Salt Desert (Salar de Uyuni), Bolivia. Uyuni Salt Flats

If you think that you know everything about salt and it cannot surprise you, then you should go to Uyuni to get to know it again in the endless white desert.

Uyuni is the largest salt marsh in the world. It occupies 12106 km2, which is 5 times the area of ​​Luxembourg.

The huge mountain lake Minchin almost completely dried up 25,000 years ago, leaving behind a couple of small reservoirs and two giant salt marshes: Uyuni and Koipasa.

The dried salt lake of Uyuni is the main attraction of Bolivia. Visit to the salt marsh. Hundreds of tourists come here every day to see unearthly landscapes. Most often, people tend to get to Uyuni during the rainy season - from the end of January to February - at this time the salt desert is covered with a layer of water and becomes a giant mirror in which the blue sky is reflected in contrast. But even in the dry season, the Uyuni salt marsh is incredibly beautiful, and there are even more photo opportunities in the boundless blinding white desert.

Every year, about 20 tons of salt are mined here, and the total salt reserve of Uyuni is estimated at 10 billion tons. The value of the salt marsh is not limited to salt. Uyuni has about 100 million tons of lithium, which is up to 70% of the world's reserves - enough to power batteries for all smartphones that will be produced in the next 100 years.

Holidays in Uyuni. Surreal landscape of a dry lake

Uyuni is a fantastically beautiful place, one of the most incredible places on our planet, where the feeling of space is erased. to see exactly this cosmic landscape and feel like an inhabitant of another planet.

The most popular pastime on the dried-up Lake Uyuni is taking surreal photos.

The sun, bright blue sky and endless salty surface without filters will make your shots unearthly and bright. And even if you find yourself here in the off-season, when the salt marsh is completely dry, your photos will still be fantastically beautiful! That is why Uyuni is one of the most favorite places for photographers around the world.

Tourists are photographed here standing, sitting, lying down, and jumping. To create the most original photo guides, they take with them the author's paraphernalia - from frying pans on which tourists are "seated" in the frame, to dinosaurs that add fantasticness to the shots.

By the way, evening and night photography - sunset and starry sky reflected in the water - is another separate pleasure for photographers, keep this in mind when choosing the duration of excursions.

In addition to visiting the salt lake, you can also visit a number of unusual places in the vicinity of Uyuni - from the “train graveyard” to geysers, thermal springs and habitats of pink flamingos:

1. Cactus Island / Inca Incahuasi Island (IslaIncahuasi)

During the time of the Incas, when caravans of llamas and Chasca messengers crossed the Altiplano, this island in the middle of the salt desert served as a shelter for them for a short rest.

The island is covered with a forest of giant cacti, and from its top, truly magical views of the salt marsh and the mountains around open up.

The island can only be accessed during the dry season, there is no access to the island during the rainy season.

2. Kolchani (Colchani) - village of salt miners

Salt is the main source of income for the inhabitants of Kolchani. Guides bring tourists here to show how salt is collected, processed and packaged and how houses are built from salt blocks. Colchani is also known for its souvenir market, where you can buy unique products in the traditional Bolivian style - these are not sold outside of Uyuni.

3. train graveyard

A junkyard of rusty 19th-century steam locomotives, left over from the time when Uyuni had a train factory, is especially interesting for tourists from Europe - they are new to such views. Although it is also interesting for the rest to climb old trains and take some apocalyptic photos.

4. Volcanoes and glaciers

There are many glaciers and volcanoes in this region that you can climb: the Licancabur volcano (Licancabur, 5960 meters), the Candelaria glacier (Nevado Candelaria, 5995 meters), the active Ollague volcano on the border with Chile (Ollague, 5865 meters).

The active volcano Uturuncu (Uturuncu, 6020 meters) is a great opportunity to add a climb of 6000 meters to the treasury of your achievements. And while climbing the Tunupa volcano (Tunupa, 5432 meters) from the side of the village of Kokesa, you can also visit the caves with pre-Inca mummies. Ascent and descent usually take 10 hours.

Climbing volcanoes is not included in the program of standard group tours, but they can be included in an individual route.

It is necessary to preliminarily go through acclimatization at altitude for several days before starting the ascent.

5. Eduardo Avaroa National Andean Wildlife Refuge (ReservaNationalDeFaunaAndinaEduardoAvaroa)

The landscapes of the Eduardo Avaroa National Park are beautiful and mesmerizing. One of the places even bears the name "Desert of Salvador Dali" - because the views are as surreal as the paintings of this artist. There are so many colors here: colorful fields of quinoa, red, yellow and green lagoons with pink flamingos, snow-white peaks of mountains and dark peaks of volcanoes.

Herds of wild vicunas, domestic llamas and alpacas with colored pompoms and tassels in their ears graze on vast desert fields, wild foxes run and - what is quite amazing! - wild ostriches.

Flora and fauna have adapted to the harsh local climate: piercing winds, scorching sun and night frosts. In some months the temperature at night drops to -25C.

6. Attractions of the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve

- Stone tree

As water sharpens a stone, so gusts of wind change its shape over the centuries. Photos of the famous "stone tree" can often be seen on postcards and in guidebooks. A huge stone block standing on a thin “leg” is really amazing.

- Colored Lagoon (Lagunacolorada)

The largest of the colored lagoons - Laguna Colorada - occupies 60 km2, while the maximum depth of the lagoon is only 80 cm, and the average is 20 cm. The rich red-orange color of the lagoon is given by algae and plankton, they also provide food for numerous flamingos.

The white shore of the lagoon contains sodium, magnesium, borax and gypsum.

- Valley of Geysers Sol de Magnana (SoldeMan’ ana), height 4850 meters

It smells of sulfur here, and the ground is covered with seething puddles of mud in clouds of steam. But the view of the dawn valley with pillars of steam rising from the ground here and there deserves an early rise.

