Welcome to Salar de Uyuni and South Lipez, Bolivia!

The Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat, spread over 4085 square miles. The flat is a popular tourist attraction for both its beauty and uniqueness; driving through the Salar de Uyuni is one of the most fascinating experiences tourists will encounter in South America. Red mountains, unusual rock formations, hot springs, geysers, red and green lakes, volcanoes and giant cacti can all be found, as well as some wildlife, including llamas, vicuña (llama relative) and some strange looking rabbits. There are also some accommodating hotels in Uyuni to rest in before or after a trip through the salt desert.

If you are visiting Bolivia you must stop and explore the Salar de Uyuni. It will be unlike anything that you have ever seen.

This huge salt desert is located in the southwest Altiplano region of Bolivia. It is not without reason that the Salar de Uyuni is considered one of the most surreal places on Earth. Taking a trip through this salt desert you will get to witness some of the most marvellous landscapes of the world, and there is a lot to see and do here. Besides taking a tour in the Salar de Uyuni, tourists can visit the many islands in the sea of salt and also a salt hotel! Another attraction is the Andean, Chilean and James's flamingos that gather for breeding in certain parts of the Salar de Uyuni.

No trip to this part of Bolivia is complete without seeing two of Bolivia's natural wonders: the greenish-blue Laguna Verde and the bright red Laguna Colorado. These spectacular lakes are located about 350 km (215 miles) southwest of Uyuni, over rugged dirt tracks and across a desert landscape, and are included in most tours in Salar de Uyuni. The salt flats are surrounded by volcanoes that have left a different colour behind after every eruption. Some of the lakes are red are because of the bacteria, white because of the minerals and green because of the high arsenic content. This area is home to pink flamingos, resisting the serious wind and drastic conditions at an altitude of 4000 m.

The area has become a place that is friendly to tourists of all ages and nationalities, however is still off the beaten track and an authentic experience. Travellers can find hotels in Uyuni at incredibly low rates and local handicrafts and goods at reasonable prices.

The nearest town to the salt flats is Uyuni, a dusty old town located on the edge of Salar de Uyuni. It is located at an elevation of 3,670 m above sea level and very close to the Chilean border. The main reason tourists come to Uyuni is simply to visit the spectacular Salar de Uyuni and see the many natural wonders that the region boasts. Tourists will be surprised to know that the town was at one time (in 1889) a railway junction. In fact, one of the popular sights in town is the 'train graveyard' that is filled with rusted, old steam locomotives that make for some interesting photographs. You'll find some much needed accommodation in Uyuni because of the chilly nights, and you can use our Salar de Uyuni map to choose your hotel in the Salar de Uyuni based on its location.

Some 40,000 years ago, Salar de Uyuni formed part of a giant lake called Lago Minchin. When the lake dried up, it left behind two modern lakes, Uru Uru and Lagos Poopó and also two salt deserts, Uyuni and Coipasa. To give tourists an idea of its size, consider this: Uyuni is roughly 300 times the size of the popular Bonneville Salt Flats in the USA. It isn't surprising then that the local people figured out pretty early that this region, apart from mining salt, could serve as an attractive tourist destination. A number of Salar De Uyuni tours have, thus, gained popularity in the area, taking people to the salt flats as well as the foothills of the Andes. It is for these reasons that Uyuni is growing in popularity and fast becoming a must-see destination among vacationers and adventure lovers.

If you are looking for an exciting range of accommodation in Salar de Uyuni or for information on tours in Salar de Uyuni you have come to the right place. We are local to the area and have a wide range of Uyuni hotels to choose from. Our accommodation options include Uyuni hostels and budget accommodations, through to more luxurious Uyuni hotels.