The Uyuni salt flat is a never-ending ocean of white of 130 by 90 kilometres, surrounded by Bolivia and Chile's Andes Mountains. The mountains seem to be floating in the air and distances become deceptive. The next island seems just a short drive away, but this may well be 50 kilometres. There are different forms of transportation to travel to this extraordinary landscape: walking, hitchhiking, driving, booking an organised tour or by using public transportation such as a passenger's bus.
Low Budget Transportation Options
From Uyuni regular buses ply to Colchani, where the entrance onto the Salar is situated. The cheapest way to travel to the Salar is to get off the bus in Colchani, and simply walk on the Salar for a couple of hours. One can visit the touristy corner of Colchani to buy some salt souvenirs or to talk to the men that are working the salt around the entrance of the Salar. They cut the salt with picks and shovels and pile it into small conical mounds.
Another option is to stay on the local bus which will traverse the Salar to the village of Llica on the west side. It gives a better feeling of being surrounded by only white, but there are no stops along the way to listen to the silence, to feel the fierce wind or the crushing of the crystals beneath one's feet. The town of Llica has basic lodgings and eateries and several buses ply daily between the two towns.
For the traveller who doesn't want to spend a dime on public transport (which is very cheap), there is the option of hitchhiking. The best chance to get from Uyuni to Colchani is trying to get a ride with a "campesino", salt worker, who is driving to work early in the morning (and returns late at night).
Explore the Salar de Uyuni by Private Vehicle
Whether it's by bicycle, motorcycle, car or any other type of vehicle, the salt flats are easily explored independently. In fact, it is an extraordinary experience to bushcamp on the Salar, to be entirely alone in this surrealistic world, where the twittering of a little bird sounds as if they sing through a microphone with the volume at full blast.
Having said that, the Salar is a desert and an overnight trip should be carefully planned in terms of water, fuel, navigation system and warm clothing.
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The town of Uyuni lives on tourism. The town is entirely focused on organised jeep tours to the Salar de Uyuni as well as to the even more remote, spectacular lakes deeper into the outback – called the Southwest Circuit of Lipez. Even though it is possible to book a tour in La Paz, this isn't a necessity – Uyuni's tour agencies are touting for business 24 hours a day. Excursions vary from one-day trips to the Salar to a multiple-days’ trip the Southwest Circuit.
Best Forms of Transportation to Travel to the Salar de Uyuni
Clearly there is no such thing as "the" best way. Fortunately, depending on the time one has, the budget and the desires for comfort there is a way for every visitor. Hike, bike, drive or rent a car with driver and enjoy this most extraordinary landscape of white.