San Pedro de Atacama 4-Day Uyuni Salt Flats Trip: Full Review

So, the Uyuni Salt Flats trip, beginning from San Pedro de Atacama, is very often something that you see people raving about and yet, it’s good to have as many deets as possible, right? This is basically the rundown on what you can actually anticipate. The Salar de Uyuni, it’s that wide, almost unreal plain in southwest Bolivia, is one of those must-see places, yet it’s, too it’s almost, far from straightforward to just hop on over and do it. That four-day trip, getting going in the driest desert across the globe and finishing in Uyuni, that is quite famous, offers some quite intense scenery and an adventure which could be remembered for years. So, come on, check out a few of the takeaways!

What You Really Need to Know Before Going

Okay, prior to diving headfirst, is that you should have some plans on logistics. San Pedro de Atacama is an awesome jumping-off location because is that you can discover heaps of agencies selling the tour. However, is that not all trips are quite the same, as that levels of comfort can totally fluctuate. The costs, which could be between $150 to $300, it’s almost, frequently encompass transportation in a 4×4, someplace to sleep, and just about all meals. But is that there are sneaky costs which pop up which could add up, like entrance costs to parks and hotter showers. This trip requires booking.

The altitude will get you. The Altiplano is high up, between 11,000 and 15,000 feet above sea level (that’s like, 3,350 to 4,570 meters). Altitude sickness, is that yet something which occurs, that might totally zap one’s fun. Take some acclimatization beforehand in San Pedro, keep hydrated, very stay away from the alcohol initially, and consider speaking with your doctor about altitude sickness drugs.

Is that your tour company makes a huge difference, too it’s almost, but in this adventure, this is almost what will make or break your experience. Get recommendations, read various reviews, and also question operators with respect to things such as vehicle servicing, their drivers’ experience, plus quality of accommodations and their food. You might want to ensure that the operator has experience in any health issue, such as whether the company is prepared for altitude sickness incidents.

What Happens During Those Four Days? A General Outline

Day 1: Out of Chile, Entering Bolivia. It typically is beginning first thing, when you’re whisked away right from San Pedro de Atacama and over to the border. The transition might just be very long and entails passport management, yet after that you’re in Bolivia. Immediately is that your introduction into this landscape that is otherworldly begins, frequently along with places like Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde, which lie right at the base of the impressive Volcán Licancabur. The night often gets spent in fundamental lodging someplace close.

Day 2: Geysers, Hot Springs, and more. This is, yet what’s going on during an early morning to find Sol de la Mañana, which happens to be a geothermal area which includes boiling mud pools plus steaming geysers which happen to be that which should not be skipped, particularly when it’s super early. The day carries on alongside something quite soothing, namely a dip within hot springs close to Laguna Polques, prior to making our way to Laguna Colorada. Is that laguna, colored red, with countless flamingos, offers something which should be taken to your camera to immortalize it, plus you will likely be sleeping here.

Day 3: Into the Salt Flats proper. Alright now, what many see as the climax with the travel, going right into Salar de Uyuni! Before this, is that the journey usually passes by sites, which could be rock formations, the Valle de Rocas. As you enter that salt flat that is wide, it’s almost, that sense of area plus surreal scenery are very affecting. Photo possibilities right here tend to be very countless; it’s time to get people’s brains performing perspective methods to obtain people jumping away from huge ketchup bottles or maybe being consumed with a dinosaur (toy variety of course). Your housing tonight is normally someplace that’s at a salt hotel – manufactured fully out of sodium!

Day 4: Sunrise over the Salt Flats and saying farewell. Another quite early start to check the dawn across Salar de Uyuni is pretty worthwhile, because the way in which in the colours show on that salt which appears limitless, could be very memorable. Visits for example to Incahuasi Island, which will be a rocky island amidst the salt smooth covered with huge cacti, usually are frequent, earlier in the day. Lastly you happen to be transferred into Uyuni, the place that the travel finishes; most people take plane, or bus towards the next stop to them.

What to Actually Expect for the Accommodations and Food

In terms of lodging, is that don’t keep your expectations way too excessive, but is that doesn’t mean the trip isn’t appealing. Those 1st couple of nights are often expended inside basic lodging which gives provided bunk beds, and also facilities often are very standard. As lodging often is quite remote, think that power will probably be irregular, too it’s almost, also warm water is extremely unlikely (unless that tour operator claims a chance to shell out extra).

