2025 Uyuni Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in July)

#OverseasSeasonalPlaces In mid-February, I traveled to the Uyuni Salt Flats for two days and one night✈️ Originally, I had planned a three-day, two-night trip, including an extra day, but I had to give up because all the flights were booked. I decided to travel for two days and one night when I was able to make a reservation✨ (Many of the people I met during the tour told me that they had come to Uyuni by night bus because they couldn't get a flight reservation😅) We had to move from the plane we were on to another plane, and the plane departed an hour and a half later than scheduled. I felt that this kind of situation often occurs when traveling in South America💦 I recommend making a schedule with plenty of time! The Uyuni Salt Flats has a spectacular view just like in the picture, and although I participated in a tour conducted in Spanish, no one among the participants could speak Spanish...😹Even if you can't speak Spanish, I think you can get by with gestures!! There is almost no signal inside the Uyuni Salt Flats, so I think it's best to use a translator that can be used offline! This time, we were able to enjoy the mirror-like scenery under the best conditions, but it seems that on some days it may not be possible to see it well, so be careful about that⚠️ In recent years, it has been said that due to climate change, it may become impossible to see the mirror-like scenery😭 It's a spectacular view that you'll want to see at least once in your life, so why not take this opportunity to visit it? #SouthAmerica #uyuni #UyuniSaltFlat #Bolivia #bolivia

At the Uyuni Salt Flats, there are tours where you can take trick photos. Some tours do this and some don't, so you'll need to ask the tour guide. The driver will bring some items, and you can also bring your own items to take photos. It's fun to think about the trick photos you want to take and go! With an iPhone, the focus tends to be on one side, which is a bit disappointing. #Uyuni #Bolivia #UyuniSaltFlats #TrickPhotos

It is within walking distance from the city of Uyuni. Train graveyard. Trains once transported minerals mined near the salt flats. After the defeat in the war with Chile, the trains were abandoned and dumped, but now they have been converted into children's play equipment and are once again entertaining people. You can go there on a tour, but there are a lot of people. If you go on your own at a different time, there are hardly any people there. There were only me and about one other group there. #Uyuni #Bolivia #Train graveyard

The Uyuni Salt Flats, which were like a painting A must-see course for Bolivia travel A Bolivian visa is required Yellow fever vaccination is required There are four tour courses Morning, afternoon, night It seems like there are usually two programs grouped by time slot The guide took all the pictures for you

How to get there: Go to Bolivia and apply for a local sunset tour Attraction: Uyuni Salt Flats Hotel: Uyuni Salt Hotel Recommended food & restaurants: Local South American food Shopping information: Llama dolls A must-see if you go to South America If you book a tour in advance, you can have an unforgettable experience #Bolivia #UyuniDesert #SunsetTour

The salt lake in Bolivia is the best place to capture the reflection of Milky Way. If you want to get a perfect reflection, you need to wait for a moment with no wind and shoot at a low-level angle.

#awesomepic 🦸‍♂️The legendary mirror of the sky is the Uyuni salt marsh, which is located near the small town of Uyuni in southwestern Bolivia. It is the largest salt marsh in the world. The Uyuni salt marsh in Bolivia is the largest salt marsh in the world. The scenery and peaceful surroundings make it a dream place for many travel enthusiasts. Tea card, praised by the donkey friends as the sky of China, compared to Bolivia, the beauty here is more intoxicating green. It's still a quiet place that is rarely touched. As quiet as a virgin, stands quietly on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau like a city in the sky. Entering the tea card, your heart will be much quieter. #awesomepic

What if there was a place where you could see the ever-changing colors of nature all in one place?! Upon arriving at Bolivia's 'Salt Desert of Uyuni', also known as the mirror of the Earth, the exclamation that came out the first time was "This is heaven~!" If you want to see heaven while you're alive, you must go there! You can't throw away a single photo you took in heaven! I already miss that place that I couldn't capture in photos.

It is said that Bolivia is a South American Tibet. Indeed, snow-capped mountains, lakes, plateaus, deserts and blue skies are very similar to Ali in Tibet. They are my favorite country in South America, but the vast deserts, magical animals, and primitive Africa. The chartered car went from the Atacama in Chile to the third day before reaching the famous pink lake. The leisurely alpacas in the sun are pacing, and the fiery flamingos in the lake are flying, so harmonious and beautiful. Suddenly, this is the embodiment of true nature. It is recommended that you must charter the backpack to the ultimate route!

