It was still pitch dark as ambient noises began to rise at the Salt hotel. Alarms were going off, and subtle scuffling noises became increasingly frequent as people stirred. It didn’t take long before everyone was up and the place buzzed with activity. We all had a good night’s rest, and the atmosphere was thick with excitement and eager anticipation. Today was the day, the grand finale, the pinnacle of the tour, the very reason we were all there. We were soon going to witness a wonder of nature, the world’s largest salt flat.
Under a starry, frosty sky, we packed the jeeps and set off. We traversed the salt lake, which grew increasingly flat and vast. Visibility was nearly nonexistent, but the headlights revealed a hint of the beauty to come. Soon, we arrived at the sunrise spot with ample time to spare. The timing was perfect, and just as we arrived, the horizon began to glow, although the sun had not yet fully risen. We still had plenty of time to prepare and eagerly awaited the sunrise. The bone-chilling cold couldn’t deter us. We stood firm, ready to embrace the relentless onslaught of frosty air. Slightly comforted by the fact that it could only get warmer from there.
Setting up our cameras like paparazzi awaiting a celebrity, we patiently waited for the sun to grace us with its presence. The horizon was so flat that the start of the sunrise appeared as a long, horizontal crack, letting in the beautiful golden hue of the morning sun. It was one of the most captivating displays of light I had ever witnessed during a sunrise. Not even the cold was enough to make me look away or seek refuge in the car.
We spent a considerable amount of time at that spot, capturing hundreds of pictures in various poses. It wasn’t until the sun had undeniably risen that we officially headed into the salt flats.
Initially, the salt was wet and rocky, but as we ventured further, it started drying up. After about an hour, it had completely dried out, resembling the classic image of a salt flat – A smooth, endlessly super white surface stretching out in every direction.
We stopped at what I can only describe as an island in the middle of an ocean. Unlike traditional tropical islands, this one was dotted with cacti instead of palm trees. In reality, the ‘island’ was merely a hill rising from the salt bed, and where there’s a hill, there’s a hike. We climbed to the top, which offered 360-degree views of the spectacularly white bed, extending as far as the eye could see.
At the foot of the hill, the tour crew prepared our lunch, and we were called down once it was ready. From the bottom, our entire horizon was filled with white as far as the eye could see. We’d experienced some incredible lunch spots during this trip, but this one was undeniably the most spectacular. Furthermore, as it was the last lunch stop of the tour, we were also treated to a special meal that even included desserts.
With our bellies full and spirits high, we ventured further into the middle of the salt flats, until our entire 360-degree view was nothing but the salt bed.
Here, we put on our influencer hats and indulged in the infamous Uyuni photoshoot session. For those unfamiliar, these photos involve playing with perspective and the vast open horizon to make objects appear bigger or smaller. Since everyone was already paired up with either family or a French-speaking friend, my only available teammate was a 67-year-old with little interest in photography or handstands. I lacked a willing model since everyone was preoccupied with their own pictures. When I eventually managed to pull someone away from their own shoot, they couldn’t operate my camera effectively. I ended up with a disappointing photoshoot. Unfortunately, this meant my Instagram influencer career boost was unlikely, and I had to rely on my day job a bit longer.
After the photoshoot, we had a brief stopover at a much more impressive salt hotel, this one situated in the heart of the Salar. Capturing the final sights of the beautiful landscape, we soon set off to see our last sight of the tour—a train graveyard.
Perhaps somewhat overstimulated by the immense beauty of the salt flats, we weren’t particularly impressed with the graveyard or the town of Uyuni. Eager for a warm accommodation with a hot shower, we swiftly moved on.
I hadn’t arranged accommodation yet, but I suspected I wouldn’t want to stay in the town of Uyuni and intended to explore my travel options once I arrived. Apart from Ian, no one else was staying in Uyuni, and I had no reason to either. I was heading to a mining town, Potosi, and discovered a few people in our group were going as well. We got dropped off at the bus stop, and as this was where the group split up, we also bid farewell to those going in different directions.
All in all, it was a truly enjoyable tour, and I would recommend it to anyone. The landscapes we witnessed were absolutely extraordinary. Despite my preference for trekking, cycling, or riding a motorbike, which offer more flexibility and autonomy than guided tours, these options demand a significant amount of effort, especially for a light traveller like me. Given the effort, this guided 4 day Uyuni tour becomes an absolute must-do!
