Uyuni. Bolivia. 4K Walk

Uyuni, town, southwestern Bolivia. It lies on the cold, windswept Altiplano, a high intermontane plateau, at 12,024 feet (3,665 metres) above sea level, just east of the vast Uyuni Salt Flat.

Founded in 1890, it prospered, with the assistance of Slav and Syrian colonists, as a railroad junction and mining and market centre. Uyuni lost its importance when mineral prices dropped, but it regained growth through tourism. The town has become the starting point for tours to the Uyuni Salt Flat and Incahuasi Island (known as Fisherman’s Island), formed on the remains of a volcano that rises about 500 feet (150 metres) above the surface of a salt lake. Archaeological sites and tunnels are found on the island, and thousands of cacti, some reaching higher than 30 feet (10 metres), grow there.

The Salar de Uyuni and it surroundings are among the most beautiful places on Earth. The town of Uyuni, on the other hand, is not. Dusty, windy and bitterly cold, many travelers get out as soon as possible. But after a grueling three days in a bumpy jeep, it makes sense to stay and sleep in a warm bed rather than brave the overnight bus.

The most popular jumping-off point for salt flats tours, Uyuni is a small, dusty town packed with tourism agencies in Plaza Arce, its main square. Travelers can book tours in advance online, through tour offices in La Paz, or they can simply arrive in Uyuni and peruse the options in town. Since Uyuni is so close to the salt flats, tourists can easily book day trips. Flights from La Paz to Uyuni can be booked through Amaszonas and BoA (one hour, about $130 round-trip). Overnight buses from La Paz are available with Trans Omar and Todo Turismo (10-12 hours, $30 to $40 each way).