Photography, South America, Travel

Photo Essay: Uyuni Salt Flats

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Welcome to another wonderful PHOTO ESSAY WEEK! While I’m sure we have a million stories, nothing can really describe the amazingness of the last few weeks we experienced in Bolivia.

We chose to participate in the 1 day tour of the Uyuni Salt Flats after realizing we were short on both money and time. There are several tour companies that accept the major credit cards, though you may have to worry about a foreign transaction fee. However, if you have one of the best credit cards for cash back then you may still come out on top.

While we would have loved to see crazy colored lagoons and pink flamingos flying across the desert, we just couldn’t fit it into our time frame. T-Minus 1 month and there just isn’t enough time to see everything we would like to see!

Condensed into a 8-10 hour trip you basically make your way to both the train graveyard, have lunch at the Salt Hotel, and then hang out on the Salt Flats for a while, dropping you off back at town at about 4 or 5pm. Totally worth it in my opinion and we were in and out of town in a matter of a day and a half (stay tuned for Tupiza!).

The only thing that would have made this whole experience better would have been beer (I’m not condoning hauling ass down a dirt road with a bottle in hand, however you can imagine that dusty, dry salt makes you REALLY THIRSTY). While they did have some for sale at the salt hotel, not only are you nowhere near a bathroom but if you happen to be near the salt hotel, you’re looking to spend 5 Bolivianos to USE the bathroom. OUCH. And well, screw you salt hotel. I’ll waddle to the damn desert before paying that.

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UNESCO Salt Flats

Salar de Uyuni

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Salt Flats

Tours in Bolivia

Tours in Bolivia

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This post was brought to you by Amanda Green.

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24 thoughts on “Photo Essay: Uyuni Salt Flats”

  1. I have been waiting to see your Uyuni posts mija! The last 2 are my fave- ride it girl!
    Yea you can get beer at that lookout spot, I can’t remember what it’s called but I did the 4 day 3 night tour. Massively crazy weather, but at least you got to see it and thats what counts!

  2. Awesome! Whenever have photos of salt flats, I sit up taller in my seat and realize they’re something I want to see. I love the pics you took, especially the fun ones. Throughout the bumps in the road you’ve encountered (more than your fair share), you seem to have fun.

  3. @Mica: I really do wish we had more time and money. I would have LOVED to get some HDR shots of the lagoons and the flamingoes. Photographers wet dream right there. Pero todo fue perfecto.

  4. @Heather: DO IT LADY! It was so much fun giggling on the salt flats while taking the pics. I wish we would have brought more props! I think it is so important to have fun – it balances out the trying times.

  5. @Kieu: SO SURREAL. If you want the mirrored look, you have to come during rainy season (or shortly thereafter) or you get the plain ol’ flats. And by plain, there are still freaking AWESOME!

  6. Erica, I’m pretty sure the photo of you riding the llama is the best thing I’ve ever seen. It ranks right up there with the website, Paula Deen Riding Things.

  7. Wow. I was already going to go there, but these photos have given me a new lease of excitement! What an unusual and awesome place! I especially like the photos of you riding the llama. Best perspective shots I’ve seen so far!

  8. 1. jumping photo is awesome!! I tried my first jump in Chiang Mai, and after 3 tries, Ryan got too embarassed with my jump and told me no more jumping photo session unless I practise first in private room.
    2. this is one of my dream destination!!!!! I’m jealous!
    3. it’s not real llama, right? (I feel stupid asking this) – way cute!

  9. @Christy: It would be AWESOME to have BM in the salt flats but OH GOD the sunburns that would occur. I couldn’t imagine.

  10. @Dina: LOLOLOL! Aww… my jumps SUCK. I can’t pick up my legs high enough! And no, it isn’t a real llama. Just a toy!

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