Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world and one of the most amazing natural attractions of Bolivia. Whether you're walking on the seemingly endless white, desolate surface of the dry flats, or admiring the simply perfect reflection of the clouds and blue sky above when there's water - all travellers agree the Salar de Uyuni offers an out-of-this-world experience.

The flats cover an area of over 10,000 km² and to see the best parts, you'll need to cover quite some ground. While it's feasible to explore this unique piece of land on your own, most visitors opt for organized tours along some of the best sights.

Salar de Uyuni Halal Travel Guide

Piles of Salt Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Luca Galuzzi 2006 a - Salt mounds in Salar de Uyuni.

The Salar is part of the Bolivian Altiplano, and its history began when that high plateau emerged as a result of uplift of the Andes. About 30,000 to 42,000 years ago and the area that is now the Salar de Uyuni was a huge, deep lake known as Lake Minchin. As Lake Michin dried up, it left smaller lakes behind, which in turn dried up until two current-day lakes and two salt deserts remained, of which the Salar the Uyuni is the largest one. One of those two lakes, called Poopó, still has a major impact on Salar de Uyuni. As Titicaca, another large current-day lake of the Altiplano, overflows during wet season, it fills up lake Poopó. As Poopó overflows in turn, it floods the salt flats - creating the stunning landscapes of winter, when a thin layer of water creates magical reflections of the sky and anything or anyone on the flats.

The area is biggest lithium reserve of earth - containing some 70% of world's lithium in form of salt. Yearly, around 25,000 tonnes of salt are mined here, out of estimated 10 billion tonnes.

How is the Landscape of Salar de Uyuni

Thanks to the sedimented salt and the area is perfectly flat - which is often used for various technical purposes (testing of vehicles and the like).

In the middle is Isla del Pescado - a volcanic rock. It provides great views and is a natural reservation.

Salar de Uyuni Décembre 2007 - Panorama 1 edit - Incahuasi "island"

Flora and fauna

FishIslandSalarUyuni - Cacti Andean Flamingos Laguna Colorada Bolivia Luca Galuzzi 2006 - Andean Flamingos, south of the Salar

There isn't much flora, mostly just grass and bush. The Isla del Pescado is covered by an ancient cacti forest – cacti like Echinopsis atacamensis pasacana and Echinopsis tarijensis, which grew up to 12 meters high. The cacti grow at pace of 1cm per year, hence their age is up to 1000 years.

In November, three types of flamingoes flock here. 80 other bird species are present, and few other small animals.

How is the Climate in Salar de Uyuni

Very little rain happens in the area, but yearly flooding occurs, mostly in January. At that time the whole area changes to a world's highest altitude mirror. After the water evaporates, bee-hive-like polygons cover the area.

Temperature peaks at 21°C in November-January, and 13° in June. Nights are cold all through the year, -9 to 5°C. Rainfall outside January is almost non-existent.

Dress in layers. Parts of the Salar are very windy, and temperature drops at sunset. Also, make sure to bring sunscreen and lip balm, as the sun is very bright due to the high altitude, and sunlight can reflect off of the salt. A hat is a good idea too, but make sure it doesn't blow away!

Travel to Salar de Uyuni

Vehicle on the Salar de Uyuni - A vehicle on the Salar and the kind usually used for organized tours

Most organized tours start in Uyuni - usually Uyuni Plaza Arce - GPS: -20.463, -66.823 . For independent travellers on a budget it's feasible to hop on a local bus from Uyuni to Colchani, which crosses the salt flats, and ask the driver to let you out where you want to be. This way, you're free to walk around and explore the area on your own but you should count on a hike of at least two hours to any salt hotel. A local bus should cost Bolivia#Money|Bs10, and you can catch a bus in the street where most the bus companies have their offices, around the junction of Cabrera St. and Arce Av. La Paz’s Terminal de buses.

Single-day and multi-day tours are available. Multi-day tours allow you to see more, including nearby desert areas beyond the salt flat itself, but they also bring a greater risk of altitude sickness as they go to significantly higher altitudes.

