Uyuni Salt Flats tour from Tupiza, Bolivia - Day 1/4
We decided to embark on a 4 days expedition through the Bolivian Salt Flats ↗. We were anticipating rocky deserts, hundred of flamingos, coloured lagoons, geysers steaming sulphur, herds of llamas, snow-capped volcanoes, natural hot springs, giant cacti, a train cemetery and so much more.
Early morning, we left Tupiza with Pascal and Corine, a French couple who were as excited as we were. Our driver Milton and cook Cecilia were waiting for us in the 4x4. Within minutes of leaving town, we stopped to take pictures of stunning rock formations at the Quebrada de Palala at 4,200 meters above the sea level.
The red and grey colours of the huge thin walls of eroded earth and rock were beautiful. We could have stayed there for hours taking pictures, but we had to move on. The scenery was constantly changing - open fields with llamas, valleys backed by volcanoes, and lunar-like landscapes.
Quebrada de Palala
During the morning, we spotted an Andean fox running across the desert and stopped for lunch in Cerillos, a small hamlet of a dozen mud-brick houses. The village was almost deserted as most inhabitants had moved to bigger cities after the mines closed down.
After lunch, we continued through Polulos and Rio San Pablo before reaching Pueblo Fantasma, an abandoned ghost town that was left untouched after the Spanish plundered it and leprosy devastated the population.
Pueblo Fantasma - The Ghost Town
At Laguna Morejon, we reached an elevation of 4,855 meters without experiencing any altitude sickness symptoms yet. The landscape was surreal - a vast expanse of reddish earth stretching to the horizon, dotted with volcanic peaks.
Laguna Morejon
The day concluded in Quetena Chico village where we would spend the night. After a hearty meal prepared by Cecilia, we stepped outside to stargaze. The sky was incredibly clear at this altitude, showing millions of stars despite the freezing cold.
Our accommodation was basic - mud-brick walls and simple beds - but we were grateful for shelter at this altitude. Tomorrow would bring even more spectacular sights.
Have you been to the Bolivian Salar? Did you start from Tupiza or Uyuni? Which company did you book with? Leave us your comments below. We would love to hear from you.
Which company did we pick for our 4 days Uyuni Salt Flat tour ?
- There are more than 20 companies in Tupiza which offered Salt Flats tours. They all had the same route, same Jeeps, accommodations, and similar prices. Natural Adventure and Alexandro Adventure came highly ranked on TripAdvisor. Natural Adventure was slightly different as they gave more control over the itinerary for the third day. We ended up booking with Natural Adventure and they did an amazing job. They couldn't be faulted on their service. The Spanish-speaking driver, certified mechanic and guide, Milton, was very friendly and patient with our minimal Spanish. He loves being a guide. He was a careful and excellent driver, taking good care of its car all the time. The poor man woke up every night to start up its engine. The bubbly cook, Cecilia, all dress up with traditional Bolivian clothing, made sure we were never hungry, even for the vegetarians. We paid USD 200 each including all the meals, water, soft drink, few snacks, petrol and accommodation for 4 days and 3 nights.
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Pin These Moments
🏜️ Quebrada de Palala Rock Formations
Stunning red and grey walls of eroded earth and rock at 4,200 meters elevation. The mineral deposits create incredible patterns and colors.
👻 Pueblo Fantasma Ghost Town
An abandoned mining village left untouched after Spanish colonization and leprosy devastation. A haunting reminder of Bolivia's mining history.
🌋 High-Altitude Desert Landscapes
Surreal volcanic landscapes at nearly 5,000 meters elevation. Reddish earth stretching to the horizon with snow-capped peaks in the distance.