When to visit Uyuni Flats in Bolivia: Wet or Dry Season?

When to visit Uyuni Flats in Bolivia: Wet or Dry Season?

The best time to visit the Uyuni Salt Flats really depends on your preference of what you want to see: do you want to capture the mirror effect during the rainy season or see the hexagons and pentagons of crusted salt during the dry season? Read on to learn more.

What is Salar de Uyuni known for?

The Salar de Uyuni in South-Western Bolivia is one of the most beautiful places on earth you’ll ever go. The Salar de Uyuni isn’t just the world’s biggest salt flat (4,086 sqm) it’s also the world’s highest (12 000 ft) salt flat. Add this to the fact that your accommodation options consist of a luxury airstream camper or a hotel constructed entirely out of salt, and you have all the ingredients for the adventure of a lifetime. Now that your mind’s made up, you have to decide when to go.

Deciding whether to visit in the wet or the dry season is your first question you may have before booking your trip.

Deciding whether to visit in the wet or the dry season is your first question you may have before booking your trip.

Uyuni in the wet season: The World’s Biggest Mirror and Stunning Sunrises From December to April

The wet season starts in December and ends in April. The rain will make that beautiful mirror effect, an unbelievable image of infinity. When nearby lakes overflow, or the area gets rain, a thin layer of water covers the expanse, transforming it into a massive reflective mirror that makes for jaw-dropping, dreamlike photos.

 

Uyuni receives less than 5 inches of rain per year, but the vast majority of this falls between December and April. All the water makes getting around a bit harder (we provide waterproof boots!), so come prepared for the fact that you may not be able to reach some parts of the salar, most notably Incahuasi ‘island’. The spectacular mirror-effect created by all that water more than makes up for any hardships – the rainy season is an extremely popular time to visit, so be sure to book well in advance.

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Uyuni’s sunrises and sunsets are always incredible, but in the wet season, they become truly ethereal.
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Uyuni in the dry season: Best time to take hilarious photos and move easily April through September

Uyuni is a high-altitude desert and it receives zero rainfall from April through September and only a smattering of drizzle in October and November. From June till at least November, the salt flats are rock hard and extremely easy to drive on. This means you’ll be able to get around with no hassles and will be assured of visiting the ‘islands’ (outcrops of cacti), caves and volcanoes that are included on our 4-day itinerary.

 

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of rain in Uyuni are June-October. The dry season is the best in terms of being able to move easily around the country (this applies actually not only to Uyuni but to other destinations in the rest of the country), almost all dirt roads will be accessible.

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The dry season is also the best time to take hilarious, perspective-shifting photos as the pure white backdrop serves as Nature’s version of the blue screen. The lack of cloud cover means that both sunblock and warm clothing – especially in the chilliest months of June, July and August – are essential. It is winter time though, so you will have access to all the attractions but come prepared for very cold nights with low temperatures (-15ºCelsius) in Uyuni.


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So… when should I visit?

To see Salar de Uyuni’s breathtaking mirror effort, visit during wet season, from December to April—but be aware that when it gets too rainy, it can be hard to get around and you might not be able to access certain areas.

 

May to November is the dry season, which means temperatures are colder, but the ground is harder and you can drive across the land more easily. The ideal month to visit is May, when the seasons transition from wet to dry and you’ll have a good chance of seeing the salt flats both dusty and reflective.

How do I get to Salar de Uyuni?

Salar de Uyuni sits near the point where Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile meet, so travelers tend to come from three different starting places. The town of Uyuni in Bolivia is the most popular place to embark on tours of the salt flats. The small town is so close to the flats, you can easily take day trips. If you’re traveling from La Paz to Uyuni, you can take a one-hour flight or an eight-hour overnight bus.

 

San Pedro de Atacama in Chile is another well-known starting point for tours of the salt flats, but because it’s about 200 miles away, most tours are three days long. If you’re coming from Argentina, look into multi-day tours operating out of Tupiza, Bolivia, a good base less than 60 miles over the Argentinian border.

How do I choose the right tour for visiting Salar de Uyuni?

We list three carefully thought-out Uyuni itineraries on our website, but we also can craft a bespoke adventure just for you. Contact us and our travel expert will answer all your questions and help you plan a perfect trip to Uyuni Salt Flats.

10 Best Activities to do in Buenos Aires

10 Best Activities to do in Buenos Aires

Headed to Buenos Aires? You’ve got a lot of ground to cover. This guide breaks down all the best tours and activities you can do in the city, from our stunning waterfront to our bustling neighborhoods. Don’t leave before you check these must-do activities off your list.

Explore the city in an environmentally friendly way

Take advantage of our many eco-friendly guided tours: running, urban trekking, bicycle tours, rowing, and tours in electric eco-cars and on electric scooters.