Alternatively, you can start your trip from Tupiza GPS -21.437, -65.720}}. Tour prices are more or less the same as in Uyuni, but tours starting from here often include more lakes and interesting rock formations. Because this option is less popular, you probably won't encounter as many other tourists on your tour. The end point is Uyuni, although there are options for transportation to Chile.

• San Pedro de Atacama GPS -22.90, -68.22 (Chile) provides virtually identical tours to those from Uyuni, only reversed, and about 50% more expensive.

Fees and prices

No fees or permits are required to enter the salt flats itself, but the vast majority of visitors come on an organized tour.

As of 2022, expect to pay somewhere around Bs. 200 per person for a one-day tour (including lunch) and at least Bs. 600 for a 3 day tour (including lodging, meals, water and toilet paper), plus Bs. 50 if you want onward transport to San Pedro de Atacama. Many 3-4 day tours get sold for around Bs. 800-850, but they are crucially all the same and if you are good at bargaining, aim for the Bs. 600 mark. For the several day tours, you might require an additional Bs. 200 for national park entrance (Laguna Colorado), rest-rooms and thermal pools, etc., but this is paid directly on-sight, and not to the agency nor the driver. Do not fall for the double room extra pricing of US$100 or so—this is way overprived and sometimes you even get a double room anyhow for the first night.

Tours are cheaper for larger groups, so if you're by yourself or with just one friend, try to meet other people and form a group of four to six for a better per-person rate. However, this shouldn't really be off your concern, because often Muslims are shuffled around to fill the cars. It seems actually to be more a way of tricking people into believing they have to pay more. Do not fall for this scam, just head to the next tour agency.

Simple sunrise/sunset tours for photography go for Bs. 130, for a fully loaded van.

How to get around in Salar de Uyuni

-21.06|-67.15|zoom=7}} Standardized car-tours are the most common way of visiting the salt flat. Because of the sheer area size and hostility of the environment, moving by feet or even bicycle is not easy.

The salt flat is difficult to navigate if you don't know what you're doing. Tour guides are familiar with the monuments and mountains in the distance and use them extensively when driving around the salar. Trying to navigate it on your own is not recommended.

What to see in Salar de Uyuni

• Train Graveyard - 20.479, -66.834 - The famous lot of old wrecked steam locomotives.

• Colchani, Bloques de Sal - 20.301, -66.938 A salt processing village, 7 kilometers north of Uyuni. Lots of salt souvenirs available for purchase, and there's a small museum of salt statues.

Salt-Mining Area - GPS: -20.321, -66.994 Area with many salt piles, weighing roughly a ton each, which are left there to dry.

• Isla del Pescado - Isla Incahuasi, "fish island" -20.243, -67.625 - Bs30 Isla del Pescado - The "island" of fossilized coral, covered in ancient cacti that grow only a centimeter a year. It's not an island in the strictest sense, just a big rock sticking up out of the otherwise flat ground, but the salt near the edge of it looks strikingly like water coming up to the shore. The island has a hiking trail to the top, for truly surreal views of the salar. It also has a restaurant, and lunch is eaten by most tour groups on the western "shore" of this island. There are well-maintained restrooms.

Pulacayo - GPS: -20.3892, -66.7003 Nearby world's second largest silver mine, at this historical site there's the Bolivia's first rail road and a train robbed by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. - Pulacayo

• Laguna Hedionda - GPS: -21.568, -68.05 A lagoon where the flamingos can be observed.

Viscacha Area. A rocky outcropping with a colony of Viscachas, trained by the guides to come out for the food. Arbol de Piedra - GPS: -22.0517014,-67.8829092. "Stone tree", an isolated sandstone formation eroded by winds carrying sand. - Árbol de Piedra

• Laguna Colorada - GPS: -22.2, -67.8 Bs. 30 (Bolivian citizen), Bs. 150 (foreigner) to enter Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa. A red-coloured lake, by algae, with flamingoes present too.

