to salt mining village to island of giant cacti to sunset of salt flats, visit all the attractions of Uyuni salt flats in just one day. Tour in 4X4 vehicle. Lunch and snacks with wine at sunset are included in the tour price.
Book your Uyuni Salt Flat 1 Day Tour here →Private Day Trip of Salar de Uyuni
Private Day Trip Salar de Uyuni: Similar to the tour above, but this is a private trip. So expect personalized attention, tour customization per your preference (where needed) and intimate lunch set-ups.
Book your Private Uyuni Salt Flats Day Trip here →Biking in Salar de Uyuni
Guided Bicycle Tour of Uyuni Salt Flat with Lunch: On this private group tour, see all the highlights of Salar de Uyuni in one day, but add the exhilarating experience of riding a bicycle on the vast expanse of the salt flats where you on your bike are wrapped dreamily between the blue sky and the white salt flats.
Professional bicycle, helmet and safety equipment, first-aid kit and the services of a professional guide are all included in the tour price, in addition to lunch and transportation in 4X4 vehicle.
Book Your Guided Bicycle Tour of Uyuni Salt Flat with Lunch →Multi-Day Tour of Salar de Uyuni
3-Day Tour to Salt Flats and Lagoons: Our favorite (and the one we took ourselves), this is the most comprehensive all-inclusive tour of Uyuni Salt Flats.
On this tour in a land cruiser, apart from experiencing the massive salt flats of Uyuni, expect to:
- hike an island with huge cacti
- stop by indigenous villages
- visit colored lagoons and altiplano deserts
- spot thousands of flamingos and dozens of alpacas and vicuñas
- soak in outdoor hot spring in almost freezing weather
- see the Milky Way with naked eyes
- admire desert landscapes and unique stone formations
- witness spectacular sunsets
- stay at salt hotel one of the nights
❓ Not sure which tour to book? Read our guide on how to choose the best salt flats tour.
Watch our YouTube video about the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia:
Visit the Train Cemetery
About 10 minutes drive away from the town of Uyuni lies the eerie Train Graveyard.
Once upon a time, Uyuni used to be a functioning rail route to transport minerals to other parts of the continent. And not just a station, it was also a point of repair for trains.
But then, as the train routes became obsolete, the trains just remained there, abandoned. Uyuni was too remote a place to carry the trains back from there to another place.
So, the steam locomotives from the 19th and 20th centuries slowly started to rust away.
Since this was no organized museum, neither did the government make it a protected place, it gradually became a place where anyone could do anything, likes graffiti on the decaying trains.
And soon, because of its uniqueness, the Train Cemetery became a place of tourist interest, a must visit on your trip to Uyuni.
On our visit, we marveled at how the industrial might of the past is juxtaposed against the surreal landscapes of the altiplano, creating for an post apocalyptic feel.
While our minds delved into the thoughts of what once was and what it became, we also had fun walking among these giants, exploring the train skeletons, from the top and from the front, from inside and outside.
Since this has now grown into a popular tourist spot, you will also see additional manmade installations like giant-size figures of the characters from the movie series Transformers, and a touristy sign of Uyuni, all made with iron.
Note: Train Cemetery is a stop included in many Uyuni Salt Flat tours.
Left: Indranil on the top of a train wagon. Right: Pubali, inside a train engine.
Hike Isla Incahuasi (The Cactus Island)
Isla Incahuasi, also known as the Cactus Island, is an isolated rocky outpost in the middle of the salt flats. It is covered with ancient giant cacti reaching for the sky.
Eons ago, this hilly island was submerged beneath a vast lake. Over time, the lake water around the island evaporated and the salt settled, creating the largest salt flats in the world.
Wind blew over this massive open horizon and brought the elements for the cactus trees to grow. And they continued to thrive for centuries in a seemingly inhospitable environment.
As you drive on the salt flats of Uyuni, pull over, pay the Incahuasi Island entrance fee and make a short hike on the island.
Get close to the giant cacti, get a glimpse of the region’s history through fossilized coral in caves, and as you reach the highest point on the island, you get mesmerized by panoramic views of the salt expanse below.
Incahuasi Island was my favorite stop on the grand salt flats of Uyuni. It is an interesting combination of gorgeous views and geography, hike and history.
Tip: There is a decent well-maintained bathroom on this island. Use it!
Note: Isla Incahuasi is a stop included in many Uyuni Salt Flat tours.
