Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni Tours: 1, 2, 3 or 4 Days, Which to Choose
Terra Alta offers five ways to see the Salar de Uyuni: 1, 2 and 3-day tours that leave from Uyuni, a 4-day circuit from Tupiza to Uyuni, and Uyuni Luxe, a tailor-made private 4x4. One day covers the salt flat and the sunset; with more days you add Isla Incahuasi, Pulacayo, the colored lagoons and the Sud Lípez geysers. From May to November the salt is dry and the tracks are open, and the mirror effect can appear only with rain, with no guarantee. Details: when to visit the Salar de Uyuni.
The Salar de Uyuni covers 10,582 km² at about 3,660 m. The 1-day tour is a day of salt, rusted trains and a sunset toast. The 4-day tour crosses the Sud Lípez from Tupiza and ends with sunrise on Isla Incahuasi.
Choosing depends on your days, on how much cold and altitude you are willing to take on, and on what you want to see. Below you will find a rule of thumb by duration and a comparison table; the rest is in the complete guide to the Salar de Uyuni.
The 5 Uyuni tours
1 day · 9 hrUyuni · 1 DayFrom USD 65 / person
2 days / 1 nightUyuni · 2 DaysFrom USD 125 / person
3 days / 2 nightsUyuni · 3 DaysFrom USD 249 / person
4 days / 3 nightsUyuni · 4 DaysFrom USD 349 / person
1 to 4 days · tailor-madeUyuni LuxeQuote on requestWhich one to choose, by number of days
- You have 1 dayYou leave Uyuni at 10:30 in a shared 4x4, see the Train Cemetery, Colchani, the salt eyes and the salt sculptures, and return around 19:30.See the tour
- You have 2 daysAdd Isla Incahuasi, the mining town of Pulacayo, Tomave and the Kanqui hot springs. One night in a 3★ hotel in Uyuni, with breakfast. No night at altitude and no prior acclimatization needed.See the tour
- You have 3 daysAdd the Sud Lípez to the salt flat: lagoons with flamingos depending on the season, the Árbol de Piedra, Laguna Colorada, the Sol de Mañana geysers at sunrise and Laguna Verde. The second night is in a high-altitude lodge next to Laguna Colorada, with intense cold.See the tour
- You have 4 days and you are in TupizaYou leave Tupiza at 7:30 and finish in Uyuni around 13:00 on day 4, with more time at each place. We recommend 24 to 48 hr of acclimatization at altitude beforehand. It is the natural choice if you are coming from Argentina.See the tour
- You prefer to travel privatelyUyuni Luxe is a private 4x4 for a maximum of 4 passengers, with a separate driver and guide and its own cook, from 1 to 4 days with a tailor-made itinerary. It is quoted only on request.See the tour
Comparison
| Tour | Duration | What it covers | Where you sleep | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Salar de Uyuni 1 day | 1 day, about 9 hr | Train Cemetery, Colchani, salt eyes, salt sculptures and sunset | No overnight: you leave and return to Uyuni | A short first visit to the salt flat |
| Salar de Uyuni 2 days | 2 days, 1 night | Salt flat, Isla Incahuasi, Pulacayo, Tomave and Kanqui hot springs | 3★ hotel in Uyuni, with breakfast | Those who want more than the salt flat without a night at altitude |
| Salar and lagoons 3 days | 3 days, 2 nights | Salt flat, lagoons with flamingos, Laguna Colorada, Sol de Mañana and Laguna Verde | 3★ hotel in Uyuni and a high-altitude lodge next to Laguna Colorada | Those who want the Sud Lípez and accept cold and altitude |
| Tupiza to Uyuni 4 days | 4 days, 3 nights | Quebrada Palala, Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, lagoons, Sol de Mañana and Isla Incahuasi | 3 nights: selected lodgings and a shared refuge at altitude | Those coming from Tupiza or Argentina who want more time at each place |
| Uyuni Luxe | 1 to 4 days, tailor-made | Salt flat, Tunupa volcano, Sud Lípez lagoons, geysers and the Dalí desert, depending on your days | Salt hotels, subject to availability | Those who want to travel privately and at their own pace |
When to go
From May to November it almost never rains: the salt hardens and draws its hexagonal mosaic to the horizon, and the Sud Lípez tracks are in their best condition. Nights are cold all year, with average lows of about -10 °C in June and July in the city of Uyuni.
With enough rain, a sheet of water a few centimeters deep can cover the salt and reflect the sky. It depends on how much rain fell in the previous days and no agency can guarantee it. The same rains can close stretches of the Sud Lípez.
How to get there
You can reach Uyuni by plane from La Paz (a little over 1 hr with BoA or EcoJet), by overnight bus (10 to 12 hr), or by bus from Sucre (about 8 hr), Potosí (3 to 5 hr) or Tupiza (about 4 hr). For the 4-day tour, the starting point is Tupiza. From San Pedro de Atacama there are three-day circuits that cross at Hito Cajón and end in Uyuni. You will find all the routes and times in how to get to the Salar de Uyuni.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for the Salar de Uyuni?
With one day you see the essentials of the salt flat: Train Cemetery, Colchani, salt eyes and sunset. With two you add Isla Incahuasi and Pulacayo, and with three or four you enter the Sud Lípez, with lagoons and geysers. If one day is all you have, take it, but the third is the one that changes the trip.
What is the difference between the 3-day tour and the 4-day tour from Tupiza?
The 3-day tour leaves from and returns to Uyuni, with the salt flat on the first day and the lagoons after. The 4-day tour leaves Tupiza at 7:30, spends more time at each place and ends in Uyuni around 13:00 on day 4. If you are coming from Tupiza or Argentina, take the 4-day.
Is the mirror effect visible on every tour?
Only if there is water on the salt flat, normally from late December to early April depending on the year. In the dry season you will see the salt mosaic. It is not guaranteed on any tour or with any agency.
Do the 3 and 4-day tours require acclimatization?
It is advisable. The 4-day tour recommends 24 to 48 hr at altitude before starting, and the 3-day tour spends a night in a high-altitude lodge next to Laguna Colorada. The 2-day tour requires no prior acclimatization, and the 1-day tour is done entirely at the altitude of Uyuni. You will find more detail in altitude sickness (soroche) in Bolivia.
Can I do it privately?
Yes, with Uyuni Luxe: a private 4x4 for a maximum of 4 passengers, with its own driver, guide and cook, from 1 to 4 days, tailor-made. It is quoted only on request. Tell us your dates and how many are traveling, and the proposal arrives on WhatsApp within 24 hours.
Guides to prepare your trip: Complete guide to the Salar de Uyuni 2026 · When to visit the Salar de Uyuni · How to get to the Salar de Uyuni · Sud Lípez and Laguna Colorada
Not sure which one to choose?