We will pick you up at your hotel and travel in a minibus from San Pedro de Atacama to the border of Bolivia, passing by the border-control stations of Chile and Bolivia.

Once we reach the border, we will switch to a 4×4 vehicle for 6 people. On this first day, we will visit places in the Bolivian Altiplano such as the Blanca Lagoon and Verde Lagoon located near the Licancabur Volcano.

Next, we will visit the Salvador Dalí Desert, the Polques Hot Springs to take a nice dip, and the Sol de Mañana Geysers, intermittent sources of water that flow at a temperature of 90 °C (194 °F). We will end the day at the Colorada Lagoon, a major nesting site for more than 30,000 flamingos. We will stay overnight at the Refugio Huayllajara.

In the morning we will go to the Siloli Desert. Here, we will observe the “Stone Tree,” a volcanic rock that, as you can imagine, is in the shape of a tree.

Next, we will visit the Chiarcota, Honda, Hedionda, and Cañapa Lagoons, followed by the Chiguana Salt Flat and the town of San Juan del Rosario.

We will stay overnight at the Hostal de Sal San Juan del Rosario.

We will begin our last day of the tour very early in the morning with a view of the sunrise in the Uyuni Salt Flat.

After this we will go to the Incahuasi Island, a limestone formation located in the middle of the salt flat where we will be able to explore and get another perspective of the Salt Flat.

We will then continue on to the Salt Museum and the town of Colchani, which are outside of the salt flat. From here we will go to Uyuni, passing by the train graveyard, where we will make a short stop to take pictures.

In Uyuni, we will say goodbye to our driver/guide who accompanied us during the previous three days, and then we will have some free time to eat lunch and tour part of the city.

Then, we will meet up with the driver who will take us on the return trip, with a stop-over in Villamar to eat dinner and sleep.

We will get up very early to continue our return trip and get to the border between Chile and Bolivia. Once here, and after the corresponding procedures, we will switch vehicles to a minibus to go back to San Pedro de Atacama.

*The end time of this activity could be modified due to weather conditions or lengthy customs procedures, which is why we recommend purchasing your ticket to leave San Pedro de Atacama as lates as possible on the day we get back from Uyuni, or on the day after we return.

*The itinerary is subject to changes during September, changing the places visited and/or the accommodation places included, always maintaining the level and conditions of these.

Is it possible to rent a sleeping bag?

Yes, it is possible, depending on availability. You can rent it directly in San Pedro de Atacama one day before starting the tour, paying CLP$5,000. Once the tour is over, you must return the sleeping bag directly to the office.

What days of the year can I do this excursion?

The tour has confirmed departures every day of the week, all year round.

How is the infrastructure in each refuge?

All shelters have a similar level of infrastructure. They have mixed dormitories, with 6 beds and they do not have heating. The bathrooms are shared and the first night there is no shower, the second has a hot shower, and the third night has a cold shower (hot shower paying Bs. 10 per person). None of the shelters have internet.

Is it possible to do the tour with a guide in another language?

Yes, but only in English. The English-speaking guide service has an additional cost of US$189 per group that must be paid after the reservation, after consulting availability at reservas@denomades.com. It is important to mention that the service is only available for the first 3 days of the tour, since on the last day the return is with a Spanish-speaking driver.

When is it possible to see the mirror effect in the Salar de Uyuni?

The mirror effect occurs when there is water in the salt flat. This happens only in periods of rain (January and February) and after them (March).

Is it possible to do the tour in private service?

And it is. To request rates write to reservas@denomades.com, indicating departure date and number of people.

What kind of vehicles are used on this tour?

The tour takes place by minibus in Chile and by 4×4 (Toyota Land Cruiser) in Bolivia in a group of 6 people each.

Is it possible to do the tour staying in hotels instead of shelters and hostels?

If you wish to take the tour with superior accommodation, consult our tour Salar de Uyuni Superior Tour (4 days).

How far in advance should I book the tour?

Due to the high demand for the tour, we recommend booking at least one week in advance.

Why all the restrictions to do the tour?

The tour takes place in the Altiplano area, at an altitude above 30,000 ft. With only this, our body is subjected to abnormal stress, which can cause discomfort and risk in people with the conditions mentioned in the restrictions section. In addition, the tour does not have medical insurance and there are no health centers to treat these types of situations adequately on the route.

Are there any restrictions for the places where the pick-up service arrives?

The pick-up service is not carried out from/to accommodations located outside the urban area of ​​San Pedro de Atacama, accommodations located in ayllus close to San Pedro de Atacama (Quitor, Yaye, Checar, Sequitor, Solor and Coyo) or accommodations in the town of Toconao.

Is it necessary to have a tourist visa to enter Bolivia?

It depends on the nationality of the passenger. Passengers from Chile and the rest of South America and passengers from Western Europe do not need a tourist visa, while passengers from the United States, Central America, Asia and Africa do need a tourist visa, which costs US$100 or US $160 depending on the country (you can check the price per country here). The visa is obtained directly at the border, where along with the payment of the visa in cash (Bolivianos or US dollars in good condition), passengers must present their passport and two wallet-size photographs. If you are a foreign person residing in Chile, in addition to your passport, you must bring your identity card, so that you can prove your residence before the police authorities at customs.

Do I need to be vaccinated against yellow fever for the tour?

Yellow fever vaccination is not required for the Salar de Uyuni tour. It is only mandatory if you later plan to visit the Bolivian jungle.

How many bags or suitcases can I take?

Each passenger can carry a maximum of one bag or suitcase of 18 kilos and a sleeping bag, which will go above the 4×4.

What kind of plugs do the accommodations have?

The accommodations have type C plugs, compatible with types E and F. In any case, our recommendation is that you bring an adapter to avoid inconvenience.

Is it necessary to bring a sleeping bag?

It is not essential, since the accommodations have blankets. However, consider the weather information for the date of your trip, and if you think you are going to feel cold, we recommend bringing your own sleeping bag with a nominal temperature of 32ºF.

What is the weather like along the route?

In summer (December to March), the temperature ranges between a minimum of 4 °C and a maximum of 23 °C. In winter (June to September) the temperature ranges between -20 °C as a minimum and 16 °C as a maximum.

How much money should I bring to the tour?

We recommend bringing at least Bs. 250 per person for expenses not included in the tour, such as entrance fees to parks, border tax, access to bathrooms and water.

Where can I change money to Bolivianos?

On Toconao street, in San Pedro de Atacama (intersection with Caracoles street), you can find some exchange houses where you can get Bolivians to take on the tour.

What is the probability of suffering “puna” or altitude sickness during the tour?

Most of the route is done above 4,000 meters of altitude, so it is very possible to suffer from altitude sickness, especially on the first day of the tour. To avoid or reduce the general feeling of discomfort, we recommend acclimatizing to the altitude for one or two days above 2,500 m, drinking plenty of water before and during the tour, eating light meals (avoid meat) the days before and not drinking alcohol the previous days. the night before the start of the tour.

What about the meals?

Meals are varied and include tea, coffee, bread, biscuits and fruit for breakfast, and meat, pasta, rice, soup and vegetables for lunch and dinner. If you need a vegetarian menu, you must request it by writing to reservas@denomades.com at the time of making the online reservation.

What happens to the tour in case of rain?

In case of rain, the order of the places visited, the possibility of seeing the sunrise and the places of accommodation are subject to change, since some of the roads may be closed. In addition to the above information, the water in the Salar de Uyuni is a major obstacle and Isla Incahuasi (located in the center of the salar) remains closed. This means that the Incahuasi Island cannot be visited and we only enter the salt flat for a certain distance, so that the passengers are safe.