Join a guided walking tour

palermo-jardin-japones

Buenos Aires is a great walking city. No matter where you start out, you'll find beautiful architecture and tree-lined avenues as you explore various areas. We really love the walking tours of San Telmo, La Boca, the Recoleta Cemetery, Palermo and the lively neighborhood of Once which is full of fabric sellers and shmatte shops, just like the streets of the Lower East Side used to be. Ideas South America offers walking tours in a different neighborhood each day of the week. Tours are available in Spanish, English, Italian, French and other languages.

Take a culinary tour

Buenos Aires cuisine is much more than beef, Malbec wine and dulce and leche. There are options for every taste and culture, with vegan, halal, kosher, Armenian, Japanese, Thai, Indian and many more types of restaurants in a city for everyone. Take a cooking or culinary tour of Buenos Aires’ diverse — and delicious — dining scene. Immerse yourself into Argentina's flavors with a Cooking Class where you will learn to make one of the most popular local specialties: Empanadas!

Attend a Sport event

The Argentine people are very passionate, especially when it comes to sport. Experience the atmosphere for yourself at a soccer or tennis match. Attending a football match in Argentina is one of the quintessential Argentine experiences, and nowhere is this more true that in Buenos Aires, where the country’s two biggest rival teams reside: Boca Juniors and River Plate.
The Boca Juniors-River Plate derby, or “superclásico”, is the biggest event in the country's soccer calendar. And, if you travel during Polo Season (between the months of October and early December) you can see the best polo of the world at The Tortugas Open, The Hurlingham Open, and The Argentine Polo Open Championship.

Discover the best of Buenos Aires food markets and festivals

On Sundays and public holidays, you can discover native Argentine traditions at the Feria de Mataderos, a colorful market with traditional crafts, food, and gaucho shows. The feria takes place at the junction of Avenida Lisandro de la Torre and Avenida De Los Corrales, Mataderos, 11am - 8pm (March to December). Summer is jam-packed with food fests, outdoor concerts, and Pride celebrations throughout the city. Winter brings beer festivals, indoor markets, and film fests. And spring and fall have a little bit of everything.

Take a comprehensive City Tour of Buenos Aires

This is our favorite tour of Buenos Aires. The introduction tour has a duration of 4 hours and it covers highlights and most important neighborhoods of the city. It also gives you ample time to walk some distinctive districts such as Recoleta, San Telmo, La Boca and Palermo. Not only will you be able to cover a wide range of neighborhoods and attractions, but you will identify the areas that you liked the most to explore on your own. In addition, the tour will give you a context to understand the growth and evolution of Buenos Aires.

Take advantage of Buenos Aires Cultural Agenda

Seen as the cultural capital of Latin America, Buenos Aires boasts a huge range of museums, art galleries, theaters, live concerts, cultural centers and international festivals. Don’t forget to check the calendar of events at the Colón Opera House to see the best conductors and guest artists on the international music scene.

Experience the city's nightlife

Buenos Aires knows how to keep the party going — we’re the birthplace of Tango, after all. There is no end of options for a night out in this city that never sleeps: nightclubs, bars, parties, cultural clubs, theaters, tango dancehalls. Come experience the unforgettable energy of our music and nightlife scene, from late-night dance floors to famous milongas and more.

Take a Private Tango Lesson

Social tango is different from the tango you might have seen in performances or competitions — more dramatic genres that are variously called stage, show, or ballroom tango, depending on the particular tradition. Unlike these genres, Argentine tango, sometimes called social tango or "tango salon", is danced for enjoyment, not for an audience. Private tango lessons are the quickest and most effective way to learn the art and skill of tango dancing. An hour tango private is usually equal to 3 or 4 group classes. Whether you are a beginner tango dancer or an experienced veteran, there is nothing like one-on-one instruction with an Argentine professional tango dancer to help you achieve your goals while you visit the mecca of tango.

Shop one-of-a-kind goods

Get a little retail therapy in Buenos Aires’ diverse shopping districts throughout our neighborhoods, with one-of-a-kind goods, high-end designers, outlet malls and local artisans and markets. You'll find antique stores in San Telmo, exceptional leather goods in Retiro, crafts in the Plaza Francia, fashion and design in Palermo. Check out what’s being made in Buenos Aires — you might just find the perfect souvenir.

In our company we are proud of working with a team of extraordinary local guides. They are passionate about the city they live in and very engaging. With excellent English skills, they will share their knowledge with you and they will make sure your experience will be cherished for years.

If you need to contact a local guide and hire one of these tours, let our team know and they will help you have the best guide for your visit in Buenos Aires. Contact Our Team