Salar de Uyuni is located in the Potosí region, in southwest Bolivia, close to the peak of the Andes. It is the largest salt flat in the world, covering 10,582 sq. km...
Salar de Uyuni is located in the Potosí region, in southwest Bolivia, close to the peak of the Andes. It is the largest salt flat in the world, covering 10,582 sq. km (~4,086 sq. mi). The name originates from the Spanish word “salar” - meaning salt flat - and the Aymara word “uyuni” - meaning enclosure.
Salar de Uyuni is located in the Potosí region, in southwest Bolivia, close to the peak of the Andes. It is the largest salt flat in the world, covering 10,582 sq. km (~4,086 sq. mi). The name originates from the Spanish word “salar” - meaning salt flat - and the Aymara word “uyuni” - meaning enclosure.
The Salar has very little wildlife or vegetation, except for giant cacti. Other bushes include Pilaya which is used locally to cure catarrh, Thola - burned as a fuel, quinoa plants and quenua bushes.
In November, the area becomes the breeding ground for the Chilean, Andean and rare James's Flamingos. 80 other bird species can be found in the Salar, including the Andean goose, horned coot and Andean hillstar. The Andean fox (culpeo) is also present while colonies of rabbit-like viscachas live in the "islands" of Salar.Most visitors explore the area as part of a guided tour of Bolivia. This usually includes 4x4 trips to visit the salt plains for views of the amazing salt desert to learn how the salt is mined and processed, plus a trip to Isla de los Pescados - a fossilized coral island populated with 1,000 year old cacti.
An overnight stay on a salt hotel, built from local salt blocks, may be followed by a trip to the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa and to hot springs and lakes vividly coloured by minerals.Salar de Uyuni is located at high altitude (3,656 m / 11,995 ft above sea level) so try to pace the journey up here to allow time to acclimatise without risking altitude sickness.