Travelling to the Salt Flats in Bolivia has been a bucket-list experience for me, and I was lucky enough to visit for a weekend in August 2026, during the dry season. I loved our time exploring Uyuni and the Salt Flats. The Salt Flats in Bolivia are the largest in the world, and it truly is a wonder to see them up close. We spent the weekend in Uyuni, dedicating one day to exploring the city after we arrived, and the second day we went on a full 1-day tour. We had an incredible time! Both my partner and I loved our trip, and the photos are amazing. We didn’t know initially how to spend 2 days in Uyuni, but the time truly went by so fast, and we were happy to have 1 day exploring the city and finding the best tour for us!
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Is 2 Days in Uyuni Enough? My Honest Thoughts
If you have a short timeline, then spending 2 days and 2 nights in Uyuni is a sweet spot. We arrived around 9 am in the morning on a Friday in Uyuni, and then departed around that same time on Sunday. This gave us all day Friday and Saturday to explore the area before heading back to La Paz.
There are different lengths of tours, with the most popular ranging from 1-day to 3-day tours. If we had more time, we would have seriously considered going on the 3-day tour; however, since we had limited time, a 1-day tour best suited our schedule. It is worth noting that a 2-day tour is possible, and we did look into it based on our schedule. However, due to the weather, some of the sights we wanted to see were not accessible, and the sights that were accessible to see we weren’t quite as interested in.
Overall, we actually enjoyed how our itinerary worked out. We had a great time exploring Uyuni for our first day, checking out the local markets, and dining at the popular Restaurante Tika. We loved our private tour on the Salt Flats for our second day, travelling to the train cemetery, the Dakar Monument, seeing the Salt Sculptures, and enjoying the sunset! While our tour did include a bit more, I’ll cover that further below!
Day 1: Acclimatizing & Exploring Uyuni Town
Morning: Arriving & Settling Into High Altitude
The town of Uyuni is located at 3,656m in elevation. We actually travelled from La Paz, which has an average elevation of 3,640m, so we were already used to the altitude. But trust me when I say, spending a bit of time acclimatizing may be needed. Our first few days in La Paz were very tiring, and we noticed that we really needed to slow down. We were more quickly out of breath even from just walking, and it took a few days to even get used to our new environment. If you are arriving in Uyuni and this is your first experience at this elevation, then be prepared to slow down, listen to your body, and not push it too hard!
Since our landing was so early in the morning on the Friday, we weren’t able to check in quite yet. Instead, we went straight away to the Llama Cafe to enjoy some coffee and a bruschetta snack. The Llama Cafe is quite popular, and we understand why. It’s a small local cafe that is colourful, has an indie feel, and the food was so good! The staff were really nice, and they even had card games you could play to pass the time. We enjoyed our slow morning there, and I highly recommend going if you have the time!
We then set out to explore the different tour companies to try and figure out which tour would be best for us. There were a couple of companies in mind prior to arriving. Since we were in the low season, there was a lot available, so we popped into a few different company locations and got several questions answered. This helped us to narrow down which company we wanted to go with.
There are dozens of tour companies all offering similar tour packages. We found that the companies did offer a few differences even on the same tour, which we were a bit surprised at. For example, one company told us that we could go to the Tunupa Volcano, whereas another company said that that area was flooded and not accessible. In the end, we talked to 3 different companies and were very happy that we settled on Andes Cosmovision for our 1-day tour to the salt flats!
Travel Tip: You may want to book your tour at least 1 week in advance, as tours can be booked up more quickly in the high season.
Afternoon: Exploring Uyuni Park & The Central Market
Although Uyuni is not a large city, there is still a main square at Uyuni Park that you can check out, with several restaurants and shops. If you are looking for souvenirs, then this is where you’ll want to go. There is also a temporary market near Mercado Central de Uyuni, where currently a number of local stalls are set up selling vegetables, breads, etc. Our guide informed us that this market area will be moving, but remains there temporarily.
