Highlights
- Follow a route linking Uyuni Salt Flat, Incahuasi, Chiguana rather than treating each stop as an isolated attraction.
- Continue through Ollagüe, highland lagoons, Eduardo Avaroa Reserve with context on landscape, architecture and local use.
- Finish through Sol de Mañana, Polques, where the route’s main physical or heritage goal comes into view.
- Prepare for salt crust, rough desert tracks, volcanic ground and short high-altitude walks, with practical guidance on footwear, weather and pace.
- Follow local guidance in areas associated with Uyuni, Colchani and small Altiplano settlements, including respectful photography, purchases and private spaces.
- Receive a pre-departure briefing that explains altitude, weather, equipment and the next stage’s physical demands.
- Use a professional guide who can adjust explanations to the group rather than repeating a fixed script.
- Choose private service for more control over stops and rhythm, or group service for a lower per-person rate and a social setting.
Trip details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 days / 2 nights |
| Region | Potosí, Bolivia |
| Start and finish | Usually begins and ends in Uyuni, unless a border transfer is confirmed |
| Maximum altitude | about 4,900–5,000 m / 16,076–16,404 ft |
| Difficulty | Moderate, mainly because of altitude, cold and long 4×4 stages |
| Terrain | salt crust, rough desert tracks, volcanic ground and short high-altitude walks |
| Main transport | shared or private 4×4 vehicle |
| Accommodation | two simple salt or highland lodge nights |
| Suggested minimum age | 15+ |
| Typical group limit | 16 |
| Best preparation | Acclimatize when altitude is involved, train for the stated walking level and review equipment before payment |
Trip overview
- Best for: travelers interested in Bolivia salt flats and remote Altiplano scenery.
- Main places: Uyuni Salt Flat, highland lagoons, desert viewpoints and Altiplano landscapes.
- Physical demand: moderate, with terrain including 4×4 routes, salt crust, desert tracks and high-altitude conditions.
- Logistics: final pickup time, inclusions and ticket conditions are reconfirmed before the service.
Before departure, the operations team confirms pickup location, start time, required documents and any dietary, medical or mobility notes. Travelers should review the route conditions, bring the essentials listed below and keep the phone number used for booking active on the day of service.
Itinerary
Uyuni – Train Cemetery – Colchani – Salt Flat – Incahuasi – San Juan
The 4×4 route starts at the Train Cemetery and continues to Colchani, where local workshops show salt processing and craft production. The vehicle enters the salt flat only along routes approved for the day’s surface conditions. Stops may include salt mounds, the former salt hotel and wide open areas used for perspective photographs. Incahuasi is reached when seasonal access is open; its separate entrance is paid locally unless listed. After lunch, the vehicle crosses toward San Juan for a simple salt or highland lodge night. Day highlight: Reach San Juan after following the day’s main route at a measured pace. Technical details – Transport: shared or private 4×4 – Terrain: salt crust and rough access tracks – Accommodation: simple lodge near San Juan – Meals: lunch and dinner – Separate payment: Incahuasi entrance when open
Chiguana – Ollagüe – Highland Lagoons – Siloli – Red Lagoon
After breakfast, the route crosses the Chiguana area toward a viewpoint of Ollagüe volcano. The 4×4 then links the highland lagoons commonly known as Cañapa, Chiarkota, Hedionda and Honda. Flamingos may be present, but numbers change with season and weather. The track continues across the Siloli Desert to the Stone Tree and Red Lagoon area. Wind, cold and rough roads dominate the day. The night is in very basic shared lodging near Huayllajara or the reserve sector. Day highlight: Reach Red Lagoon after following the day’s main route at a measured pace. Technical details – Transport: 4×4 on rough Altiplano tracks – Maximum altitude: above 4,500 m / 14,764 ft – Terrain: volcanic desert, gravel and lagoon shores – Accommodation: basic shared lodge – Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner
Sol de Mañana – Polques – Dalí Desert – Green Lagoon – Uyuni
Departure takes place before sunrise for Sol de Mañana, where steam vents and bubbling ground require strict distance from marked edges. The route continues to the Polques thermal-water area, followed by the Dalí Desert and the Green and White lagoons when border access permits. The long return toward Uyuni may pass the Valley of Rocks and San Cristóbal or another community stop. Arrival is expected in the late afternoon or early evening, but rough roads can delay it. Day highlight: Reach Uyuni after following the day’s main route at a measured pace. Technical details – Departure: before sunrise – Maximum altitude: about 4,900–5,000 m / 16,076–16,404 ft – Terrain: geyser field, volcanic desert and rough tracks – Transport: 4×4 return to Uyuni – Meals: breakfast and lunch – Expected arrival: late afternoon or early evening
Discounts
- Family, child and large-group reductions depend on the entrance rules and the confirmed service type.
