Uyuni Salt Flats: 3-Day Tour, Sunset & Hot Springs Soak

Summary

Three days across Uyuni’s wild salt flats, flamingo lagoons and volcanic pools

You’ll crunch across Uyuni’s endless white flats, climb rusted trains and cacti-covered islands, snap those classic funny photos with help from your local guide, and warm up in hot springs beneath a sky full of stars. Expect moments that stick with you long after—like flamingos wading through red lagoons or sunrise over bubbling geysers.

What’s the experience like?

I still remember stepping out of the van near Uyuni’s train cemetery — rusty engines scattered like old bones against a sky so sharp it almost hurt my eyes. The wind carried this dry, metallic tang and our guide, Javier, joked that if we listened hard enough we’d hear the ghosts of engineers from England or France. Maybe he was kidding. We clambered over the iron skeletons anyway, snapping photos and laughing at how small we looked next to those hulking wheels.

The first time I saw the salt flats for real — not just in photos — I just stood there for a minute. It’s so flat you lose your sense of distance; everything feels possible and weirdly peaceful. Javier showed us how to take those funny perspective shots (he had a tiny dinosaur toy for scale), but honestly I kept getting distracted by the way the light bounced off those hexagon patterns in the salt. Lunch was llama steak at Playa Blanca Salt Museum (tastes kind of like beef but chewier), with salt dust sticking to my fingers. That night at Tambo Loma Salt Hotel, I lay in bed feeling the walls — yes, actual salt blocks — cool and rough under my palm.

The next morning was colder than expected, breath fogging as we drove past volcanoes rimmed with snow. We stopped at a lagoon where three kinds of flamingos picked through red water — James, Andino, Chileno — all legs and pink feathers. I tried to say “flamenco” in Spanish and got it wrong; Javier grinned but didn’t correct me outright. Later we watched viscous clouds drift over stone trees shaped by wind into something Dali would’ve painted. The hostel that night was basic but warm enough after a long day outside.

On our last morning we reached the geysers just as sunrise hit — sulfur steam everywhere, bubbling mud making this soft plopping sound that reminded me of soup simmering at home. My hair smelled faintly of minerals for hours after soaking in the Polques hot springs (37°, perfect). Floating there with stars still visible overhead felt surreal; nobody really talked much then, just quiet smiles between strangers who’d shared too many early mornings together. If you’re thinking about a day trip Machu Picchu Cusco style adventure but want something stranger, Uyuni is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Train cemetery and salt flats tour

• Start tour from Salty Desert office
• Visit train cemetery near Uyuni
• See salt-processing factory and handicrafts
• Explore Uyuni Salt Flats with photo stops
• Visit Incahuasi Island and climb cactus
• Overnight at Tambo Loma Salt Hotel

Day 2 — Volcanoes and colorful lagoons visit

• Breakfast at accommodation
• Visit Chiguana Salt Flats and volcanoes
• Stop at Ollague Volcano viewpoint
• See flamingos at Hedionda Lagoon
• Visit Colorful Mountains desert area
• See Stone Tree rock formation
• Pay entrance fee for park
• Visit Red Colorada Lagoon and flamingos
• Overnight at Huayllajara Village hostel

Day 3 — Geysers, hot springs, and green lagoon

• Visit geysers basin and fumaroles
• Soak in Polques thermal pools
• See Salvador Dali desert rock formations
• Visit Green Lagoon and observe volcano
• Travel to San Pedro de Atacama or return to Uyuni

Top questions

How many people are in each car on the Uyuni Salt Flats tour?

Each car fits up to 6 people during the tour.

Is hotel pickup included for this 3-day Uyuni tour?

The tour starts from Salty Desert office in Uyuni; no hotel pickup is mentioned.

What kind of accommodation is provided on this tour?

The first night is at Tambo Loma Salt Hotel (private room), second night at Huayllajara Village hostel (private room, shared bathroom).

Are meals included during the Uyuni Salt Flats tour?

Lunch is provided at Playa Blanca Salt Museum; other meals are not specifically detailed.

Can I soak in hot springs during this trip?

Yes, there’s time to relax in thermal pools near Polques village on day three.

Will I see flamingos on this tour?

You’ll visit several lagoons where three species of flamingos can be seen: James, Andino, and Chileno.

Is this Uyuni tour suitable for all fitness levels?

The tour is suitable for most fitness levels but not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or heart conditions.

Does this trip include entry fees to parks or attractions?

You’ll need to pay 150 Bolivianos for park entrance on day two; other fees may apply locally.

What’s included

Your journey covers transport by comfortable vehicle (max six per car), two nights’ accommodation—first in a private room at a salt hotel with private bath, second in a basic hostel near hot springs—plus lunch at Playa Blanca Salt Museum and plenty of photo stops guided by locals who know every odd corner of these wild landscapes.