Travelstone: Uyuni

Uyuni Bolivia

The Salar de Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) is the largest salt flat in the world, spanning 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 square miles). It's located in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí, in the southwestern part of Bolivia, near the peak of the Andes Mountains, and sits at an elevation of 3,656 meters (11,995 feet) above sea level. The Salar was created due to changes between several prehistoric lakes. It's covered by a few meters of salt crust, which is remarkably flat, with average elevation changes of less than one meter across the entire Salar. This crust not only serves as a source of salt, but also covers a pool of brine that is extremely rich in lithium. In fact, it holds between 50% and 70% of the world's known lithium reserves, which are currently being extracted. The vast size, clear skies, and exceptional flatness of the Salar make it an ideal location for calibrating the altimeters of satellites observing Earth. The Salar is also a major transportation route across the Bolivian Altiplano and serves as a significant breeding ground for several species of flamingos. Additionally, the Salar de Uyuni acts as a climatological transition zone. The towering tropical cumulus congestus and cumulonimbus incus clouds that form in the eastern part of the salt flat during the summer are unable to penetrate its drier western edges, near the Chilean border and the Atacama Desert.

Recommended airport

Uyuni Airport (UYU)

Nearby destinations

Colchani a 21.11 km

Our ideas

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Peru, Bolivia and Chile: From the Andes to the Great Deserts 25 Days / 24 Nights

12 Destinations 24 Nights

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From US$10,971 Total Price

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Destinations: Lima, Nazca, Peru, Arequipa, Chivay, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Puno, La Paz, Uyuni, Colchani, Siloli desert, San Pedro de Atacama

Peru and Bolivia: Andean Cosmovision 23 Days / 22 Nights

8 Destinations 22 Nights

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Destinations: Lima, Nazca, Peru, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco, Aguas Calientes, Puno, Uyuni, La Paz

Ecuador, Peru y Bolivia: The Great South American Route 22 Days / 21 Nights

9 Destinations 21 Nights

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Destinations: Quito, The Galapagos Islands, Lima, Nazca, Peru, Puerto Maldonado, Cusco, Puno, Uyuni, La Paz

Colombia, Peru and Bolivia: Andean route, coffee and flavors of South America 19 Days / 18 Nights

8 Destinations 18 Nights

Holidays package

Image - Colombia, Peru and Bolivia: Andean route, coffee and flavors of South America 19 Days / 18 Nights

From US$6,370 Total Price

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Destinations: Bogotá, Pereira, Colombia, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Puno, Uyuni, La Paz

Rendez-vous en Bolivie

10 Destinations 12 Nights

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From US$6,576 Total Price

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Destinations: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sucre, Potosi, Sucre, Uyuni, Sierra Gorda, Conca, San Pedro de Quemes, Uyuni, La Paz, Uyuni, La Paz, Copacabana, La Paz, Copacabana, La Paz, Coroico, La Paz, Coroico, La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Duo Bolivie Pérou | Terrestre avec vols domestiques

10 Destinations 13 Nights

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Destinations: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, La Paz, Copacabana, Puno, Cusco, Aguas Calientes, Cusco, Lima

Découverte de la Bolivie, La Perle des Andes | Terrestre avec vols domestiques

6 Destinations 11 Nights

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Destinations: Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Sucre, Potosi, Uyuni, La Paz, Copacabana, La Paz, Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Perú & Bolivia Un'Avventura Andina (Voli inclusi)

9 Destinations 12 Nights

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From US$6,324 Total Price

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Destinations: Lima, Cusco, Lima, Aguas Calientes, Cusco, Aguas Calientes, Cusco, Puno, Copacabana, La Paz, Copacabana, La Paz, Sucre, Colchani, Sucre, Uyuni, Colchani, Uyuni, La Paz, Uyuni, La Paz

Uyuni, Bolivia

Uyuni Bolivia

Our ideas

Peru, Bolivia and Chile: From the Andes to the Great Deserts 25 Days / 24 Nights

Peru and Bolivia: Andean Cosmovision 23 Days / 22 Nights

Ecuador, Peru y Bolivia: The Great South American Route 22 Days / 21 Nights

Colombia, Peru and Bolivia: Andean route, coffee and flavors of South America 19 Days / 18 Nights

Rendez-vous en Bolivie

Duo Bolivie Pérou | Terrestre avec vols domestiques

Découverte de la Bolivie, La Perle des Andes | Terrestre avec vols domestiques

Perú & Bolivia Un'Avventura Andina (Voli inclusi)