I am used to meeting new people and roaming around new places. I guess the experience of moving from one continent to the next made me fall in love with travelling. Each moment I get to explore the world is magical. I found that the best way to recreate these moments is to capture photos.
An Incredible Trip to Chile & Bolivia
One place that I visited recently which was a photographer’s paradise was the famous salt flats of Bolivia. This country was high on my bucket list prior to visiting. I have South American roots growing up in Venezuela and it has always been a dream of mine to discover more of this continent.
Our time in Bolivia was limited and we didn’t want to fly into La Paz (the capital city). So instead, we decided to land in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. From there we arranged transport all the way up to Salar de Uyuni.
I recommend taking this route to Salar de Uyuni if you are pressed for time. The ride from Atacama to Uyuni can take up to 11 hours and can get quite uncomfortable in my opinion. If you are prepared then you won’t find it too troublesome. The border crossing from Chile to Bolivia wasn’t an issue.
We took a round trip from Atacama and back again and ticked off many incredible places along the way such as Salar de Uyuni, Moon Valley, many colourful lagoons, the Train Cemetery, Arbol de Piedra (the Rock Tree), Sol de Manana geothermal area and many hot springs. This took us three days!
Ticking Salar de Uyuni off the Bucket List
I wanted to experience Salar de Uyuni in March/April because it is the best time to see the sky reflected on the salt flats. At this time of the year you can find the flats with the right amount of water. We spent a day in Uyuni but to be honest the more time you spend at the salt flats the better.
The salt flats of Bolivia amazed me – especially because the sky was reflected on the water and it felt like we were walking on clouds. It was truly a magical moment. I will never forget my time at Salar de Uyuni.
We didn’t explore the salt flats alone. Quechua Connection 4wd were the tour operators we went with and I would highly recommend them. We had a fantastic time and met some amazing people from all over the world on that tour. It was awesome to share the same experience with other people.
Favourite Experiences at Salar de Uyuni
The best moment at Salar de Uyuni for me was when we went walking “over the clouds” at sunset. Seeing a perfect mirror reflection at golden hour was simply extraordinary. It feels like time no longer exists and the sky comes down to greet you. There weren’t many other tourists around too.
Another favourite moment was when we took some perspective photos with the horizon. Since everything is super flat in every direction, you can take some hilarious photos. I know it’s a bit cheesy but it’s a lot of fun!
Other Attractions of Salar de Uyuni
At Salar de Uyuni, you can learn all about the salt at the museum. Here you will see how they process the salt. Another cool spot is the flag pole area where dozens of flags fly in the wind. Across the flats there are huge monuments made of salt and the Train Cemetery is nearby as well.
Many people would have heard of the Salt Hotel but unfortunately I didn’t stay here. However, I only heard amazing things and therefore would recommend adding this to your bucket list. It would surely be a once in a lifetime experience. I saw the hotel made from salt and it looked stunning.
Need to Know Before you Go
There are two ways of experiencing the salt flats, depending on what you want to see. You can go in March/April which is the perfect time to see the mirror reflection and, if the sky is clear, the milky way reflected at night. However, if you go at this time, you won’t see Isla del Pescado.
At this time of year Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) is covered in water. If you visit Uyuni in June – August, it is super cold but with no rain. You can visit Fish Island but the trade-off is that you won’t see the mirror effect.
No matter what time of year you go, Salar de Uyuni gets freezing at night. So make sure you bring some warm clothes and also coca leaves as it can help with altitude sickness. Thanks for reading and have a good time!