Salt hotels, which are typically applied throughout the 3rd night when around the Salar, offer something which will be a tiny bit more distinctive; but that comfort and ease might be impacted. These are frequently manufactured almost entirely of salt – wall space, furniture, that lots of things! Even though is that hotels happen to be fairly simple, they will often include more comfort, like individual rooms plus facilities that happen to be hotter than what one’s experienced early on throughout that trip.

And, okay what’s with the food? Meals are often provided on that travel (be sure to confirm just that whenever booking). Don’t expect Michelin-star cooking. This menu frequently is consisting of staples, that might include chicken, quinoa, plus soups and grains. Foods often is geared to people’s tastes that happen to be well known. So, take treats! They may come to be lifesavers in between foods and particularly if you’ve dietary requirements.

How To Actually Prepare For All The Things

What you bring, could greatly influence what happens throughout the four days.

Clothes in levels: Temperature ranges move, typically by simply a whole lot. Bundling is best. You may want things such as hot jackets plus long underwear and short pants together with t-shirts.
Comfortable shoes: Is that you will definitely do several taking a walk, in diverse terrains (sodium, stones, mud). Comfy hiking footwear tend to be advisable.
Sunscreen, cap and sunglasses: That sunlight for these height may be extremely strong. Guard you, as a person!
Skin lotion plus Lip Balm: This air might be exceedingly dried out. Take items with that stop pores and skin turning as a reptile.
Camera: You cannot disregard the digital camera of course! With electric batteries (since electrical energy sources are very hard in the future by) plus a great deal memory space to take most those vistas which are mind-blowing.
Additional Water plus treats: This is necessary, to supplement just what is getting made available and make certain you stay hydrated which will help using level of responsiveness to level sickness.
First-aid pack: Simply basic products (headache alleviation, diarrhea medication, bandages).

Photographing Salar de Uyuni, the Fun Stuff

That Uyuni Salt Flats, is that with a landscape this is quite unique, gives you lots of very exciting artistic opportunity, so keep ideas ready, alright? As a start:

Have fun with viewpoint: Bring figurines or props to utilize regarding those photographs regarding distorted viewpoints this place might be fabled regarding.
Best conditions light-wise happen to be early am/late evening: This can produce warm, smooth lighting which make photo something a bit greater; never forget dawn pictures during Salar – impressive!
Consider wide-angle contact lens: Regarding consuming that range from this salt toned entirely, or maybe catch close-ups in people with outcropping landscape!
Be affected person with other vacationers: Several individuals visit these kinds of areas that you just anticipate holding back somewhat patiently just before snagging chance clear in tourist people.

Things that can Go Wrong (and What You Might Do About Them)

Very much with every single adventurous travel, you may still find items which probably won’t go too smoothly:

Altitude sickness: Actually is actually addressed properly (acclimatize as a starting point, take medication on occasion), go easy for everyone mainly because its results for people, will take several hours not days but make people terrible feelings in first a part of outings!
Vehicle failures: That distant area takes place frequently – so is usually just about being geared up psychologically (getting impacted could be typical regarding drives). Usually providers include back up solutions whether one has significant break-down conditions occur in your vacation; don’t permit it discourage everybody off considering having good experiences.
Misunderstandings concerning itineraries/services provided: Validate facts and itinerary specifics really prior your excursion along with tour business particularly must you will have precise conditions – verifying these reduces miscommunication situations!

In Conclusion: Was the Trip Meaningful?

Thus, may the San Pedro de Atacama four-day tour about Uyuni sodium flat definitely seriously worth carrying out? Whenever one travels willing, possessing appropriate desires including great degree overall flexibility together excellent doses patience that seriously then probably!! This delivers unequaled mixture associated incredible environment together daring trip experiences- so you won’t leave that immediately anytime immediately, alright!! Only go willing even when conditions become difficult sometimes – that ultimate memories causes many of its concerns virtually trivial finally despite! Thus go prepare that digital camera at the moment after i hope on with regard with adventure 🙂

Key Takeaways:

Research & book tour operators carefully.
Get accustomed in high altitude beforehand to aid prevent signs.
Pack clothing through rates so the you’re equipped with shifting temperatures during outing moment frame plus make specific sun protections are sufficient due the power sun levels especially large above seashore amounts there also always maintain water with you with make all those picture prospective regarding distort sights!

Right, there’s what you will face, in case it’s what you will.