- Thermal springs Polkes (Polques)

You understand what happiness is when, after a cold night in a hotel with minimal amenities and a piercing icy morning wind, you find yourself in a pool of hot thermal water, where you can relax and warm up.

NB: Bring your bathing suit and towel with you.

- Green Lagoon

When a strong wind blows, the lagoon becomes a rich green-blue color. This is due to the minerals contained in the water: lead, sulfur, arsenic, and calcium carbonates. These same minerals keep the lagoon from freezing even when the temperature drops to -20C.

During the calm, the lagoon does not change color.

- Desert Salvador Dali

The first tourists, passing by this desert, were struck by its similarity with the paintings of Salvador Dali. It's hard to argue with that, judge for yourself.

Excursions and tours in Uyuni

Traditional excursion routes are designed for 1, 2 or 3 days.

One day excursion starts at 10 am in Uyuni. During the day, tourists have time to visit the Cemetery of trains, the village of Colchani, the salt marsh, the island of Incahuasi (during the dry season) and dine at the salt hotel. In the evening the group returns back to Uyuni.

three daytour to uyuni, the most popular, includes all the highlights: Uyuni salt marsh, Incahuasi Cactus Island, Colored lagoons with flamingos, Sol de Magnana Valley of Geysers, Green Lagoon, Dali Desert, Stone Tree, overnight in a salt hotel and swimming in hot thermal springs.

You can finish the tour in the city of Uyuni or in the Chilean city of San Pedro de Atacama.

What is included in the tour:

• Travel by 4x4 jeep with a professional driver
• Accommodation in hostels or hotels
• Professional English speaking guide
• Meals: all breakfasts, lunches and dinners (except breakfast on the first day and dinner on the last)

Individual route makes it possible to draw up a program taking into account the wishes of tourists and, for example, add climbing volcanoes.

When to go. Climate and temperature

Rain season

The rainy season in Uyuni lasts from December to February. This is exactly the time when the salt marsh becomes a giant mirror in which the sky is reflected. This period is considered the "low season", but many tourists tend to get to Uyuni exactly when it is covered with water.

During the rainy season, some areas become inaccessible - the police close access there for security reasons. For example, you can get to Cactus Island only during the dry season.

Weather in Uyuni

It is very cold at night in the mountains, in some months the temperature drops to -10C. And during the day the air heats up and the sun heats very actively. Therefore, you will definitely need warm clothes for the evening and night, and light clothes for the daytime.

Warmest months: November to April. At this time during the day: +18 / +22C. Night: +3 / +7С.

Coldest months: May to October. Day temperature: +12 / +19С. Night: -7 / +1С.

Take good sunscreen and a hat with you. And, of course, sunglasses - so much reflected sunlight can hardly be found anywhere else on Earth.

Acclimatization at altitude

Uyuni is located high in the mountains - during the tour, tourists rise to a height of up to 4900 meters. Before traveling to Uyuni, make sure you are acclimatized and not affected by altitude sickness.

Tourist access to Uyuni

Keep in mind - there are no roads as such, after rain the surface of the salt marsh becomes slippery and dangerous, so we strongly recommend using the services of professional drivers.

There are also dangerous places on the lake, on the surface of which water is seething - without knowing these places, you risk falling with the car.

Another problem that tourists face during excursions in Uyuni is drunk guides or drivers, as well as jeeps that have not passed technical checks, which can break down at any time and anywhere. These are not just annoying little things, but life-threatening situations.

Hotels and More in Uyuni

You can visit Uyuni in one day: fly in from La Paz in the morning and fly back in the evening. In this case, hotel accommodation is not required. But if you want to spend more than one day in Uyuni, then spending the night in a salt hotel or right on the salt marsh can be an unforgettable adventure!

Salt hotels

Walls and furniture made of salt blocks and a thick layer of salt on the floor - this is what salt hotels look like. Accommodation is expensive due to the uniqueness of these hotels and you need to book them well in advance of your planned trip, as the number of places is limited. But be prepared for fairly basic accommodation conditions. There are no high-end hotels in the salt marsh and national park area.

Glamping /Glamping

Spending the night right in the middle of a salt marsh under a star-studded sky sounds tempting, doesn't it? Glamping - tents on high supports, which are set up on the Uyuni salt surface in any season: both when the salt marsh is dry and when it is covered with a layer of water. Tourists have everything they need: a separate tent with a dry closet, delicious dinners and breakfasts, and romantic solitude.

How to get to Uyuni

By plane

The fastest way to get to Uyuni.

Amazsonas and BoA operate daily flights on the route La Paz - Uyuni, the flight takes less than an hour.

By bus

The drive from La Paz to Uyuni takes 10 hours.

Several local companies offer overnight transfers in comfortable buses with reclining seats and meals. Buses arrive in Uyuni at 7-8 am.

By train

Trains run on the Oruro/Uyuni/Oruro route several times a week. Oruro is a 3 hour drive from La Paz. There are buses from Oruro to Uyuni. The schedule must be clarified before planning a trip.

When the Uyuni salt marsh is covered with water, it looks like a huge mirror reflecting the sky.

The Uyuni salt marsh is made of gypsum, and its inner surface, which has a depth of 2 to 8 m, is covered with a layer of rock salt - halite. According to experts, it contains at least 10 billion tons of table salt.

From November to March, when the rainy season comes to the plateau, the surface of the salt marsh is covered with a thin layer of water, and then Uyuni resembles a giant mirror. The horizon line becomes almost imperceptible, the surface of the lake merges with the sky, and the landscapes around the Uyuni salt marsh acquire an unearthly beauty. Excellent conditions for photographers!

Many tourists from all over the world come to look at the endless snow-white ocean of salt or a wonderful mirror surface. The peak tourist season is from June to August. Especially for travelers, local residents built hotels, the walls of which are made of salt blocks, and you can spend the night in them. A night in a salt hotel costs about $20. The hosts even put up notices for guests asking them not to “lick” interior items.

