Best Time to Visit Salar de Uyuni

November to April

Months to avoid: June to August (driest months produce the most dramatic cracked-salt patterns but no reflection; also coldest nights at -20C and below on the circuit)

Recommended stay: 3-4 days

Plan Salar de Uyuni for November to April. Give it 3-4 days. The window to avoid is June to August (driest months produce the most dramatic cracked-salt patterns but no reflection; also coldest nights at -20C and below on the circuit).

What the season gets you

• Wet season (Dec-Mar) with 10-20cm of standing water produces the mirror effect. The sky doubles below your feet and orientation collapses in a way that photographs cannot fully explain.
• The southwest circuit beyond the salar passes through the Laguna Colorada, red from algae and populated by pink flamingos at 4,300 metres. It looks less like Earth than most of Earth.
• Overnight on the salar in dry season means a sky without light pollution at altitude, more stars visible than feels reasonable.