Incahuasi Island rises from the middle of the Salar de Uyuni, the vast salt flat in Bolivia's Potosí Department. Known also as Isla Incahuasi and Fish Island, it is a rocky outcrop in an otherwise flat white expanse, and it makes one of the most distinctive stops on a visit to the salt flats.
What you will see
The island is described as an ancient coral island, and it is the giant cacti that define its appearance. Some of them are up to 1,200 years old and stand tall above the rock and the salt. Walking among them gives a sense of scale that is hard to find elsewhere on the flats.
- Giant cacti, some reaching great age, growing on the island's rocky slopes
- Panoramic views across the endless salt flats from the higher points
- A unique ecosystem that contrasts sharply with the bare salt around it
The visit
Because the island sits in the middle of the salt flat, it is usually reached as part of a journey across the Salar de Uyuni rather than on its own. Many visitors come from the town of Uyuni, which serves as the main base for exploring the flats. Pack for strong sun and reflected light, and keep in mind that the open salt offers little shade.
Around the island
The surrounding salt flat is the reason many people make the trip. Its flat, reflective surface is unlike most landscapes, and the island gives the view a focal point. Combined with the cacti and the wide horizon, Incahuasi offers a visit that is both scenic and easy to picture long after you leave.