Bolivia
3 Day Luxury Uyuni Salt Flats & Eduardo Avaroa Reserve
Tour Overview
This three day private expedition across the Bolivian Altiplano crosses some of the most striking, desolate terrain on Earth. Beginning in the town of Uyuni, you cross the immense salt flats before pushing further south into the remote Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. The landscape shifts rapidly from flat, blinding white salt to stark red deserts, culminating in geothermal fields and vividly colored mineral lagoons set beneath towering volcanoes.
We designed this itinerary for photographers, adventurous couples, and travelers seeking premium comfort in an otherwise rugged environment. Traveling through this high altitude desert requires significant logistical expertise. Altitudes range from 3,650 meters on the salt flats up to a demanding 5,000 meters at the Sol de Mañana geysers. This extreme elevation, combined with freezing early morning temperatures, gives the route a moderate to challenging physical difficulty rating despite mostly vehicular travel.
Booking with Montavia Travel guarantees superior pacing and strict safety standards. While standard tours group passengers into basic vehicles, our operations utilize privately chartered, fully equipped Toyota Land Cruisers or Lexus 4x4s carrying emergency oxygen cylinders and comprehensive first aid kits. At the end of long driving days, you bypass basic dorms to sleep in the region’s top tier accommodations, including renowned salt hotels like Palacio de Sal and the high altitude Tayka Desert lodge.
The dry season from May to October offers the clearest skies and most reliable access to the entire route, making it the best time to travel. For those specifically wanting to photograph the famous mirror effect on the salt, plan your trip between January and March during the rainy season, though heavy rains can occasionally limit vehicular access to Incahuasi Island.
- Watch Sunset Across the Salt Flats Experience the vast 12,000 square kilometer white expanse turning pink and purple at dusk, followed by an overnight stay in a premium hotel built entirely from thick salt blocks.
- Photograph Vivid Altiplano Lagoons Observe three distinct species of wild flamingos feeding in shallow, high-altitude lakes colored bright red and deep green by natural mineral deposits and specialized algae.
- Walk Among Active Volcanic Geysers Stand at 5,000 meters above sea level beside the boiling mud pots and steaming fumaroles of Sol de Mañana just as the early morning sun clears the horizon.
- Travel in Premium 4x4 Comfort Navigate rugged desert tracks and endless salt plains safely in a private, oxygen-equipped Toyota Land Cruiser guided by a seasoned local highland driver.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Cross the Great Uyuni Salt Flats
Your expedition begins at 10:00 AM when your private 4x4 collects you directly from your Uyuni hotel. You ride first to the edge of the flats at Colchani to observe local salt processing facilities before driving directly onto the 12,000 square kilometer white expanse. By 12:30 PM, you reach Incahuasi Island, an isolated outcrop covered in giant cacti. From this elevated position, you gain a 360-degree view of the hexagonal salt formations stretching to the horizon. We serve a prepared lunch directly on the salt around 1:30 PM. The afternoon drive includes stops at the Dakar Monument and the Plaza de Banderas, an international flag display installed on a solid salt platform. As the afternoon wanes, you wait for the late sunlight to cast long shadows and intense colors across the ground. Following sunset, a short drive brings you to your accommodation at 6:30 PM. You check into a premium property like Palacio de Sal or Luna Salada built entirely from salt blocks where dinner is served in the dining room at 7:30 PM.
Day 2 - Traverse High Desert Lagoons and Volcanic Peaks
Depart your salt hotel at 8:00 AM, heading toward the 19th century train graveyard on the outskirts of Uyuni, where rusted steam locomotives sit abandoned in the sand. Continuing south, you stop briefly at the pre Columbian necropolis in San Juan del Rosario. Around 1:00 PM, you stop for lunch near the shores of the Cañapa, Hedionda, or Chiarkota lagoons. These shallow, high-altitude lakes attract flocks of Andean, Chilean, and James's flamingos. The mineral content in the water primarily borax and sulphur creates stark color contrasts against the surrounding snow-capped volcanic peaks. Leaving the lakes behind at 3:30 PM, your driver navigates off road tracks through vast, empty deserts where the sand shifts through shades of deep red and pale beige. You arrive at the Tayka Desert Hotel by 5:00 PM. Situated at an elevation of 4,523 meters, this remote lodge provides heating and private bathrooms. Dinner is served at 7:00 PM as temperatures drop rapidly outside.