Near the salt marsh is the mining town of Uyuni, where 10.6 thousand inhabitants live. Here you can see several monuments to workers, a monument to a railway trolley and sculptures in the steampunk style. The town is small enough to explore it in an hour.

The inhabitants of Bolivia have a beautiful legend about the birth of the Uyuni salt marsh. It is framed by the Kusku, Kuzina and Tunupa mountain ranges. The Aymara Indians believe that before these mountains were giant people. Tunupa was Kusku's wife and bore him a son. However, the beautiful Kuzina separated the spouses, and Kusku went to live with her, taking the baby with him. Tunupa was very worried about what had happened and cried. Her tears mixed with breast milk and gave birth to a huge salt marsh. Since then, the locals call it - Tunupa.

Origin of the Uyuni Salt Flats

In ancient times, there was a huge Minchin reservoir on the Altiplano, the depth of which reached 100 meters. About 40 thousand years ago, due to the hot sun and the lack of tributaries, it began to shallow. Gradually, two lakes (Uru Uru and Poopo) and two large salt marshes - Uyuni and Salar de Koipasa - formed on the site of Minchin. By the way, the Coipas salt marsh with an area of ​​2,218 km² is the second largest in Bolivia after Uyuni.

Climatic features

On the alpine plateau, where the Uyuni salt marsh lies, the air temperature is stable. From November to January, the temperature in the daytime reaches +21...+22°C, and in June it drops to +13°C. Since the salt marsh is located at an altitude of more than 3500 m above sea level, it is cold here at night at any time of the year. In July, the temperature drops below 0°C, and sometimes it can drop to -10°C.

Relative humidity in the area of ​​the mountain plateau is always low - 30-45%. The air is dry and rainfall is low. Even during the rainy season, there are only five rainy days per month.

Salt marsh industrial value

The salt marsh of Uyuni plays a large role in the economy of Bolivia. It is mined for rock salt. Annually it reaches 25 thousand tons. Tourists can visit the small village of Kolchani, located 22 km from the city of Uyuni, in the east of the salt marsh. Its inhabitants have long been engaged in salt mining, and most of the houses in the village are built from blocks of rock salt.

The salt marsh also contains vast reserves of lithium chloride. From this salt, the light alkali metal lithium is extracted, which is necessary for the production of batteries. Uyuni contains from 50 to 70% of all lithium reserves on the planet - about 100 million tons. There are also large reserves of magnesium chloride.

The Uyuni salt marsh has been used in space exploration of the earth's surface. It is used to calibrate and test remote sensing devices that orbiting satellites are equipped with. Calibration by Uyuni is five times more successful than by the surface of the ocean. The reason for this is the high reflectivity, large size and flat surface of the salt lake.

Salt in Uyuni is mined for the needs of the food industry, for the manufacture of tourist souvenirs. Not only walls are made of rock salt blocks, but tables, beds, loungers and various decorations for the interior are made.

The first salt hotels appeared in the 1990s in the very center of the salt marsh, and they became very popular with tourists. However, due to non-compliance with sanitation standards, such hotels heavily polluted the environment, and the local authorities decided to dismantle them. Hotels have been rebuilt on the outskirts of the Uyuni salt marsh. Now they work in compliance with all sanitary rules and environmental standards.

Panorama of the Uyuni Salt Flats

What can be seen on the Uyuni salt marsh

In November, when the rainy season begins, more than 90 species of birds come here to breed, including three species of flamingos. They feed on algae algae and crustaceans, and from this the feathers of graceful birds acquire a bright pink color. The salt marsh is also home to several rare species of hummingbirds.

In the area surrounding the Uyuni Salt Flats, there are rabbit-like rodents - vizcaches, foxes and alpacas. Soft and extremely warm, alpaca wool is similar in properties to sheep, but much lighter. It has long been used by locals to make blankets, rugs and clothing items.

The surface of the Uyuni salt marsh is covered with large salt "honeycombs". In early spring, when the rainy season ends, the salt crust dries up. The water that has accumulated below begins to break out through it to the surface, and small cone-shaped volcanoes form.

Uyuni is almost completely devoid of vegetation. In its center there are several islands, which, by their geological origin, are craters of volcanoes extinct in antiquity. During the existence of Lake Minchin, they were completely hidden under the surface of the water.

Many tourists in jeeps reach the island of Fish (Isla de los Pescados), covered with coral deposits. Giant cereus cacti up to 10 m high grow here. Botanists believe that the age of individual specimens exceeds 1200 years. In addition to cacti, several types of shrubs grow on the island, and the locals use them as fuel. There are also three small restaurants open on Pisces Island for travelers to relax and refresh themselves.

Fish Island

Another attraction of the huge salt marsh is the Valley of Stones (Valles de Rocas). This is the name of the place where you can see unusual remnant stones. The bizarre forms of these stone sculptures have been created over many millions of years by the forces of wind, water and sunlight. And in the center of Uyuni there is a platform made of blocks of rock salt. On it, travelers leave the flags of their countries.

3 km from the city of Uyuni, near the single-track railway line leading from Bolivia to the northern provinces of Chile, there is an unusual museum - the "cemetery" of steam locomotives (Cementerio de Trenes). Here, in the open air, you can see examples of rusted railway equipment that were used until the middle of the last century. Steam locomotives were left as superfluous after production in local mines was sharply reduced. Of particular interest are the articulated locomotives of the Meyer and Garratt systems.

Video: Reflections from Uyuni

Salt reflects sunlight beautifully. It shines so much that it hurts the eyes, so it is difficult to do without sunglasses and a hat on the Uyuni salt marsh. Connoisseurs advise to always use sunscreen, because in 1-2 hours you can get badly burned.

In addition, you need to understand that the salt marsh is located in the highlands, and at the beginning of the trip some tourists may experience signs of altitude sickness - lethargy, apathy, dizziness, nausea and sleep disturbances. It takes time to get back to normal. A local remedy for acclimatization is tea made from coca leaves.

