3-Day Salt Flats, Lagoons & Deserts
The complete southwest circuit — from the endless white salar to the red, green and turquoise lagoons of the Bolivian altiplano.
Duration
3 days / 2 nights
Start
Uyuni · 10:30
Group
Shared 6 pax or private max 4
Altitude
Up to 5,000 m
Overview
This is the classic Uyuni expedition, reimagined for travelers who want comfort without losing the raw magic of the altiplano. Over three days you cross the world’s largest salt flat, sleep beside it in a salt-built lodge, and climb into the remote southwest reserve where lagoons glow red, green and white beneath 5,000-metre volcanoes.
You travel in a modern 4x4 with an experienced local driver-guide who knows the light, the seasons and the quiet corners most groups miss. Small groups, unhurried stops for photography, and genuine care for altitude and safety are what set an ExploreUyuni departure apart.
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Uyuni → Salt Flats → Incahuasi
Depart Uyuni at 10:30 and drive straight onto the salar for a full afternoon of white horizons and perspective photography.
- Train Cemetery of Uyuni
- Colchani salt-processing village & artisan market
- Salt Flats — perspective & reflection photography
- Incahuasi Island (giant cacti) — sunset
- Overnight in a salt lodge on the edge of the salar
Seasonal note: Mirror reflections are best Jan–June (wet season). Incahuasi Island can close when the salar floods during heavy rains.
- Day2
Salt Flats → Volcanoes → Coloured Lagoons
A long, spectacular driving day south through the altiplano, past active volcanoes and a string of high-altitude lagoons full of flamingos.
- San Cristóbal & the valley of rocks
- Lagunas Cañapa, Hedionda & Honda (three flamingo species)
- Siloli Desert & the Árbol de Piedra (Stone Tree)
- Laguna Colorada — red lagoon at ~4,300 m
- Overnight in a basic refuge near Laguna Colorada
Seasonal note: Nights here drop well below freezing year-round; expect the coldest sleep of the trip.
- Day3
Geysers, Hot Springs & Laguna Verde → Uyuni
A pre-dawn start for steaming geysers and thermal pools, the emerald Laguna Verde, then the long return drive to Uyuni.
- Sol de Mañana geysers & fumaroles (~4,900 m)
- Polques hot springs — sunrise soak
- Salvador Dalí Desert
- Laguna Verde & Laguna Blanca below Licancabur volcano
- Return to Uyuni by ~17:00 (or bus connection to San Pedro de Atacama)
What's included / Not included
What's included
- Private 4x4 Land Cruiser with fuel & experienced driver-guide
- 2 nights accommodation (salt lodge + refuge)
- All meals from lunch day 1 to lunch day 3
- Drinking water throughout the tour
- Spanish- or English-speaking guide (per option)
- Hotel pickup in Uyuni
- Basic first-aid kit & bottled oxygen on board
Not included
- Reserve (REA) entrance fee≈ 150 BOB cash on-site
- Incahuasi Island entrance≈ 30 BOB cash on-site
- Polques hot springs entrance≈ 15 BOB cash on-site
- Sleeping bag rental≈ 50 BOB for the trip
- Travel insurance
- Tips & personal expenses
What to bring
- Warm layers & down jacket
- Hat, gloves & buff
- Sunglasses (UV)
- High-SPF sunscreen
- Lip balm
- Refillable water bottle
- Power bank
- Swimsuit (hot springs)
- Cash in bolivianos (BOB)
- Personal medication
- Camera
- Passport
Important · altitude & health
This route spends most of its time between 3,600 m and 5,000 m. Altitude affects everyone differently, so we build in a gentle acclimatisation pace and carry oxygen — but please travel prepared.
- Spend at least one night acclimatising in Uyuni, La Paz or Potosí before departure.
- Hydrate well, avoid alcohol and eat lightly during the first day.
- Consult your doctor if you have heart, lung or blood-pressure conditions, or are pregnant.
- Tell your guide immediately if you feel severe headache, nausea or shortness of breath.
Gallery
Ready to cross the world’s largest mirror?
Secure your seat today — small groups, expert local guides, unforgettable landscapes.
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From
$165per person