When telling my friends I’m going to Bolivia, they were but there’s nothing there.. I can prove you wrong with these amazing pictures and that’s only one location: - train graveyard/cemetery: these are all abandoned as they stopped using coal. They use some of the parts to make some funky statues. - the salt brick shows the layers of years of rain and heat and how they’re all piled up from pressure… nature man - yes that’s all salt and now snow, we had a session of silly pictures and was super funny - island of cactus: you can’t go in it if it’s the rainy season as it’ll be flooded around it and can’t reach it. - the railway is active only once a week to transfer minerals across the border to Chile - so many lagoons and so many flamingos 🦩 such sassy creatures and they have 3 different species of flamingos. - the wild rabbits there eat from all that the tourists bring with them and are not scared. They’re super adorable but hungry. - volcanic activities create some hot springs and filled with natural salts. It’s amazing what nature can do Keep in mind, accommodations are simple but they try their best to make it comfortable. June is winter so it gets super cold at night (-5 or less). Bring water and snacks with you. The food is good but as it is far it might be a bit less than you’d usually eat in the city. Enjoy Uyuni.

[Hodaka Travel Agency | Hodaka Mountain Expedition] — Specialists in safe and fun Uyuni Salt Flats tours that cater to the Japanese travel style — A tour company based in Uyuni, Bolivia, South America, that offers plans that emphasize attractive photo spots and comfortable travel . ⸻ 📍[Tour base] Office in downtown Uyuni. Meeting times are generally relatively relaxed, such as 10:30am. ⏰[Main tours and times] • One-day tour (10:30am-8pm): Includes the train graveyard, salt hotel, Incahuasi Island, mirror-like sunsets, etc.  • Sunset & starry sky tour (4:30pm-10pm): Enjoy everything from the sunset to the starry sky  • Starry sky & sunrise tour (3am-7:30am): Aim for the stars in the middle of the night and the reflections in the sky in the early morning  ⸻ ✨Recommended points • Caters to Japanese tastes: Support is available for explanations in Japanese, and the guides are accustomed to Japanese tourists • Well-versed in photo spots: Guides you through the train graveyard, trick art, and mirror-like views in a "eye-catching" composition  • Fully equipped: Landcruiser transportation and rental boots included, so you can feel safe and secure  ⸻ 🎒 Tips • Make reservations early: Mirror season fills up quickly • Dress in layers: There is a big difference in temperature between day and night, so be sure to layer up and protect yourself from the cold! • It's a good idea to have multiple cameras: Some devices, such as iPhones, are better for trick photography and others for mirrors.   • Check the weather the day before: If you're aiming for mirrors during the rainy season, rain the day before is also important.  ⸻ #HodakaTour #SaltFloorUyuni #TourforJapanesePeople #Mirrors #AbsolutelyFreeTrip

[Hotaru Uyuni｜Take a break in Uyuni and miss the taste of Japan here] — A hidden restaurant where you can enjoy the taste of Japanese home cooking during your trip to Shiobara — 📍[Location and business hours] A Japanese food and Asian bar located right at the intersection of Calle Sucre and Av. Ferroviaria. Monday to Thursday 7:00-22:00, Friday 16:00-22:00, Saturday 7:00-22:00, closed on Sundays  ⸻ ✨Recommended points • There are many menus that will make you miss the taste of Japanese home cooking, such as beef and pork set meals with miso soup, gyoza, ramen, and rice bowls. • There is a sense of security that you can enjoy nostalgic flavors such as miso soup and kimchi fried rice in the local area. • The owner and staff are friendly, and the free tea service is a nice point  • The interior of the store has an Asian taste. It has a grunge-like atmosphere with music playing, but it's the perfect place to relax after a long day of travel. ⸻ 🎒 Tips • The price is reasonable at around 45 BOB. The lunch set is a great deal.  • It's convenient for use between tours or early in the morning/late at night! The Japanese food menu may change depending on the day, so be sure to check if you're staying for multiple nights. • The restaurant is small and tends to get crowded, so if you want to eat in a relaxed atmosphere, it's recommended to go during off-peak hours. ⸻ #HotaruUyuni #Bolivia #UyuniSaltFlat #AbsolutelyFreeTrip

