Do you want more of an adventure than just visit the world’s largest salt flat? Well, then immerse yourself in the steam of geysers, take a dip in thermal baths under the moonlight, surround yourself with alpacas and viscachas, and explore the red, green, and white lagoons. All you have to do is book yourself onto a 3 Day Salt Flats and Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve Tour.
Tours start and end in Uyuni, Bolivia or San Pedro, Chile. You can also opt for starting and finishing in either country. Read on to find out what to expect from a three-day tour, how much it costs, and what on Earth viscachas are.
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WHAT TO EXPECT FROM A 3 DAY SALT FLATS & EDUARDO AVAROA NATIONAL RESERVE TOUR
Day 1. Train Graveyard & Salt Flats.
The 3 day Salt Flats & Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve tour started at 10.30 am in Uyuni, allowing for a long-needed lie in. The group of fourteen was split into three 4×4 jeeps, taking us to our first stop, the train graveyard.
I wasn’t overwhelmed, it turns out taking pictures at a disused train station with some old, rusty train carriages isn’t for me. The very brief next stop was at a flooded part of the salt flats, giving everyone an idea of how astonishing the reflections this salt desert can look.
Afterwards, we enjoyed the most delicious lunch I have had on a tour, stuffed jacket potatoes or stuffed peppers overbaked with cheese. Is your mouth watering?
There was a visit to a small salt refinery, where the salt carving and the refining processes will be explained. A tip of BOB 2 is expected. This part is worth skipping, but feel free to support the local community by attending.
Thereafter you have spare time to wander around the tiny village to purchase salt figures or props for the perspective photoshoot. Before embarking on a short journey to the salt hotel. Never thought you would be inside a house made entirely of salt, me neither!
Experiencing The Salt Flats.
The next stop is in the middle of the salt flats surrounded by nothing, but… can you guess? … salt! You will be visiting a dry area not allowing for the famous reflection shots. But do not worry you will still feel like you have landed on the moon. I recommend joining a sunset tour to see the astonishing reflections the Salar de Uyuni has to offer.
Exposed to the boiling February sun we were given a couple of hours for plenty of failed attempts to take a good shot ourselves. Followed by the guide taking great group snaps, including that famous video of people exiting a Pringles box.
Next stop… yes, you get your money’s worth on this tour, is one of many islands in the middle of the salt flats. Isla Incahuasi is covered in enormous cacti. Take a little hike uphill to enjoy the endless view of the moon-like salt flats.
We opted to buy some beers at the café for the brilliantly pink and yellow sunset. Before we sat down and relaxed, the guide circled us with the car taking a video of us acting out different poses.
Tired and with plenty of new impressions we headed to the hostel where we enjoyed the usual dinner, chicken, rice, vegetables, and potato. The hostel was also our last opportunity for a shower.
Day 2. A Ghost Town, Lagoons, Geysers & Thermal Baths.
The second day of the 3 day Salt Flats & Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve tour started with a 6 am wake up call to the usual breakfast leaving some of us with a dodgy stomach. At 7 am we embarked on another day of many stops, some of them more exciting than others.
We briefly stopped at a quinoa field before heading to a ghost town, previously a hub to transport coal and salt. The ghost town was underwhelming but make up your own mind. Here you can purchase water, snacks and alcohol and it is your last chance for a clean toilet for only BOB 2.
Desert Landscapes & Lagoons.
The next stop was a long-awaited field filled with alpacas and their babies. When walking up slowly you will end up being surround by the fluffy animals. You might notice that they are marked with bright coloured, decorative “earrings” for farmers to recognise their herd.
The long car ride we embarked on was graced with a scenic journey through impressive rock formations and an astonishing view of the depth of the valley. Then we took a break at rocky copper outcrops and had our first outdoor toilet break of many.
The stop at a flamingo invested lagoon is the closest you will get to flying and feeding flamingos on your trip. Be careful with getting too close, fellow travellers sank ankle-deep in the mud.
During our outdoor lunch, cheeky viscachas joined us, hopping from rock to rock in search of leftover food creating excitement. Be mindful of leaving food, the fury animals are becoming dependent on humans.
We then headed to famous rock formations including the mushroom. I had never heard of it either. We even saw a wild fox, that seemed to be as used to people as London foxes.
The following destination the Laguna Colorada was an anticipated highlight. The true beauty of the unreal, red lagoon is best witnessed from the viewpoint on top of the hill.
The lagoons in this national park are coloured by the minerals they contain. The wind impacts the colour prominence. In our case, the astoundingly red lagoon was covered in more white than usual.
Sol De Mañana Geysers & Aguas Termales.
The Sol de Mañana Geysers were the highlight of my trip. Watching the scolding hot bubbles and steam appear from the ground was mesmerizing. Although, the smell will sit in your nose for a long time to come. Be prepared with some layers, it was freezing!
Back at the hostel we played a fun quiz and enjoyed the dramatic sunset whilst waiting for our dinner, pizza. Once the stars speckled the dark sky, we grabbed beers and made our way to the Aguas Termales.
There are two thermal pools you can relax in with a drink in hand under the bright starlit sky in the middle of nowhere. Make sure to change in the hostel, to avoid smelly changing rooms.
Day 3. Dalí Desert, Green & White Lagoons.
The final day of the 3 day Salt Flats & Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve tour started with 6.30 am pancakes, YAY.
First, we stopped in the middle of nowhere within the Reserva de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa, to see the Dalí Desert from a far distance. Making the red coloured mountain opposite much more impressive.
The second stop and time to say goodbye to anyone headed to Chile was the Laguna Verde, or more of a brown-green lagoon due to the lack of wind. However, you have red melting coloured mountains behind the lagoon making up for the sight.
We passed by the Laguna Blanca without stopping… same story the lagoon water was more brown than white.
We then embarked on a 3 h journey through desert landscapes. I have a massive obsession with vicuñas and asked our driver to stop by a herd to take a quick snap of the endangered animals.
The other car was lucky enough to spot a wild cat. The experienced guide had only seen once in his life before. Our incredible tour ended with one final stop for lunch before heading back to Uyuni.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE 3 DAY SALT FLATS & EDUARDO AVAROA NATIONAL RESERVE TOUR
The three-day Salt Flats & Avaroa National Reserve Tour offered much more than anticipated. With additional stops, delicious food, treats and a passionate team. The whole experience was incredible and I highly recommend it. The vegetarian food options were mouth-watering throughout. I suggest opting for them.
On the last day, it did feel like we had been in the 4×4 jeep for a lifetime, leaving us with numb bums. If you aren’t keen on extensive car journeys, outdoor toilets, and skipping a day of showering, the three-day tour isn’t for you.
There are 4 and 5-day tours including additional non-noteworthy stops and less time in the car. My guess is that the extra days will start to drag.
THE BEST TIME TO VISIT
To the best time to visit is September to November, although reflections can be witnessed the most during rainy months December to April.
THE COST
Prices for the three-day tours in English range from BOB 700 – 1000, plus additional costs of up to BOB 186 for the Incahuasi island, Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve entrance and the thermal baths. Tours in Spanish start at BOB 600.
I paid BOB 700 in Uyuni at Evergreen. The tour was operated by Red Planet, which has an excellent reputation. Although booking through them directly is more expensive.
WHAT TO PACK
At least 2L of water, sun cream, sunglasses, toilet paper, a cap, wool hat, and layers. The nights are cold.
Did I do a good job of sharing my experience of the 3 day Salt Flat & Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve tour? Also, did I mention that I love viscachas? Still no clue what they are? They are rabbit-like rodents from the Chinchillidae family.
Now go ahead and explore! Try not to lose your towel.
