Plizio Visual Lab

Salar de Uyuni

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

Lake

Weather…

Salar de Uyuni is the world's largest salt flat, covering an expansive 10,582 square kilometers in southwestern Bolivia. It was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes, most notably Lake Minchin, which dried up approximately 40,000 years ago. The surface is covered by a thick salt crust that is exceptionally flat, varying in height by less than one meter over the entire area, making it good for calibrating satellite instruments. Beneath the crust lies a vast brine pool containing an estimated 50% to 70% of the world's known lithium reserves, a critical resource for the global energy transition. During the wet season, the flat becomes covered with a thin layer of water, creating a striking mirror effect that reflects the sky. It also serves as a major breeding ground for several species of flamingos and features isolated 'islands' like Incahuasi, which are home to ancient cacti reaching ages of over 1,000 years.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is Mar, Nov, Dec.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Avg °C	12	11	10	8	4	3	2	4	6	8	10	12
Rain mm	81	74	45	13	3	4	3	3	9	18	19	59

📋 Practical info

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Getting there

The gateway to the flats is the dusty town of Uyuni, accessible by regional flights, buses, or trains, from where almost all visitors join specialized 4x4 guided tours to navigate the vast expanse.

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Best season

Visiting between December and April presents the famous mirror effect if rains fall, while the dry months from May to November offer brilliant white, cracked hexagonal patterns and clear skies.

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Terrain & paths

The surface is an impossibly flat crust of solid salt that stretches to the horizon, interrupted only by isolated 'islands' dotted with giant cacti that rise sharply from the white plains.

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What to bring

Extreme sunglasses are absolutely mandatory to prevent snow blindness, alongside heavy layers for freezing night temperatures, high-SPF sunscreen, and fun props for forced-perspective photography.

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Parking

Independent driving on the salt is risky due to lack of landmarks; visitors normally leave personal vehicles safely in Uyuni and rely entirely on the tour operators' heavily modified transport.

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Safety

The combination of very high altitude and blazing sun requires constant hydration; additionally, travelers must never wander far from their tour groups as losing orientation on the featureless salt is easy.

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Time needed

While a rushed day trip from town features a brief glimpse, an extensive three to four-day journey is the typical standard for crossing the flats and exploring the surrounding high-altitude colorful lagoons.