The cheapest salt marsh tours are sold in Uyuni or via the Internet. Usually they are designed for two days and two nights so that tourists can see the main local attractions. Many people travel around the Uyuni salt marsh on their own in a rented vehicle.

How to get there

Uyuni Salt Flats is located 500 meters south of the city of La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. The nearest settlement is the small town of Uyuni.

Since 2011, an international airport (El Aeropuerto Joya Andina) has been opened near the salt marsh. From the Bolivian capital, two local airlines fly here at once. Traveling by air is the fastest way to get to the salt marsh, as the flight takes only 40-45 minutes.

In addition, you can come to the Uyuni salt marsh by land transport - a rented car or bus. Tourist buses run from La Paz and other major cities. The length of the road from the capital through the city of Oruro is 569 km. Tourists leave La Paz at 21.00 and arrive in Uyuni in the morning, respectively, they are on the road from 10 to 15 hours.

There is another route option: you can come from La Paz to Oruro by bus in 4 hours, and then get to Uyuni by local train.

The Uyuni salt marsh is considered the largest salt marsh in the world. It is located in Bolivia at a fairly high altitude above sea level. The thickness of the salt crust is 10 meters. Pretty impressive, isn't it? The salt marsh is rich in lithium and contains more than half of the world's supply of the metal. Tourists on the salt marshes are attracted by ancient volcanoes, flamingos and huge cacti.

There is nothing surprising in the formation of solonchaks. These are lakes and rivers. If water and precipitation do not enter the reservoir, and the temperatures are very high, then the concentration of salts in the water increases sharply. It evaporates, and places with a thick crust of salt are formed. Uyuni Salt Flats is located on a mountain plateau with a height of 3000 meters. It is surrounded by smaller salt marshes and lakes with fresh water.

A salt marsh was formed from several large lakes. Once upon a time there was one large lake Minchin in its place, which later formed Lake Tauka. Subsequently, Lake Koipasa was formed from Tauk. It did not last long, drying up and creating two modern lakes: Uru Uru and Poopo and two salt marshes, one of which is the Uyuni salt marsh. Lake Poopo is adjacent to Lake Titicaca. And when the second floods, the water from it enters the Poopo, thus flooding both salt marshes.

The structure of the salt marsh is quite ordinary. From above it is a thick crust of salt, and from below a small layer of silt rich in minerals. The most valuable is lithium chloride.

For many centuries, salt mining has been the main source of income for the local population. It was collected, taken to the nearest village, processed and sent for sale. Approximately 25,000 tons of salt are collected annually. Quite a trifle compared to the billion-dollar salt fund of the entire salt marsh. Under the crust lies brine - a special chemical substance containing lithium. Lithium is popular in the production of batteries, batteries for phones, laptops, accumulators. In the future, they plan to create batteries based on metal, eventually displacing gasoline and diesel fuel. There is also a lot of lithium in mountains and sea water, but it is not suitable for industrial processing.

In the last century, there have been many attempts to extract the metal, but the local population fiercely resisted. There are plans to build our own metal mining plant. effects

The rainy season begins in November. A thin layer of water does not dry out for a long time, forming a kind of mirror. This is a mesmerizing sight. The entire world around is reflected in the water surface, including clouds. It creates an unearthly feeling of floating above the ground. During the dry season, the salt crust cracks, forming honeycomb-like cracks of less than perfect shape. And if you look closely, then the cracks, connecting, form polygonal shapes.

Flora and Fauna of Uyuni Salt Flats

The soil of the salt marsh is unsuitable for life. The only plant that can grow there is a cactus. But such a landscape will not seem boring just because there are no completely identical cacti. They are all different sizes and shapes. Maximum, the cactus grows up to 12 meters.

The fauna of the solonchak is more diverse. Scientists have counted more than 80 different species of birds. Among them you can find pink flamingos. They got this color by eating pink algae. Flamingos are another attraction of the salt marshes. Tourists often come to Bolivia to watch these majestic birds.

Attractions Uyuni

Tourists are attracted by the salt marsh. This is a landscape that changes with the season, and large flocks of pink flamingos. After the salt marshes, you should definitely visit the train graveyard. At this place there is a small town, which was once the largest center. But in the 40s, the industry fell into decline, and the trains were simply abandoned to their fate. So far they are still standing in one place and waiting in the wings.

Another tourist destination is Kolchani, a small town whose inhabitants have always collected salt. From here it was transported to other cities for further sale. Even the houses of the inhabitants of Kolchani are built of salt. In the museum of the city you will also find salt figurines and figurines of animals. The local hotel is considered an expensive place, so it was decided to build the building almost entirely from salt. Tourists enjoy staying there. In 2002, the hotel was decided to be demolished. The influx of tourists increased, and the ecology of the salt marsh suffered.

The next tourist spot is Edionda Lagoon. One of the salt lakes, famous for its large migrations of flamingos. Colorado Lagoon is a shallow lake. Belongs to the national park-reserve of the Andean fauna. It has a bright pink, almost red color. Pink algae are to blame for everything. This is where the flamingos eat them and take on a nice pink coloration. To get into the reserve, you have to fork out.

Also on the territory of the salt marsh is a geyser pool. But it is not advised to come close to it, as sulfur geysers release steam with the smell of rotten eggs.

Conclusion

The Uyuni salt marsh does not carry any secrets. It has long been explored far and wide. But still, it attracts a lot of attention with its delightful, sometimes fantastic landscapes. And whoever wants a complete immersion, the doors are always open to a hotel made of salt.

Salar de Uyuni is not just the main attraction of Bolivia and one of the most interesting places on the planet. This is truly another planet - the land where everything is completely different from what we are used to. Unreal landscapes, amazing places, sunsets, sunrises, salt, water, giant cacti, a cemetery of steam locomotives, endless horizons, colorful mountains, hot springs, fast-moving geysers, colorful lagoons, llamas and flamingos - this is just what pops up in my memory in first turn. In fact, there is much more beautiful and amazing there. It is worth adding that you look at all this natural splendor from the windows of a jeep, which looks very colorful in the endless white expanses.

