La Paz – Salt Flats (Classic 5 Days with Hotels)

DAY 01.- TRANSFER FROM LA PAZ – UYUNI (NIGHT TRAVEL)

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.

DAY 02.- UYUNI SALT FLATS + INCAHUASI ISLAND + OVERNIGHT STAY IN A SALT HOTEL

07:00 am – Arrival to Uyuni (approximate arrival) and transfer to our office where you will have free time until we start our expedition.
10:30 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.
End Of The Afternoon – We will have the opportunity to enjoy a spectacular natural lights show, performed by the setting of the sun when its colorful rays of light dance on the infinite sea of salt; after the magnificent show of lights, we will continue our trip to the villages of Tahua or Colchani (during the rainy season) to find accommodation in a salt hotel.
SALT HOTEL: Provides a hotel room with private bathroom + breakfast.
Included: Private transport (4×4 Jeep – Land Cruiser), entrance fee to Incahuasi Island, lunch and dinner, tour guide + Salt Hotel.

DAY 03.- LAGOONS + SILOLI DESERT + OVERNIGHT STAY IN A DESERT HOTEL

07:00–07:30 am – After breakfast, we will continue our adventure to the Siloli Desert; during the trip, we will travel to the small Chiguana Salt Flats which is still in formation, passing by the Uyuni Salt Flats to get there, 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 stop by the Siloli Desert where will see an interesting rock formation called Arbol de Piedra which is a peculiar-looking rock that resembles the shape of a tree. In the Siloli Desert, we will find accommodation in a desert hotel for the night.
DESERT HOTEL: Provides a hotel room with private bathroom + breakfast.
Included: Private transport (4×4 Jeep – Land Cruiser), lunch and dinner, tour guide + Desert Hotel.

DAY 04.- RED LAGOON + GEYSERS + GREEN LAGOON + RETURN TO LA PAZ (NIGHT TRAVEL)

Very early in the morning, we will set out to first visit the Red Lagoon which is located in Eduardo Avaroa National Wildlife 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.). After visiting the lagoon, 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. From the Geysers, then, 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; then, we will 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 return to Uyuni, having lunch along the way, also passing through the Valley of the Rocks – as well as the villages of Villa Alota, Kulpinaka, and San Cristóbal; passing through these places, we will be able to see a great quantity of llamas and vicunas.
END OF THE AFTERNOON – We will return and arrive to Uyuni.
20:00 pm – Touristic bus from Uyuni – La Paz (travel overnight).

Included: Private transport (4×4 Jeep – Land Cruiser), entrance fee to the Eduardo Avaroa National Wildlife Park, lunch, tour guide + touristic bus from Uyuni – La Paz.

DAY 05.- ARRIVAL TO LA PAZ

06:30 am – Arrival to the bus terminal in La Paz (approximate arrival).

End of Services

Please be advised: due to changing weather climate and also conditions of the route to Uyuni (especially during the rainy season between December and March), the order of these attractions will be subject to change without prior notice; however, all attractions will always be accessible – except for Incahuasi Island (possibly inaccessible only during the rainy season).

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