Private Tour from San Pedro de Atacama to the Salar de Uyuni

Day 1

San Pedro de Atacaca - Hito Cajones Border - Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve: Green Lagoon with views of the Licancabur Volcano - Laguna Blanca - Dalí Desert - Polques Hot Springs (Chalviri Lagoon) - Geothermal Field, Sol de Mañana geysers - Laguna Colorada - Stone Tree - Cañon de las Viscachas - Hotel del Desierto Tayka

You will start the expedition at 07:30 a.m.. We will pick you up from your Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama and you will travel in a shared tourist bus to the Hito Cajones border to carry out the immigration procedures. First, you will go to the migration office in Chile and a few kilometers later you will complete the procedures in the Bolivian office.

After completing the immigration procedures we will serve breakfast.

You will begin your journey in Bolivian territory by entering the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. The reserve has an area of 714,745 hectares and reaches an altitude of 4000 to 6000 meters. It has an exceptional scenic beauty, which is why it is one of the most important tourist attractions in Bolivia.

The first stop will be at the Laguna Verde. The intensity of the green color of the lagoon's water depends on the wind in the area. In case there is no wind, you can see the reflection of the Licancabur Volcano in the crystalline waters.

The Green Lagoon is located at the foot of the dormant volcanoes Licancabur and Juriques which are part of the volcanic mountain range of the Andes in southwestern Bolivia. Both are on the border with Chile.

Next you will observe the Laguna Blanca.

The expedition will cross the Salvador Dalí Desert, and lead you to Polques thermal springs where you can take a relaxing bath. There is a small open-air hot water pool and changing rooms in the place. The recommended time to stay in the pool is 20 minutes. The thermal waters are located at 4500 meters above sea level.

You will have lunch in a dining room located in front of the thermal water pool.

You will go on to the Sol de Mañana fumaroles and geysers located at 4850 meters above sea level. You will see mud boiling intensely; the fumaroles and geysers spume water vapor and hot steam that can reach heights of 10 to 50 meters as a product of the pressure with which they are emitted. These natural phenomena let you marvel at a landscape that seems to date back to the formation of the Earth.

The adventure will continue by visiting the Laguna Colorada, a favorite nesting place for Andean flamingos.

The intense red color of Laguna Colorada is due to red algae and other microorganisms that live inside the lagoon. The Laguna Colorada also has some white parts where huge deposits of borax accumulate on the surface of the lake.

The Laguna Colorada is an immaculate and beautiful wild area inhabited by three species of flamingos: Chilean, James and Andean.

Inside the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve visitors can marvel at strange landscapes and basaltic rocks eroded by the wind, gigantic volcanoes, thermal waters and fumaroles.

The most famous rock formation is without doubt the Stone Tree.

You will conclude your journey for the day by traveling through through the vizcachas canyon where you can observe this adorable rodent, a close relative of Chinchillas, in its natural habitat.

The day will end at the Tayka Desert Hotel located near the entrance of the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve in the middle of the frozen desert of the High Andes.

The hotel has rooms with private bathrooms, hot water and heating until 9:30 p.m. There are oxygen cylinders at the reception, if required.

Day 2

High-Andean Jewels Route: Chiarcota Lagoon, Laguna Honda, Hedionda Lagoon, Cañapa Lagoon, Turquiri Lagoon - Observing the Ollague Volcano - Rock Valley - Train Cemetery - Uyuni - Colchani

08:30 You will start your journey visiting a region that offers visitors wonderful landscapes decorated with volcanoes, lagoons and Andean fauna.

Enjoy the beauty of the High-Andean Jewels Route consisting of the Chiarcota, Hedionda (4,532 masl), Cañapa, Laguna Honda / Corazón (at 4114 meters) and the Turquiri Lagoon. These lagoons are surrounded by mountains and during winter you can see the snowy peaks.

This area is ideal for lovers of nature and photography, it is impossible to take a bad picture of these landscapes, they are all worthy of a postcard.

You will have lunch in the middle of nature.

On the way you will see various rock formations and the Ollague semi-active volcano (5870 m.) located on the border between Bolivia and Chile.

During our tour we will visit the Rock Valley, also called Lost Italy, a site that contains impressive rock formations.

You will continue the journey to the town of Uyuni. Three Kilometers before reaching Uyuni is the Train Cemetery, a place that shelters dozens of old locomotives and wagons from the year 1890.

The remains of the trains take us on an imaginary journey to a time of flourishing progress, today transformed into a rustic deserted courtyard ideal for the romantic traveler who likes to photograph traces of a not so distant past.

You will pass through the city of Uyuni and reach the town of Colchani, where the famous Salt Hotels are located.

Lodging in a Salt Hotel. The hotels offer rooms with private bathrooms, hot water, heating and WiFi Internet. Depending on availability, we will include accomodation at Luna Salada Hotel, Hotel Palacio de Sal or at the Hotel de Sal Tayka.

Day 3

Stargazing and sunrise inside the Salar de Uyuni - Incahuasi Island - Dakar Rally Salt Statue - Former Salt Hotel Playa Blanca - Ojos del Salar - Train Cemetery - Uyuni

03:30 a.m. The day begins by going to the Salar de Uyuni to observe the stars and enjoy a beautiful sunrise. This activity is certainly unique, especially during the rainy season when the salt flat resembles a giant mirror that reflects the starry sky. This spectacle reaches its most impressive point during dawn, when the first rays of light flow in the immense sky illuminating an incomparable landscape.

After sunrise you will return to your Hotel where breakfast will be served and you can rest a little before continuing the journey to the wonderful Salar de Uyuni.

You will travel to Incahuasi Island, home of millenary giant cacti (Echinopsis atacamensis) up to 10 meters high. Isla Incahuasi is a genuine witness of life inside the salt desert.

You will climb the island and reach a viewpoint, from where you will have a 360 degree perspective view of the salt flat and a privileged view of the Tunupa Volcano.

During the dry season, the surface of the salt flat has near geometric shapes formed by salt particles agglomerated into polygons. During the rainy season (December, January, February and part of March) the Salar is covered with water and resembles a giant mirror.

During the trip you will observe a statue of salt erected to commemorate the passing of the Dakar Rally in Bolivia. Then you will walk to the old Hotel de Sal Playa Blanca. Next to the Hotel there is a small mound with several flags from around the world. These symbolic flags have been left by travelers visiting the Salar de Uyuni. We invite you to carry a flag of your country and leave it at this significant point.

You will have lunch enjoying the beautiful landscape inside the Salar.

The Eyes of the Salt Flat are small currents of water that flow from the interior of the earth under the salt. It is said that this water has healing properties due to its saline and acid concentrations.

The expedition would not be complete without witnessing the sunset inside the salt flat.

You will conclude the trip in the town of Uyuni.

We can leave you at your Hotel, the Uyuni bus station or the Uyuni Airport.