Take Photos at the Dakar Rally Monument
The Dakar Rally, one of the most challenging motorsport events in the world, made its mark on Uyuni.
In recognition, the Dakar Monument stands proud on the salt flats. For motorsport fans, it is a symbol of determination and adventure, capturing the essence of the rally that tests the limits of human and machine against tough terrain.
But this monument is not just for racing enthusiasts. It has now become a significant photographic spot against the vast background of the flats.
Few meters from the monument stands an elevated platform of salt, where flags of several nations stand tall and fly high.
For us, it was an inexplicable feeling of discovering our flag of India, thousands of miles away in Bolivia, in one of the remote corners of the earth. Of course, we found the flag of our host country Costa Rica and took a photo with that too.
Note: Dakar Monument is a stop included in many Uyuni Salt Flat tours.
Learn about Salt Harvesting in Colchani Village
Colchani, a small village on the edge of the Salar, is home to the salt gathering industry. Here, visitors can discover how local artisans harvest salt from the crust of the flats using age-old methods, an integral aspect of their livelihood.
Listening to the stories and the methods of the salt extraction process helped us appreciate the symbiotic relationship between the community and the environment.
Colchani is also where we had the lunch break on the first day of our 3-day salt flats tour. So we had plenty of time to look around the village, see the salt bricks and check out some museums and shops.
Note: Colchani Village is a stop included in many Uyuni Salt Flat tours.
Buy Unique Salt Souvenirs
Do you like purchasing souvenirs on your trips? Then, when in Uyuni, pick up some unique souvenirs made entirely of salt!
The quaint market stalls in Colchani have on display interesting keepsakes crafted by local artisans. Choose from intricately carved salt llamas to beautifully packaged salt ideal for cooking.
By purchasing such souvenirs, you not only collect tangible memory of your journey, but also support the local economy and craft traditions.
Note: Colchani Village is a stop included in many Uyuni Salt Flat tours.
Watch the Sunset on Uyuni Salt Flats
To me, sunsets are special anywhere on earth. So, experiencing a sunset over the Salar de Uyuni was even more memorable.
As the sun descends, it paints the sky in hues of orange, pink, and purple, reflected perfectly by the salt crust below. We found this natural phenomenon both serene and spectacular, offering a moment of beauty and tranquility.
I think, watching the sun set over the salt flats should be among the top of your list of things to do in Uyuni.
Many tours offer special sunset excursions, like this Uyuni Sunset and Starlight Group Tour. So you get to experience the sunset as well as the night sky on the salt flats of Uyuni.
Book your Uyuni Sunset and Starlight Tour here →
Go Stargazing in Uyuni: See the Milky Way
The high altitude and clear skies of the Uyuni region, the expansive horizon of the salt flats, combined with absence of light pollution make it one of the best stargazing sites in the world.
At night, the salt flats transform into a celestial theatre, with the Milky Way clearly visible above.
We did not specifically book any stargazing tour in Uyuni. However, on the second night of our 3-day Salar de Uyuni tour, we got to see the starry night and Milky Way from a different location. See details about that night in the last item of this list of things to do in Uyuni.
As for a guided astronomy tour, we went for this stargazing tour in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. It was wonderful.
So, if your South America itinerary does not include any other stargazing opportunities, consider going for it in Uyuni. Several tours offer night-time excursions, some equipped with telescopes and guided by knowledgeable astronomers.
Stay at a Salt Hotel in Uyuni
Add this to your Bolivia bucket list: staying at a salt hotel in Uyuni. That’s right, hotel made entirely of salt blocks!
The walls, furniture, and sometimes even the beds are made of salt, providing a truly immersive experience.
We stayed at one such salt hotel during our Uyuni salt flats multi-day tour.
Even if you choose to explore the salt flats on a day tour, or on your own, you can still check off staying at a salt hotel. Just choose one such unique salt hotel for your base location in or around Uyuni.
You can find accommodations in salt hotels for various budget categories. But if you are in Bolivia to celebrate a special occasion with your loved one, why not splurge on the stay at a salt hotel?
Hotel Palacio de Sal boasts luxurious accommodations complete with spa services, where guests can enjoy rustic luxury.
Note: Accommodation in a salt hotel is included in many Uyuni Salt Flat overnight tours.
Take the Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama Tour
For adventurers looking to extend their journey, a trip from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile represents an exciting cross-border expedition.
