On the 4th day of our tour (check out here day 1, 2 and 3), we finally got to the most expected Salar de Uyuni. This is the biggest salt flat in the world with 10.582 km2 area. It is basically a completely white plane with few elevations, which extends at some points behind the horizon making it one of the most impressive and unique views in the world. In fact, for its dimension and for being so flat and with so few altitude variations (it is located 3.656 m above sea level) the salar is actually used to calibrate satellites!
In order to make the most of our visit to the Salar de Uyuni we had to wake up very early in the morning and leave our Hotel del Sal by 5 am to see the sunrise. We were headed to Isla del Pescado, which is the biggest rock formation inside the salar.
However, we stopped on our way to the Isla as the sun was about to rise. We were already pretty much into the salar area and although it was dark, we could see how white the salar was! As the sun rose the light started to illuminate this whole flat made of white matter. The only shadows that we could see were our owns and the car’s, which had long impossible shapes. It was indeed an impressive sight and a great beginning.
In order to make the most of our visit to the Salar de Uyuni we had to wake up very early in the morning and leave our Hotel del Sal by 5 am to see the sunrise. We were headed to Isla del Pescado, which is the biggest rock formation inside the salar.
However, we stopped on our way to the Isla as the sun was about to rise. We were already pretty much into the salar area and although it was dark, we could see how white the salar was! As the sun rose the light started to illuminate this whole flat made of white matter. The only shadows that we could see were our owns and the car’s, which had long impossible shapes. It was indeed an impressive sight and a great beginning.
As the sun continued to rise and fill the white void with light, we made our way to the Isla del Pescado, which means “island of the fish” for its resembleness to a form of a fish when viewed from great distance. This rock formation is actually mostly made by petrified coral which indicates that this area was once the bottom of the sea!
The Salar of Uyuni was formed after the geologic events that elevated the whole region, the same that formed the Andes. The water that contained several minerals including salt was then gradually drained and evaporated. Eventually all the water was gone and the salt was left behind.
The Isla del Pescado was a good viewpoint as it allowed us to observe the salar from a few meters high. But later we had an even higher perspective from a middle point of the Tunupa Volcano, which is 5.321m high. It was interesting to verify that even from there, there was still directions to look on where the horizon was the limit. Just like in the middle of an ocean, but in this case an ocean of white! On the volcano we visited some necropolis similar to the one in San Juan del Rosario. In this one, the remains were placed in a cave.
The Salar of Uyuni was formed after the geologic events that elevated the whole region, the same that formed the Andes. The water that contained several minerals including salt was then gradually drained and evaporated. Eventually all the water was gone and the salt was left behind.
The Isla del Pescado was a good viewpoint as it allowed us to observe the salar from a few meters high. But later we had an even higher perspective from a middle point of the Tunupa Volcano, which is 5.321m high. It was interesting to verify that even from there, there was still directions to look on where the horizon was the limit. Just like in the middle of an ocean, but in this case an ocean of white! On the volcano we visited some necropolis similar to the one in San Juan del Rosario. In this one, the remains were placed in a cave.
We said goodbye to our Swiss travel mates that were about to hike to the top of the Tunupa volcano and we headed once again to the middle of the salar. As the sun reached its peak the salar had become even whiter. It was time for the typical scale photo fun with the help of our guide Victor who proved to be an eximious photographer.
Our trip to the Salar and the Southwest Bolivia ended up with a last visit to the original or first Hotel de Sal, which serves now only as a touristic attraction, and to the monument made of salt in honor of the Rally Dakar. Throughout the region we could see references to the Dakar. It seems that Bolivians are glad and proud that one of the greatest off-road race is now passing through their lands! We have reached the town of Uyuni just in time to get on a bus to Potosi, minutes after checking the train cemetery. We were glad to make this decision as Uyuni proved to be a reckless town: hot and windy, ugly and empty.
From Potosi, the mining town of Bolivia we took a shared taxi to Sucre along with other 2 persons. Note to ourselves: never take a shared taxi for long distance courses again. The driver drove way too fast on a pretty zig-zag road making too many risky overruns. What's important is that we reached our destination safely. After four long days on the wilderness it felt good to be back to civilization, though the amazing Southwest Bolivia was already marked for life in our memories...