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Private Uyuni Salt Flat Express (3 days)

4.6 / 520 reviews
Operative tour
Atacama - Uyuni - Atacama

If you cancel your reservation up to 30 days before the start of the activity, we will refund you 100% of the reservation payment. No refunds will be issued on cancellation requests received after the indicated anticipation.

Free cancellation

You can reschedule your booking without any additional cost until 30 days before the beginning of the activiity.

Free rescheduling

3 days private tour to the Uyuni Salt Flat, beginning and ending in San Pedro de Atacama. It includes transportation, accommodation in hotels and all meals.


You are checking a tour that begins in San Pedro de Atacama. If you want to see tours that begin in Uyuni, click here.

Prices

  • 1 person: US$ 2.120 per person.
  • Group of 2 people: US$ 1.090 per person.
  • Group of 3 people: US$ 930 per person.
  • Group of 4 people: US$ 720 per person.
  • Group of 5 people: US$ 705 per person.
  • Group of 6 people: US$ 600 per person.


*Even though the 4x4 vehicle has space for six passengers plus the guide, the last seat of the vehicle is more cramped that the other seats. Therefore, if you would like for all travelers to be able to sit comfortably, we suggest doing the tour in two groups of three each (two separate bookings).

How to book

  1. Select the departure date from the calendar.
  2. Select the number of people.
  3. Click on "Add to cart".
  4. Pay the full price of the tour online.

Included

  • Hotel pick-up in San Pedro de Atacama.
  • Private transportation.
  • Spanish-speaking driver.
  • All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).
  • Accommodation in hotels:
  • Two nights of accommodation in 3-stars hotels establishments, in double or queen size bed private room, with private bathroom, hot shower and solar panels heating:
  • 1st night in Hotel Tayka Desierto (or Hotel Mallku Cueva, according to availability).
  • 2nd night in Hotel Luna Salada (Hotel Palacio de Sal or Hotel Cristal Samaña, according to availability).

Optional services

  • English-speaking driver:
  • 1 person: US$ 240.
  • Group of 2 people: US$ 120 per person.
  • Group of 3 people: US$ 80 per person.
  • Group of 4 people: US$ 60 per person.
  • Group of 5 people: US$ 48 per person.
  • Group of 6 people: US$ 40 per person.

Not included

  • Round trip shuttle between Calama's airport and San Pedro de Atacama.
  • Border tax (Bs. 15 per person).
  • Beverages in hotel meals.
  • Entrances to parks (Bs. 186 per person).
  • Entrance to Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve (Bs. 150 per person).
  • Entrance to Polques Hot Springs (Bs. 10 per person).
  • Entrance to Incahuasi Island (Bs. 30 per person).
  • Access to toilets on the way (approximately Bs. 6 each access).
  • Travel insurance woth health-care coverage.
  • Water.

What to bring

  • Comfortable and warm clothing.
  • Comfortable shoes (ideally trekking shoes).
  • Swimsuit and towel (for Polques Hot Springs).
  • Sunglasses.
  • Sunscreen.
  • Toiletries.
  • Toilet paper.
  • Water (1 litre per person, for the first day. The rest of the days you can buy it on the road).
  • Passport or ID card. If you are a foreigner resident in Chile you should take both to show them in customs.
  • Between Bs. 350 and Bs. 500 for expenses not included on the tour (entrance fees, taxes, bathroom, water and souvenirs, among others).

Restrictions

  • Due to most of this tour is made above 13,000 feet of altitude and in a narrow vehicle, the following people cannot take it:
  • Children until the age of 6
  • Adults over the age of 65
  • People that weigh more than 100 kg
  • Pregnant women
  • People with high blood pressure, heart failure, asthma or similar.
  • Non-resident in Chile Australian passengers must be visiting the country with a multiple tourist visa (it allows readmissions).

Itinerary

Start: Day 1 at 7:00 am at your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

End: Day 3 at 6:00 pm in the bus station or downtown San Pedro de Atacama (this end time could be modified due to weather conditions or force majeure reasons, which is why we recommend you leaving San Pedro de Atacama the day after the end date of the tour).


Day 1: We will pick you up at your accommodation to go by a 4x4 vehicle to the border between Chile and Bolivia. After the border procedures we will begin the tour, starting with the Verde and Blanca lagoons that are located in the slopes of the Licancabur Volcano. After that, we will visit the Polques Hot Springs and the Sol de Mañana Geysers. Then, we will visit the Colorada Lagoon, nesting center of flamingos, before reaching our accommodation for dinner and rest.


Day 2: We will get up early to take the road that passes through the Bolivian altiplanic lagoons, before take the diversion to the Rocks' Valley. After visiting this place, we will pass by the Anaconda Canyon and we will take the route by Villa Alota that will take us to Villa Martín. From this place we will enter to the Uyuni Salt Flat, where we will be able to see the hexagonal formations of salt. After a little stop and the corresponding photos, we will visit the Incahuasi Island, with some time for going over, and the Salt Museum, before get settled to see the sunset in the salt flat. We will pass by Colchani and the Train Cemetery, before reaching our accommodation to rest.


Day 3: We will leave very early from Uyuni to begin our return to Chile in a direct transportation. We will pass by the border, to make the corresponding procedures, and we will arrive to San Pedro de Atacama to finish our tour.


*The visiting times of every one of the places in the two programs are reduced, because we will have less time than with the Uyuni Salt Flat (4 days), for example, to make the entire tour.


*The pickup service included does not operate to nor from accommodations located outside the urban area of San Pedro de Atacama, accommodations located in ayllus near San Pedro de Atacama (Quitor, Yaye, Checar, Sequitor, Solor, and Coyo), nor accommodations in the town of Toconao.


