4, Day, 3 Night Bolivia Trip Atacama, Ollague, Uyuni, Hito Cajon

Take this 4-day, 3-night tour of the incredible salt flats and volcanic formations of Bolivia. You’ll take walking tours around the landscape’s strange formations as well as some lovely, long road trips through stunning scenery. During your overnights, you’ll get to stay in an unusual hotel that’s a short distance from the area’s most interesting sights.

Detailed itinerary

Day 1

Your day begins with a roadtrip through the mountain pass that separates Bolivia and Peru. You’ll have views of the Ollagüe Volcano in the Chilean town of the same name. From there, you’ll continue to the city of Uyuni in Bolivia. This road trip includes a stop for lunch and a pass through the old mining town of San Cristobal.

Eventually, you’ll arrive back at Uyuni, right on the edge of the salt flats, and check into the Hotel de Sal Luna Salada. This hotel is known for its unusual construction – its walls are made from blocks of salt. Accommodations come in the form of matrimonial suites, which offer excellent views of the sunrise.

Day 2

The second day starts with a buffet breakfast. Then, your transportnwill pick you up at the hotel to bring you to the Uyuni salt flats. This includes a stop at the train cemetery, where old, rusted trains make for an unusual sight in the barren landscape. You’ll also stop at the Colchani village to learn how locals extract salt by hand, and browse handicrafts fashioned from salt.

On a visit to the Playa Blanca salt flats, you’ll stop by the Museum of Salt to see sculptures made from hardened salt. This segment also includes a stop to see the Ojos del Sal, or “salt eyes,” which are spots where salt water bursts through the surface. From April to November, you'll see a hexagonal pattern in the salt, and from December to May, you'll see the lake that forms during this rainy portion of the season.

Venture deeper into the salt flats to see the Incahuasi Island – it’s not really an island, but a rocky outcrop that’s home to a fascinating ecosystem where you’ll see a stunning variety of unusual plants, including cacti that reach around 26 feet tall (12 m). From the summit, you’ll also have an excellent view of the salt flats. Next, you’ll have a picnic lunch and watch the sunset before returning to the hotel.

Day 3

Day 3 begins with another breakfast buffet. Afterward, you’ll head to the north side of Uyuni salt flat. It’s here where you’ll get to see the Coquesa mummies, who have been preserved by the drying winds of the salt flats. They’re seated in the cave near the Tunupa Volcano, and have been there for over 3,000 years. This area also offers an impressive view of the salt flats.

From there, you’ll continue to the Chiquini Cave, where you’ll get to explore a cave interior that has beautiful stalactites and stalagmites. Afterward, your host will set up a picnic lunch. If you’re traveling between April and November, the reflective properties of the salt flats make a stunning backdrop for photographs. After you've had time to take in the scanery, you'll head back to the hotel for your final night.

Day 4

Before you make your return trip, you'll make a few more breathtaking stops. First you’ll visit Laguna Colorada. Sediment and algae make Laguna Colorada a bright red color. Flamingoes wade here, their pink feathers contrasting with the red color of the lake. Next you’ll visit the Sol de Mañana geysers, which get their power from volcanic activity. Your last stop brings you to the shores of Laguna Verde, which is another colorful lake that comes in a vibrant, pale shade of green.

Comfortable warm clothes, camera, batteries, sunscreen, water and hiking boots, as well as anything you need for a 3-night stay.

Included: Hotels, Private Transportation, lunch, bilingual assistance guide and entrance fee. Not Included: Flight tickets, tips and personal expenses.