We also went to the ATM to pull out the cash that we needed for our hotel and for our tour. We decided to pay in cash in order to avoid paying a bit extra with the credit card surcharge fees. With our Wealthsimple Debit card, we can take out cash and be reimbursed for the ATM fees! Check out your banking options to see what you have when withdrawing cash from foreign ATMs!
We also took this opportunity to go back to the hotel to take a nap. It was an early morning with our 7:10 am flight to Uyuni. We had actually contacted the hotel by WhatsApp the night before and inquired about an early check-in. Although they initially said that they could only do it with a fee, they did actually reach out the day we arrived and said we could check in early with no fee! We went to the hotel almost straight away, and this worked out to come back later on for a nap as well.
Early Evening: Dining in Uyuni
Our hotel recommended going to Restaurante Tika, and wow, were we ever glad that we went there. They open later on in the day, around 4 pm. We went in shortly after they opened, and the atmosphere was so nice. It felt sophisticated and warm, and the wood finishes were really nice. The service was excellent, and our waiter was very kind.
We both ordered the Milanesa dish; I got the chicken, and Ru ordered the llama. They both came with a side of rice and French fries; however, I swapped out my fries for mashed potatoes. We also ordered a local dish called Api Con Pastel. It’s a warm purple corn drink, and it came with an empanada with cheese in the middle. It was so good, and the food was very filling. I absolutely recommend going, and while it’s a bit out of the way, it’s so worth it!
Prepping for Your Salt Flat Tour
We did stop in at the local supermarket to get some snacks ready for our tour. In the end, we did eat some of our snacks; however, our private tour provided us with a large, delicious lunch the day of, and some appetizer snacks and wine during the sunset!
Essential items we needed for our Salt Flat Tour:
- Sunscreen (apply like 4 times!)
- Water
- Thermal layers (we went in August during the winter)
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Snacks
- Gloves (optional, but I used them frequently)
Travel Trip #1: Almost all tour companies provide you with a list of essential items. Be sure to check it out or ask your tour company for recommendations on what to bring with you!
Travel Tip #2: Apply sunscreen MULTIPLE TIMES. While this may seem obvious, it is necessary. I applied sunscreen 3 times, and stilll got sunburnt! My first two applications were quite light, and only on my 3rd time did I really lather the sunscreen on. This was obviously a mistake, and I got very sunburnt on my neck, ears, lips, forehead, and scalp.
Day 2: Full-Day Uyuni Salt Flat Tour & Sunset
We decided to book with Andes Cosmovision for our 1-Day Private tour. Our guide was Victor, and he was extremely friendly, knowledgeable, and was overall an excellent tour guide! We had several stops on our private tour, and we loved that we were able to go at our own pace. The day didn’t feel rushed at all, and we were able to cover so many areas for our 1-day excursion!
Stop 1: The Train Cemetery
Since we had a private tour, we opted to start our day a little earlier. Most tours leave around 10:30 am; however, we started about 45 minutes earlier. This meant that when we went to the Train Cemetery (typically the first stop on the day tour), it wasn’t busy at all.
It was quite a sight, seeing all of the inactive trains set aside to remain there. The trains were once used to transport silver; however, when that was no longer happening, the transportation stopped, and the trains were set aside in this area now known as the train cemetery. This area was chosen as it was a flat area that could hold all of these train cars. We were actually able to climb up on the train cars too, which was pretty neat.
Right next to the train cars, you’ll see metal sculptures. A local artist created these sculptures, and they are pretty amazing! My favourite ones were from the Transformers series, including Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Megatron. There are about 10 sculptures, all using parts from old cars and metal scraps and building them into amazing pieces.
Stop 2: Colchani Village & Salt Harvesting Museum
Our second stop brought us to Colchani Village, where we visited the Salt Harvesting Museum. We learned about the salt harvesting process, how the salt is processed, and what is added to the salt to make it safe for consumption. We then had a bit of time here to explore the many souvenir shops and also to make a quick pit stop to the bathroom.
Quick Note: There are washrooms nearby to use. You’ll find toilet paper at the bathrooms, and you’ll pay 3 BOB in order to use them.
