Uyuni

The landscape surrounding Uyuni is a stark alpine cold desert, classified as BWk in the Köppen system, where mild summers give way to cold winters and night‑time temperatures remain chilly throughout the year. To the east the plain rises into more mountainous terrain, while the flat itself stretches toward the horizon, creating a sense of openness that amplifies the altitude’s thin air. The town’s climate and elevation shape daily life, limiting agriculture to hardy crops such as quinoa and to livestock like llamas and sheep.

Founded in 1890 as a trading post, Uyuni retains an extensive street‑market where visitors can browse local produce and crafts. A customs and immigration post occupies the downtown area, underscoring the town’s role as a conduit for commerce between Bolivia and neighboring Chile. Each year roughly 60,000 tourists pass through, many arriving to embark on tours of the salt flats that lie just beyond the town’s edge. The combination of high altitude, desert climate, and immediate access to the Salar de Uyuni makes Uyuni the most striking point of entry to that surreal landscape.