Uyuni Things to Do

This is an active volcano, which can be seen puffing smoke. On the Uyuni trip you can usually stop on a mirador (lookout) for a great view of this volcano. Feels like a safe distance until the guide informs you that the boulders you are standing on for a better view have actually been catapulted from the volcano.

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Yet another stunning lake hosting a multitude of flamingos. The scenery is typical of the area, but signs warn of poisoned waters, no doubt from whatever minerals are found in the waters, which also stink in some areas. But whatever is being warned to humans doesn't seem to affect the flamingos at all, as they were happily feeding and dancing in unison. Usually tours stop here for lunch, there are picnic tables and scenic views.

The flamingos on this lake are much less skittish than the ones in Laguna Colorada for example, and it is possible to get quite close to them.

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This is one of the islands jutting out of the Salar, made entirely of coral and inhabited by a silent army of giant cacti. Considering these cacti grow extremely slowly, just about 1cm a year, the size of some of them suggests that they are thousands of years old. The island is in a sea of shimmering white salt, making for the weirdest feeling. The climb to the top is totally worthwhile for a panoramic view of the weird surroundings. I was quite surprised to find animals at the top, viscachas - the weird little animals resembling something like a chinchilla or a rabbit with a long tail. Most tours opt to have their lunch stop here, and I am hard pressed to think of a weirder place where I had lunch.

The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, and it is so massive it can be seen from space (about 10 000 sq km). While a vast expanse of white to drive through might sound boring, it is actually quite surreal and leaves all travellers amazed. The white of the salar is so white it actually looks like snow, and the altitude and dryness makes for exceptionally clear air and skies. The salar is at about 3600m of altitude and is incredibly flat. The salt crust is a few metres deep and beneath that there is a brine lake which is even deeper.

The salt flats were formed when prehistoric lake dried up - visual evidence of this is that some of the "islands" protruding from the salar are actually made of coral. The very little wildlife there is here is all concentrated on the islands, as nothing can survive on the Salar itself.

The salt is obviously harvested by the locals, but furthermore the Salar is very rich in minerals, most importantly Lithium. Scientists speculate that the salar might contain up to 70% of the total lithium reserves in the world. Lithium is an essential component of batteries, and there might be huge demand for lithium in the future, especially if electric cars become highly commercial. As yet, these reserves are untapped, because the Bolivian Government has no resources to extract it, but discussions are taking place to reach agreements with foreign countries to have this exploited. I just hope they will not ruin such a magical place.

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This lake was Bolivia's candidate for the new 7 wonders of the world. Sadly it did not make the final cut, but that doesn't take anything away from the beauty of the area. Apart from the surrounding scenery, the special thing about this lake is that it is red, caused by the special algae living there. This shallow lake also has an amount of white borax islands in it, and it is inhabited by graceful flamingos. Domestic alpacas can be seen grazing by the lake.

Yet another very pretty lake showcasing the beauty of the altiplano. There is also a nice hotspring with an incredible view to relax in, so do not forget to have your bathing suit and towel handy when you visit the area.

These geysers are at a height of over 4800m. Bubbling mud and steam characterize this small geyser field, along with a smell of rotten eggs which is not so welcome considering the state of one's stomach at this altitude. Best time to visit the geysers is in the early mornings when the geysers are sprouting up steam to much higher heights. Due to logistics we visited this geyser in the afternoon, so not much activity was ongoing. This is a good reminder of the forces that created, and are still shaping, the mighty mountains and plateau of the area.

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One of the most stunning lakes of the area, the Laguna Verde is at the base of the massive Licancabur Volcano. The lake turns emerald green when it is windy. The colour is caused by the various minerals in the lake and it is interesting to note that there are quite high levels of arsenic in here - hence the lack of the usual flamingos around the other lakes. Licancabur has an elevation of 5900m, and the Laguna Verde is at 4300m.