Uyuni Salt Desert

One of the top bucket list locations the region, the Uyuni Salat Desert is the largest salt desert in the world and is considered one of the most extreme and remarkable vistas in all of South America, if not Earth. Stretching more than 4,050 square miles of the Altiplano, it is the world’s largest salt flat, left behind by prehistoric lakes evaporated long ago. Here, a thick crust of salt extends to the horizon, covered by quilted, polygonal patterns of salt rising from the ground.

At certain times of the year, nearby lakes overflow and a thin layer of water transforms the flats into a stunning reflection of the sky. This beautiful and otherworldly terrain serves as a lucrative extraction site for salt and lithium—the element responsible for powering laptops, smart phones, and electric cars. In addition to local workers who harvest these minerals.

The most common question we get is when to go and our answer is whenever! The Salar is stunning year-round and it has two distinct seasons. The rainy season (December-April) is when visitors come to witness the Salar’s breathtaking mirror effect and dry season (May-November) where temperatures are colder, the ground has hardened, and travelers can drive across the stark white landscape to places that aren’t accessible in the rainy season.