Uyuni Salt Flats Tour Review: See Laguna Colorada!

So, you are thinking about checking out the 3-day Uyuni Salt Flats tour, that is a trip to the Laguna Colorada? Honestly, like you, I was super stoked but also wanted to know exactly what I was signing up for. It’s almost more than just mind blowing landscapes – it’s also, too, about seeing how remote places still pulse with vibrant life. This isn’t, perhaps, your typical vacation; it’s a dive right into the raw, jaw-dropping beauty of the Bolivian highlands. A good travel adventure needs planning, particularly one that takes you into pretty extreme altitude and tough conditions. From picking the right tour operator to managing altitude sickness, there’s actually quite a bit that goes into making this excursion smooth. Very happy to, too, share insights to guide potential visitors. Prepare for otherworldly views, stories, and a bunch of very practical tips!

Choosing the Best Tour Operator

So, one of the first things to consider is deciding who you should book with, because let me tell you, not all tours appear to be created equal. It’s often tempting to simply go with the very cheapest deal. However, it is arguably wiser to put a bit more investment into a tour operator that looks after its people and equipment properly. Very look for agencies that are recommended, seem to get great feedback for safe driving, maintain their vehicles well, and can offer decent accommodations. Do a little bit of reading online and try to see what travelers have to say about their experiences. Were guides good at languages? Did they explain everything properly? Did the jeeps get regularly stuck? Too often you can avoid bad experiences by just checking other’s reviews. It’s almost worth inquiring about the guide’s experience; it could be useful when you think of any first-aid training. See too if they know much about the geology, or even, too, just the area’s wildlife.

That is too, what I discovered. Several operators will state that they provide oxygen on hand for altitude sickness, yet, you just might find out they only have one small canister to share around the entire jeep, if at all. I was just very lucky that I chose a provider, after reading loads of traveler forums, who genuinely seemed more reliable. Arguably, their jeeps were newer and in better shape, which meant a much safer trip. They, actually, supplied good meals, decent lodging, and yes, the guide was informative and pretty experienced.

Day 1: The Salt Flats and Incahuasi Island

First day starts off in Uyuni and almost immediately things get pretty real when you hit the Salar de Uyuni – that massive salt flat, so it seems to stretch forever. When its bright sun on bright white salt, you will be seriously grateful for sunglasses! Stopping off at the train graveyard is interesting. That area has the skeletal remains of old steam engines to highlight an almost bleak industrial history. Anyway, though, the vast, uninterrupted whiteness of the salt flats will capture all your senses. It is very cool. You’ll see the ‘Ojos del Salar,’ weird bubbling springs, and get some kind of sense of the crazy scale of this place. Be ready to have the ultimate fun, actually, playing around with perspective photography – you see it all over the internet! The guide will assist you get some awesome, mind-bending images, with tiny people beside huge dinosaurs or sitting in giant crisp packets. Remember sunblock – it’s so white here the glare tends to be intense.

Next you’re on to Incahuasi Island. Like this ‘island’ pops up from the flat landscape and actually proves that life can even manage to grow in a habitat which at first glance looks incredibly harsh. Its home is with giant cacti, some are hundreds of years in age, and very the views out from its higher points show great sweeping panoramas over that brilliant white canvas. Walking here offers that very stark comparison involving vibrant, but harsh, life forms as opposed to a never ending mineral landscape. This first night involves staying in a salt hotel. Now they are a bit more primitive in comparison to regular hotels. The fact that actually it’s constructed with salt blocks has some charm; expect the room to be extremely basic. Remember the electricity is sporadic plus there might be very limited access to showers, so you might be glad for packing wet wipes!

Day 2: Lagoons, Wildlife, and Surreal Landscapes

Next day normally involves moving into the Siloli Desert and all its colorful lagoons. Laguna Honda, Laguna Cañapa, and Laguna Hedionda are really worth seeing. Actually, it’s not only the beautiful lakes to check out. See too the stunning flamingo species in action too. Any time it’s quiet you just may hear them honking out load over that shallow water. Keep your camera ready when your trip involves the ‘Arbol de Piedra’ – or stone tree. Weather does so much, that it creates a peculiar rock formation that rises seemingly alone out of that desert floor. In fact, the landscape transforms almost daily and that day, yet, finishes up near Laguna Colorada. This colored lake actually has the red algae that give its vibrant, red tinted appearance, plus it will attracts more flamingos.

Lodging this second night might feel more rustic. The accommodation might be really simple. The night always seems very chilly because of the elevation so extra layers really come into play when thinking of staying cosy! When it’s dark have a look, that place really makes for awesome star-gazing due its really remote area having such limited light influence.

Day 3: Geysers, Hot Springs, and the Return to Uyuni

Getting going on that last day means a very quick start to check out ‘Sol de Mañana’ geothermal field. It might seem just, sort of, weird waking up that early, though walking through the steaming fumaroles is like, literally, wandering across something otherworldly, especially under the morning light. Just so cool and smelly. Geysers explode up into view as if the world wants to literally give vent for its interior and the whole area offers proof as to the raw volcanic forces at play. So make certain that warm clothes get packed; that high-altitude cool feels pretty bitter so extremely early.