Altiplano winter


During the months from January to April, it takes place the weather phenomenon known as Altiplano winter, rain season in the central Andes. Due to this, it is possible that the described itinerary is modified as follows:

  • The Incahuasi Island is not visited because it is where there is the largest concentration of water during the rain season.


Force majeure changes


These are reference itineraries. The route to get to the salt flat, the places visited, the indicated order and the end time will always be subject to changes according weather conditions, demonstrations and accommodation availability. The confirmation of the itinerary is obtained in the briefing that the local supplier gives a day before the beginning of the activity, which does not mean that it will not be modified due to the happening of some of the situations already mentioned once the tour has already begun.


Cancellation policy

  • If you cancel with a 30-day notice before the beginning of the tour, we will make a full refund of what you paid for the booking.
  • If you cancel with less than a 30-day notice before the beginning of the tour, we will not make any refund of what you paid for the booking.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What days of the year can I make this excursion?

    The tour has confirmed departures all days of the week, the whole year.

  • What kind of vehicles are used in this activity?

    The activity is made on a minibus in Chile and on a 4x4 (Toyota Land Cruiser) in Bolivia in a group of 6 people each.

  • How many bags or suitcases can I bring?

    Each passenger may carry at most one bag or suitcase of 15 kilos which will go above the 4x4. Because it will be outside the vehicle, it is recommended to take a bag rather than a suitcase, as suitcases are fragile and could be exposed to potential damage. If you do choose to bring a suitcase, it must a maximum size of a cabin suitcase (55 x 40 x 20 cm).

  • Is it necessary to bring sleeping bag?

    Although the accommodations provide blankets, during the colder months (June, July, and August), it is necessary to bring a sleeping bag, which you can rent directly at the San Pedro de Atacama office a day before the tour starts, for a price of CLP$ 10.000. During the rest of the year, a sleeping bag is not needed.

  • How much money should I bring to the tour?

    We recommend bringing at least Bs. 500 per person for expenses not included in the tour, such as park entry fees, taxes, access to bathrooms, and water. On Toconao Street in San Pedro de Atacama (intersection with Caracoles), you can find some exchange houses where you can obtain bolivianos to take with you on the tour.

  • It is necessary to have tourist visa to enter Bolivia?

    Depending on the nationality of the passenger. Passengers from Chile and the rest of South America, and passengers from Western Europe do not need tourist visa, while passenger that come from United States, Central America, Asia, and Africa do need tourist visa that costs U$ 160. This visa is obtained directly in the border, where along with the payment of the visa in cash, you need to present your passport and other documents. In case you are a foreign person resident in Chile, besides your passport, you need your ID card with you so you can prove your residence with the police authorities in customs.

  • Do I need to be vaccinated against yellow fever for the tour?

    The vaccine against the yellow fever is demanded for all passengers who don't come back to San Pedro de Atacama and that hace to pay tourism visa in the border (passengers that present a travel document from a country of the group II).

  • How likely is suffer "puna" or altitude sickness during the tour?

    Most of the tour is made above 13,123 ft. of altitude so it is quite likely to suffer from altitude sickness specially the first day of the tour. To avoid or reduce the general feeling of discomfort, we recommend acclimate to the altitude one or two days above 8,202 ft., drink lots of water before and during the tour, eat light meals (avoid meat) the previous days, and do not drink alcohol the night before the beginning of the tour.
  • How is the weather along the tour?

    In summer (December to March), the temperature ranges from about 4 °C as a minimum, to 23 °C maximum. In winter (June to September) the temperature ranges from about -20 °C as a minimum, to 16 °C maximum.
  • What about the tour in case it rains?

    In case of rain, the order of the places visited, the possibility to see the sunrise and the accommodation places are subject to change, because some of the roads might be closed. Added to the previous information, water in the Uyuni Salt Flat is an important obstacle and the Incahuasi Island (located in the center of the salt flat) remains closed. This means the Incahuasi Island cannot be visited and we enter to the salt flat only for a certain distance, so the passengers are safe.
  • When is it possible to see the mirror effect on the Uyuni Salt Flat?

    The mirror effect occurs when there is water on the salt flat. This happens only in rainy periods (January and February) and after them (March).

  • What is it about the meals?

    The meals are varied, and includes tea, coffee, bread, cookies and fruit for breakfast, and meat, pasta, rice, soup and vegetables for lunch and dinner. In case you need a vegetarian menu, you must mark your preference during the booking process.

  • What type of sockets have the accommodations?

    The accommodations have sockets type C, compatible with the types E and F. Anyway, our recommendation is that you carry an adapter to avoid any inconvenience.

  • In what options is the tour available?

    We offer the tour in three options, which you can review here.

    • In shared service with basic accommodation.
    • In private service with accommodation in hostels.
    • In private service with accommodation in 3-star hotels.

    We do not offer the tour in shared service with accommodation in hostels or hotels.

  • Is it possible to do the tour with a driver in another language?

    Yes, but only in English. The English-speaking driver service has an additional cost of US$ 150 per group. You can select it as an optional service during the booking process.

  • How to book Private Uyuni Salt Flat Express (3 days)?

    To book Private Uyuni Salt Flat Express (3 days), you must choose the date and follow the steps on the website. You can add more tours to your cart before confirming your booking.
  • How far in advance should I book Private Uyuni Salt Flat Express (3 days)?

    We accept bookings up to 2 days in advance, subject to availability. Therefore, we recommend booking as early as possible to secure your spot.

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