All these incredible landscapes impressed me so much that I went to the salt marsh twice and will gladly go again. Every time you travel, you can add something new, and, most importantly, depending on the season, the lagoons and the salt sea can look very different.

The Uyuni Salt Flat looks like it is impossible to describe in words. It's like salsa, you can't learn it, you can only feel it. This is mysticism, another universe, full of delight, a riot of nature, a combination of what would never have occurred to us to combine, harmony, explosion, the unity of living and non-living things, contrast, life.

How to get there

Let's take a closer look at each route option.

From Bolivia

Tours, and this is the most popular and, by the way, quite convenient opportunity to see the most interesting places of the huge natural park at a reasonable price, start in the town of Uyuni, which can be reached by plane or bus.

By plane

If you have already found yourself in Bolivia, then most likely you will get to the picturesque highland city of La Paz, which is often mistakenly considered the capital.

Here are two airlines that fly to Uyuni:

• Amazonas;

The schedule of the two airlines is about the same. Every day there are two flights in both directions, as you can see, for example:

• morning - around 07:00–10:00;
• evening - at 19:00–21:00.

The cost of a round-trip ticket will be about 160 USD, the travel time is about an hour. The airport Joya Andina is located just 3 kilometers from the village of Uyuni itself. You can get to it by taxi for 3-5 USD or on foot, if time permits and lack of luggage (30 minutes).

Be careful when choosing an airline. When paying for an Amaszonas ticket online, you must use the same bank card that you will have with you. If it is not found, boarding will be denied. This is a slightly strange system, but during registration, the company's employees make a cast of the card, so it will not be possible to deceive them or slip another one.

Boa has a number of advantages: the planes are newer, and the amount of allowed baggage in hand luggage is higher (5 and 7 kilograms depending on the type of aircraft versus 3 and 5 kilograms in Amaszonas).

By bus

In Latin America, during the years of travel, I traveled most of all by bus. This mode of transport is very convenient. Firstly, intercity and international buses are most often quite convenient for a long journey. Secondly, you can travel cheaper, see the sights and views along the way. Thirdly, the bus is a great chance to get acquainted with new films in the local language, think about life or just relax. The main advantage of night buses is that they save money on the hotel, and for poor travelers this can be important.

In the case of Uyuni, I took the bus from La Paz. Buses depart from the city's main transport terminal.

Several companies travel along the route, among which Panasur and Todo turismo are the most popular. The ticket price will be 7–10 USD, and the travel time will be 12–13 hours.

It is better to purchase tickets in advance, at least one way and at least a couple of hours before departure, in order to book a comfortable seat. You can also buy a return ticket right away, but this is not necessary. There shouldn't be any problems on site. Most often, the seats on the bus are arranged in two rows: in one there are two seats, in the other one. The second option is more convenient. It is better to take a blanket and a warm jacket on the bus, as Latin American drivers are very fond of using the air conditioner at full capacity.

In Uyuni, the bus arrives in the very center of the city, where guests are usually met by representatives of travel companies and sellers of everything in the world.

In general, the bus is a convenient option. Tours start early in the morning (around 7-9 am) and end a few days later (most often on the third day) at lunchtime. There is time to walk around the town, eat alpaca meat in one of the many restaurants, chat with other travelers, drink beer on the main streets, buy souvenirs, buy a bus ticket and calmly return to La Paz the next morning.

By train

Train lovers can get to Uyuni by train from Oruro. Alas, the train leaves from the Oruro railway station not every day:

• Expreso Del Sur runs on Tuesdays and Fridays. From Oruro the train leaves at 14:30 and arrives at 21:20. In the opposite direction, the train leaves at 01:45 and arrives at 08:45.
• Wara Wara Del Sur runs on Thursdays and Sundays. From Oruro departs at 19:00 and arrives at 02:20. In the opposite direction, trains leave at 00:10 and arrive in Oruro at 07:10.

The price of a ticket in a regular class is 8 USD, in a business class - 17 USD. Business class is two soft seats in a row, like in express trains, besides, the ticket includes drinks and light snacks, and you can have a bite to eat in the restaurant car. In the regular class (salon), the conditions are similar: the seats are comfortable, but the ticket price does not include drinks and snacks, and there is no carpet on the floor, which, in principle, can be experienced.

The train moves slowly, but the views from the windows are worthy.

Now it is possible to buy tickets online, but many tourists talk about the unreliability of such an option. It is better to come to the box office, which opens at 08:00 and is closed on Sunday, and buy tickets. If you're lucky, you can buy tickets for the same day, or only business class tickets may remain. Some time ago, the railway office started selling tickets a few days in advance, which is only suitable for those who are going to spend a few days in Oruro. Therefore, my advice is to come early in the morning and hope that luck will smile at you.

From Chile

The salt marsh is located on the border with Chile, so tours are organized from the Chilean side. In Chile, the tour starts in the town of San Pedro de Atacama, in the Atacama Desert of the same name. The famous picturesque altiplano - a vast plateau in the Andes, dotted with volcanoes - begins here.

By plane

Closest airport to San Pedro de Atacama El Loa is located 100 kilometers in the city of Calama. A taxi from the airport for 40–50 USD will take you to San Pedro in an hour and a half.

Flights from Santiago are operated by Latam and Sky Airlines. The flight time from the capital is 2 hours, a round trip ticket will cost 80–100 USD.

By bus

This type of transport from the capital of Chile, Santiago, departs from the Alameda terminal.

Travel time is about 12 hours, the ticket price varies between 60–100 USD, depending on the class of the bus. Popular companies flying on this route:

• Turbus;
• Pullman;
• Andesmar.

When to go

Uyuni Salt Flats can be visited year-round, because if you managed to see this natural miracle with your own eyes, then this is already a colossal success.

