Uyuni
Travelers come to Uyuni for the Salar de Uyuni, a salt flat that turns into a mirror after rain.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Uyuni is a small town in southwest Bolivia, in Potosí Department, at about 3,650 meters above sea level. It sits at the edge of the Salar de Uyuni, the world's largest salt flat, at roughly 10,000 square kilometers. Most visitors come for the salt. Tour operators in town run day trips onto the flat, and longer routes head southwest across high desert to lagoons, geysers and flamingo habitats.
Uyuni also has a railway past. Old steam locomotives sit rusting in the desert on the edge of town, at the site known as the train cemetery. The village of Colchani, close to the flat, is where salt is harvested and sold. The rainy season, roughly December to March, can leave a thin sheet of water that turns the flats into a mirror. The dry season, roughly May to October, brings clearer skies. Plan at least two nights for a multi-day tour, or a day trip if your time is short.
Uyuni in five
- Compare tour operators in Uyuni before you payMost salt flats trips are sold by agencies in Uyuni, so compare the 4x4, the driver, the number of days and whether the route covers Incahuasi and the train cemetery. Ask what the price includes.Tours and tickets
- Carry bolivianos in cashTours, small shops and many restaurants need cash in bolivianos, and card payments are not reliable outside the larger hotels. Bring enough for the whole trip before you leave La Paz or Potosí.Money and costs
- Rest on your first day at altitudeUyuni is about 3,650 m above sea level. Drink water, walk slowly and skip hard exercise until you feel settled.
- Pack for sun by day and freezing nightsThe salt reflects the light strongly, so bring sunglasses and sunscreen. Nights on the flats can drop below freezing, so pack warm layers.
- Download offline maps before the tourMobile signal is patchy outside Uyuni town, so save maps and your booking details offline. Set up an eSIM before you arrive.Phones and eSIM
Need to know
- Currency
- Boliviano (BOB)
- Entry
- Visa-free entry for many passports; check the current rules before you travel
- Emergency
- 110 police, 119 fire, 118 ambulance
- Tipping
- Tipping guides and drivers on tours is customary
- Time
- UTC-4, no daylight saving
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryMirror, rain
- FebruaryRain, roads
- MarchRains easing
- AprilDry, clear
- MayDry, clear
- JuneDry, cold
- JulyDry, cold
- AugustDry, windy
- SeptemberDry, warm days
- OctoberDry, warm days
- NovemberRains begin
- DecemberRainy, mirror
Right now in Uyuni
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
18
- Feels like
- 12°
- Humidity
- 8%
- Wind
- 24 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Uyuni
08:04 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today18°3°0%Monday: Cloudy. High 18°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue20°5°0%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 20°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Wed21°4°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 21°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu22°6°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri22°9°0%Friday: Cloudy. High 22°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat22°8°26%Saturday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 26%.
- Sun22°7°30%Sunday: Drizzle. High 22°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 30%.
Updated 04:02 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 12.1 BOB
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Salt flats by 4x41 to 3 days by 4x4The main reason to come to Uyuni, with the white expanse, islands and sunrise views.Read the guide
- Train cemeterya few minutes by car from townOld steam locomotives rusting on the edge of town, easy to reach before or after a tour.Read the guide
- Colchani salt villagea short drive from townA small village on the flats where salt is collected and processed, often a stop on tours.Read the guide
Before you go to Uyuni
Rules for Uyuni, checked
- Check Bolivia's entry rules with the official government source before you book, since visa-free stays and entry conditions can change.
- Declare fresh food, plant and animal products at customs on arrival. Check the list with Bolivia's customs authority (Aduana Nacional) before you travel.
- Take your rubbish back to town with you after a salt flats tour, and do not leave it at the viewpoints.
Plan around Uyuni
Regions, entry rules, transport and money for a Bolivia trip
Read the guideSalt flats toursHow salt flats tours are booked and what they include
Read the guideGetting around BoliviaBuses and trains to and from Uyuni
Read the guideMoney and costsCash, cards and typical prices for a day in Uyuni
Read the guideVisas and entryEntry rules to check before you book flights or buses
Read the guideWhere to stayWhere to sleep before and after a tour
Read the guideUyuni FAQ
How do you get to Uyuni?
By bus from La Paz or Potosí, or by train from Oruro. Some routes run overnight, so check the schedule and book a seat before you go.
Do you need a tour to see the salt flats?
Most visitors go on a tour from Uyuni, because the flats are large and the roads across them are hard to find alone. Tours are usually booked in town, and the price and route differ between agencies.
How many days do you need for the salt flats?
Many tours last two or three days, with overnight stays in basic lodgings on the way. A one-day tour covers the main sights but leaves little time to see the flats at sunrise or sunset.
When is the best time to visit Uyuni?
The dry season, roughly May to October, has clear skies and cold nights. The rainy season, roughly December to March, can cover the flats with a thin layer of water that creates a mirror effect, but roads can be hard to drive.
Is Uyuni worth visiting without a salt flats tour?
The town is small and has a few sights, including the train cemetery just outside it. Most visitors come for the salt flats, so a trip without a tour gives you much less to see.