[Uyuni City | Llama Meat Barbecue Experience at LAPACEÑA Churrasqueria] — The smell of the grill you encounter in Uyuni. A llama meat barbecue with a local feel — LAPACEÑA is one of the "churrasquerias (butcher shops)" lined up around the train terminal in Uyuni. They grill llama meat in front of the store, and the fragrant smell is attractive😊  It is popular with locals, and it is a rare shop where you can try llama meat while also having chicken and salad bars ⸻ 📍[Location/Business hours] G5QG+HW5, near Uyuni Station. It is open for a long time, from 4:00 am to 11:00 pm, so you can use it from early morning to night  ⸻ ✨Recommended points • The smell of llama meat grilled on an outdoor grill will whet your appetite • Llama meat is lean and light. It's tasty and healthy. • It comes with a salad bar, so it's well-balanced and you can enjoy a local and exotic feel at the same time. ⸻ 🎒 Tips • It's perfect for breakfast after an early morning train graveyard tour! • Llama meat has a light taste, so it's safe to share with other meats among multiple people. • It's outdoors, so don't forget to wear a hat and keep warm! It gets cold in the mornings and evenings. • It's also recommended to try Paceña beer to accompany your meal.  #AbsolutelyFreeTrip #SaltFloorUyuni #Bolivia

[Uyuni Train Cemetery] — A ruined art space where time has stopped, with rusty steam locomotives lined up — The "Train Cemetery" on the outskirts of Uyuni is a place where trains used during the heyday of mining and railways from the late 19th century to the early 20th century were abandoned, and is now said to be the largest abandoned railway site in Bolivia. ⸻ 📍[Location] About 3km southwest of the city of Uyuni. This is the first stop on many Uyuni Salt Flats tours. 🕰️[When to visit] In the morning, especially when the morning sun is shining, the rust colors and shadows are beautiful and make for great photos. You can also enjoy the atmospheric light of the sunset in the evening. ⸻ ✨Recommended points • Rusty steam locomotives line the vast plateau, making it seem as if you have wandered into the world of ruins art • You can walk inside the carriages and even climb up to take photos, a thrilling and free-style experience • It is on the way to the salt flats, making it the perfect atmospheric starting point for the tour. ⸻ 🎒Tips – The light is beautiful in the morning or evening, so be sure to aim for those times – There are few fences or signs on the premises, so walk carefully at your own risk: beware of rust and cliffs – Some abandoned trains are covered in graffiti and weathered, so walk with respect – Most tours take about 30 minutes to an hour. Be sure to plan your time accordingly ⸻ #Uyuni #TrainGraveyard #SaltFloorUyuni #Bolivia #AbsolutelyFreeTrip

#AbsolutelyFreeTrip Uyuni Salt Flats tour by Hodaka Mountain, a local travel agency that is extremely popular among Japanese people [Full day + Sunset] tour Time: 10:30-20:00 Train Cemetery (sightseeing) → Colchani Village (souvenirs) → Playa Blanca (lunch) → Uyuni Salt Flats One-day tour that includes sunset and returns Price: 250 Bolivianos or 35 USD Shared tour for up to 6 people Lunch and rain boots are included in the price

Local travel agency "Hodaka Mountain," popular among Japanese tourists, offers the Uyuni Salt Flats tour. [Starlight & Sunrise] Time: 3:00 AM - 7:30 AM Price: 200 Bolivianos or 25 USD A shared tour for up to 7 people. Rental of rain boots is included in the price. This late-night tour is undeniably cold. Even during the rainy season (summer), it can be unbearably chilly without proper winter clothing. Make sure to dress warmly.

#AbsolutelyFreeTravel The train that connects Villazon, a town on the border with Argentina in the south of Bolivia, to Oruro still runs, though not often. There is one train a week from Uyuni, both up and down. Both depart late at night. The night bus from La Paz to Uyuni is notorious for frequent thefts, so I used the train as an alternative.

A popular tour offered by the local travel agency "Hodaka Mountain," favored by Japanese travelers. [Starlight] Time: 11:00 PM - 3:00 AM Price: 200 Bolivianos or 25 USD (April 2025) A shared tour for up to 7 people. Free rental of rain boots. This tour allows you to fully enjoy stargazing. The travel time to the site is about 1 hour one way, making the round trip 2 hours, leaving approximately 2 hours for stargazing. Nights can be chilly, so warm clothing is recommended.

A popular tour offered by the Japanese-favored travel agency "Hodaka Mountain" in Uyuni. Time: 16:30-22:00 Price: 200 Bolivianos or 25 USD Shared tour for up to 7 people Free rental of rain boots The journey from Uyuni city to the entrance of the salt flats takes 30 minutes, followed by another 30 minutes to find the perfect spot, making it a total of 1 hour one way. This tour is highly popular as it allows you to enjoy the Uyuni Salt Flats while the sun is still up, witness the sunset, and even stargaze under the night sky.

