Salar de Uyuni
bears a peculiar name fitting to its interesting scenery.
A tour of the town of Uyuni and the Uyuni Salt flats,
6,000 square miles of blinding and dramatic white salt
desert, which are just outside town, will impress upon
you the unique and diverse of terrain of Bolivia. Many
visitors to Bolivia overlook
this unusual destination for other, better known sites
such as Sucre or Potosi.
The stunning geological formations, geothermal springs
and brine lakes, and a brilliantly white salt desert create
an alien landscape. Aside from enjoying being the hub
of activity from adventurous visitors on their own Bolivia
tours, this place is a hub for salt production. It
is thought there are reserves of 10 billions tons of the
white salt.
A drive through Uyuni Salt flats is visually captivating.
The deep blue sky of the South American sky contrasts
vividly against the pristine white salt sands. Tours
in Bolivia are punctuated by sunsets and sunrises
that are especially dramatic - white sands reflect the
rainbow of colors that paint the South American dusk.
In the middle of this salt sea lies a waterless oasis.
La Isla del Pescado, or the Island of Fish, is named for
the shape of a fish it appears to have as you approach.
It is the only sign of life for miles.
The giant cactuses, otherworldly as they are, jolt you
out of your illusion to remind you that you are actually
in a desert on a Bolivia tour. But this island is in reality
a desert sanctuary: besides the cactus, the vizcachas
live here as well, a long tailed species of rodent and
distant cousin of the chinchilla.
Although a visit here would generally be considered off
the beaten path, no tours in Bolivia would be complete
without a visit to Salar De Uyuni. Another impressive
monument to the list of features that are unique to Bolivia,
this place bears the distinction of having the largest
salt plain in the world. Traditional methods with which
the salt is harvested will enrich your trip with a taste
for what everyday life is like for the people that live
here.
Salar de Coipasa is another crystalline field, a smaller
35 miles in diameter. If you do visit here, keep in mind
this region is very remote and picture taking of the people
that live here is discouraged.
The countries of South America all present the diversity
of geography in this magnificent continent, home of the
Amazon and the greatness of the Andes. Bolivia, at the
heart of the South American continent, is a fine representative
of the beauty of its natural wonders. All the tours in
Bolivia should include a stop at the Salar De Uyuni Salt
Flats.
