Get ready to discover the largest salt desert in the world, whose total area is 10,582 square kilometers. The Salar de Uyuni is the product of prehistoric lakes that evaporated long ago. It exists thanks to its cold and warm climate, having the appearance of a frozen lake where the landscape is reflected, giving rise to spectacular images.
What is also doubly spectacular is when the nearby lakes overflow and a thin layer of water transforms the plain into a reflection of the sky.
The Uyuni salt flat has approximately 11 layers of salt with thicknesses that vary between less than one meter and up to 10 meters. Impressive!
Where is Uyuni located and how to get there?
The Uyuni salt flat is located between Bolivia, Chile and Argentina, so you can visit it coming from any of these countries. It is located in the province of Daniel Campos in Potosí, specifically in the southwest of Bolivia and near the crest of the Andes, with an altitude of 3,656 m.
From Bolivia you arrive through Uyuni, a small city where you can arrive by plane from La Paz. Once there, you can book a tour, although reservations can also be made online. If you come from Chile, the starting point will be San Pedro de Atacama, although it is 3 days away from the Uyuni salt flat. And finally, for travelers coming from Argentina, the starting point would be Tupiza, which is a 4-day trip from that place.
The mirror effect
This mirror effect occurs between December and April, so it is best to visit it between those dates to be able to take some spectacular photos. The time when the rains cover the salt flat with a thin layer of water is usually January, February and March.
The mirror effect that occurs on these dates is very interesting and is an attraction for taking spectacular photographs.
The endless horizon allows you to play with perspective and depth of field, so any scenario you can imagine will create a very peculiar artistic effect.
An unique place has therefore served for the filming of some films such as Star Wars.
