Salar de Uyuni 2-Day 4x4 Tour & Lodging with Lagoons

The Train Cemetery Marks Where This Salt Flat Journey Begins

You start at the Train Cemetery, then drive the salt flat to Incahuasi Island and its giant cacti, sleep at San Juan Lodge, and spend day two visiting Ollagüe Volcano, flamingo lagoons, the Valley of Rocks and a colonial church. Meals, lodging, all entry fees, oxygen and a guide are included. The 4x4 transport and fixed itinerary mean you don't coordinate anything yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Uyuni sites and salt flat exploration

• Visit Train Cemetery
• Explore Colchani salt handicrafts
• Tour Salar de Uyuni salt desert
• Walk on Incahuasi Island
• Relax at San Juan Lodge

Day 2: Volcano, lagoons, and cultural sites

• Breakfast at lodge
• Visit Ollagüe Volcano
• See Cañapa and Hedionda lagoons
• Explore Valley of Rocks
• Visit San Cristóbal colonial church

The experience

The rusted locomotives sit silent on the edge of Uyuni, their metal frames catching the high-altitude light in a way that stops you mid-step. That's where the two-day Salar de Uyuni tour starts, not with the salt flat itself, but with the history that shaped it. The Train Cemetery holds abandoned trains from the late 1800s and early 1900s, relics of the mining boom that once fed the region's economy. Your guide walks you through the site, explaining how these machines once carried silver and tin down from the mountains. It's a grounding moment before you head out into the vastness.

From there, the 4x4 takes you to Colchani, a small settlement right on the salt flat's edge where locals harvest salt and craft handicrafts by hand: picture frames, jewelry boxes, small animal figurines, all made from salt and decorated with Andean patterns. You'll see the artisans at work, and then the landscape opens up. The Salar de Uyuni spreads in front of you, flat and enormous, with mountains and volcanoes rising to 5,000 meters on the horizon. The optical illusions kick in during certain light. The salt seems to bend and shift. You stop at the old Hotel de Sal, the first salt hotel ever built, now a museum, and take the perspective photos everyone comes for: you standing tiny against an infinite white expanse. After that first day of driving and walking, you sleep at San Juan Lodge, a quiet place with views back out over the salt flat.

Day two starts at 8 a.m. with breakfast, then heads south toward Ollagüe Volcano, which sits on the Bolivia-Chile border at 5,868 meters. The drive takes you past the Cañapa and Hedionda lagoons, where flamingos gather in the shallows and snow-capped peaks ring the water. The rock formations in the Valley of Rocks come next, wind-carved shapes that look almost sculptural, and then the colonial church of San Cristóbal, built entirely from volcanic stone, its interior painted with religious scenes. By afternoon you're back in Uyuni. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you absorb the scale without rushing through it.

The tour includes all meals, both nights' lodging, entry fees to every site, oxygen bottles (important at this altitude), and a first aid kit. You travel in a 4x4 with a local guide who knows the region's history and geology. Groups stay small enough that the driver can stop when someone spots something worth photographing. If you're coming to Uyuni and don't want to arrange transport, accommodation and logistics separately, this handles all three and leaves you free to look at the landscape.

What’s included

• Hotel accommodation at San Juan Lodge for one night.
• all entry fees to the Train Cemetery, Salar de Uyuni, Incahuasi Island, Ollagüe Volcano, the lagoons, Valley of Rocks and the church of San Cristóbal.
• breakfast and dinner both days.
• meals and snacks during the tour.
• oxygen bottles.
• a first aid box.
• 4x4 transport throughout.
• and a local guide.

Options for this experience

2 options

Driver / Guide, conducted in Spanish09:30Stay at SAN JUAN hostel, lasting 2 days with 2 lunches, 1 dinner and 1 breakfast; 4WD; pickup is included

Driver / Guide who speaks two languagesGuide in English or Spanish · 09:30Stay at SAN JUAN hostel, lasting 2 days with 2 lunches, 1 dinner and 1 breakfast; 4WD; private guide in Spanish and English; pickup is included

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to9h before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 18 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Intiraymi Expediciones

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Salar de Uyuni sights (the salt flat, the cacti island, the volcano lagoons and the colonial church) without arranging your own transport, lodging and entry tickets. The fixed two-day itinerary and included meals mean you show up and the logistics are handled.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

What's the altitude of the Salar de Uyuni?

The salt flat sits around 3,656 meters above sea level. Surrounding volcanoes reach up to 5,000 meters, and Ollagüe Volcano on day two is 5,868 meters.

Is the tour suitable if I've never been to high altitude before?

The tour includes oxygen bottles and is marked suitable for all fitness levels. The itinerary is designed for the altitude. You start lower and move gradually higher, with rest time at the lodge between days.

What kind of accommodation is San Juan Lodge?

San Juan is a hostel located in a quiet area with views of the salt flat and surrounding mountains. It provides dinner and breakfast as part of the tour.

Can I take the perspective photos on both days?

The classic perspective photos happen on day one at the Salar de Uyuni itself. Day two focuses on the volcanoes, lagoons, rock formations and the church, though photography opportunities exist throughout.

What happens if I have altitude sickness?

The tour includes oxygen bottles and a first aid box. The guide is experienced with high-altitude travel. If you have cardiovascular concerns, consult your doctor before booking.

Do I need a 4x4 vehicle to see the Salar de Uyuni?

The salt flat is accessible only by 4x4 or similar high-clearance vehicle. This tour provides the transport as part of the package.