Uyuni is a lively town marooned on the Altiplano plateau and surrounded by shimmering salt flats. The city is a gateway to Salar de Uyuni, one of the largest salt playas in the world. Use the town as a base for 4X4 adventures in the world-famous flats, which sit more than 3,650 metres above sea level.
Things to do in Uyuni
With a footprint of more than 10,000 square kilometres, Salar de Uyuni is one of the biggest salt flats in the world. The landscape was created by prehistoric lakes and looks like something from a different planet. In the dry season (May to November), the flats are snow-white and sparkle with salt crystals. The ground becomes rock-hard and the salt forms polygon-shaped patterns.
Visit in the wet season (December to April) to see the salt flats covered with a shallow layer of water. Sunlight bounces off the water and creates a mirror-like effect. The horizon melts away and makes you feel like you’re in a dreamscape, surrounded by vivid blue skies and white clouds.
Whenever you visit, 4X4 tours are the best way to explore the flats and immerse yourself in the otherworldly landscapes. Bounce along the flats in a Jeep and spend the night in a hotel built with salt blocks. Most tours include a stop at Cementerio de Trenes, an open-air museum dotted with enormous, rusted-out steam engines. You’ll find tour agencies and operators dotted around Plaza Arce, the town’s bustling main square.
From cafes and bakeries to pizzerias and burger joints, you’ll find plenty of Western-style food in Uyuni. Dine at local restaurants to try traditional Bolivian cuisine like “salteña” empanadas stuffed with meat and “pique macho” beef sauteed with onions and peppers.
Getting around Uyuni
Uyuni is compact and easy to get around on foot, while taxis are a fast and affordable way to get from A to B. Tours are the best way to explore the Salar de Uyuni salt flats. Fights between La Paz and Uyuni take around one hour or you can take an overnight bus.