Day 1
Uyuni – Colchani – Incahuasi Island – Ajencha
Start your tour off at 10:30 am with a drive out to the Uyuni Salt Flats. The first stop is the haunting “Train Graveyard’, which is found on the outskirts of Uyuni. Get to see the first locomotives in Bolivia, and learn about their history, that connected several major cities. Now, corroded over time from the strong salt winds that run through this desert area, this makes for a great photo setting.
Then visit the small settlement of Colchani (salt miners’ workshops next to the salt flats), there, also find handicrafts made of salt, and textile art manufactured of llama and alpaca wool. These make excellent souvenirs to bring back home. Take photos as you cruise along the vast white expanse of salt, wade through “Ojos de Agua Salada” (salt water eyes), and visit a hotel made completely out of salt which is currently used as a museum.
After a morning of exploration, Lunch will be served near “Isla Incahuasi” (Fish Island), following, have time to take a hike to the top of the island to see giant cacti, and rock formations made of petrified coral.
Next, take time to organize your group for fun perspective- and proportion-distorted photos, set on the blinding white surface of the salt flats, playing around with the scene, you can be sure to take some funny, and memorable shots!
Finally, head to a spacious area for the unique experience of seeing a beautiful sunset over the salt flats, spreading its dazzling colors all over the salt flats, enjoying it with a glass of wine.
Arrive to Agencha town to have dinner and night stay in the hostel.
Accommodation: “Hotel Santiago Wara Wara” in Agencha – double, triple, 4-beds, 5-beds and 6-bed rooms + Private toilets.
Rainy season (from January to April): Hotel in Culpina (No access to the Salt Hostel during these months) – 10 Bs extra for a towel
Day 2
Galaxy Caves – Chiguana Desert – Ollagüe – Andean Lagoons – Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve – Red Lagoon.
Start off at 7:00 a.m. for breakfast. First stop, Galaxy Caves and then go visit the Chiguana Desert on Uyuni salt flats South side, surrounded by volcanoes such as Ollagüe (5840m), which is still active and that can be seen from the lookout point. Then, continue along the rocky road that´s called “El Pasito Tuntun”. Later, visit: Cañapa, Hedionda and Chiarcota Lagoons in which flamingoes can be seen.
After Lunch, enter to “Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve”, visit the Desert of Siloli at 4550m (the highest and driest in the world), take a picture next to the ‘Rock tree’ (a lava rock formation). Before arriving to final destination, stop at the overlook point by the Red Lagoon to see more pink flamingos in their natural habitat and admire this intense red-colored lake. Stay the night at a shared family lodging in Huayllajara.
Accommodation: “Hotel San Marcelo” basic lodge (triple, 4-beds, 5-beds and 6-beds rooms shared + shared toilets) – 10 Bs extra for a towel – No hot shower
Day 3
Sol de Mañana Geyser – Hot Springs – Dali Desert – Green Lagoon – Uyuni.
Get off to an early start around 5:00 a.m. to visit the Sol de Mañana Geyser (5,000m) and walk next to fumaroles and steaming craters filled with boiling pots of mud at 150-200 Cº. then, have the opportunity to take a bath in an open air Hot Springs at a 35 Cº water.
The next places to appreciate are the Dali Desert where Salvador Dali found his inspiration from boulders sprinkled in the middle of the desert, and then the Green, and white Lagoon (toxic copper water at the foot of the big Licancabur volcano at 6000m, a few kilometers from the Bolivia-Chile border).
Then head back to Uyuni passing by beautiful scenery along the way and eating a picnic lunch along the roadside. On the way, pass by Rock Valley, Alota settlement and San Cristobal Village where a baroque church and colonial paintings can be seen. Arrive to Uyuni town at 6:30 p.m.
For those that wish to finish at San Pedro de Atacama in Chile instead of coming back to Uyuni: Guides will assist with your border crossing at 10:30 am, and you should arrive in San Pedro at 12:00 pm on the third day of the tour. The drop off is at San Pedro de Atacama’s main square.
Option to connect to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. You need to book this transfer in advance.