Surreal Uyuni salt flats

Uyuni is a top destination in Bolivia. The huge salt flats, Salar de Uyuni, extend thousands of square miles. In dry season it is solid white; in raining season, a layer of water sits on top. I thought I would like the salt flats in raining season. I was NOT disappointed. The photos will have to speak for me.

Our original plan was to take a 4-day tour which seemed the thing everyone does. When we were in Tupiza, John and I independently realized that 4 days in a jeep, frigid nights, and no washing is too high a cost when all we wanted to see is the salt flats. The 1-day tour worked well for us. We got to wade in the water and feel immersed by the amazing landscape, and picked up a few salt crystals along the way.

At the edge of the Uyuni Salt Flats.


The locals harvest salt by hand, first raking it into mounds, then shoveling the salt into trucks.








Sun-Ling picked up these newly formed NaCl crystals from the surface of the flats, just under the water.


These next photos were all taken near the Salt Hotel, which is in the midst of the Salar de Uyuni.