Salt Flat Tour

Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
24-26th May (Thur-Sat)


On Thursday morning Jonathan, Chris, Sian, Grace and myself set off from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile on our Salt Flat tour, ultimate destination being Uyuni, Bolivia. We had shopped around and were able to get a discount because there were so many of us as we'd be able to fill a jeep ourselves. Even though this is how it was promised to us, inevitably it wasn't to be so when we got to the Bolivian border. The legal capacity of the jeeps is six, but we had seven. Immediately we had all made up our minds to write terrible reviews of the tour company on the Lonely Planet forum but in the end despite being terribly cramped for the 3 days we were overall happy with our trip! It was bloody freezing most the time but an absolutely unforgettable experience, best described by the following photos.

Day 1. Casual volcanic activity.

Day 1. I <3 Sulphur

Day 1. Day of lagoons; red lagoon and first flamingo sightings.

Day 2. Early sunrise at our truly terribly hostel.

Day 2. The morning after the worst night sleep in the world. 5 of us spooned in those 2 beds at the end,  we stole blankets from the empty room next door so one bed at 18 blankets and the other 16 or so. To bed I wore 3 pairs of leggings, two thermal tops, a thermal jumper thing, two hoodies, a scarf, gloves and a hat. It was miserable.

Day 2. Random rock collection in the desert.

Day 2. Dali rock tree

Day 2. Frozen lagoon with more flamingos.

Day 2. Lagoon number 7 with flamingo number 2,000.

Day 2. Fiat tractor in a tiny village whose economic activity was based on quinoa and llama.

Day 2. VW hippy van.

Day 2. Dinner on the line at our salt hostel.

Day 2. Tea time with the team in our salt hostel, which was in the absolute middle of nowhere.

Day 3. After a good night sleep we woke up to catch sunrise over the salt flats. This was the view  from the salt flat hostel while I was brushing my teeth outside, using bottle water.

Day 3. Baby blue sun rise!

Day 3. Hello llama!

Day 3. Salar de Uyuni - 170 km x 30 km

Day 3. Ninja time!

Day 3. Hello dinosaur!

Day 3. Uyuni, at least this kid had something to there.

Day 3. Train from Uyuni goes once a week.

Day 3. Train wreck, with an ode to dubstep.

Day 3. Train wrecks.

Day 3. Doggy in Uyuni, thought at the time it was unique to find him lazing about like this but I'm now aware that Bolivia is full of dogs like no country I've ever seen before. Ever.