This route traverses some of the most dramatic landscapes South America has to offer, including desert, salt flats and colorful lagoons inhabited by flamingos, linking two of the continent’s most extraordinary destinations.
Tour companies offer various packages for this journey, which often includes stops at remarkable natural sites along the way.
➡️ Related Reading: How to Choose the Best Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
Our Uyuni-Atacama Tour Experience
We went on this tour and absolutely loved every second of the three days. The guide and the driver were kind, friendly and knowledgeable, and our fellow passengers formed a fun bunch.
The first night, we stayed at a salt hotel.
The stay for the second night was what they called a basic hotel, but it was located right next to a hot spring.
On Day 2, after a filling dinner with a glass of wine, we spent the freezing cold evening soaking in the rich minerals of the thermal waters while watching the starry night and the Milky Way with our naked eyes.
It was a magical night!
The tour with the rest of the group had to get back to Uyuni. But before that, our guide assisted us with the immigration formalities at the Bolivia-Chile border and helped us transfer into the Chile number plate vehicle waiting for us for the journey on the other side of the border.
➡️ Related Reading: Our complete Uyuni to Atacama tour experience
📱 Watch our quick video guide: What to expect on 3-day Uyuni salt flats tour
Recommended Tour
For your trip from Uyuni to Atacama, we highly recommend this 2N/3D tour, the one we took ourselves.
The tour price includes:
| Starter services | Tour briefing, Hotel pick-up |
| Transportation | 4X4 vehicle (shared) + Transfer van on Chile side |
| Accommodation | 1st night: salt hotel, 2nd night: basic hotel |
| Food | -Day 1: Lunch, Tea Time & Snacks, Dinner -Day 2: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner -Day 3: Breakfast |
| Others | ✔️ Services of driver and bilingual (English & Spanish) guide ✔️ Assistance with immigration and border crossing |
Watch our YouTube video about Uyuni to Atacama 3-day tour with trip highlights, tour cost and other related information:
Best Time to Visit Uyuni, Bolivia
Plan your visit to Uyuni depending on how YOU wish to see the salt flats.
From May to November, the weather is dry and the skies are clear. Since there are next to nil chances of trip cancellation due to flooding or bad route conditions, this period offers the best conditions for exploring the salt flats.
However, if you wish to witness the mirror effect on the salt flats, visit Uyuni during the rainy season months from December to April. It does come with the risk of weather related constraints for the tours.
But for the reward of being able to see the world’s largest reflection of the sky, may be you are willing to take that risk?
We visited Bolivia and saw the Uyuni salt flats during the dry season. Sunny days and clear skies accompanied us everyday, and we were amazed to see the striking scenery of the salt flats.
How to Get to Uyuni, Bolivia
Depending on where you are coming from, you can get to Uyuni by flight or by bus or by a tour.
Air vs. Road vs. Rail
Joya Andina Airport of Uyuni facilitates a quick connection from La Paz, with daily flights operated by Boliviana de Aviación.
Although travel times are significantly longer by road, particularly if you are coming from La Paz, you do get to enjoy scenic views of inland Bolivia.
For an immersive Bolivia itinerary, it will be easier to break your road trip to Uyuni via other towns such as Sucre or Potosi.
There is also a passenger train route between Oruro and Uyuni, offering incredible views. After halting its operations for some time, the company seems to be working as normal now.
You can search for train tickets online here on the Ferroviara Andiana website.
From Different Points of Origin
We wanted to take the train from Oruro but it did not work out. So we traveled from Potosi to Uyuni by bus.
If you plan to get to Uyuni from elsewhere, read our guides on how to get from La Paz to Uyuni and from Sucre to Uyuni.
To summarize, here are the ways you can get to Uyuni:
| From | Transport |
|---|---|
| La Paz | Check Flights | Book Bus |
| Oruro | Check Train | Book Bus |
| Sucre | Book Bus |
| Potosi | Book Bus |
🚐 Book your transfer here on Bookaway →
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Where to Stay in Uyuni, Bolivia
Even if you are in Uyuni just for the 3-day all-inclusive tour from Uyuni to Atacama, you will need to spend at least a night or two in Uyuni town itself.
Here are our hotel recommendations for Uyuni, by various categories.
Luxury Salt Hotel: Hotel Palacio de Sal
A luxury hotel with marvelous architecture of salt bricks, offering fancy rooms and spa services on the edge of the salt flats, not exactly in Uyuni, but on the outskirts, near the town of Colchani.