Sol de Manaña - GPS: -22.435014 ,-67.75791 A geyser basin, including bubbling sulphur pools, normally visited at sunrise. - Sol de Mañana

• Laguna Verde - GPS: -22.795, -67.84 A lake colored by heavy metals (Arsenic, Lead, Copper etc.). The laguna only shows green when it's windy, which is often not the case in the early morning (common visit time of tours) Vulcán Lincacabur - Licancabur GPS -22.833611,-67.882778 is reflected in the lake.
• Laguna Blanca GPS -22.800 ,-67.794. A borax-filled white lake. Laguna Blanca (Bolivia)
• Laguna Celeste GPS -22.2125, -67.108333. A lake at the foot of the Uturuncu GPS -22.27,-67.18 - Uturunku volcano, called according to the color of its clear blue water (caused by magnesium and manganese). Andean flamingos feed and form large flocks here. Laguna Celeste
• Laguna Amarilla. A yellow lake, colored by sulphur, with old cave paintings nearby.

San Antonio ruins GPS -21.874167,-66.881834. An abandoned 16th century mining town, where slave labour was used. Guides provide different stories why it's no longer inhabited. An equally named village is nearby, but it's not overlooked by the ominous volcano Uturuncu. Valles de Rocas - GPS: -21.7262437, -67.5242843 . As the name says - valleys of rocks, The guides will do the common thing - try to point out some look-alike objects. Sillar - GPS: -21.4, -65.85 . Giant columns of clay nearby Tupiza, which were formed by erosion. San Cristobal - GPS: -21.15475, -67.16657 . A town nearby the homonymous mine - one of the largest mine facilities in Bolivia. The town was formerly nearby the mine, but was completely moved to a this area. There was a 350-year-old church in the city - it was not destroyed, but instead transported and rebuilt stone-by-stone at the new spot, including the cemetery. The altar within is made of silver - likely because the mine is 3rd largest silver producer of the world.

• Tunupa Volcano - 19.83, -67.64 - Tunupa Volcán Tunupa & Salar de Uyuni - A dormant volcano that some longer tours allow you to hike up. At some times of year you can see flamingos eating microorganisms at the foot of the volcano.

Best things to do in Salar de Uyuni

• Termas de Polques thermal spas (Muslim Friendly) - 22.536, -67.649 - Bs. 6Adjacent to Salar de Chalviri, allowing for hot spring swim. Primitive bathrooms are included in the price.

Balancing (3059078793) - Trick photography at the Salar de Uyuni

• Trick photography – The beautiful, otherworldly Salar is great for photography. In particular and the large, flat, homogeneous nature of the area provides an excellent opportunity for trick photography with objects out of proportion. With some careful staging and trial and error, you and your friends can take pictures of someone with giant shoes, balancing on budgets, or holding a tiny person in their hands. (These are just a few ideas to get you thinking...). If you get a very good guide, he will take care of most funny motives.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Salar de Uyuni

Your big shopping opportunity is at Colchani, which has lots of stands selling clothes, food, and all kinds of trinkets and souvenirs. Beyond that, you can find souvenirs in the town of Uyuni.

Halal Food & Restaurants in Salar de Uyuni

Tours should provide meals, and Vegetarian options are feasible. You may end up eating a meal at a salt hotel, even if you don't sleep there. Isla Incahuasi also has a restaurant.

The tours sometimes bring not enough water supply. Get informed, you may need to take 2 l more per day.

eHalal Group Launches Halal Guide to Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni - eHalal Travel Group, a leading provider of innovative Halal travel solutions for Muslim travelers to Salar de Uyuni, is thrilled to announce the official launch of its comprehensive Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Salar de Uyuni. This groundbreaking initiative aims to cater to the diverse needs of Muslim travelers, offering them a seamless and enriching travel experience in Salar de Uyuni and its surrounding regions.

With the steady growth of Muslim tourism worldwide, eHalal Travel Group recognizes the importance of providing Muslim travelers with accessible, accurate, and up-to-date information to support their travel aspirations to Salar de Uyuni. The Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide is designed to be a one-stop resource, offering an array of invaluable information on various travel aspects, all carefully curated to align with Islamic principles and values.