Day 3 - Explore Geysers, Thermal Pools, and Laguna Colorada
You wake well before dawn for a 5:00 AM departure, pushing deeper into the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. Passing the wind-carved Stone Tree, you arrive at the Sol de Mañana geyser field at 6:30 AM just as the sun rises. Standing at 5,000 meters above sea level, you walk among boiling mud pots and pressurized steam vents in freezing temperatures. By 8:30 AM, you reach the Polques Hot Springs. Here, you change into a swimsuit and soak in the 29°C mineral water while looking out over the frozen Andean plateau. Following a warm breakfast nearby, you drive past the jagged rock formations of the Valle de las Damas to reach Laguna Verde at 11:30 AM. Copper sediments turn this lake bright green, directly mirroring the conical shape of the Licancabur volcano behind it. At 1:00 PM, you stop for lunch at Laguna Colorada, the region's primary flamingo nesting site, famous for its vivid red waters caused by specialized algae. The long afternoon drive north includes a short break at the relocated mining town of San Cristobal before dropping you off in Uyuni by 5:30 PM.
- Professional English / Spanish speaking guides specialized in Andean history.
- Professional English / Spanish speaking guides specialized in Andean history.
- Domestic flights between Lima and Cusco.
- Gratuities for guides and drivers.
- Travel and medical insurance.
- Entrance permits for Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain hikes.
- Dinner on any night, and lunch in Aguas Calientes on Day 3
- Personal hiking gear, trekking poles, or horse rentals at Humantay and Rainbow Mountain.
The Cusco city tour officially begins at 1:00 PM. We recommend scheduling your arriving flight for the early morning so you have several hours to rest at your hotel before the tour starts.
Cusco is located at 11,152 feet (3,399 meters), meaning mild altitude symptoms like shortness of breath or lightheadedness are common on the first day. This itinerary mitigates the risk by keeping Day 1 relaxed and dropping to lower elevations in the Sacred Valley (9,400 feet) and Machu Picchu (7,970 feet) on days two and three.
We require booking at least 60 to 90 days in advance. The Ministry of Culture strictly limits daily visitor numbers for Machu Picchu, and prime tickets—specifically for Circuit 2—frequently sell out two to three months ahead of time.
Montavia Travel always attempts to secure Circuit 2, as it provides the most comprehensive walking route through the upper terraces and the main urban sector. If Circuit 2 is sold out, we will secure the best official alternative, typically Circuit 1 or Circuit 3, depending on exact availability.
Your hotel provides breakfast on Day 2 and Day 3. We also include a buffet lunch in Urubamba and dinner in Ollantaytambo on Day 2. All other meals, including lunch on Day 3 in Aguas Calientes, are purchased independently.
Yes, you can add the Huayna Picchu hike to Day 3. However, permits are extremely limited and must be requested at the time of booking. Adding this hike will change your required entry circuit and slightly alter your morning schedule.
This tour includes round-trip tickets on the Expedition train operated by PeruRail. This train features comfortable forward-facing seats and large windows for viewing the passing river and mountains. Upgrades to the Vistadome train are available upon request.
Yes. You are legally required to present your original physical passport—the exact same one used to book your permit—at the main checkpoint. Digital copies or driver's licenses will not be accepted by government officials.
You will leave your primary luggage in the secure storage room of your Cusco hotel on the morning of Day 2. Train regulations prohibit large suitcases, so you will only bring a small overnight backpack (up to 8 kg / 17 lbs) to Aguas Calientes.
You can chat with us and store your bags without any fees.
From
$ 390 US
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