Best Salar de Uyuni Tour with Howlanders: A 3 Days /2 Nights Trip

December 25, 2024

Please note that we do not receive any compensation from Howlanders for this article. We are simply sharing our experience.

Our Unforgettable Salar de Uyuni Tour Experience

A Salar de Uyuni tour is definitely a must-do when visiting Bolivia. We chose a 3-day, 2-night tour, and we highly recommend it. In this guide, we’ll walk you through each day of the tour, share how to get to Uyuni, and provide everything else you need to know to make the most of your adventure! Find out which tour to book and what to expect along the way. By the way, you won’t have internet access during the trip, and your group will quickly become like family. The memories you create will always be tied to them. In fact, over a year later, they even helped us with some photos for this article! Thanks!

Starting Our Bolivia Journey with a Salar de Uyuni Tour

Quick overview:
Timeframe: We made the Uyuni tour in October 2023
Price: 155 USD per person (Group Tour, Shared Room)

1. Starting Our Bolivia Journey with a Salar de Uyuni Tour

After Vicky and I had already had many unforgettable experiences in Peru, we decided to travel to Bolivia. For our two-week trip, we had a few highlights in mind – the stunning Salar de Uyuni was a must-see. To start our adventure, we spent two days in La Paz to adjust to the high altitude before moving on to the next part of our journey.

2. Why We Chose Howlanders for Our Salar de Uyuni Tour

Once we had decided to take the Salar de Uyuni tour, the next question was: Which tour should we choose? Ultimately, we decided on a tour with Howlanders. Why? Their website stood out to us with its professional and user-friendly design. Additionally, Howlanders offers tours worldwide, which signaled a high level of experience and quality. We were also impressed with their good customer service, which was responsive and helpful in addressing our questions ahead of time.

Ultimately, Howlanders is not the company operating the tour on-site, but rather partners with a reliable local tour operator. Despite the higher price, booking through Howlanders had several advantages for us. First, you can cancel free of charge up to 48 hours before the tour begins. This can be crucial if you experience altitude sickness. As mentioned, their customer service was quick to respond to our questions, and their reputation is excellent.

If, despite these benefits, you decide to book the tour on-site, you can find the name of the local operator later in the article.

3. Which Tour We Chose: The Uyuni Salt Flats Tour 3 Days, 2 Nights Tour

Although the tour is called the Uyuni Salt Flats Tour, it offers much more than the name suggests. Honestly, we’re not entirely sure why it’s only named after the salt flats, as these are only visited on the first day of the 3 days, 2 nights tour—and that’s not a negative thing at all! In fact, the other stops on the tour are just as unique.

Throughout this 3 days, 2 nights tour, you’ll explore the wide landscapes of Bolivia, passing train tracks in the middle of nowhere, staying overnight in a salt hotel, and see flamingos, alpacas, vicuñas, and many other animals. Not to mention the breathtaking landscapes: lagoons, endless deserts, and so much more.

Now that you know which tour we took, we promise it’s worth reading on for a detailed look at our 3 days, 2 nights Uyuni tour experience, including insights into our daily itinerary, accommodations, and the ups and downs we faced along the way. Most importantly, don’t miss our amazing photos that we’re really proud of, capturing the beautiful landscapes we passed. By the end of the article, we’ll also share useful tips for preparing for the tour, like what to pack for Uyuni and our final thoughts.

The First Day – Salar de Uyuni

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the first day of our trip was the Salar de Uyuni. But what exactly is this natural wonder, how did it form, and what else did we experience on that day? Let’s start right at the beginning of our 3-day, 2-night Uyuni tour with Howlanders, operated by Skyline Travelers.

1. Starting Our Uyuni Tour: Meeting Point and First Preparations

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the first day of our Uyuni Tour was the Salar de Uyuni. But, let’s start right at the beginning. Our meeting point was at 10:30 AM at the Skyline Travelers office in Uyuni. Here, we were divided based on our booked tour (Spanish or English) and the length of the tour. If you don’t want to feel rushed like we did, make sure to buy plenty of water, snacks, and toilet paper the day before. This is also the last chance to rent a sleeping bag, if you want / need one for the Uyuni Tour. Once everything was packed, we hopped onto our jeep, where our main luggage was securely stored on top.

2. The First Destination of Our Uyuni Tour: Train Cemetery in Uyuni

Our group was very international: a couple from Spain, a couple from Colombia and Australia, and the two of us from Peru and Germany. The Uyuni tour finally began, and we headed to our first destination: the Train Cemetery in Uyuni. After just 10 minutes, we arrived and got out of the jeep. One thing to mention here is that at every stop, we always had enough time for photos and to walk around. It was hot and sunny that day, and throughout the tour, the weather changed several times.

The Train Cemetery is a fascinating place, where abandoned trains are rusting. Our driver told us that these trains were originally used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to transport minerals from the mines in Bolivia to the coast of Peru. Over time, as the mining industry declined and rail transport became less necessary, the trains were abandoned, creating a perfect spot for Instagram pics. Important to mention here: The driver is not a tour guide; sometimes he will give you a few pieces of information.

3. Drive to Salar de Uyuni with a Stop in Colchani to See Salt Production

Did you know that the Salar de Uyuni might become economically important for many countries in the future? Beneath the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia, there are huge deposits of lithium, a valuable resource needed for things like electric car batteries. Unfortunately, this is a threat to the beautiful landscape we all want to preserve for future generations.

But how did the Uyuni salt flats form? Around 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, a large salt lake dried up, leaving behind the salt flats we see today, covering over 10,000 square kilometers (about 3,900 square miles). The salt crust on the surface is several meters thick, making it one of the most unique and breathtaking landscapes in the world.

Before we reached the Salar de Uyuni, we made a stop in the small village of Colchani, where we learned how the salt is processed for consumption. There is also a small shop on-site where you can buy items like garlic or chili salt. We purchased the chili salt and still enjoy it today (it’s also a perfect gift, as it comes beautifully packaged). Here, you can also purchase snacks and drinks. Since day tours to the salt flats are also common, the area is very crowded.

4. Driving onto the Salt Flats

And now, it was finally time. We drove onto the Salt Flats, under beautiful sunny weather, wearing our sunglasses, and looked out at the endless salt. It was truly amazing and even more beautiful than it looked on Instagram. We made our first photo stops and continued to the lunch. This one was also served in the Salar de Uyuni, at a salt restaurant. During the booking process, we were asked if we wanted meat, vegetarian, or vegan meals. The food was tasty, and large bowls were placed on the table for everyone to serve themselves.

The lunch was also served in the Salar de Uyuni, at a salt restaurant. During the booking process, we were asked if we wanted meat, vegetarian, or vegan meals. The food was tasty, and large bowls were placed on the table for everyone to serve themselves.

5. The Must-Do Photos in the Uyuni Salt Flats

After lunch, we took the classic photos with dinosaurs, Uyuni beer, and other props. As a group, we had a great time, and our driver was super motivated to capture the best pictures.