Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Photo Tour

| by Aracely | 20 Comments » | Bolivia, Photo Essays, South America

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

The most popular multi-day tour available for visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats is driving a 4×4 between Tupiza and Uyuni, Bolivia.  This photo essay will take you through our 4-day tour beginning in Southwest Bolivia and ending with a sunrise over the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats in the world.

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 1

We booked our tour through Tupiza Tours, the oldest, highly recommended agency out of Tupiza. Tours from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile and La Paz, Bolivia are also availabe.  With our fuel, food, and backpacks secured on top of the Toyota Land Cruisers, we began our tour.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Toyota Land Cruiser 4x4 Tour Vehicles

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Tupiza, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Leaving Tupiza, Bolivia in our 4x4 Toyota Land Cruiser

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Lunch on a Llama Farm, Day 1 of our Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni Tour

All meals are served everyday by a personal cook that accompanies the tour group. They will meet vegetarian needs.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Driving Through Adobe Villages in the Bolivia Highlands

Be conscious of Bolivia’s indigenous and their absolute desire to not have their pictures taken.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

In the Direction Where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid Were Allegedly Killed

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Bolivia's Highlands

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 2

We continue to climb in altitude reaching Bolivia’s unique and varying highlands.  The majority of these tours is spent driving in the 4×4 vehicles.  Consider yourself lucky if you drive with people you get along with.  Each night we arrived to our destination just before dark, so the schedule is tight.  Remember you are in the highlands and night time can be extremely cold.  All accommodations will provide the bare minimum with no amenities.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Early Morning at the San Antonio Ruins

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Laguna Morejon in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

The View of Bolivia's Mountains from our Tour Vehicle

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Rock Formations in Bolivia's Highlands

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Getting Muddy in our 4x4 at Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve of Andean Fauna, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Laguna Kollpa in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Laguna Kollpa in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Salar de Chalviri in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Aguas Calientes (Hot Springs) Near the Salar de Chalviri in Bolivia

A hot spring in the middle of the Bolivia highlands was an incredible surprise. Bring your bathing suit and hop in the hot water and enjoy one of the best bath views in the world.  During day 2 the varying landscapes are exposed.  Strange deserts, salt flats, snow capped mountains, unique rock formations and geothermal fields.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Desierto de Dali / Dali Desert in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Mountains Near Desierto de Dali / Dali Desert in Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Laguna Verde and Volcano Licancabur

If the weather cooperates, a blue sky can make the scenery captivating.  We were lucky to have cloud formations that resembled alien spaceships.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Bolivia Mountains and Cool Cloud Formations

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Sol de Manana Geysers / Geothermal Field in Bolivia

Smell the humid air of the Sol de Manana Geysers. Get as close as possible without gagging or falling into the steaming pits.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Sol de Manana Geysers / Geothermal Field

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Bolivia Mountains and Cool Cloud Formations

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Bolivia Desert and Cool Cloud Formations

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 3

During day 3 of the tour we became immune to the excitement surrounding colorful lagoons. After getting out of the truck for 6 different lakes, you can get a little bored, especially if it’s windy and cool out. Our weather was not ideal for glowing lake pictures.  Expect a few vehicle breakdowns during your off-road tour.  We experienced 2 flat tires and a failed fuel pump, which the tour guides were able to fix, evidence of their mechanical skills.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Flamingos in the Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Flamingos in the Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Reflections in Laguna Colorada in Bolivia's Altiplano

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Arbol de Piedra en Desierto de Siloli / Rock Tree in the Siloli Desert

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Rock Formations in the Siloli Desert / Desierto de Siloli

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Driving Across the Siloli Desert / Desierto de Siloli

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Laguna Ramaditas, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Flamingos in Laguna Ramaditas, Potosi Department, Bolivia

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Volcanic Rock Formations in the Desert

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Train Tracks Over Salar de Chiguana

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Driving Over the Salar de Chiguana in Bolivia

Just as the sun was setting over the Salar de Uyuni, we arrive to our Salt accommodations.  It was a hostel made completely of salt, including the furniture.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Salt Hotel / Hostel on the Salar de Uyuni

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Salt Hotel / Hostel on the Salar de Uyuni

Tupiza to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia Tour: Day 4

We awoke before sunrise and drove out to the center of the Uyuni Salt flats for the first time to enjoy the spectacular Uyuni de Salar sunrise.  This is a sunrise like nothing else you have seen before.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Sunrise on the Bolivia Salt Flats

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Sunrise on the Bolivia Salt Flats

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Fun Perspective Photos on Salar de Uyuni

Much of the time on the salt flats is spent taking fun pictures. Each guide will have their own creative poses for you to try. The all white background of the salt flats provide the unique opportunity to take photos that create illusions, or fool the human eye.

All tours eventually make a stop on the unique Incahuasi Island. This island is easily identified as a reef and you can climb up through the ancient cacti for incredible panoramic views of the salt flats. We ate our last lunch here.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Incahuasi Island / Cactus Island in the center of Salar de Uyuni

At the end of the tour, just like the end of a ride at an amusement park, we are courted through an area where salt souvenirs are being sold.

Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats Tour

Salar de Uyuni Souvenir Shopping

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  1. Photo of the Day: Long Shadows on Salar de Uyuni Bolivia
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  5. Photo of the Day: Sunrise Over Salt Flats in Bolivia

Written by Aracely

Co-founder of TwoBackpackers.com. Aracely has been traveling, writing and taking photos since 2024, when she departed on his first year long travel backpacking journey. When she isn't seeking new adventures, Aracely is usually building Excel models as a financial analyst professional. Visit my website

20 Responses to “Salar de Uyuni Bolivia Photo Tour”

  1. Glen says:

    Love the photos — what a beautiful place!

  2. Luna says:

    These photos are absolutely amazing!! The colors are so vibrant. My favorites are the first photo and the one near the end with the cacti. So gorgeous! Thanks for sharing these!

  3. Really like the tree rock just awesome! What do they use their sand flats for. I knew in the states it mostly for breaking speed records.

    • Jason says:

      And this one is the biggest in the world. The one in the USA is the second largest. They mine for salt on the Bolivia flats. Not much racing going on.

  4. Beautiful shots. Thanks for sharing.

  5. Melvin says:

    Amazing pics! Don’t ask me which one my favorite is! There are too many… :)

  6. Ruth says:

    Wow. I am speechless. I definetly want ot experience this area.

    • Jason says:

      Thanks Ruth. This was the best tour for landscape photography that we experienced. Over 4 days we experienced some of the most unique landscapes in the world. What a great experience it was.

  7. Laura says:

    We did a nearly identical tour this January and your photos are bringing back great memories! The scenery in this area is just so incredible and other worldly. Gorgeous shots!

  8. Natalie says:

    Fantastic pictures and it looks like a great tour to do.

  9. Wow. wow. wow. #bucketlist
    stay adventurous, Craig

  10. Unbelievable photos. I definitely just added Salar de Uyuni to my list.

  11. Andrea says:

    Fantastic photos! Looking forward to doing this ourselves in a few weeks!

  12. Abby says:

    Those are the some of the best salt flats pics I have ever seen. Gorgeous! And I love the flamingos. Someday I’ll make it out there….

  13. farzan says:

    cooooool places

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