Tourism at the Uyuni Salt Flat

Travel information

Uyuni or Tunupa Salt Flat is located at the southwest of Bolivia in the department of Potosi; it is surrounded by the Bolivian Altiplano (High Plain) and Los Andes Mountain Range. This salt flat is established as the world's largest one with 12,000 square kilometers and lies at an altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level. 

Within this "sea of salt" there are several islands with different characteristics. Nevertheless, the best known is the Incahuasi Island with 24 hectares. At the north of this sea salt there are Tahua, Llica and Coquesa populations, featuring hotels and shelters built with salt blocks, but the main attraction is that are situated at the foot of the Tunupa volcano that has a height of 5432 meters, this volcano has different viewpoints to observe panoramically the Lípez Desert and Uyuni and Coipasa Salt Flats. The communities of Coquesa and Chantani have interesting local museums containing samples of pre-Columbian mummies and ancient craftsmanship.

Within the tourist circuit visiting Salar de Uyuni about 400 km at the south of Bolivia it is possible to visit the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, in this reserve you can visit the famous colored lagoons, the most famous is the Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) with an area of 60 square km and a depth of 35 cm.

The Laguna Colorada, called this way by its high content of sediments and pigments of some types of algae and mineral waters, tones ranging from brown to deep reds. The lagoon is home of South American flamingos, thousands of migratory birds, the three species that inhabit this lake are: Andean flamingo, Chilean flamingo and James flamingo. The Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) of salted water, is a high Andean lagoon with an area of 5 square kilometers and it´s connected to Laguna Blanca (White Lagoon) by a narrow strait, its emerald color is due to the high magnesium content. It´s located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano, one of the highest active volcanos in the world.

Within the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve you can also visit “El Sol de Mañana” (Morning Sun) volcanic activity that shows fumarolas (gases coming up from little holes in volcanic areas) and geysers, which emit sulfur gases, also visit and swim at hot springs of great pressure; the Valley of the Rocks, where nature offers a show featuring dozens of rock formations eroded by the wind that can reach an altitude of 25 meters, archaeological sites and typical fauna and flora of this land of extreme height.

Location: Southwest of Bolivia, Daniel Campos province in the department of Potosí, the Andes Altiplano

Elevation: 3650 masl (in the circuit of Uyuni Salt Flat and lagoons we will reach the 4300 meters at the foot of the volcano Licancabur)
 
Average temperature: 1 ° C in winter, in summer 13 ° C (in winter the temperature can drop to -20 in the Lipez area)

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