National park · Bolivia
Salar de Uyuni
Go by 3-day 4x4 tour from Uyuni (Bs 900–1,800 per person) in May–Nov for dry flats, or Jan–Mar for the mirror; the salt flat itself is free to enter — you pay only at Isla Incahuasi (Bs 30) and the Eduardo Avaroa reserve (Bs 150).
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
10,582 km²4,086 sq mi
approximate
Established
1990
Best months
Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Bolivia ↗Visa rules depend on your passport (some nationalities need a visa in advance): check with Bolivia's migration authority or a Bolivian consulate.
- Bolivia ↗Most of the tourist route is above 3,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on arrival, and see a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.
- Bolivia ↗Protests and road blockades (bloqueos) are frequent and can close routes and cities for days; watch local news and keep plans flexible.
At a glance
- Country
- Bolivia
- Area
- 10,582 km²4,086 sq mi
- Salt flat area is often quoted as 10,582 km²; figures vary slightly by source (check).
- Established
- 1990
- Best months
- Apr–Jun, Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat: roughly 10,582 km² of flat white crust on the Bolivian Altiplano at about 3,650 m, left behind when prehistoric Lake Minchin dried up. There is no gate and no entry fee for the flats themselves — you pay only at Isla Incahuasi (Bs 30) and, on longer routes, at the Eduardo Avaroa reserve (Bs 150 for foreigners). Almost everyone sees it on a 4x4 tour from Uyuni, and the choice that shapes the trip is timing: May–November for dry, clear flats, or January–March when a thin layer of water turns the salt into a mirror. Multi-day routes continue south to the coloured lagoons, the Sol de Mañana geysers and the Chilean border, climbing to about 5,000 m and sleeping near 4,200 m, so altitude planning matters as much as the itinerary.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- Ramsar wetland · 2002Salar de Uyuni and surrounding lagoons form part of a Ramsar-listed wetland complex (check).
Size and age
10,582 km²4,086 sq mi · national park since 1990
Salt flat area is often quoted as 10,582 km²; figures vary slightly by source (check).
Why go
- The largest salt flat on earth: over 10,000 km² of flat white crust at about 3,650 m.
- In the wet season a thin layer of water turns it into a mirror of the sky.
- Isla Incahuasi, a fossil-coral outcrop covered in cacti up to 12 m tall, gives the classic view over the flats.
- Multi-day routes continue to the coloured lagoons, geysers and the Eduardo Avaroa reserve on the Chilean border.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarGo
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepGo
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecCaution
- JanWet season: mirror effect, but tours may reroute and boots get soaked
- FebWater still on the flats; some routes shortened
- MarWater receding; reflections possible early in the month
- AprDry, clear, fewer people than mid-winter
- MayDry and cold at night; good visibility
- JunColdest nights (−9 to 5°C); driest flatsColdest nights (16 to 41°F); driest flats
- JulPeak domestic and foreign season; book ahead
- AugBusy; windy afternoons
- SepWindy; dust on the flats
- OctWarming up; clear skies
- NovWarmest days (21°C); flamingos arrive at the lagoonsWarmest days (70°F); flamingos arrive at the lagoons
- DecFirst rains; mirror starts forming
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flamingos (three species) at the lagoonsNov–Mar · Best at Laguna Colorada and Laguna Hedionda. | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes |
| Viscachas at the rocky outcropsAll year · Guides feed them so they come out; do not feed them yourself. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Cacti forest on Isla IncahuasiAll year · Echinopsis species growing about 1 cm a year, some over 12 m tall. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Uyuni town
Tours leave from Plaza Arce; the flats start about 20 km north via Colchani.Tours leave from Plaza Arce; the flats start about 12 mi north via Colchani.
30–60 min
From La Paz
Overnight bus or a short flight to Uyuni, then join a tour.
10–12 h by bus
Open the page →
From Tupiza
Tours start here and end in Uyuni, often including more lakes and rock formations.
3–4 days
From San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)
Reverse tours cross the border; usually about 50% more expensive than Uyuni departures.