- Groups booking together should request a commercial quotation before payment; reductions cannot be added after tickets or third-party services are issued.
Optional Extras and Upgrades
- Private 4×4 supplement: quoted on request
- Border transfer or Chile connection: quoted separately
- Sleeping-bag rental and upgraded room: subject to lodge availability
Notes About Our Service
- Hotel pickup and return: Pickup is limited to the confirmed service area. Narrow streets, traffic controls or hotel access rules may require a nearby meeting point. The return time is approximate and can change because of traffic, weather or operations.
- Luggage storage: Large luggage should remain at the hotel or at the Andean Peru Treks storage area when that service is confirmed. Trekking duffels must stay within the stated weight limit.
- Payment conditions: A deposit is used to secure permits, entrances, trains, hotels and third-party services. Once issued, many of these items cannot be transferred, changed or refunded. The balance deadline appears on the booking confirmation.
- Operational changes: Weather, strikes, road blocks, rail instructions, site closures or safety concerns may require a different order, route or cancellation. The operations team coordinates the safest workable option with the traveler.
Availability
This program may operate year-round or in its stated season, subject to weather, road access, opening hours and minimum passenger requirements. Requests within 24 hours may be possible for some dates, but service is not confirmed until Reservations issues written approval.
Health and Travel Restrictions
Several stages reach high altitude and may involve cold, long road travel or limited medical access. Travelers with heart, respiratory or serious mobility conditions should seek medical advice before booking and should report any required assistance in advance.
Accommodation
The planned lodging is two simple salt or highland lodge nights.
Hotel names and room types depend on the selected category and written confirmation. Basic remote lodges may have limited hot water, heating, electricity or internet.
Single rooms, upgraded hotels and extra nights carry an added cost unless included.
Included Transportation
The route uses shared or private 4×4 vehicle.
Seat assignments, vehicle size and exact pickup time depend on the final passenger list and operational plan.
Private service means the vehicle is allocated to the booking group for the stated sector; it does not remove official traffic, rail or site restrictions.
Inclusions
- Pre-departure service confirmation and operations contact
- Professional guide in the language stated in the booking
- Transport explicitly listed in the confirmed itinerary
- Basic first-aid kit and emergency coordination protocol
- 4×4 transport with local driver
- Meals and lodging only as stated in the selected Uyuni service
- International and domestic flights unless expressly stated
- Travel insurance, medical expenses and evacuation costs
- Tips for guides, drivers, cooks, muleteers, porters, boat crews or host families
- Personal snacks, bottled drinks, alcohol, laundry, phone calls and personal purchases
- Services not written on the final booking voucher
Upgrades
- Private guide or private transport, subject to availability
- Hotel category upgrades for multi-day programs
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Special entrance, train, meal or activity upgrades when available for the route
Group Price
The group rate is confirmed on request according to date, number of travelers, service type, ticket availability and operational costs. Some routes require non-refundable third-party services once issued. Ask the reservations team for the current rate before making payment.
Private Prices
| Group size | Proposed or reference price |
|---|---|
| 1 traveler | Custom quotation |
| 2 travelers | Custom quotation |
| 3–4 travelers | Custom quotation |
| 5–8 travelers | Custom quotation |
Why Private Service May Be the Better Choice
- The group walks or tours at one agreed rhythm rather than matching unrelated passengers.
- The guide can spend more time on the group’s main interests and shorten explanations that are less relevant.
- Families and friends keep the same vehicle or guide team through the stated private sectors.
- Meal preferences and rest stops are easier to coordinate, though official schedules and access rules remain fixed.
Custom quote
Based on date, travelers and service level
Recommended for families, private groups, photographers and travelers who want a more flexible pace. Final inclusions are confirmed before payment.
Why choose us
- Route knowledge: The operations team plans around salt crust, rough desert tracks, volcanic ground and short high-altitude walks, not only the names shown in the itinerary.
- Local respect: Staff brief travelers before passing through Uyuni, Colchani and small Altiplano settlements, including guidance on photographs, purchases and private spaces.
- Clear service limits: Andean Peru Treks states which entrances, meals, transfers and optional activities are confirmed before collecting final payment.
- Professional guiding: Explanations can be adapted to the traveler’s interests, while safety instructions remain direct and practical.
- Equipment chosen for the route: Trekking programs use sleeping, dining, kitchen and emergency equipment suited to the altitude and expected weather; day tours use inspected tourist transport and basic first-aid support.
- Private planning: A private service can adapt the pace and focus, while opening hours, official routes and road rules remain fixed.
Times are approximate and are confirmed according to season, access rules and the selected service type. The guide may adjust the order of visits to reduce waiting time or improve safety. Travelers with medical conditions, reduced mobility or strict dietary needs should advise the agency before payment so the operations team can confirm what is realistic for the route.
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