Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

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Length: 3:18.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pn2r
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Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia is the world's largest salt flat. It is considered one of the most extreme and remarkable vistas in all of South America, if not Earth. An estimated eleven billion tons of salt is believed to be within this destination. It covers more than 4,050 square miles of the Altiplano (the area where the Andes are the widest). Salar de Uyuni developed due to prehistoric lakes which evaporated 10,000 to 25,000 years ago. Wildlife is rare here but it does have many pink flamingos.





Elizabeth Unger for National Geographic states that, "At certain times of the year, nearby lakes overflow and a thick layer of water transforms the flats into a stunning reflection of the sky. This beautiful and otherworldly terrain serves as a lucrative extraction site for salt and lithium -- the element responsible for powering laptops, smart phones, and electric cars. In addition to local workers who harvest these minerals, the landscape is home to the world's first salt hotel and populated by road-tripping tourists. The harsh beauty and desolateness of Salar de Uyuni can make for an incredible experience or a logistical nightmare."





Salar de Uyuni has two seasons. The rainy season from December to April and the dry season from May to November. During the rainy season, visitors come to see the mirror effect but rain can cause tour cancellations. In the dry season, temperatures are colder, the ground has hardened, and visitors can drive to places that aren't accessible in the rainy season. June through August is when visitors come the most according to tour operators. One thing is it gets bitterly cold and nighttime temperatures in winter can drop to -4F (-20C).





You can experience altitude sickness if you have not become acclimatized because Salar de Uyuni is nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. Salar de Uyuni is the major transport route across the Bolivian Altiplano. It also has been used as a filming location for movies such as Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Fall, The Unseen, and Salt and Fire.

You can visit Salar de Uyuni in one day from 10 am to late afternoon. A three-day tour may be the best way to go. However, because all standard tours see visitors staying in basic local shelters which are little more than shared dormitories with limited electricity and running water. Of course you get what you pay for and it may be a good idea to pay extra so the tour goes off without a hitch. Tupiza is the best place to start your tour and the tour operators are notably better.





The famed mirror effect happens only after heavy rains, so arrive during the wet season of January and March for a chance to see this phenomenon. Many tours do also visit other attractions in the area. Such as, Polques hot springs, the Atacama Desert, and high-altitude lakes like Laguna Colorada. Tours that originate in either San Pedro de Atacama and Tupiza have itineraries that include these places. Also, to visit Bolivia a $160 tourist visa for those from the U.S. is required as well as a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you happen to come from a country with a risk of yellow fever.

Polques hot springs:


Atacama Desert:


Laguna Colorada:


Tours do originate from three places: Uyuni which is the most popular and where you are able to visit for one day; San Pedro de Atacama, Chile which is a three day tour; and Tupiza, Bolivia which is a four day tour and visiting Salar de Uyuni the last day.





I hope you enjoyed the tour!



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