Planning a 3-day Uyuni Salt Flats tour from San Pedro de Atacama? Having completed the journey myself, this day-by-day itinerary covers exactly what to expect, from border crossings and flamingo-filled lagoons to sunrise over the world’s largest salt flat.

So, you’re thinking about visiting the famous Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia? How amazing! You might be wondering if it’s worth seeing the salt flats as a multiday tour or as a day trip from Uyuni… In January 2026, I did the full tour whilst travelling all across South America – however, I did the tour from the Atacama Desert in Chile. So, I can tell you exactly what to expect.

If you’re wondering all about the ins and outs of the tour, don’t worry. I’m here to answer all your burning questions. It was such an amazing experience to see this corner of the continent, albeit it is for the adventurers at heart. Let’s break it all down in this day by day guide.

Disclaimer: Some links earn me a small commission – same price for you, slightly less tragic bank balance for me.

Quick Overview of visiting Salar de Uyuni:

Duration: 3D2N
Start: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
End: Uyuni
Highest altitude: ±4700m
Accommodation: Basic room + Salt Hotel
Best season: Jan – April (mirror) or Jun – Oct (hexagons)
Worth it: Yes, especially if crossing.

Starting in Uyuni vs San Pedro de Atacama

This all depends on your route. If you’re already in Chile – go via San Pedro de Atacama, if you’re in Bolivia – go via Uyuni.

Starting in Uyuni:

If you came from my Ultimate Salar de Uyuni guide – you’d already know that only Bolivian companies can operate in the Uyuni salt flats. For this reason, it is cheaper to get a tour from Uyuni as it’s the natural starting point for the tour agencies. However, in Uyuni, you have the option of either continuing to Atacama or returning to Uyuni so there might not necessarily be an international border crossing.

If you only plan on exploring Bolivia, then it’s best to start in Uyuni.

Starting in San Pedro:

If your route is taking you up Chile, you’ll naturally visit San Pedro. By doing this route this way, you’ll have a greater altitude jump as SPdA sits only at 2400m while Uyuni is over ±3700m. But it makes it a very convenient and actually a very interesting border crossing as you’ll be passing through “no man’s land”.

If you’re only planning on exploring Chile, you could opt to do the Salar de Uyuni tour over 4D3N and on the last day make your return to Chile.

What to realistically expect during the tour

This is by no means luxury travel.

The Vehicle

You will be crammed into a 4WD with 5 others, plus to driver, driving offroad. It’ll be hot and dusty. You are, afterall, in the desert. The aircon will probably not be working because the air filters are blocked with dust – it’ll actually be worse turning it on! Trust me, I’d know after overlanding in Southern Africa. You’ll spend long days in the car. Which, let’s be honest, as a passenger isn’t horrible.

Accommodation

Depending on the tour, you might either get a basic dorm room or a basic private room. It’s always worth asking the agency. You can pay a bit extra to opt for a private room with ensuite. There wasn’t really any heating in our accommodations and hot water was either a hit or miss. A lot of the power in these parts are dependent on solar. We had hot water (if you were fast enough) in one accommodation but none in the other. I’ll say that your room will be decent, nothing flashy, though.

Food

Food will be basic but homemade and tasty. Bolivian food is quite heavy on the carbs. If you have any dietary requirements, the team was really good at taking that into account. We had vegetarians, some who didn’t eat fish/seafood and others who didn’t eat pork. All our dietary requirements were met and the vegetarians had a separate dish to substitute the protein dish.

Toilets

Toilets in these parts (and throughout Bolivia) are basic. My recommendation is to bring a small packet of tissue paper with you for your emergency use. The tour agencies would also recommend you bring a toilet roll to be on the safe side! Throughout the day, you will be using the inca toilet – just another name for bush toilet. Make sure to have a little trash bag to put your used tissue in so you can properly dispose of it instead of littering!

WiFi

And WIFI will be very slow and at a cost.

Is the 3-Day Uyuni Salt Flat Tour worth it?

If you only do the 1-day salt flat trip, you’ll see the headline attraction. But if you do the 3-day tour, you experience the entire ecosystem of southwest Bolivia… all the flamingos, volcanic desert and different formations. For most travellers, it is an unforgettable experience either ways and I don’t think I’ve met anyone that regrets whichever option they picked. Personally, if you’re planning on border crossing, the 3-day tour is definitely the way to go!

Is the 3-Day Uyuni Tour physically difficult?