However, at different times of the year there are slight differences in what exactly you will see in the vast uninhabited expanses of the national park.

January to early Marchthat precipitation is active here, so the salt marsh turns into a giant mirror, which reflects the incredible sky, tall cacti, all-terrain jeeps and everything that pleases the eye.

At other times of the year, the scenery is no less beautiful. In the sunset rays, salt rhombuses seem ideal, besides, in the “dry” season (from May to October) you can get to all places, because sometimes, when there is too much rain, some of the curious corners become difficult to reach, and the guides prefer not to take risks.

Therefore, my advice is this: go to the Uyuni salt marsh at any time when it is possible, and such an opportunity presents itself.

What is the price

As I said, the tour is a convenient opportunity to see the national park.

The main advantages are the price and the opportunity to communicate with tourists from different countries. The downside is that it can be crowded for several people in a jeep, besides, fellow travelers can be on different waves or (as in my case) not know Spanish. Therefore, all the way I had to work as a free translator, since the guide spoke English only nominally.

If you have the opportunity and desire, then it is better to book an individual tour, then you will stand and look at the flamingos as much as you want and will not depend on the fact that someone did not hear the alarm clock and did not get up for breakfast.

However, all these current moments lose all meaning when you find yourself in the face of the eternal and beautiful, and this is the only way I can characterize nature in those parts. The spectacle is so captivating that the guide's ignorance of the language, and the light morning frost, and the talkativeness of some members of the group become unimportant.

The cost of the tour may vary depending on the hotel where you will sleep, on your bargaining skills and, of course, on the level of language proficiency. However, the price for a three-day tour, which includes almost everything, is still so low that even with the tourist overpayment, this opportunity is more than affordable. The cost of such a package is on average 180–230 USD per person, subject to a full jeep, which is 5–6 tourists.

The cost of the tour from the Chilean side is about the same. Due to the favorable location of the park at the junction of two countries, it is convenient for travelers to plan the route the way they like. For example, you can travel from Bolivia to Chile and vice versa. Jeeps always clarify what the tourists have plans to take those who wish to the border on the third day.

In general, all companies offer approximately the same range of services and approximately the same price level. I personally used the services of OIivos and can safely recommend it. Tours are purchased on the spot, but you can contact the agency in advance and pay a deposit. However, I would not advise doing this, because anything is possible. My bus got in for repairs and was 5 hours late, so my tour had already left. It would be sad if the advance payment was made, otherwise I spent all my money and energy in search of a new tour departing later.

The price of a private tour is, of course, higher. It starts from 120–200 USD per day, depending on the level of the hotel, the number of tourists and the chosen guide.

Additional expenses

You need to take some money with you in the local currency Boliviano (BOB). In addition to the paid tour, you will have to pay extra for a visit to the observation deck on the island of fishermen if you wish (5 USD) and a mandatory entrance ticket to the national park (22 USD). Sometimes there may be paid toilets (0.5 USD).

Food and lodging

Food is usually included in the tour. The food is quite satisfying and good, in places of lodging for the night you can buy wine or drinks with chips. An overnight stay is one part of the adventure, because one night you sleep not just in a hotel, but in a hotel made of salt.

Usually electricity works here only after sunset, besides, it is very cold at night (maybe even -10-15 ° C), but hotels still have their own special charm. And warm blankets.

And when the tour starts early in the morning, bright stars are clearly visible in the frosty air, which are rarely seen in cities in such numbers.

It's moments like these that make you realize how beautiful our world is.

The second overnight stay in the standard tour takes place in hostel-type hotels, where 2-6 people can sleep in one room.

Despite the spartan conditions, it has everything you need to have a good night. For an additional fee, you can spend the night in a hotel with a higher category of comfort.

Major tourist spots

As part of a three-day tour, tourists visit several interesting places, which are shown in this image:

I will briefly tell you what to expect from each of them.

Cemetery of steam locomotives (Cementerio de Trenes)

The cemetery of steam locomotives is the attraction with which the tour most often begins. A few kilometers from Uyuni there used to be railway lines, and the traffic was very busy.

However, over time, mining declined, and the locomotives went to live out their lives in the cemetery, which is now used as a tourist attraction. It's interesting and photogenic here: you can climb the rusty members of the railway traffic or think about the eternal, looking at the endless rails going nowhere.

Valley of Geysers "Morning Sun" (El Sol de Mañana)

If you have been to, then the geysers of Bolivia are unlikely to impress you. I have not been to Iceland yet, and I liked the valley of geysers. The fact is that in Uyuni nothing can be taken in isolation.

A geyser is not just a hot jet, but an organic part of the surrounding landscape, which is always incredible. Therefore, these shooting steam jets from the ground against the backdrop of terracotta mountains did not leave me indifferent.

Hot Springs (Aguas Termales)

At the end of a busy day of moving, there is nothing better than dipping your impressed body into a natural hot water pool at an altitude of more than 3,000 meters above sea level. There is no infrastructure here, just a small house that is not always open, so you have to change clothes quickly. However, the disadvantages of inconvenience are more than offset by the pleasure that you get later, sitting in hot water and watching the endless valley, shimmering in different shades and colors.

By the way, the construction of a new comfortable locker room is underway, so the next travelers can expect comfort and warmth ... Or maybe not, because the concept of "tomorrow" in Latin America is very conditional.

Do not miss the hot springs, because this is the best place to wash off the colorful dust of the roads and come out refreshed for new adventures!

Salt marsh (Salar de Uyuni) and salt mines (montones de sal), square with flags (plaza de las banderas)

Actually, the most important place in the national park is a giant dried-up salt lake with an area of ​​10,000 square meters. km.

The range of entertainment here is wide.

From enthusiastic contemplation of the endless snow-white expanses to photographs with salt slides with an ideal geometric shape.

From staged photographs and games with scale to finding your own flag in the "square", where weathered and battered, they proudly flutter in the wind.

