Salar de Uyuni
Bolivia, South America
The world's largest mirror. Salt as far as physics allows.
In the wet season, a thin film of water turns 10,000 square kilometres of salt flat into a mirror so perfect you lose track of where the ground ends and the sky begins. In the dry season, the surface cracks into hexagonal tiles that stretch to mountains you can't quite reach. The altitude hits at 3,656 metres. Your first day here, you move slowly and drink water and stare.
Our honest take
The reflection photos you've seen are real but they require luck, timing, and the right depth of water. You cannot control any of those things. The dry season salt flat is still worth it, just different. Altitude sickness is a real problem for many visitors. Budget tours cut corners. Pay more for a guide who speaks beyond pointing.
Why go
- 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.
Skip if you can
- One-day tours from Uyuni town: you see the flat and the train cemetery and get rushed back. The real reward is the 3-day southwest circuit to the coloured lagoons.
- The cheapest agencies in Uyuni town. Vehicles break down, guides are unprepared, and at 5,000 metres with a broken 4WD you'll understand why the extra $40 mattered.
- Isla Incahuasi on a Sunday midday: tour groups converge and the cacti island becomes a car park with century-old plants. Go early or late.
Things to do
- 4WD tours across the salt flat
- Sunrise and sunset photography
- Star gazing overnight
- Multi-day southwest circuit to coloured lagoons
Costs
3-day southwest circuit: 700-1,500 BOB ($100-220) depending on agency quality. Salar entry fee: 30 BOB ($4.50). Basic meals in Uyuni: 30-50 BOB ($4-7).
Airport, transport, and accommodation options
Good to know
- Altitude sickness is common at 3,656m in Uyuni and worse on the southwest circuit which climbs to 5,000m. Ascend slowly, drink 3-4 litres of water daily, and consider acetazolamide.
- Temperatures drop below -15C at night on the circuit even in summer. Pack serious layers regardless of what the agency suggests.
- The salt flat has no landmarks. In wet season with the mirror effect, disorientation is genuine. Stay with your group.
- Vehicle reliability on the circuit is variable. Reputable agencies (ask for recent reviews at your hostel) carry spare parts and have rescue contacts.
Prices, visa rules, and transport details may change. Always verify with official sources before booking. Last updated: August 2026.
Reviews
No reviews yet
Visited Salar de Uyuni? Be the first to share your experience.