Uyuni · 3 Days
Salar de Uyuni and colored lagoons in 3 days
Three days are enough to cross the whole country of colors: the white of the Salar de Uyuni, the red of Laguna Colorada and the green of Laguna Verde, in the Sud Lípez.
Updated October 20, 2026
- Duration3 days / 2 nights
- DifficultyModerate: cold and altitude
- PriceFrom USD 249 per person
- GroupShared or private, 5 to 6 people
- LanguagesSpanish; English with surcharge
Starts and ends in downtown Uyuni: day 1 at 10:30 a.m., day 2 at 7:30 a.m.
At a glance
On day 1 you start at 10:30 a.m. at the Train Cemetery and sleep in a refuge in Uyuni, in a shared room. You spend the second night in a high-altitude refuge, at about 4,278 m, next to Laguna Colorada, also in a shared room. On day 3 you wake up at the Sol de Mañana geysers and head back to Uyuni. It includes a 4x4 with driver-guide, 2 nights and full board.
Highlights
- Salar de Chiguana and Ollagüe volcanoThe day 2 road toward the Cañapa, Hedionda, Honda and Ramaditas lagoons, where flamingos are often seen.
- Árbol de Piedra and Laguna ColoradaA rock sculpted by the wind in the Siloli Desert, and a lagoon stained red by sediments and microorganisms.
- Sol de MañanaGeysers and fumaroles at sunrise, with a stop at natural hot springs.
- Laguna Verde and Laguna BlancaAt the foot of the Licancabur volcano, beyond the Salvador Dalí Desert.
What does the itinerary look like?
Day 1
Colchani and the Salar de Uyuni
Everything starts at 10:30 a.m. at the Train Cemetery, among rusted 19th-century locomotives, and continues in Colchani, where salt is worked the way it always has been.
The Salt Eyes open up the white desert. Then come Isla Incahuasi (depending on the season), lunch and sunset. If there is water on the salt flat, the sky reflects on the ground. A surprise aperitif closes the day.
Dinner and a night in a refuge in Uyuni, at 3,656 m, in a shared room.
Day 2
Lagoons of color
Departure at 7:30 a.m. toward the Salar de Chiguana, with the Ollagüe volcano in the background, and on to the Cañapa, Hedionda, Honda and Ramaditas lagoons, where flamingos are often seen.
The Siloli Desert and the Árbol de Piedra come before the arrival at Laguna Colorada, stained red by sediments and by the microorganisms that feed the James’s flamingo.
The night is spent in a high-altitude refuge, at about 4,278 m, in a shared room, with intense cold and a sky free of artificial light. Full board included.
Day 3
Geysers at sunrise
The earth is still alive beneath the altiplano: at sunrise, the geysers and fumaroles of Sol de Mañana (about 4,850 m) prove it, before a stop at natural hot springs.
The Salvador Dalí Desert gives way to Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, at the foot of the Licancabur volcano.
The return goes through the Valle de Rocas and past Laguna Negra before reaching Uyuni. Breakfast and lunch included. Arrival between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m.
Route map
The 3-day route. Tap the points to see each stop. The line is indicative: tracks can change with the weather and road conditions. View the map full screen. (opens in a new tab)
The map comes from umap.hotosm.org (OpenStreetMap data) and, once loaded, your browser connects to that third-party service.
What is included in this tour?
Included
- 4x4 with driver-guide
- Fuel planned for the route. If there is a shortage, we will tell you about the alternative plan before departure
- 2 nights in a refuge, in shared rooms: one in Uyuni and one at altitude, next to Laguna Colorada
- Lunch and dinner on day 1, full board on day 2, breakfast and lunch on day 3
Not included
- Entrance fee to the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve: 30 Bs for nationals, 150 Bs for foreigners; approximate amount, paid on site
- Entrance fee to Isla Incahuasi: 30 Bs for foreigners and 15 Bs for nationals, only if the island is accessible; approximate amount, paid on site
- Entrance fee to the hot springs: 10 Bs, approximate amount, paid on site
By time of year
Dry season
April to November. This is the most comfortable time for the route.
Rainy season
December to April. The Salar de Uyuni can fill with water (mirror effect, not guaranteed) and some sections of the route may close.
Cold
May to July. Nights can drop below -10 °C. By day, in the sun, the weather is much more bearable.
Natural phenomena
These depend on the season and the conditions on the day, and are not guaranteed: mirror effect, flamingo sightings, closed sections during the rains.
What do you need to know before booking?
Altitude and health
This is a high-altitude route, with a night in a high-altitude lodge at about 4,278 m. The highest point of the route, around the Dalí Desert, is about 5,000 m. Sol de Mañana sits at about 4,850 m.
- Hydration. Drink water constantly.
- Alcohol. Avoid it on the first day.
- Medical history. Check with your doctor if you have a history of heart or respiratory problems.