The famous Dakar races take place on the lake, and here you can also see the most beautiful sunsets, where the sun clearly outlines perfect crystal rhombuses on the salt surface.

Stone tree in the desert (Desierto de Silioli y Arbol de Piedra)

A stone tree is exactly what the name implies. Desert winds, climate and sand did their job and created this bizarre five-meter stone formation.

Previously, the “tree” was fenced with a rope, which interfered with beautiful photographs and added inappropriate artificiality to the landscape, but now everything is open and you can even climb to the top of the “tree” with proper skill.

Desert Salvador Dali (Desierto de Salvador Dali)

Dali, unfortunately, did not know about the existence of this place, and the desert got its name because of the similarity of the landscape with some of the canvases of the great surrealist.

Colored lagoons (Lagunas coloradas)

The colorful lagoons are another important part of the trip. The lakes are located on the territory of the Eduardo Avaroa National Park (Parque nacional de Eduardo Avaroa). In the morning, the band members meet the dawn in the local desert, saluting the sun coming out from behind the mountain.

Along with the light comes warmth, and acquaintance with the lagoons begins. It’s hard for me to say what impressed me the most, because even on the second visit, I practically didn’t close my mouth in admiration.

And what else can you experience when you stand at an altitude of several thousand meters in the middle of the desert, in front of you is a huge lake of red and white color, pink flamingos are walking somewhere in the middle, and picturesque volcanoes rise behind a massive background.

Around the lagoons you can meet fluffy and friendly llamas and alpacas, as well as daring cyclists who go from nowhere to nowhere. Then there were more lagoons (there are 4 of them here), more flamingos, more colors, more emotions.

Bright mountains and endless valleys, and modest chinchillas.

Green lake (Laguna verde)

The green lagoon stands alone in the list of colorful lagoons of the national park. It is closest to the border with Chile, and it is windy and cold here, since its height above sea level is 4,350 meters.

However, all this ceases to have at least some meaning when an incredible panorama in rich colors opens up before the eyes that are tired of admiring.

Fishermen's Island or Incahuasi (Isla Incahuasi o Isla de Pescadores)

The island of fishermen is famous primarily for its giant cacti, reaching 10 meters in height.

To climb to the observation deck at the top of the island, you have to pay a nominal fee of a few dollars. The relief of the island is low, but the view is beautiful.

From here you can see a pleasant combination of cacti, salt expanses and jeeps-all-terrain vehicles that look harmonious against this background.

Fishermen's Island gets its name from its shape. In the rainy season, in the middle of a salt lake filled with water, it looks like a fish in water.

Little Italy (Pequena Italia)

The name is unusual for Bolivia, but the locals called this place so because, in their opinion, it resembles the narrow streets of Italian Venice.

From afar, the place really resembles a city with rocks that you can climb in search of a river panorama, a green valley, multi-colored llamas and bizarre stone figures.

Cascade (la Cascada)

Cascade is a place where not all guides take. You can ask about it yourself, but everything remains at the discretion of the driver: whether there is enough time, and whether he will have a desire. Remember, this is Latin America.

We were lucky, and this little curious item was added to the program.

From the height of the majestic cliffs, you can see almost a grand canyon with a serpentine river dried up below... A great place for a photo!

What might come in handy

Here are some tips on what to bring with you on your trip:

Other nuances

Remember that you are in Bolivia, which means punctuality is not guaranteed here. I had a funny incident. The driver promised to come in the morning at 05:00 and pick us up. We were ready by this time and walked like somnambulists around the dark hotel, where there was no one except us. There was no light (then flashlights came in handy), no breakfast, no clarity. The driver, who had only 4 fingers on his hand, said that it was under this nickname that everyone knows him.

Light loomed in the distance, and cars were revving, and I decided to walk and look for our driver, because I didn’t want to waste precious time. I borrowed a lantern, dressed in everything warm and, inhaling the frosty air, went into the darkness under thousands of stars.

Seeing how an old man was making a fire in one of the houses, I confidently walked towards him:

-Good morning, do you know where the 4 fingers are?

- Well, yes, our guide with 4 fingers.

Even in the pitch darkness, I could see a face full of bewilderment. I was pulled out of an awkward situation by the sound of a car pulling up to our hotel. I wished my grandfather a good day and went towards the dawn.

Everything turned out to be trite: the guide overslept. Therefore, be prepared that an inexpensive tour may have deviations from the program through no fault of yours.

Learn some Spanishaz Most of the guides do not speak English. And although they do not say anything particularly important, it can be nice to understand at least in general terms what is at stake.

Feel young, regardless of age. Bolivians in the highlands look much older than their years. I was shocked when it turned out that the driver was my age, and the women in the village did not wear their grandchildren behind their backs in multi-colored scarves. A great opportunity to rejoice in the fact that we are well preserved.

Relax and enjoy. The place is unique, and what you see it will be great in any case, whether it happens in the rainy season or dry. Still, God is well done, in 7 days to come up with and implement this. All human imagination, it seems to me, would not be enough to create such a miracle.

When I get older and rich, I will come here again, buy a private tour for 5 days and travel around colorful lakes, walk on fancy rocks and while away the hours in search of chinchillas and vicunas.

Location: Bolivia
Square: 10,588 km²
Coordinates: 20°10"41.9"S 67°30"48.6"W

It is impossible to surprise a modern traveler, spoiled by a huge number of offers from travel agencies. Many sights, monuments of architecture and history in various cities and countries are so amazing and unique that it seems that it is simply impossible to see an even more amazing creation of ancient people or a miracle created by nature itself.

View of the Uyuni salt marsh

However, this is a big misconception. There is always something in the world that strikes the imagination; something that takes your breath away; where you still want to go back. In this material, we will talk about the largest lake in the world, but, as you might guess, not an ordinary reservoir, but a beautiful dried-up salt lake - Uyuni Salt Flats.