Stop 3: The First Salt Hotel, Dakar Rally Monument & Plaza de las Banderas (Flag Island)
After visiting the Colchani Village, we got our first true sights of the salt flats. It’s a wild adventure to drive on the salt flats, and it truly is mesmerizing. We drove about 20 minutes or so until we first reached the Dakar Rally Monument.
The Dakar Rally took place at the Salt Flats from 2014 to 2018, and it’s an endurance race that initially included motorcycles and ATVs, and later cars. The constructed monument for the Dakar Rally still stands today.
Right after the Dakar Rally Monument, you’ll see the first Salt Hotel as well as Flag Island. The Playa Blanca Salt Museum (Salt Hotel) no longer functions as a hotel to preserve the salt flats and reduce waste. It remains today as a tourist attraction, where you can go inside the hotel and find tables for eating lunch. There is a small cafe and a souvenir shop inside. There are also bathrooms (the only location on the salt flats for the 1-day tour), and you’ll pay 5 BOB to use them. They will provide you with some toilet paper as well.
One of my top sights of the day was Plaza de las Banderas, or commonly known as Flag Island. It’s located right next to the Salt Hotel, and honestly, you can’t miss it. I loved seeing the flags from the different countries, and it’s quite windy there as well. We took our turn to stand by the flags, and it was neat to see so many people enjoy this area. Be sure to bring your camera here – this place is so neat!
Stop 4: Lunch in the Middle of the Salt Flats
With our private tour, we had the option to eat outside in the middle of the salt flats, or to have lunch inside the salt hotel at one of the public tables. We chose to eat outside, and we were sure glad that we did. Our guide set up a table right next to the vehicle, which blocked some of the wind for us. He provided an AMAZING lunch, including chicken, beef, quinoa, and fresh and boiled vegetables. It was honestly so good, and felt like a nice, clean meal. Even with having second helpings, we didn’t feel too full or lethargic afterwards.
Our lunch view was so nice, and we were the only tour that day to eat on the salt flats outside. I get it – it’s August and technically peak winter in Bolivia. But with the sun out, it felt quite warm, and our guide provided us with ponchos, which we put over our legs to keep warm. Here we also saw the famous hexagons up close on the salt flats, and we took too many photos to count. This was a special meal for us, and we’ll never forget this experience. If you can, dine out on the Salt Flats. It’s so unique and something you’ll remember forever!
Stop 5: Esculturas y Monumentos de Sal (Salt Sculpture Park)
The next stop on our tour brought us to the Esculturas y Monumentos de Sal (Salt Sculpture Park). Since it had previously rained and snowed the week prior, this park was flooded. Our guide brought rain boots for us, so we put these on and walked around the park. The park itself isn’t too large, but there are several beautiful salt sculptures to view. Since the park was flooded, we actually got to witness the mirror effect, which we didn’t expect since we came during the dry season. It was so neat to see the sculptures themselves and then the mirroring of them! We were here for almost an hour, and then walked through the maze for our way out.
Travel Tip: We did have to pay 20 BOB per person to enter here, so have cash ready!
Stop 6: Mirror Photos & Perspective Photos
We felt lucky that we got to witness both the mirror effect from the wet season and the hexagons of salt from the dry season. This meant that we were able to take photos with both the mirror effect and really neat perspective photos as well.
Our guide Victor was awesome, and he basically gave us suggestions for our photos and told us what to do. Since there was a large flooded area near the Sculpture Park, we did some mirror effect photos and videos. My favourite was when we were walking through the water, and Victor filmed us while rotating the camera. When we watched the footage back, we could see ourselves and the mirror effect of ourselves walking through the flats. This was actually so cool, and we loved seeing it!
Next up, we moved to another dry location where we could do the infamous perspective photos. Again, Victor was the mastermind of this photography shoot, and he brought lots of creative ideas to this shoot. We had perspective photography with a dinosaur, a bottle of wine, a llama, a toy car and then a fun video with a Pringles can. We loved how the photos turned out, and a big thanks to Victor for capturing this for us!
Stop 7: Golden Hour & The Famous Salt Flat Sunset
Our last stop brought us to golden hour and embracing the amazing sunset on the Salt Flats. Even though it was the dry season (August), it had rained and snowed the previous week, meaning that there was a large area covered with water to enjoy the mirroring sunset.