Relax when you ease stiff muscles up, later that day, in the Termas de Polques hot springs. Just because that is a nice break! They really are great so after a handful of very early mornings and off road driving. By the time the tour rolls slowly towards its completion, just look back at all those experiences to have captured some quite indelible visuals! The tour returns back again to Uyuni and its where that adventure stops, very with you having a hard drive overflowing because you saw an amazing slice relating to South America.

Altitude Sickness: Tips for Staying Well

Just as you will be climbing to significant heights you do need to acclimatise well, and there seems some likelihood you are going to experience some amount altitude sickness, so let me show how things usually work. Get some advice before arriving by doing a few days within the higher cities like La Paz and Potosí prior. When, too, that gets very possible consider doing anything slowly when first coming up that high. Stop yourself going at it too quick! You should keep extremely well hydrated. I have noticed coca tea is helpful to lots people, and almost readily provided. You, arguably, may discuss pharmaceutical possibilities alongside your doctor when you think of Acetazolamide – but, any kind medicine may cause unwanted affects with others and needs careful attention by having proper consultations regarding individual circumstances ahead use. Basically just listen very carefully around physical health and rest where at all possible, not trying too hard early stages of travel.

Packing Essentials

Packing smart turns out quite important so let me just mention some critical essentials, I mean don’t you find things like that are important. I felt these tips helped for what might turn out tricky environmental elements in this location.

Warm Clothing: This part on, its more essential rather than you’d anticipate since desert climates get rather chilled – many very warm sweaters, fleece or down jackets will see the comfort better within cold temperatures.
Layers: Pack outfits and accessories as will be adaptable so changing temps means, it is always smart can increase or even eliminate a bit of gear rather quickly!
Comfortable shoes: Have some sturdy comfortable footwear – boots may become ideal by getting onto those trails though also be very sure whatever bring does needs well-worn prior, try getting less break on.
Sunglasses and sunscreen: Because there, seriously, intense solar coverage at altitude especially onto flats – make protect skin as eye always!.
Hat and gloves: Think things on shielding face to head – having warm cover really support against getting extremely high air cools!
Reusable water bottle: Because staying proper within that higher dryness has critical element, carry container may become refill whenever have opportunity and decrease dependence for getting plastic disposable models.
Snacks: Usually tours giving some snacks, very taking along many favored kinds you probably prefer may assist address unique cravings and never leave getting hungry within far sectioned segments with little buying convenience found to the hand.
Toiletries: Always give more importance items often forgot: like try wet towels or perhaps something for dealing less ability bathe on a daily or possibly even more regular frequency – plus paper things should amenities might becoming scarce or are just probably unavailable in regions within accommodations on those tour segments you do on overnight bases on!
Camera gear: Should take fantastic landscape on, its arguably sensible taking several lens and getting more memory – just be on watch about handling and caring kit because all very unforgiving territory!.

What to Expect from Accommodations and Food

It might seem clever being realistic of those base and also gastronomic element here, which helps avoid let downs that probably were easily predictable too, I felt those ideas could certainly have aided so much beforehand!

Basic Accommodations: As you can expect base often simply furnished though also functional by offering security mostly – very many basic things plus facilities may mean be limited! Salt built Hotel do give several unusual element even by usually do expect more simplistic level and also services than conventional place of residence on town segments.
Limited Electricity and Hot Water: Energy might show getting ration often with usage based throughout given period, just to expect having very limited power points may influence recharging appliances and warm bath – usually do bring potential things from charge related items along power packs because the option seems unavailable frequently to those hotels!.
Simple Meals: The menus usually offer staples especially involving pasta dishes, grain and more vegetable kinds – despite restricted alternatives be aware meals are designed addressing calorie element because trips here has often tough from bodily levels. Also remember specify requests or be on the hand anything on those allergies regarding anything could affect what might served by meal circumstances on ahead schedule days – get on informing tour or leaders from booking for support!

Is the Uyuni Salt Flats Tour Worth It?

It seems worth giving thought so you do question regarding it’s really be cost factor? Honestly you may hear me mention YES YES that is on sound value so something needs very consider should go given on potential unique value given travellers so willing too push many familiar restriction that will see by yourself beyond much predictable, typical travels too show a more fantastic element planet have to provide which many wont manage have because many could struggle face with what require be involved!

You might just have taken something memorable that offers unbelievable vistas along getting chance so checking unusual wildlife at the base getting a deeper relationship what environment can display at best on many isolated regions in globe! Should probably be OK dealing those hardship along physical exertion plus the desire experiencing a landscape absolutely to no many then a thing for consider as perhaps being best options around many different traveller adventure from trip options by offering those reminiscences or something always going on. Very remember get some reservations plus physical training plus an flexible state concerning things if possibly can and enjoy everything!. Just you should always feel confident about experiences regarding journey!. It, basically, has been unforgettable.

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