Teacher MarSalar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flat, Bolivia)
"Salar de Uyuni: Magical Realism in the Bolivian Altiplano"
World's largest salt lake known as Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni salt flat) is a visually captivating place, one of the most stunningly beautiful places you will ever come across in Bolivia and South America.
A surreal vision in the Bolivian Altiplano created by amazing geological formations, geothermal springs and brine lakes.
Covering an area of over 10,000 square km. in the departmentes of Oruro and Potosi (SW Bolivia), Salar de Uyuni is estimated to have a reserve of 10 billion tons of salt.
Some 40,000 years ago the region was covered by the giant salt lake Minchin. At some point the lake dried, leaving behind two small lakes (Poopó and Uri Uri) plus two salt lakes: Coipasa and Uyuni.
Your exploration will begin at the town of Uyuni, that seats on the edge of the salt desert near the border with Chile, at an altitude of 3,670 m. (12,040 f.) above sea level.
A four-day tour will cost you around U$D 100, plus park's entrance fee and tips to the guide.
You are better off by carrying some cash with you, small denominatons either Bolivars if Dollars and, of course, your camera gear by all means.
Salar de Uyuni has an average annual temperature between 20 degrees Celsius and -25 C. in winter.
From July to November the salt bed is very dry while in summer (November to March), being the rainy season, you might find it inundated, which makes the whole experience even more surreal.
A very unique South America vacation.
Salar de Uyuni Attractions:
> Isla de los Pescadores (Inca Huasi): Amazing place full of giant cacti that rises 150 meters above the surface of the salt lake.It also has archaeological remains from the Tiwuanaku and Inca civilizations.Salar de Uyuni is a fantasy world of its own you shouldn't miss.
> Isla Cáscara de Huevo (Eggshell island)
> Tunupa and Jiriri volcanoes
> Laguna Colorada (Red laggon)
> Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon)
> Hotel de Sal (Salt hotel). Almost entirely built with salt, including furniture.
As much as no tour to Peru would be complete without a visit to Cuzco and Machu Picchu, your Bolivia travel experience should include a visit to Salar de Uyuni, one of the greatest natural wonders in the heart of South America.
How to Get There:
By Air:
From Cochabamba (Bolivia) there are a couple of weekly flights with Líneas Aereas Canedo- around U$250 return. Check before as the Uyuni air strip was under remodeling last year.By Bus:
From La Paz: around 12 hours ride.By Train:
From Potosi: 7 hours.
From Oruro: 4 hours.
There are also buses from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.
Uyuni town is an important transport hub in the region and several lines cross it. If coming from Argentina, take a train at Villazon, border with Bolivia. Around four times a week at the price of U$D8.00.
There is also a train connection from/to Calama, Chile.
Credits:
- Article adopted from: http://www.unique-southamerica-travel-experience.com/
- Photo taken from: Salar de Uyuni's article on Wikipedia.org