Victor set up a table and stools for us to watch the sunset. He even set out some appetizers including meat cubes, cheese cubes, chips, peanuts, and small cookies. He poured us some wine, and we sat, talked, and enjoyed the sunset! It was beautiful and one of the best sunsets I have ever seen!
When the sun was gone, the horizon was still glowing. Some of our favourite photos were taken during this time! Don’t be the first group to leave, as we loved the shadows of the other vehicles that were driving away. The sky was yellow, purple and pink, and it was truly stunning. We were actually one of the last tours to leave this area because we kept taking so many pictures.
Travel Tip: Bring layers! It does get quite cold as the sun was going down. At this point, I did add a thermal layer on to help keep warm!
Where to Stay for 2 Days: Uyuni Town vs. Along the Salt Flats
We did quite a lot of searching to find the best place to stay in Uyuni for us. We were torn between staying in Uyuni Town with the conveniences of visiting the town’s sites and restaurants versus staying at a luxury hotel outside of the city with Salt Flats views.
Hotel de Sal Atipax: Where We Stayed
We ultimately decided to spend our time in the city, and honestly, we loved our hotel! We stayed at the Hotel de Sal Atipax for 2 nights, and it was honestly amazing. They were kind enough to allow us to have a free early check-in (we were quite lucky, as this is typically paid). The breakfast was simple, but tasty, and the rooms were SO NICE!
Our room was large, and the beds were really comfortable. We actually had a double queen room, so our room had 2 queen-size beds. The whole room was clean with modern finishes, and I loved that it felt like we were in a lodge. The room also came with a mini fridge as well as a small desk area. I also loved that the bathroom had a nice warm shower and a towel heater as well!
Now, I’ll be honest, it is a bit of a walk. It’s about a 15-20 minute walk from the downtown core. This honestly was fine for us, and we didn’t mind the walk at all. It’s a newer hotel with not really much around its immediate surroundings. We grabbed our snacks for the tour in the city center and then walked back out to the hotel in the evenings.
The hotel staff also arranged a taxi for us to head to the airport the following day. The ride only takes about 5-10 minutes as the airport is so close. Overall, we truly loved our stay here and are so happy with this decision. We spent two nights here, and I truly feel it is worth it to stay a little out of the way and have a remarkable accommodation!
Book Your Stay: Hotel de Sal Atipax
2. Hotel de Sal Luna Salada: Our Runner-Up Choice
We were very close to booking at Hotel de Sal Luna Salada. It’s such a unique hotel, in that it’s partly built using salt blocks! It complements the Salt Flats theme, adding a luxury twist. The rooms are modern, and some offer incredible views of the salt flats and mountains. They also have beautiful domes available for booking, which honestly look so beautiful!
The hotel also has a fireplace that can be enjoyed, along with a games room with billiards and table tennis. It looks like an incredible hotel to unwind and relax. I love that it has a variety of things to do, as you are about 30 minutes from the city of Uyuni.
This is a great spot for couples or solo travellers, looking for a luxury escape while visiting the Salt Flats in Bolivia!
Book Your Stay: Hotel de Sal Luna Salada
Essential Logistics for 2 Days in Uyuni
How to Get There:
There are two main ways to get to Uyuni: Taking a flight or going on an overnight bus.
By Air
We chose to fly to Uyuni, and we learned that there are only 2 flights a day that arrive at the airport. We flew from La Paz, and the flight was only 1 hour long. It was super quick, and it felt like we arrived in no time. With our flight, we were permitted a 23kg bag each, which was even included in the original flight cost! Now, we didn’t need large luggage for a 2-night stay; we were still pleasantly surprised!
We paid just under $200 USD for our round-trip tickets to La Paz. While this was more of the expensive option, it saved us tonnes of time and allowed us to maximize our travel days!
By Bus
Another popular option is to travel by bus, and it takes about 9 hours to travel from La Paz. There are a few different bus companies to choose from. Some have near lie-flat reclining seats. From La Paz, the bus will leave in the evening, and you’ll arrive early the next morning in Uyuni. The cost of this is approximately $25 USD – $50 USD, depending on which company you go with.
