Salar de Uyuni is a vast salt flat in the Potosí Department of Bolivia, close to the town of Uyuni. It is also known as the Uyuni Salt Flats and as the Salar de Tunupa. Covering more than 10,000 square kilometers, it is among the largest salt flats in the world, and its white expanse stretches farther than the eye can easily follow.
What to expect
The flat is best known for its mirror effect. During the rainy season, a thin layer of water settles over the salt and turns the surface into a near-perfect reflection of the sky, so that the horizon seems to disappear and the ground and clouds merge. Visitors often come for this effect, which makes for striking photographs. Outside the rainy season, the salt is dry and cracked into a geometric pattern, offering a different kind of scene.
Planning a visit
- The flat lies around the town of Uyuni, which serves as the main base for travellers.
- The landscape is open and expansive, so the visit suits those who enjoy wide, quiet scenery.
- Timing matters: the rainy season brings the reflections, while the dry months show the salt's textured surface.
A trip here is mainly about the scale and light of the landscape. Allow time to take in the open views, and consider the conditions of the season before you go.