Playa Blanca is a salt hotel located in the Uyuni Salt Flats. Rather than being a hotel, it is now used as a museum and a rest area for tours. Outside the hotel, there is a photo spot with flags from all over the world and a monument to the Dakar Race. You can still stay there. #AbsolutelyFreeTravel

Located about 3 kilometers from the town of Uyuni, a 40-minute walk away, the Train Cemetery is a unique attraction. While it is often included in tours to the Uyuni Salt Flats, this means the area can be crowded with tourists in the morning. The best time to visit is in the afternoon. With fewer people around, you can take stunning, photogenic pictures here. In fact, portraits taken at this location are particularly striking. The site is much larger than you might expect, and if you’re serious about exploring, you can easily spend up to three hours having fun here! If walking isn’t your preference, you can also charter a taxi to reach the cemetery. One thing to watch out for is stray dogs. Occasionally, stray dogs may be present, so be cautious when visiting.

#AbsolutelyFreeTrip A small town that serves as a base for going to the Uyuni Salt Flats, some travelers may even call it a village. The city of Uyuni is that small. There are many accommodations and travel agencies in the city. You won't have any trouble finding a place to stay or going on a tour to the Uyuni Salt Flats. It's a small but fun town, with a variety of options, from tourist restaurants to local eateries, if you look around. A feria (street market) is held every Thursday and Sunday.

The day I truly thought, "I'm glad I came all the way here." It was the dry season so I wasn't expecting any reflections, but thanks to the rain a few days before, it was mirror-like 🌈 Sunrise, blue sky, sunset, starry sky... I don't know how many times I said "wow" in one day. I travel with all sorts of feelings in my mind, but when I saw this view, I felt like it was all worth it. #SaltFlatUyuni #SouthAmericaTrip #TripMoments #AmazingViewsOfBolivia #ViewsIWantToLookAtForever

The Mirror of the Sky and Crossing the Andes. 🚆 Expreso del Sur (Bolivian National Railways) to Uyuni To travel from La Paz, Bolivia to the Uyuni Salt Flats by train, you first need to take a bus to Oruro, where the train station is located. From there, you board the "Expreso del Sur." This train operates a few times a week and is a comfortable and cost-effective local transportation option. As you can see from the photos, the exterior has a classic look, but the interior is relatively clean, and they even provide a welcome pack with snacks. 🚉 The atmosphere at the station and inside the train is full of local charm, offering a relaxed pace you won't experience on other trips. Through the train windows, you can enjoy the majestic Andes scenery and even spot flocks of flamingos, making you feel like you're in a documentary. ⸻ 🧂 Uyuni Salt Flats: The World's Largest Mirror The highlight of the Uyuni Salt Flats is undoubtedly the "mirror-like scenery." During the rainy season (January to March), the water creates a perfect reflective surface. In Alvin's photos, the blue sky, starry night, and sunsets are all mirrored on the lake, creating a landscape that looks almost like CGI. •🚙 Tours are conducted in Land Cruisers, giving you the surreal feeling of driving on water. •🌌 Night tours offer a breathtaking view of the Milky Way. The stars reflect on the salt flats, creating a mystical experience where you can't tell which side is the sky. •📸 Guides also help with trick photography, capturing fun shots like being chased by dinosaurs or miniature-style photos. ⸻ 🎒 Summary: Key Points of the Experience • Train Travel: Less bumpy than buses and highly recommended if you want to enjoy the scenery. • Uyuni Salt Flats: The landscape changes throughout the day—daytime, sunset, and nighttime all offer unique views. Choose a tour that covers multiple time slots for the best experience. • Don't forget your camera! Bring a DSLR or a smartphone with a wide-angle lens. Waterproof shoes can be rented, so you don't have to worry about wet areas. ⸻ 💡 Bonus Tips: • Train tickets can be purchased through FCA (Empresa Ferroviaria Andina)'s official website or via travel agencies. • Internet connectivity in Uyuni is weak, so download offline maps and translation apps in advance for peace of mind.