The Travel Guide encompasses a wide range of features that will undoubtedly enhance the travel experience for Muslim visitors to Salar de Uyuni. Key components include:

Halal-Friendly Accommodations inSalar de Uyuni: A carefully selected list of hotels, lodges, and vacation rentals that cater to halal requirements, ensuring a comfortable and welcoming stay for Muslim travelers in Salar de Uyuni.

Halal Food, Restaurants and Dining in Salar de Uyuni: A comprehensive directory of restaurants, eateries, and food outlets offering halal-certified or halal-friendly options in Salar de Uyuni, allowing Muslim travelers to savor local cuisines without compromising their dietary preferences in Salar de Uyuni.

Prayer Facilities: Information on masjids, prayer rooms, and suitable locations for daily prayers in Salar de Uyuni, ensuring ease and convenience for Muslim visitors in fulfilling their religious obligations.

Local Attractions: An engaging compilation of Muslim-friendly attractions, cultural sites such as Museums, and points of interest in Salar de Uyuni, enabling travelers to explore the city's rich heritage while adhering to their values.

Transport and Logistics: Practical guidance on transportation options that accommodate Muslim travel needs, ensuring seamless movement within Salar de Uyuni and beyond.

Speaking about the launch, Irwan Shah, Chief Technology Officer of eHalal Travel Group in Salar de Uyuni, stated, "We are thrilled to introduce our Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide in Salar de Uyuni, a Muslim friendly destination known for its cultural richness and historical significance. Our goal is to empower Muslim travelers with accurate information and resources, enabling them to experience the wonders of Salar de Uyuni without any concerns about their faith-based requirements. This initiative reaffirms our commitment to creating inclusive and memorable travel experiences for all our clients."

The eHalal Travel Group's Halal and Muslim-Friendly Travel Guide for Salar de Uyuni is now accessible on this page. The guide will be regularly updated to ensure that Muslim travelers have access to the latest information, thus reinforcing its status as a reliable companion for Muslim travelers exploring Salar de Uyuni.

About eHalal Travel Group:

eHalal Travel Group Salar de Uyuni is a prominent name in the global Muslim travel industry, dedicated to providing innovative and all-inclusive travel solutions tailored to the needs of Muslim travelers worldwide. With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, eHalal Travel Group aims to foster a seamless travel experience for its clients while respecting their religious and cultural values.

For Halal business inquiries in Salar de Uyuni, please contact:

eHalal Travel Group Salar de Uyuni Media: info@ehalal.io

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Salt hotel - Salar de Uyuni - A salt hotel

If you take a multi-day tour and the tour will organize lodging for you.

Salt Hotels GPS -20.331, -67.047. Several hotels made of salt, non-free entrance. You might stay here during multi-day tours.

For lodging before and after your trip to the Salar, look for a place in Uyuni#Sleep|Uyuni or Tupiza#Sleep|Tupiza.

Stay Safe

• In the tours, drunk drivers are a possibility - do not risk if you have a suspicion.
• Taking emergency supplies is advisable if undertaking a private trip. With organized tours, most follow the same path - thus another truck will meet you in minutes.
• You will be travelling at high altitudes. Make sure to take necessary precautions to prevent altitude sickness. Take the time to get acclimated and educate yourself on the symptoms, methods of prevention and treatments. The German embassy in La Paz is said to already have a "storage room" for deceased because of the causalities. Highest visited point of the area is about 5,000 m, and sleeping at 4,200 m - in this regard, it's better to start from Uyuni (3,700 m) than from Tupiza (3,000 m).

Travel Next

• The Atacama Desert is not too far away, across the border in Chile. San Pedro de Atacama is the gateway to this region's incredible landscapes, and especially Valle de la Luna (the "Valley of the Moon").
• Jujuy, Argentina – deserts and colorful mountains to the south
• Oruro – just an overnight train away from Uyuni, and known for its carnival
• Potosí – a high-altitude silver mining town a few hours away from Uyuni by bus
• Tupiza – small town southeast of the salt flat with beautiful mountainous surroundings.

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