Uyuni Salt Flats: 2-day tour from La Paz with flight

Summary

Salt fields, volcanoes & starlit nights on Bolivia’s Uyuni plains

You’ll fly from La Paz to Uyuni for two days exploring Bolivia’s surreal salt flats with a local guide—walking among ancient trains, sharing lunch under open sky by Tunupa Volcano, meeting artisans in Colchani, and sleeping in a hotel built from salt itself. Stargazing on the Salar is something you’ll remember long after you leave.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed stepping out at Uyuni was the light — it’s not like anywhere else. Everything felt sharper, almost too bright, and the air had that dry, salty tang you get near the sea but colder somehow. Our guide, Carla, met us right off the plane with a grin and a thermos of coca tea (which I spilled on my sleeve almost immediately). She told us stories about the old trains rusting outside town as we bumped along to the train cemetery — honestly, I didn’t expect to find so much history in those abandoned wagons. There was this weird silence between the metal skeletons except for wind rattling through broken windows.

We stopped in Colchani where salt dust coated everything — even my shoelaces turned white after ten minutes. The artisans showed us how they shape little salt llamas by hand; one guy let me try and mine looked more like a potato than an animal. Lunch was set up right in the middle of the Uyuni Salt Flats, tablecloth flapping in the wind with Tunupa Volcano watching over us. The food tasted simple but good — quinoa salad, llama steak — and there was this glass of champagne that felt almost surreal out there surrounded by endless white. Carla pointed out flamingos in the distance; they looked like pink smudges against all that salt.

Incahuasi Island was covered in giant cacti taller than any person I’ve met (Carla said some are over a thousand years old). Climbing up gave me this view I still think about — just sky and salt forever. That night we stayed in a hotel made entirely of salt blocks (yes, even the bed frame), which sounds gimmicky but actually felt cozy after a day outside. Stargazing on the flats was… well, I’m not sure words work here. It’s just you and every star you’ve ever forgotten to look for.

The next morning we drove toward Tunupa Volcano. Herds of llamas blocked our way sometimes — one stared at me like it knew something I didn’t. We saw Aymara mummies tucked away in caves (that part gave me chills), then shared lunch looking out over painted Andean hills while Carla explained how locals plant quinoa between rocks to keep it safe from wind. On our way back through Uyuni, she waved at nearly everyone we passed — small town energy is real here.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Flight and Salt Flats Exploration

• Transfer to El Alto Airport
• Flight to Uyuni
• Transfer to hotel and rest
• Visit Train Cemetery
• Explore Colchani town
• Visit Incahuasi Island and lunch
• Sunset and stargazing at salt desert
• Overnight in salt block hotel

Day 2 — Tunupa Volcano and Local Culture

• Visit Tunupa Volcano and lunch
• Visit bofedales, stone museum, quinoa plantations
• Return to Uyuni and overnight at boutique hotel

Day 3 — Return to La Paz

• Transfer to Uyuni airport
• Flight to La Paz
• Transfer to hotel in La Paz

Top questions

Is pickup included from my hotel in La Paz?

Yes, private pickup from your hotel in La Paz is included before your flight to Uyuni.

Do I need to arrange my own flights between La Paz and Uyuni?

No, round-trip flights between La Paz and Uyuni are included as part of this tour.

What kind of accommodation is provided during the tour?

You’ll stay one night in a 5-star hotel built with salt blocks on the Salar de Uyuni and another night at Boutique Hotel Atipax near Uyuni airport.

Are meals included during the trip?

Yes, breakfast, lunch (including a luxury lunch on the salt flats), and dinner are all included.

Is there an English-speaking guide?

Yes, your tour includes a certified professional English-speaking guide throughout.

Can vegetarians be accommodated?

Vegetarian options are available if requested at time of booking.

Is this tour suitable for travelers with limited mobility?

The transportation options are wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels.

Will we visit Incahuasi Island?

Yes, you’ll visit Incahuasi Island to see giant cacti and panoramic views over the salt flats.

What’s included

Your experience includes round-trip flights between La Paz and Uyuni, private hotel pickup and drop-off in both cities, two nights’ accommodation (one in a boutique hotel near Uyuni airport and one inside a unique salt-built hotel), all meals including a luxury lunch on the Salar de Uyuni with champagne, guided visits to Incahuasi Island and Tunupa Volcano with an English-speaking local expert, oxygen bottle support if needed, plus all transportation by private 4x4 Land Cruiser throughout your journey.