From: £717
From: $955
We will pick you up at your hotel at 10.00 to begin this unforgettable journey over 12,000 km² of fantastic landscapes of salt.
Prepare your camera! The dazzling white mantle of the Uyuni Salt Flat resembles an immense ice-field.
In the winter (dry season, from May to October), when the surface hardens, geometrical formations start appearing formed by salt particles conglomerating into polygons.
In summer (rainy season, November to February), the saline desert transforms into a gigantic mirror that melts into the purest sky in America.
You drive onto the salt flat at the village of Colchani, centre of the salt factories. You’ll have the chance to visit one of these and learn about the families that are dependent on salt mining for their livelihoods.
You then visit the part of the salt plains where mounds of salt are collected, and from here we head towards Incahuasi Island. You can set off to climb to the summit where you get a fabulous view, 360 degrees.
You be given a packed lunch on the island before heading toward the dominant and magic Volcano Thunupa whose slopes house the Chantani Museum. The museum is home to ceramics and silent mummies. We drive some way up the volcano and visit the Coquesa Mummies museum.
You will spend the night in the Tayka Salt Hotel*.
*Please note, on Wednesday departures we will stay at Hotel Luna Salada.
This morning you leave the salt flat and head to Charagua, a pretty place of corals and goat farmers.
It’ll probably take around an hour, along a bumpy road, to reach the Burnt Town of San Pedro de Quemes, where we will leave the car and go for a wander through its small streets and see the buildings which have inspired the hotel Tayka of Stone.
Lunch is in the Hotel of Stone. There is an option to take a Llamas Shepherding tour, spending an hour or so helping a shepherd or shepherdess with the llamas, a vital part of life in the Salar.
In the afternoon you drive towards the lagoons – Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkota, Honda and Ramaditas, replete with flamingoe happy to be photographed!
Other birds, such as Andean gulls and ducks, accompany the flamingos in these lagoons, which are flanked by snow-capped volcanoes.
Next you enter the deserts of sand and their palette of terracottas. Red, oranges, ochres, coffees and beige – more colours at each bend of the road.
Opposite the most impressive of these palettes of colours is the Hotel Tayka of the Desert, with private bathrooms, hot water and environmental heating, where you’ll spend the night.
An early start today (05.30), towards the Eduardo Avaroa and Flora and Andean Fauna Reserve and then the famous Stone Tree – perfect for a picture.
Next you travel to the Red Lagoon to observe the flamingos, then you’ll visit the Morning Sun Geysers to catch them at their most active moment. This will be the highest point on our route, we will be at nearly 5,000m/16,404ft.
Here, noisy fumaroles and gurgling mud puddles make the earth seem to boil in red mud.
The desert and salt flat of Chalviri is another superb spot. It combines the dazzling white, the ochres of the desert, the blue of the water, and, in one of its corners, you can take a dip in the hot springs of Polques.
Today is full of more highlights, and next in line is Ladies of the Desert, a sculpture created by the the wind and the Andean peaks round about, with crazily shaped rocks in fantastic colours.
Nearby is the Green Lagoon, at the foot of Volcano Licancabur, another pearl of the reserve.
From the Green Lagoon you return to the Red Lagoon, have lunch, and then watch as the shifting sun helps to change its colour from a muted red to blood red.
You return via Villa Mar to Uyuni, and the tour ends with a drop off at the bus station.
(We can arrange drop-offs at San Pedra de Atacama, too – extra cost).
Overnight tourist bus departure at 20.00 and arrives at La Paz at approx. 07.00.
Community owned and run hotels.
The hotels we use are built of local materials, salt or stone, and are designed to be as ecologial as possible in this fragile environment. All rooms have a private bathroom with solar hot water and heating.
This is one of the poorest parts of Bolivia where there is a problem of depopulation as local Aymara communities really struggle to survive. The hotels are on land rented from the communities and will be passed entirely into community hands in 15 years.
It is possible to offer this trip with more basic, simple guesthouse accommodation at a lower cost. The rooms will be more basic but will count with an ensuite or private bathroom and heating. Hot water may not work 24 hours a day. Please ask for more details.
This trip is open to people with a penchant for exploring, with a positive attitude and outlook.
The days are not strenuous, in walking terms, but we are out and about seeing things on a daily basis. Dust can be a problem and quite extremes of temperature, warm in the day and cold at night the moment the sun goes down.
You don’t need a specific fitness level as such, but to be adaptable, enjoy being outdoors and viewing sites etc.
We recommend several days at altitude before setting off, to help acclimatise to the high altitude.
Vegetarians and many other dietary requirements are catered for without problems. Please let us know in advance of any requirements you have.
Meals are provided at hotels – breakfasts usually involve hot drinks, coffee, juice, toast, eggs and fruits. Lunch will either be sandwiches and snacks (if on the road) or a soup with a main meal of rice/pasta.
Dinner usually consists of a soup to start and then a main of rice, pasta, mashed potato etc. Note that Uyuni remains a very remote area and sometimes choice is limited.
Each hotel has a restaurant offering buffet style meals with as much local produce as possible.
You will be accompanied by an English speaking driver guide.
There is also the option to reduce the cost by travelling with a Spanish speaking driver only. They will give brief explanations in Spanish at each site, but are not a qualified guides and may only have a word or two of English.
A striking Bolivia adventure blending the breathtaking Condoriri trek with the surreal beauty of the Uyuni salt flats.
A flawless off-the-beaten-track adventure through Bolivia’s stunning Uyuni Salt Flats made for a true trip of a lifetime.