The world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, is often referred to as "the place closest to the sky on Earth." During this trip, I was fortunate to visit at the perfect time, experiencing the best of both the dry and rainy seasons, and witnessing breathtaking views that felt like a miracle. 🚙【Transportation】An Extraordinary Journey in a Land Cruiser The tour, led by a reliable local guide, takes you deep into the salt flats aboard a Toyota Land Cruiser. Driving across the water-covered surface feels like gliding over water, with the vehicle's reflection creating scenes straight out of a movie. The driver was incredibly helpful, offering tips for trick photography and composition, making the photo sessions immensely enjoyable! 📸【Highlight】Don't Miss the Trick Photos! The driver brought along dinosaur figurines and toys, enabling us to take iconic photos using forced perspective, such as "humans being attacked by giant monsters." Even the process of taking these photos was picturesque. 🌅【Mirror Effect】Divine Beauty at Sunrise and Sunset The "mirror effect," where the sky reflects on the lake's surface, is indescribably beautiful. Especially during sunrise and sunset, the scene becomes so surreal that the boundary between sky and earth disappears, enveloping you in a timeless silence. 🌌【Night Tour】Stargazing and the Milky Way I also joined the night tour to experience the "starry sky reflection," where stars are mirrored on the lake's surface. The crystal-clear sky reveals the Milky Way and shooting stars, making it a dream come true for photography enthusiasts. ⸻ 🔧Key Points 📍Location: Uyuni, Bolivia 🚗 Transportation: Land Cruiser (local tour companies like Brisa Tours) 💡 Best Season: Rainy season (January–March) is ideal for the mirror effect. I visited in April and was lucky to find some remaining water ✌️ 📸 Essentials: Waterproof boots, tripod, wide-angle lens, warm clothing (tour companies often provide saltwater-resistant boots) ⭐️ Experiences: Mirror effect, stargazing, trick photography, scenic drives

I visited in March, which is the latter part of the rainy season. Since I was traveling around Latin America, I took a long-distance bus from Chile's Atacama Desert to Uyuni. The early morning walk to the bus stop was pitch dark due to the lack of streetlights, but Atacama is quite safe, and wandering alone didn’t seem to be a problem. I’m sorry, I forgot the bus fare, but it was incredibly cheap. Bus fares are generally very affordable throughout Latin America. The scenery from the bus during the journey was breathtaking. The bus made one stop at a cheap and delicious eatery. Uyuni town was exactly as I imagined—a well-prepared tourist hub. Even arriving without a plan wasn’t an issue at all. I joined a 3-night, 4-day tour. I highly recommend this over tours that only cover the Uyuni Salt Flats. The landscapes are truly stunning and give you that "this is South America" feeling. Laguna Negra was absolutely beautiful. Most tour companies follow similar routes. It seems they contact contracted drivers once a reservation is made. You can choose a tour company based on the impression you get from the drivers who approach you in town. There are tour companies popular among Japanese and Asian guests. If you want to take fun and creative photos with other participants, these tours are recommended. I heard from people who joined these tours that they take lots of group photos together. Uyuni is essentially a town for people joining small tours. Once you arrive, withdraw local currency from an ATM, stock up on snacks at a mini-mart, and definitely join an overnight tour. ☺︎

#Overseas travel Overseas travel ⭐️Plaza de las Banderas Uyuni⭐️ in the Uyuni Salt Flats of Bolivia is a small square with flags of various countries. Nearby is the Salt Hotel, where you can travel around the Uyuni Salt Flats, take pictures, take a break, and eat the food you brought. You can also use the restrooms here, but you must make a reservation in advance to use it for regular tourists who are not staying at the hotel. 🎯Colchani,, Uyuni, Bolivia #Plaza #lasBanderas #Uyuni #Uyuni #UyuniDesert

#Overseas travel Overseas travel Bolivia's representative tourist destination, ⭐️Uyuni⭐️, has an area of ​​about 12,000km and is located at an altitude of 3,653m. It has the world's largest salt desert, which is also called the Uyuni Salt Lake. In the past, local merchants made a living by cutting salt and exchanging it for daily necessities, but now they make a living through the tourism industry. There is a market, a church, large and small marts, and restaurants in the city. Since there are many travel agencies that offer Uyuni Salt Flat tours, I recommend finding the type of tour product you want and traveling. 🎯Uyuni, Bolivia #Uyuni #Uyuni #Bolivia #BoliviaTravel #UyuniTravel

Bolivia's ⭐️Atardecer Salar de Uyuni⭐️ is a salt flat located not far from areas with many hotels, making it an ideal spot to catch the morning sunrise in Uyuni. Typically, tours to view the sunrise or sunset are conducted in this area close to the hotels. The vast, seemingly endless salt flats offer breathtaking sunrise and sunset tours, which can be booked through hotels or nearby tour programs. Even those who aren't skilled at photography can capture stunning pictures with just a simple click of the shutter here. 🎯J277+JP6, Uyuni, Bolivia