La Paz to Uyuni 3-Day Tour: My Salt Flats Experience

Okay, so you’re looking into doing the La Paz to Uyuni Salt Flats 3-day tour, and that’s great! I mean, honestly, it’s pretty much a must-do when you are around Bolivia. It’s rather unforgettable, like absolutely nothing else. Very simply, here’s the lowdown from my perspective. It’s not just pretty, it’s a whole other kind of otherworldly thing to witness.

What’s the Deal with La Paz to Uyuni?

Very many people decide to go from La Paz to Uyuni, and that makes a whole heap of sense. Pretty often, it is the jumping-off point for traveling around Bolivia. That said, so, Uyuni itself is in the middle of basically nowhere. A long trip is something you can really expect. Getting there could be a bit of a thing. A popular way, then, is to grab a bus. Several companies provide overnight services. A flight would also work. So, I took the bus as that seemed more of a typical backpacker kind of experience. Very important too, make certain you check reviews because bus comfort differs in quite a meaningful manner.

Why Do the 3-Day Tour?

So why should you spend three days out there? Three days may seem like a good while, but actually, it is super worth it. Not only do you get the Salt Flats themselves, you furthermore visit very cool locations all throughout the surrounding area. Such as, imagine yourself soaking inside hot springs with llamas just wandering by! The tours quite often include accommodations, that is something nice to have looked after for you. And it is how most get to know this pretty remote location, the chosen method.

First Day: Bus to Uyuni and Tour Kick-Off

The overnight bus trip to Uyuni. What a great adventure it proved to be, but perhaps, you should take into consideration a few things. Earplugs. Seriously, they actually assist quite a lot with keeping some peace for you. Try and bring a neck pillow. As for the roads… some parts may get rather bouncy. The tour begins fairly promptly as soon as you land in Uyuni. After, like, a quick breakfast, you will meet the rest of the folks you’re taking the trip with and the driver who will function as your guide.

I actually got sort of lucky and had a super fun group, and I would then recommend that you make an effort to talk with people right away. A stop at the train graveyard can be expected pretty much before getting anywhere near the flats. Basically, you get to discover a variety of steam engines there and get a glimpse to the mining history from ages before. Soon after the graveyard it’s off to the salt flats! Be sure you apply your sunscreen, the sun is a very powerful foe around those areas!

Day Two: Salt Flats and Surreal Landscapes

Get completely ready to experience probably the most strange things your eyes may very well witness. So, we invested most of our day zipping over these gigantic white expanses, looking like another planet. Of course, everyone does the trick photographs where individuals appear tiny or enormous by changing position. My best idea, be creative with this; use objects and come up with innovative viewpoints.

Just remember, everyone wants time with it and thus it’s polite never to be hoarding the moment for too long. When there may well be a stop in a hotel developed completely from salt– walls, tables, even beds are composed of it. Furthermore, keep on the lookout. There are seemingly always some roaming llamas or vicuñas close by. The night time is typically spent at quite a basic hostel. Do not expect excessive comfort; but at that elevation a hot tea feels absolutely lovely.

Day Three: Geysers and Hot Springs!

Morning begins at quite a young time today, as you wish to arrive at the geysers ahead of sun-up for an amazing encounter. El Tatio geysers really are a geothermal field found in the Andes Mountains. Expect to observe steam rising right into a super cool and freezing environment; that is not actually anything at all that one can forget. Have your warmest clothing available simply because it’s going to be super freezing at this particular elevation. Afterward, usually you visit some thermal springs where exactly folks could unwind for a bit.

It might really feel great at this time after all those pretty fast-paced prior days, it’s very relaxing. From there, pretty often it involves going by unique rock formations and a number of colored lagoons just before the tour gets done. Many choose to finish in Uyuni, yet others carry on to San Pedro de Atacama inside Chile; ask what your options may actually be and decide where is the best to suit your needs.

Selecting Your Tour Operator: Tips!

Be rather selective while picking the tour operator. In fact, do your homework. Chat with some past travelers and check a couple of review pages. Question things, actually. Specifically about those vehicles used and that guide quality. Safety standards needs to be actually, seriously vital; make sure vehicles happen to be well-kept and even have safety measures that should exist. Confirm also what things are specifically provided for the cost and also precisely what could potentially cost you extra so there are actually no hidden shocks. Pretty often inexpensive may, in fact, end up extremely costly. The experiences might very well vary according to whom you decide on.

What Should You Pack? A Checklist!

Packing carefully can truly increase just how much you get away from the excursion. Such as, make certain to have:

Sunscreen (extremely high SPF): Those sunrays down there are very powerful at this height.
Sunglasses: to save you from the brightness reflected over the flats.
Warm apparel: seriously, pack apparel throughout layers, it turns out to be cold, most certainly at nighttime plus on that morning of the geysers.
Swimwear: just in the event that you intend on dipping into these hot springs.
Camera: absolutely you do not wish to pass up any shot opportunity!
Additional snacks and waters: Even though meals get generally presented, it can potentially be smart to use some added stuff readily available, mainly for individuals along with specific dietary needs.
Cash: several of the entrances to certain locations may possibly only accept hard earned money.
Lip balm plus moisturizer: That air dries your skin pretty efficiently.

Photographing the Salt Flats

The Uyuni Salt Flats, those expansive, strikingly pure landscapes, definitely supply very remarkable image possibilities. Really, it’s hard to find better backdrops than these. Several recommendations for snagging jaw-dropping photos:

Fool with perspective: Make use of these enormous spots to experience perspective tips. Play about along with positioning close and far-away individuals to generate hilarious effects, this becomes probably the most popular actions!
Watch light carefully: These flats might seem various any time of the day. At dawn and then nightfall, specifically, which means that light happens to be more mellow, it will likely produce a whole lot of great results.
Include some items: Employ stuff such as luggage, playthings, plus anything to supply the photos with scale as well as uniqueness.
Protect your gear: Those salt could certainly destroy cameras rather rapidly, hence always retain those in baggage when they’re simply not getting used. Also take on several of the cloths so you’re ready clean your lens often.

What to expect from Accommodations and Meals

Regarding expectations! Therefore, you must have some context with this! Normally, accommodation tends to be fundamental. Be equipped in order to be throughout shared bedrooms alongside travelers. Hot showers at times might be patchy dependent upon in which that you are presently. So it has been like that a large number of instances! Meals tend to be supplied and really will be fairly hearty taking into consideration specifically where people could be. Assume meals similar to rice, chicken, quinoa soups, these types of things; comfortable, that tends to be specifically whatever is needed with that setting.

Altitude Sickness? Important to know.

One critical aspect will be the possible altitude sickness. La Paz sits extremely high, or it may well effect many individuals that are not really accustomed to it. Go slow, at first. Give your system a chance to get at ease. Avoid difficult pursuits at the start. Remain hydrated; sip loads of fluids! Coca tea will likely be normally supplied as well, that may well assist relieve effects too. However, as well as perhaps primarily, search advice from a health expert before a trip to look at drugs for you and actually have if it has some sense in this situation.

Is it Worth It?

Absolutely, totally worth the effort! While not necessarily for each traveler – especially maybe those that hate bouncy bus trips or indeed extremely basic accommodation — it’s honestly a singular travel adventure that delivers experiences you just can’t get literally elsewhere on planet. Therefore, perhaps keep in mind: do enough planning, package smartly plus adjust this speed, but even while at it plan on experiencing several of those incredible displays mother nature offers upward while heading La Paz upon those Uyuni Salt Flats tour!

Happy Travels!

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