The iconic Uyuni Salt Flats. The largest salt flats in the world. Visting them is a bucket list item for so many and for good reason. The endless barren plains, overlayed with hexagonal ridges of salt, are otherworldly. It’s an seemingly endless expanse of white that is as surreal as it is spectacular, however… the Uyuni Salt flats are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Bolivia’s natural beauty.
The journey from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile takes in so much more. Geysers, volcanoes, lagoons, giant cactuses, flamingos, train cemeteries, the most spectacular night skies.
Having spent 8 days in La Paz and it’s surrounding areas, it was time to head to Uyuni and hop in a Land Cruiser to embark on a 3 day road trip that would finish in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. The roads are bumpy, and I was crammed into the Land Cruiser with 4 others, shoulder to shoulder, knees slightly crushed and folded up like a deck chair. But over the 3 days we never drove longer than 30-40 minutes before stopping and getting out to take in spectacular sight after spectacular sight.
There was no wi-fi the entire trip, and even no electricity on the second night as we stayed in a tiny village that looked like something out of Fallout. But to have spent a second of the trip scrolling would’ve been criminal. I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone travelling in Bolivia.
Here is the road trip from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama through the lens of my camera.
Day 1 – The early morning light in Uyuni.The first stop of the day, Uyuni’s Cemeterio de Trenes where early 20th century trains lie abandoned and eroded by wind and salt.Uyuni was going to be a major rail hub for all of Bolivia, but a decline in the mining industry, alongside conflicts with neighbouring countries meant those plans were never realised.Today you can walk among (and climb on!) the abandoned carriages, which are heavily eroded and covered with grafiti.There’s beauty hiding in train sight.A contemplative train carriage looking off to the distance, wondering what could’ve been.Full steam ahead for the rest of the trip.After the train cemertary we headed to the main event of the day, the salt flats.The famous Dakar monument, made entirely out of salt.Land Cruisers ready to roll.World flags, brought by visitors from all corners of the globe.The salt hotel, no prizes for guessing what it’s made out of.It’s made out of salt. And looks pretty damn comfy. Sadly it wasn’t taking guests whilst we were there.First sight of the salty hexagons.Obligatory dinosaur photo.Next up was a visit to Incahuasi Island, part of the ancient sea bed that rises up above the salt flats, which has been monopolised by giant cactuses.Cactuses looking sharp.Then back to the salt flats for sunset.Day 1 is a wrap.Day 2 – back on the road.Early morning views over quinoa fields, a hipster’s paradise.On the move through the desert.The first main stop of the day.The train line cutting through the barren desert.Getting back on track…Fuming.Mars, sort of.Cooking up a storm. Trying the llama sausage is a must, it’s a lot like chorizo and tastes amazing.The next stop was Canapa Laguna to see the increible Andean Flamingoes.And they’re not shy, you can get pretty close to the fellas.Then back on the road once more.Photo stop.A Viscacha. I think we wants me off his turf.Tree rock… which is a rock… that looks like a tree.A couple of llamas going about their day.The surreal Red Lagoon.Huayllajara, our humble abode for the night.Giving off strong Fallout vibes.With the small village having extremely limited electricity, and being in the middle of nowhere, there’s no light pollution, and the night sky is the most spectacular I’ve ever seen.Day 3 – An early morning rise, very early, 4:30am to be precise, and in -15C, we set off towards Chile, going over the top of a volcano, surrounded by fumeroles.We stopped at some hot springs on the way for a beautiful sunrise and to thaw out our frozen bones.Could’ve stayed in the hot springs all day… but it was time to head on.After a few hours more driving and crossing over the border, we finally arrived in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.What better way to round off an incredible few days than with a massive plate of ceviche.