What to bring
Layered thermal clothing, a hat and gloves, sunglasses, sunscreen and lip balm, a water bottle and cash in bolivianos for the entrance fees.
Phone signal
For hours there is little or no signal. Let your family know and download what you need before leaving.
Laguna Colorada and the reserve
Laguna Colorada sits at 4,278 m, covers about 54 km² and is only 35 cm deep on average. Its color, from brown to deep red, comes from sediments and from the pigments of certain algae. It is a place where all three species of Andean flamingos can be seen.
It is part of the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, created in 1973, which covers about 714,745 hectares.
3 days or 4 days?
The 3-day route is a loop from Uyuni, tighter on driving hours. If you prefer fewer kilometers per day and more time at each place, look at the 4-day tour, which starts in Tupiza and ends in Uyuni, from USD 349.
- 3 days. From USD 249, 2 nights, Sol de Mañana and Laguna Verde, back in Uyuni on day 3.
- 4 days. From USD 349, 3 nights, basic lodging, sunrise at Isla Incahuasi.
Altitude and health
It is not recommended in case of pregnancy, heart or respiratory disease, uncontrolled hypertension or significant vertigo. Minimum age: 5 years. Prior acclimatization: the basic rules apply; see the altitude sickness guide for details. We advise you to stay well hydrated, avoid alcohol on the first day and check with your doctor before booking. If symptoms of altitude sickness appear, the guide may decide to descend, for your safety.
Before you book: payment, cancellation and the unexpected
Payment and booking
When you book, you pay 30% of the total: 15% as a non-refundable booking payment (arras) and 15% as a deposit. Then a second deposit of 20% 30 days before departure and the remaining 50% 7 days before departure. If you book 15 days or less before departure, you pay 100% of the total when you book, and that amount is non-refundable. If a payment does not arrive by the date indicated, the booking is canceled automatically. You can pay in foreign currency with Libélula, RedEnlace and Revolut, or by bank card, QR code or bank transfer; the payment provider may charge transaction fees.
Cancellation and date change
- More than 45 days before departure. 100% of the deposit (15%) is refunded, minus bank transfer fees. The booking payment (arras) is not refunded.
- From 45 to 31 days. 50% of the deposit is withheld, which corresponds to the prepayment of lodging, transfers or other items.
- From 30 to 8 days. 100% of what was paid is withheld.
- From 7 days to 24 hours. Everything paid is withheld.
- Less than 24 hours and in case of a no-show. The full price is due.
Date change: it is possible depending on the availability of the company and of our providers, with a new quote. Sums already paid to providers are not refundable and must be paid again.
If Terra Alta cancels or postpones the trip, you choose a new date at no additional cost or a refund of what you paid, except for expenses already paid to providers that cannot be recovered.
Prices
Prices are expressed in US dollars per person and are calculated on the basis of a group of 6 people, in shared service.
Blockades, closed roads and weather
A flooded salt flat (December to April, approximately) is not a reason to cancel: the tour goes ahead with an itinerary adapted by the guide, with the mirror effect, and Isla Incahuasi may not be accessible. No refund is given for modified visits.
If a dangerous external event (a storm, heavy snowfall or another natural event) or a social conflict or blockade requires it, Terra Alta may modify, postpone or cancel the trip to protect travelers. What is provided for cancellation by Terra Alta applies.
Tips and expenses
Tips are not included and are voluntary. Entrance fees listed in bolivianos are approximate and may change; they are paid on site, in cash.
Insurance
Terra Alta does not include travel insurance. If you wish, we recommend taking out a policy with medical assistance and repatriation at altitude.
Frequently asked questions
How cold does it get at night?
Nights can drop below -10 °C, especially from May to July. By day, in the sun, the weather is much more bearable.
At what altitude do you sleep?
The second night is in a high-altitude lodge at about 4,278 m, next to Laguna Colorada. The first is in a refuge in Uyuni, at 3,656 m. Avoid alcohol on the first day and drink water often.
What is the high-altitude lodging like, and are there bathrooms?
The accommodation is a high-altitude refuge, in a shared room. Full board is included.
Which entrance fees are not included?
The Eduardo Avaroa Reserve (30 Bs for nationals, 150 Bs for foreigners), Isla Incahuasi (30 Bs for foreigners, 15 Bs for nationals, only if accessible) and the hot springs (10 Bs). They are paid on site, in cash, and the amounts are approximate.
What if I want to cancel, or there are blockades?
Payment, cancellation, date change and blockade conditions are in the “Before you book” section, further down this page.
Guides to prepare your trip
Book
From USD 249 per person.
If you prefer fewer kilometers per day and more time at each place, look at the 4-day tour from Tupiza, from USD 349. Uyuni · 4 Days.
Not sure between 1, 2, 3 or 4 days? Compare the Uyuni tours.
