Uyuni Salt lakes  2 days tour

Salar de Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) is the world’s largest salt flat, or playa, at over 10,000 square kilometres (3,900 sq mi) in area. It is in the Potosí province in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes at an elevation of 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above sea level.

The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average elevation variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium. It contains 50% to 70% of the world’s known lithium reserves. The large area, clear skies, and exceptional flatness of the surface make the Salar ideal for calibrating the altimeters of Earth observation satellites. Following rain, a thin layer of dead calm water transforms the flat into the world’s largest mirror, 129 kilometers (80 miles) across.

Day 1: Depart from Uyuni around 10 Am

Colchani, we drive in our 4*4 jeep from Uyuni to the town of Colchani we will visit the Salt factory where they put Iodine to the salt, everything is manual. The salt workers sell souvenirs made of salt. After this visit we continue to the biggest salt field in the world with a surface area of more than 12.000 km thin exciting Salt crust is as blinding white as the most perfect snow field, and as a gigantic mirror in the rain season.

We venture across the salar of Uyuni. We drive in the middle of this immense desert of salt. It provokes a sentiment and unreality. Enjoy the jeep ride over the salt; this place is almost 1/3 of the size of Belgium. At the border of the salar we will visit the salt eyes, salt blocks and salt hotel, we arrive at the salt hotel, one unusual hotel is constructed entirely of salt blocks, also chairs and tables /beds.

Uyuni Salt Flats provokes a feeling of freedom and reality. At an altitude of 3665m. Together with the wall in China it’s possible to see the salt flats from satellites . The salt varies from 2 to 20m. in depth.It is estimated that the flats contain 64.000 million tons of salt .The flats also contain a large reserves of Lithium, Mg, Na, Bo

We continue our trip to the Fish Island INCA WASI ,this is located in the middle of the salt flats at 100 km from. Uyuni, fish Island (Isla Pescado) afford views of the flats reminiscent of Polar region, dominate by blues and whites producing images of hills.

Fish Island is an oasis with unique and isolated ecosystem populated by cactus’s up to 8 to 10 m high. Photographers will find that fish island is one of the best sites in the world to indulge in their passion. The Island has the shape of a fish. Lunch at the island. It’s full of giant cactuses who give an extraordinary contrast with the salt. This island is an research centre and protected.  30 BOL entree fee and free use of ecological toilet. After this visit we continue to the small village where we sleep.( or in private tour one of the nice salt hotels )

At Day 2

After breakfast, the tour will start with a trip to the Chiquini Caves and Coquesa where you will visit a cave containing pre-Incan mummies. Continue the drive uphill towards a lookout located at the base of the Thunupa Volcano where you will enjoy of incredible views of the Salt Flats. Drive back over the salt flats towards Uyuni where your tour will end.

Keep in mind that the 2 days Shared jeep is always in very basic overnight, in shared rooms without private bathroom. You share the jeep in total with 5 to 6 Person

Optional you can sleep at extra charge in Basic hostal with private bathroom
If you like to have the private 2 days tour you can  include better hotels like Salt Hotels 

Included
* the 4×4 W.D. jeep with driver who is also guide, only in Spanish
* nice meals Included  2 Lunch 1 Diner +1 breakfast
* Basic overnight for 1 night or Good 3* salt hotel in private tours

Not included:
* Personal material
* Tips and extra drinks
* Entrée tickets, fish island 30 Bol
* English speaking Guide + seat in the jeep in shared tour

We suggest you bring  .
* Sleeping bag in the basic accommodation ( you can rent in Uyuni )
* sunglasses
* 2 liter water for 2 days
* passport
* warm clothes, gloves, hat
* flashlight