Book on Booking | Book on Expedia
Premium Salt Hotel: Hotel de Sal Atipax
A 4-star salt hotel offering nice rooms with views, an onsite restaurant and a 24-hour front desk. Tariff includes American breakfast and the hotel offers paid airport shuttles.
Book on Booking | Book on Expedia
Mid-Range Apartment: The Little House ApartHotel
Apartment with separate spaces for living area, bedroom, fully-equipped kitchen and private bathroom. 24-hour front desk, luggage storage and mini-market are some of the onsite facilities.
Book on Booking | Book on Expedia
Budget Hostel: Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel
Backpacker friendly hostel with rooms and dorms, fully-equipped kitchen and complimentary breakfast.
Book on Booking | Book on Hostelworld
What to Pack for Uyuni, Bolivia
Uyuni is a cold desert situated at a high altitude. So, the first step to packing for Uyuni is to pack clothing in layers.
Read our guide on what to pack for Bolivia for a comprehensive list of everything you need to visit this beautiful country, including Uyuni.
Bring travel adapter as Bolivia uses 220V and the plug type is A or C.
Here are a few essentials you must pack for the Uyuni part of your Bolivia trip:
- High SPF sunscreen for the harsh sun
- Lip balm with SPF to deal with the extreme dry climate
- Swimwear for the hot springs (do not miss it!)
- Rain poncho, if visiting during the rainy season
- Visa (if applicable) and Passport, if continuing overland from Uyuni to Atacama
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Where Next?
After soaking in the wonders of Uyuni, you may want to choose your next destination. Here are our ideas for potential natural next stop for your Bolivia travel plan, or a broader South America trip itinerary.
If you arrived in Uyuni, Bolivia from Chile
La Paz
From Uyuni, head directly to La Paz if you only have about a week in Bolivia.
It is a cultural hotspot surrounded by Andes mountains at 11940 feet above sea level, and also, the administrative capital of Bolivia.
Because of the international airport near La Paz, it makes for a logical base for your outbound flight from Bolivia.
Read: 4-days in La Paz itinerary
Sucre
If you have about two weeks in Bolivia, visit Sucre from Uyuni.
Spend a few relaxing days in this White City, enroll in classes and improve your Spanish, and learn about the history of Sucre, the first and the constitutional capital of Bolivia. “Siempre la capital“, as the people of Sucre call their city.
Read: Things to Do in Sucre
Potosi
To visit an offbeat place in Bolivia, take a trip from Uyuni to Potosi.
Once the richest city in the world, Potosi has a heart-rending story of its fall. Spend a couple of days in this high altitude city and try to get a sense of the glory that Potosi once was.
Read: Is Potosi worth visiting?
If Uyuni is your last destination in Bolivia
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
For a multi-country itinerary of Bolivia and Chile, travel from Uyuni, cross over the salt flats of Bolivia and other spectacular landscaped of the altiplano region of Andes, and arrive at San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.
As you arrive in Atacama, prepare to witness some more of our planet’s striking landscapes. Watch video here.
Read: Things to do in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Back to La Paz or Santa Cruz, Bolivia
If it is time to head back home after Uyuni, continue your overland travel to either La Paz or Santa Cruz, from where you can get your outbound flight from Bolivia.
FAQs: Uyuni, Bolivia
Is Uyuni worth visiting?
Yes. While Uyuni town itself is basic, it is the gateway to Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flats and one of South America’s most spectacular landscapes.
How many days do you need in Uyuni?
We recommend 1-3 days for Uyuni. A day trip covers the salt flats highlights, whereas a 3-day tour includes lagoons, flamingos, hot springs, and optionally ends in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
What is the best time to visit Uyuni?
Dry season, from May to November, for clear skies and easier access, and wet season, from December to April, for the famous mirror effect on the salt flats.
Can you visit Uyuni Salt Flats without a tour?
Technically yes, but not recommended. The salt flats are remote with no services, and it is easy to get disoriented. Tours provide transportation, food and safety.
Plan Your Bolivia Trip:
- 2 Weeks in Bolivia Itinerary
- Bolivia and Peru Itinerary
- Chile Bolivia Peru Itinerary
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Travel Resources
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- Hotels: Booking.com | Expedia
- Tours: Viator | GetYourGuide
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