Duration:
4 Days / 3 Nights
Type:
Shared / Private
Tour Guide:
English / Spanish
Frequency:
Every Day of the Year from La Paz, Bolivia – San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Alojamiento:
Family Homes – Basic Refuges
19:45 pm – Personal pickup from our office in the center of the city of La Paz and transport to the La Paz bus terminal where you will take a comfortable bus to Uyuni.
21:00 pm – The bus will start its trip to Uyuni (travel overnight).
Included: Transfer out + touristic bus from La Paz – Uyuni.
07:00 am – Arrival to Uyuni (approximate arrival) and transfer to our office where you will have free time until we start our expedition.
11:00 am – We will get started (utilizing a 4×4 Jeep Land Cruiser) on our adventure where we will visit the following touristic attractions:
Train Graveyard – Where we will observe very antique trains and locomotives that date back to the end of the 19th Century; the majority of the trains made their routes with wagons that carried minerals – but, they only lasted for so much time. These trains were part of an industrial past, but now they have been naturally transitioned into a wonderful, but mysterious tourist attraction.
The Village of Colchani – Located on the outskirts of the Uyuni Salt Flats, the village of Colchani is the principal means of entrance to the Salt Flats where we will observe the activity of salt extraction in an artisanal form; the villagers will show us the extraction process which includes the drying, shaping, and bagging of salt for sale, and this process is now dedicated to the making of artisanal pieces which are made of different salt molds and textiles.
Salt Mounds – The salt mounds which you will be able to observe are little pyramids of salt; the villagers of Colchani make these mounds to dry the salt and then later transport them to the village to be processed. In addition to seeing these mounds, we will also pass what is called the “Ojos de Sal” which are different eruptions of water within the Salt Flats that offer a clear view of what is found beneath.
Salt Hotel – Located in the heart of the salt flats, this famous hotel is entirely made of blocks of salt; literally – from the inside and out – the walls, the floor, the beds, the tables, the chairs – everything is adorned in salt. The hotel hasn’t functioned as a hotel for a multitude of years, but it is definitely a wonderful museum to visit.
Incahuasi Island (also known as Isla del Pescado) – Located likewise in the middle of the Salt Flats, Incahuasi Island is a rocky formation in which is found a multitude of gigantic cacti with altitudes topping more than 10 meters; from the top of the island, the entire Salt Flats can be seen – a beautiful sight.
After visiting Incahuasi Island, we will have lunch and then continue to enjoy the dazzling white salt desert.
AFTERNOON – We will make our way to the village of San Juan where we will spend the night in family homes (basic refuges).
Included: Shared transport (4×4 Jeep – Land Cruiser), lunch and dinner, tour guide + accommodation in family homes (basic refuges).
07:00–07:30 am – After breakfast, we will continue our adventure until we reach the Red Lagoon; during the trip, we will travel to the small Chiguana Salt Flats which are still in formation, and then we will stop to observe from a distance the active volcano of Ollague. We will also visit the lagoons of Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarcota, and Honda where you will have the opportunity to see a myriad of beautiful flamingos. During the middle of the day, we will stop to have lunch – and, in the afternoon, we will pass by the Siloli Desert where we will see an interesting rock formation called Arbol de Piedra which is a peculiar-looking rock that resembles the shape of a tree. Passing the interesting rock formation, we will continue our way until we reach the Red Lagoon which is located in Eduardo Avaroa Wildlife National Park. The Red Lagoon’s characteristics are a sight to see; the red color of its waters are due to its sediments and also the pigments of different types of algae and plankton – but, it doesn’t always maintain the same color depending on a variety of ever-changing characteristics (lighting, climate, etc.). Likewise, you can see many Andean flamingos.
Afternoon – Continuing for about 15 minutes, we will arrive to Huayllajara where we will stay the night in family homes (basic refuges).
Included: Shared transport (4×4 Jeep – Land Cruiser), lunch and dinner, tour guide + accommodation in family homes (basic refuges).
05:00 am – Early in the morning, we will set out to appreciate the Geysers – geothermal fountains within the volcanic zone of Sol de Mañana (Morning Sun in English); this place is the highest point in the route at about 5,000 meters above sea level and the cold is intense. After visiting the Geysers, we will continue to a place called Polques de Chalviri where you will be able to take a relaxing bath in the thermal baths found within the place; we will also have breakfast there and then head past the desert of Salvador Dali until we reach the White and Green Lagoons (4,350 meters above sea level) which are located at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano. The White and Green Lagoons’ characteristics are a sight to see as well; the green color of their waters are due to the high content of magnesium that is characteristic of the geographical formations of the area, but the intensity of the color depends upon the wind strength. The Licancabur Volcano is the natural milestone that divides Bolivia and Chile at the border. After stopping at the White and Green Lagoons, we will head towards San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, changing transportation at the Hito Cajones immigration post at the Bolivian-Chilean border.
13:00 pm – We will arrive to San Pedro de Atacama (approximate arrival).
Included: Shared transport to the border (4×4 Jeep – Land Cruiser), breakfast, tour guide + change of transportation and shared transport from Hito Cajones – San Pedro de Atacama (Chile).
End of Services
In order to provide tour and/or tour package prices, we would appreciate if you would please provide for us the number of people who would be going on the tour.
Warm clothing
Sleeping bags (available for rent from our Uyuni office for USD$ 10.00 `{`approximately 70 bolivianos`}` per person)
Sun glasses
Sun block
Warm gloves and warm hats
Lanterns
Hygiene bags (towels and toilet paper)
Rain coats during the months of December through March
Cameras to take pictures
Entrance fee to Incahuasi Island
Entrance fee to the Red Lagoon (Eduardo Avaroa Wildlife National Park)
Snacks, drinks, and tips for transport drivers