3–4 days
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Northern flats and Colchani | Salt-processing village, salt piles, salt hotels and the train graveyard near Uyuni. | Open; bus or tour. |
| Isla Incahuasi | Cactus-covered outcrop in the middle of the flats with a short trail to the top. | Ticket at the island; Bs 30. |
| Southern lagoons and geysers | Laguna Colorada, Sol de Mañana geysers, Laguna Verde and the Eduardo Avaroa reserve. | Reserve ticket; multi-day tour only. |
| Tunupa volcano area | Dormant volcano north of the flats; some longer tours hike part of it. | Guided; check with your operator. |
Sketch map
- 1Uyuni Plaza Arce · Town≈-20.463, -66.823Most tours start here.Map ↗
- 2Colchani · Village≈-20.301, -66.938Salt-processing village 7 km north of Uyuni.Salt-processing village 4.3 mi north of Uyuni.Map ↗
- 3Train Graveyard · Ranger station≈-20.479, -66.834Wrecked steam locomotives near Uyuni.Map ↗
- 4Isla Incahuasi · Viewpoint≈-20.243, -67.625Cactus-covered outcrop in the middle of the flats.Map ↗
- 5Tunupa volcano · Summit≈-19.830, -67.640Dormant volcano north of the flats.Map ↗
- 6Laguna Colorada · Beach≈-22.200, -67.800Red lake in the Eduardo Avaroa reserve.Map ↗
- 7Sol de Mañana · Viewpoint≈-22.435, -67.758Geyser basin visited at sunrise.Map ↗
- 8Termas de Polques · Beach≈-22.536, -67.649Hot springs beside Salar de Chalviri.Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salar de Uyuni salt flat (open access) | Free | person | No gate fee for the flats themselves; you pay only at Isla Incahuasi and the reserve. |
| Isla Incahuasi (Isla del Pescado) entry | BOB 30 | person | 2026 estimate; collected at the island. |
| Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa | BOB 150 | foreigner | 2026 estimate; Bolivian citizens pay Bs 30. Covers Laguna Colorada and the southern lagoons. |
| Termas de Polques hot springs | BOB 6 | person | 2026 estimate; primitive bathrooms included. |
| 3-day 4x4 tour from Uyuni | BOB 900–1,800 | person | 2026 estimate; price depends on group size, vehicle and whether meals and park fees are included — confirm what is covered. |
| Local bus Uyuni to Colchani | BOB 10 | person | 2026 estimate; ask the driver to drop you on the flats. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Eduardo Avaroa reserve entry permit or guide
Isla Incahuasi entry permit or guide
Independent salt-flat access no permit
Park rules
- Navigation
- Do not try to cross the flats alone; landmarks are subtle and there is no shade or water.
- Drivers
- Refuse a vehicle if the driver appears to have been drinking; this is a known risk on some tours.
- Altitude
- Sleep at Uyuni (3,700 m) rather than Tupiza (3,000 m) if you can, and acclimatise before the tour.
- Litter and salt formations
- Take all rubbish out; do not break or remove salt formations or cacti.
- Photography at the reserve
- Stay on marked paths near the geysers and lagoons; the crust is fragile and hot in places.
Where to stay
Near the park
Salt hotels near Colchani
Buildings made of salt blocks; some are visited on tours, others take guests.
Near the park
Uyuni town
Hostels and hotels for before and after the tour; the usual base.
Near the park
Tupiza
Base for tours that start in the south and finish in Uyuni.
Safety
Altitude sickness high
Sun and wind medium
Drunk or reckless drivers medium
Cold nights medium
Accessibility
- The flats are flat but rough; a 4x4 tour is the practical way to see them.
- Isla Incahuasi has a steep, uneven trail and is not suitable for limited mobility.
- Uyuni town has basic pavements; many hotels and tour offices have steps.
Visiting lightly
- Choose operators that carry out all rubbish and do not drive across virgin salt crust.
- Do not feed viscachas or flamingos, and keep distance at the lagoons.
- Buy from Colchani stalls and eat with local families where possible.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Salar de Uyuni?
The salt flat itself has no gate fee. You pay Bs 30 at Isla Incahuasi and Bs 150 (foreigners) at the Eduardo Avaroa reserve; a 3-day tour from Uyuni costs roughly Bs 900–1,800 per person in 2026, depending on what is included.
What are the best hikes in Salar de Uyuni?
The short trail up Isla Incahuasi gives the classic view over the flats. Longer walks are limited because the surface is featureless and navigation is hard; the Tunupa volcano hike is the main option on some tours, and the geyser and lagoon stops in the reserve are short walks rather than hikes.
When is the best time to visit Salar de Uyuni?
May to November for dry flats and clear skies, with April, May, June, October and November the strongest months. January to March gives the mirror effect when a thin layer of water covers the salt, but some routes are rerouted and the ground is wet.
Can I visit Salar de Uyuni without a tour?
Yes, in theory: a local bus from Uyuni to Colchani costs about Bs 10 and you can walk onto the flats. In practice the area is huge, without shade or water, and easy to get lost in, so most travellers join a 4x4 tour.
How many days do I need for Salar de Uyuni?
One day covers the flats and Isla Incahuasi. Three days is the standard for the full loop including the coloured lagoons, geysers and the Eduardo Avaroa reserve, ending at the Chilean border or back in Uyuni.
Is altitude a problem at Salar de Uyuni?
The flats sit at about 3,650 m and multi-day routes reach about 5,000 m, sleeping near 4,200 m. Acclimatise first, start from Uyuni rather than Tupiza if you can, and watch for headache, nausea and breathlessness.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go