Wonderful landscapes, starry nights and many emotions to experience in the Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia: one of the places to visit in life! All the details and technical advice in the post.
Il Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia it is absolutely one of those places to visit at least once in a lifetime. Located in the southwest, almost on the border with Chile, the Salar extends over 10.000 square kilometers. There are several ways to reach it depending on the entrances.
How to reach the Salar de Uyuni
If you have a few days to spare or simply prefer a more comfortable solution, you can opt for one domestic flight from La Paz. One of the suggested companies is Amaszonas, cheap and reliable. The flight time is one hour in which you can get a taste of the salt desert and its extension from above. Always to be reached by flight, you can leave from Tupiza. In both cases the cities of the entrance to the Salar are connected by night buses.
In any case, it is absolutely recommended to organize the tour with the support of alocal agency. In fact, there are points where the road is not in the least marked and the local guides know the area by heart. In many areas, the cellular network is absent. If you decide to start from Uyuni, certainly more popular, you can rely on Andes Saltes Expedition. Professional and precise, they organize both 2-day and 3 or 4-night excursions.
Salar de Uyuni: the stages not to be missed
1. The Locomotive Cemetery
Among the stops not to be missed inside the Salar there is first of all the Locomotive Cemetery. Here you can admire the remains of old trains and, on some, even get on. A suggestive place despite being very crowded by the different tours that cross the desert.
2. Hostal of Sale
Another very nice place, in particular for the atmosphere that you breathe there is theSale Hostal. A stone's throw from the Argentina / Bolivia Dakar monument stands a construction entirely in salt. Inside, there are only tables where you can lean to eat something and the toilets. In fact, here the various tours stop for lunch / breakfast serving the food prepared before departure.
3. Zone of the Hexagons
Then it is compulsory Zone of the Hexagons. It is a part of the Salar where the expanse of salt seems endless and which lends itself easily to the most creative photos. In the period of August you are surrounded only by the most intense white, in the rainy season you can witness the mirror effect, very impressive.
4. Isla Incahuasi
Another stop common to all is Isla Incahuasi, thegiant cactus island. Very scenic, especially if visited in the early morning with the sun that has just risen. The island is easily crossed and you can climb to the top, enjoying the spectacle of the desert in front.
Two experiences not to be missed
Among the most exciting and memorable experiences to live in the Salar are thedawn and starry sky. The first puts a strain on the most daring with the bitter cold that enters the veins but, it pays off, with the spectacle of the sun that slowly rises, making every single grain of salt shine a little at a time. All with the mountains in the background, which change color from time to time.
The starry night experience is no exception. Just ask your guide to go out after dinner to admire the stars. You find yourself in total darkness with the stars that seem to surround and envelop you, in silence and pitch darkness. In fact, there are very few agglomerations of huts and all very far from each other.
How to organize an excursion to the Salar de Uyuni
In addition to the choice of the agency, which is essential to ensure that the excursion does not become a nightmare, it is equip yourself properly. While there is no shortage of very thick woolen blankets in the hostal proposed by the tour that can keep you warm at night, there are some things you can't do without. Also it should be considered that the hostals in the (often common) bathrooms have hot water only for a fee, so you may be forced to use cold water.
What to bring then?
First of all, windproof and, depending on the season, medium - heavy technical garments. In August, for example, if during the day there are times when you can stay in the sun with short sleeves, in the evening it gets cold, very dry. They are recommended breathable technical sweaters, heavy fleece, a wool sweater, padded anoraks and suitable socks. Of course they are recommended trekking shoes waterproof and comfortable, wool hats, gloves and scarves. The wind that can pull can be annoying in some cases. Also due to the strong glare of the sun, polarized sunglasses and sunscreen are essential. Small tricks that however will allow you to better enjoy the exciting excursion in the Salar de Uyuni.