Uyuni is a stunning wilderness area - called Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia - and our four wheel drive jeep tour showcases the highlights.
We pass by beautiful volcanoes, coloured lakes and dramatic deserts, and visit the Stone Tree, Dali's desert and more. Read all about the attractions in and around Uyuni and the Bolivia Salt Flats.
Amazingly, wildlife survives in this harsh but beautiful environment, with flamingos, llamas and viscachas living here.
From: $3300 per person
Duration
15 days
From: $7495 per person
Duration
10 days
Land-locked Bolivia is a country of dramatic landscapes and fascinating native cultures and traditions.
The Altiplano or “High Plain”, averaging 3,800m, is its most populous region. The vast, luminous plateau is flanked to east and west by parallel Andean ranges.
La Paz, the world’s highest capital, lies in a deep canyon at the edge of the Altiplano, and at the foot of Illimani (6,400m). It is a striking city for its dramatic setting and its strong Indian character.
Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake. It was sacred to the Incas; according to legend, their founding emperor-gods rose from these waters to give birth to their empire. Just south of the lake stands the sacred pre-Inca site of Tiahuanaco.
On the south-western Altiplano are the Uyuni Salt Flats, the largest in the world. Here, the shimmering white salt pan and deep blue sky combine to create a truly magical spectacle.
The stunning Cordillera Real is a mountain range dominated by huge snow peaks, including Illimani and Illampu (6,380m). The Real divides the northern Altiplano from the tropical forests to the east. The Cordillera Real’s eastern slopes are characterized by the deep, sub-tropical Yungas gorges.
Further south, the tropical Chapare is the agricultural heart of Bolivia. East of this band of high forests and plantations lies Bolivia’s Oriente, a vast swathe of Amazonian jungle and savanna accounting for 2/3 of the country and featuring some of the last untouched wilderness on earth.
In the north-eastern Department of Beni, some 50% of the country’s mammals and birds reside. Below, and in no special order, we outline some of the top places to go and things to do.
Good kit is vital for every trip.
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Bolivia has an incredibly local and varied set of weather systems, which means you need to be prepared for almost every eventuality.
When planning for these changeable climatic conditions you will encounter across Bolivia, layering is the most practical and versatile clothing system.
The sun is very strong throughout the country, so good sun cream, a hat and sunglasses are vital.
It can also get very cold at night time especially in the mountains and in cities like La Paz. Jumpers, fleeces and warms hats – which you can buy there – are also essential.
It can rain at any time, so always have a poncho/waterproof jacket handy.
Give plenty of thought to kit selection, and try to keep weight down.
Below is a more detailed guide.
Bolivia lies within the tropics, between latitudes 10º and 22º south. The climate, as varied as its geography, is affected by latitude and, especially, by altitude.
The best time to travel is the winter (dry season) between May and Oct when, typically, weather systems over the Andes are stable, and overall you can expect bright sunny days and cold clear nights. Most of the rain falls from Dec to March. Climate can be divided into these distinct zones:
There is relatively little precipitation on the Altiplano, especially in the dry season – most rainfall is from Dec to March. However, there is periodical, localised rain on high peaks and valleys all year round.
The further south and west you go on the Altiplano, the drier are the conditions; around Uyuni, semi-arid conditions prevail. The Andean sun’s rays are very strong.
Temperature-wise, the Andes and Altiplano experience significant fluctuations over a single day. At 4,000m, the pre-dawn temperature can drop to -15ºC, while noon temperatures at the same location can reach 20ºC.
Southerly cold winds mean the southern Altiplano is not only drier, but also noticeably colder and windier than the north (pre-dawn temperatures at Uyuni in July regularly drop to -20ºC).
On treks in the Cordillera Real in the dry season, expect a range of conditions within a single day: cold/freezing nights at camps above 4,000m (where pre-dawn temperatures sometimes reach -15ºC); warm, spring-like mornings and afternoons; and cold evenings. Conditions are generally dry, but note that mountain weather is fickle and localised, and precipitation is not unusual in the dry season.
Expect temperatures to swing between sun and shade, sheltered and exposed ground and with altitude gain and loss. A quick-setting sun means temperatures drop fast.
The city of La Paz (3,630m) is relatively sheltered. Average high/low temperatures range from 1-17ºC in June and July (coldest months) to 6-19ºC in Nov and Dec (warmest months). In June and July, it rarely rains more than 1 or 2 days per month, while in January there are on average 15 wet days.
Year-round, weather conditions in the Amazon basin are hot and humid and always with the chance of rain.
There is a ‘cooler’, drier winter season between May and October. During this ‘dry season’, the average daytime high temperature is between 25-31°C and the average nighttime low is between 16-22°C.
In the dry season, heavy downpours typically occur every few days.
Note that around 80% of annual average rainfall – approx 2,000 mm in Bolivia’s northern lowlands – occurs in the wet season, Nov-April.
On rare occasions, between May and September, cold fronts from Argentina – surazos – can sweep into southwest Amazonia and push temperatures down to 9°C. (Surazos usually last between 1 and 3 days).
The Yungas shares the same dry/wet months but varies from quite wet to very wet depending on whether it is the ‘dry’ or rainy season. Average temperature is 24°C.
A striking Bolivia adventure blending the breathtaking Condoriri trek with the surreal beauty of the Uyuni salt flats.
A flawless off-the-beaten-track adventure through Bolivia’s stunning Uyuni Salt Flats made for a true trip of a lifetime.