Uyuni Salt Lake is located in Bolivia, in the southwest of this amazing country, in the vicinity of the city of Uyuni, on the territory of the departments of Potosi and Oruro and at an altitude of almost 4,000 meters (!) Above sea level. This is the largest salt marsh in the world, its area exceeds 10,500 square kilometers, and the thickness of the salt layer in some places is almost 10 meters. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists from all over our vast planet come here to see with their own eyes the "endless kilometers" of salt expanses, visit unusual salt hotels and capture this miracle of nature on cameras and camcorders, which, by the way, can change its shape more than once during the day. coloring.

Mounds of salt

Uyuni salt marsh: history of formation

Before talking about the history of the formation of the largest salt lake Uyuni, perhaps it is worth dwelling a bit on what salt marshes are and how they appear. All salt marshes on our planet were formed on the site of former water basins. In a lake where there is no runoff, and the evaporation rate of moisture exceeds the amount of precipitation that falls on the area, the concentration of salt in the water increases over time. With the complete evaporation of water, a hard salt crust forms on the surface, which allows scientists to call the drying lake a salt marsh.

The Uyuni salt marsh is part of the Bolivian Altiplano mountain plateau, which, as mentioned above, is located at an altitude of about 4,000 meters above sea level. On this plateau, in addition to Uyuni, there are other much smaller salt marshes, as well as freshwater and salt lakes.

Salt mining

The history of the formation of the largest Bolivian salt marsh has its roots in prehistoric times. Approximately 30-40 thousand years ago, Uyuni was part of the huge Lake Minchin, which, under the influence of time, was transformed first into Lake Tauca, and later, into Koipasa. After its partial drying, two lakes Poopo and Uru Uru, which exist now, and two salt marshes - Koipasa and Uyuni, separated by a series of hills, remained.

During the rainy season, Lake Poopo and its neighbor, the much larger Titicaca, burst their banks and cause natural flooding of the Coipas and Uyuni salt marshes. A small amount of water covering the salt layer of Uyuni transforms the salt desert into the world's largest mirror. “Having found yourself in any part of the salt marsh during the period when it is covered with water, it seems that you suddenly found yourself on another planet: the sky is both above and under your feet. The spectacle is beyond words. It creates a feeling of "floating in the air." However, putting your hand into the water and taking a handful of what you are standing on, you understand that there is a ton of salt around, which seems to never end, ”a tourist who visited Lake Uyuni shares his impressions.

Indeed, the reserves of salt on the territory of the Uyuni salt marsh are truly enormous. According to rough estimates of experts, there are about 10 billion (!) Tons of salt here, moreover, about 25 thousand tons of this natural mineral is mined annually in this area. First of all, it should be noted that the Uyuni salt marsh is of great importance for the economy of Bolivia. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the fact that it stores a huge amount of lithium chloride, from which lithium is extracted, which is used in the manufacture of batteries.

An equally ancient legend is connected with the ancient lake, its essence is as follows ... Long ago, the mountain ranges that today surround Uyuni, Tunupa, Kusku and Cousin were giant people. Kusku married Tunupa, but the beautiful Kuzina managed to charm him. Kusku left his wife and ran away from home, even though a child was growing up in the family. Tunupa grieved for a long time, shedding tears day and night. Her tears mixed with breast milk, which she fed her son, and they formed a snow-white salt lake. Tunupa for the Bolivians is a deity whose name, in their opinion, the lake should bear.

Uyuni Salt Flats

Local residents involved in the extraction and processing of salt from Uyuni use it not only as a seasoning for food. All travelers who come to admire one of the main attractions of Bolivia are offered to buy a souvenir from this natural mineral as a keepsake. In addition, guests of the city are invited to stay in hotels in which the walls, roof and some furniture are made not from expensive modern building materials, but from ... salt.

For the first time such hotels were built in the mid-90s, in the very "heart" of the salt marsh. The news of such colorful hotels instantly spread all over the country: the influx of tourists exceeded all expectations. However, due to many sanitation problems that had a detrimental effect on the surrounding area, the hotels were closed and dismantled. Over time, they were rebuilt again, but already on the outskirts of the salt marsh and in compliance with all environmental norms and standards.

One of the salt hotels

Modern salt hotels have all the necessary amenities, including a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi. The daily cost of such apartments will cost the tourist about 20 US dollars.

Uyuni Salt Lake: Train Graveyard

Going to Bolivia to Lake Uyuni as part of an excursion group, almost all tourists at the beginning or at the end of their journey make a stop at the train cemetery. Today, the population of the town of Uyuni does not exceed 15 thousand people, and once it was a major center of Bolivia with a network of railways. The decline in income from the mining industry, which began back in the 40s of the last century, led to the complete collapse of the railway in this area. Huge electric locomotives, locomotives, wagons and trolleys were abandoned. Some specimens of the train cemetery are over a hundred years old. Among them, you can even meet the locomotives of Garratt and Meyer (these people were among the first to build articulated locomotives), but, unfortunately, they are all in a rather deplorable state. In 2006, the local administration raised the issue of creating an open-air museum on this site, but so far this idea has not been implemented.

train graveyard

Uyuni Salt Flats: flora, fauna and climate

On the territory of the world's largest salt lake, as you might guess, there is practically no vegetation, the only exceptions are 10-meter cacti and small shrubs that the locals use as fuel. In the period from November to December, which, by the way, is considered summer in Bolivia, here you can see another amazing picture: hundreds of pink flamingos walking along the endless salty lake surface. In some areas of the Uyuni salt marsh, foxes and small viscacha rodents live, somewhat reminiscent of the well-known rabbits.

The rainy season starts in November and ends in March. The air temperature in the area of ​​the Uyuni salt marsh in summer is kept at +22 degrees Celsius. A hot day in Bolivia always gives way to cold nights. June, July, August (winter in South America) are considered the tourist season, despite the fact that during the day the air warms up to only +13 degrees Celsius, and at night the temperature can drop sharply to -10.