Top-rated attractions, experiences and activities — from iconic landmarks to hidden gems.
These are the experiences most visitors to Salar de Uyuni rate as unmissable — the highlights that define a trip to this destination.
After rainfall (November–March), a thin film of water transforms the salt flat into a perfect mirror reflecting the sky. The horizon disappears and you appear to be standing in the clouds — one of the most surreal and photographed natural phenomena on earth.
A cactus-covered island rising improbably from the white salt plain, studded with giant Echinopsis atacamensis cacti up to 10 metres tall and over 1,000 years old. The views from the summit over the endless white expanse are extraordinary.
A blood-red lagoon on the Bolivian Altiplano, its colour caused by algae and sediment, surrounded by white borax islands and home to thousands of James's and Andean flamingos. One of the most otherworldly landscapes in South America.
At 5,000 metres above sea level, these active geysers and fumaroles spew steam and mud into the thin Altiplano air at dawn — best experienced in early morning when the temperature difference between the earth and the cold air creates the most dramatic effect.
On the outskirts of Uyuni town, a graveyard of 19th-century steam locomotives left to rust on the Altiplano after the mining industry collapsed. Eerie, photogenic, and genuinely atmospheric — an unexpected highlight of every Uyuni visit.
The perfectly symmetrical 5,916-metre stratovolcano on the Bolivia-Chile border is the dominant feature of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve skyline. Climbing to the summit (requiring crampons and acclimatisation) reveals a crater lake — one of the world's highest.
Thin rainfall creates the famous mirror effect — the most photographed version of the salt flat. Daytime temperatures are mild (10–20°C) but rain can be heavy. The mirror is most dramatic at dawn and dusk.
Clear skies, no mirror effect, but the white salt flat against a deep blue sky is stunning. Colder nights (can reach -10°C). Better for 3-day Altiplano tours to Laguna Colorada and the geysers.
Transition months — some chance of mirror effect (November), generally good weather and manageable temperatures. A good compromise between the two main seasons.
Peak dry season but bitterly cold at night (-15°C or below at altitude). The salt flat is beautiful and uncrowded. Essential to bring serious cold-weather gear, particularly for the geyser tours at 5,000m.