Best Time to Visit
There are two distinct seasons for visiting the Salt Flats. They are the wet season and the dry season.
Wet Season: December – April
During the wet season, you’ll see the amazing mirror effect all over the salt flats. Your tour company will provide you with rubber boots, as there will be about 1-2 inches of water all along the flats. The weather is also warmer during the time, reaching temperatures of 15°C to 21°C during the day. In the evening, it can still get cold, dropping to 0°C.
Dry Season: May – October
During the Dry Season, you’ll see the white hexagons all over the flats. The weather is also cooler this time, reaching temperatures of 5°C to 16°C. During the nights, it gets quite cold and drops to around -15°C.
We went in August of 2026, and we actually saw both the white hexagons since it was the dry season, but also the mirror effect. Some areas in the Salt Flats were flooded due to the rain and snow during the previous week. The weather was cooler, reaching about 15°C; however, with the bright sun, it felt pretty warm. Only during the sunset did it really feel cold, and I had to add a thermal layer under my jacket.
I did feel really lucky to experience both the mirror effect as well as the white hexagons. The mirror effect is really beautiful, and it is a popular time to come. However, I did love seeing the white hexagons, and it was an incredible landscape to see!
Cash and Fees: Our Additional Costs
While the tour cost covered a number of expenses, there were a few things that we still needed to carry cash for:
- Sculpture Park Entrance Fee: 20 BOB
- Bathroom use at the Sand Hotel: 5 BOB
- Bathroom use at Colchani: 3 BOB
Be sure to bring extra cash with you for these expenses!
FAQs About Spending 2 Days in Uyuni
Is 1 day on the salt flats enough, or should I do 3 days?
It really just comes down to the amount of time that you have. We chose to do the 1-day tour as we did not have enough time to stay for the 3-day tour. I would have loved to see the pink lagoon and flamingos, especially with the 3-day tour; however, I honestly loved our 1-day private tour.
Our 1-day tour was full on, and we were on the tour from about 9:45 am until 7:30 pm. It was such a fun day in and around the Salt Flats. If you are short on time, then don’t hesitate to book the 1-day tour. Visiting the Salt Flats is such a unique experience, and it was an amazing one!
Can you visit the Train Cemetery without a tour?
You can visit the Train Cemetery without a tour, as it’s only a 15-minute drive from the city center. With that said, I honestly feel like going here with your tour is the best way to do it. We were able to ask a lot of questions and learn about the history of this area and the train system. Without being on a tour, we wouldn’t have had the same experience and wouldn’t have learned so much.
Most tours actually add this stop in their itinerary, so you’ll most likely stop here with your tour anyways!
How bad is the altitude sickness in Uyuni?
This is hard to say as everyone reacts differently. We came from La Paz, which sits at an average elevation of 3,640m. We were also here almost a week before going to the Salt Flats. It took us about 4 days to get used to the altitude. The main symptom that we both felt was feeling quite tired. We would walk just a short distance and feel a bit out of breath, as well as a general feeling of being “under the weather”. We bought some coca leaves from the corner store, which did help our symptoms.
Final Thoughts on our 2 Days in Uyuni
I am so thrilled that we made the journey to Uyuni to see the Salt Flats. Despite being on a short timeline, we made the most of our trip by checking out the small city of Uyuni on our first day, and travelling out to the Salt Flats on our second day.
Our tour guide Victor from Andes Cosmovision was incredible, and he was the perfect tour guide for us! He was very personable, friendly, and knowledgeable about Bolivia. We loved all of the sights that we saw; the food was incredible, and the drive felt very safe.
If we had more time, we probably would have considered the 3-Day tour. It’s best to talk to the different tour companies, check on the recent weather to see what sights are still accessible, and determine which type of tour is best for you. The Salt Flats in Bolivia are the largest in the world! It’s an incredible sight and was an amazing experience. If you are wondering if visiting the Salt Flats is worth it, I’m here to tell you YES!