Not really, but it can be uncomfortable! The biggest challenge is the altitude, especially if you’re starting in San Pedro de Atacama and climbing to nearly 5000 metres in a single day. The best thing to do here is spend a few days in San Pedro de Atacama to acclimate by visiting some of the higher altitude attractions. You’ll also spend several hours each day in a 4×4 on rough roads and temperatures can drop below freezing overnight.

Accommodation is basic. Hot water isn’t guaranteed and early starts are part of the experience. That said, if you’re reasonably fit and prepared for a bit of discomfort, most travellers will have no issues completing the tour.

Who should be doing the 3 day tour?

If you’re either currently in Atacama, Chile and intend on continuing through to Bolivia OR if you’re in Uyuni, Bolivia and planning to continue your journey through Chile – then I would recommend a 3-day tour. This option not only allows you to fully experience Salar de Uyuni but also takes you through the remote parts of the Bolivian Altiplano and border cross! Depending on your route, you can definitely do this tour either from Uyuni or San Pedro de Atacama.

If needed, you can also extend it by an extra day if you want to return to your starting point. Personally, I thought there was plenty to see apart from the salt flats. There are altiplano lagoons, desert landscapes that look like a painting as well as geysers and quirky rock formations. It’s a classic route, especially for those who are backpacking around South America.

3-Day  Salar de Uyuni tour starting in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

The following itinerary schedule was based off my experience of starting from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. As we intended to continue our journey through Bolivia, we opted for a one-way tour ending in Uyuni. We had asked for the itinerary from several agencies – everyone generally follows a similar

Day 1: Lagoons, Flamingos & High-Altitude Desert

You get picked up before sunrise, approximately 0530hrs and driven ±45 mins to the Hito Cajones, the Chile-Bolivia altiplano border. The border doesn’t open until approximately 0800hrs. Essentially, you will wait at the border, watching the sunrise and breakfast will be served during this time. There will be a lot of other vans around which is probably why the early start.

After stamping out of Chile and into Bolivia, you will wait at the Bolivian immigration for your 4×4 jeep that you will use for the next few days exploring the altiplano region. It’s a visually diverse day with plenty to see and do… Several altiplano lagoons and even a hot spring to relax at! You’ll end the day visiting multicolour lagoon filled with flamingos and llamas before heading to your first accommodation of the trip.

Highlights:

• Laguna Blanca & Laguna Verde viewpoints
• Polques hot spring with lunch
• Desert of Salvador Dali
• Sol de Mañana Geyser
• Multi colour lagoons filled with flamingos (Laguna Colorada)

Day 2: Volcanoes, Rock Formations & Salt Hotels

Day two is more driving-heavy. Thankfully, the start isn’t as early. You will depart your accommodation in Villamar at approximately 0830hrs. Today you will visit different rock formations and surreal desert landscapes. Zigzagging all across the Bolivian altiplano is quite a fun adventure! This day can feel a bit same-y if you aren’t all that interested in the rock formations.

Towards the end of the day, you would’ve already made your way to the edge of the Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni). Depending on your guide, they might surprise you! Our guide actually brought us to a spot he knew had some water so we could see the Salar for the first time. For your last night, you will experience staying in a salt hotel. The entire hotel is made from salt!

Highlights:

• World Cup rock formation
• Petrified Camel Rock
• Ciudad de Piedra (city of stone)
• Grand Anaconda Canyon
• Bofedales de Sora
• Abandoned village of Julaca

Day 3: Sunrise over the Uyuni Salt Flats

I am unsure if this is something every tour does but we left our accommodation at 0400hrs and went to the middle of the salt flats for a stargazing session. I thought this was a really cool touch. If you managed to align this with the new moon and mid year, you will probably see some of the most amazing night sky and the Milky Way!

Depending on your season, you might head to Isla Incahuasi (cactus island) and walk up to the top to watch an incredible sunrise over the salt flats. It’s probably some of the coolest sunrises I’ve seen in a long time. After this, you will have breakfast at the bottom of Isla Incahuasi before driving into the vast white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni. This is when you take your funny photos – it’s so fun. We visited just after the new year so we experienced the salt flats in both ways. Hexagonal salt patterns at the base of Isla Incahuasi and closer to Uyuni town, mirror reflections. Tours usually finish around 2 – 4 pm in Uyuni.

How you get to experience the sight of the Salt Flats is entirely dependent on the season. You can expect to see:

Dry Season (May to Nov/Dec):

• • Hexagonal salt patterns
  • Perspective photography
  • Giant cactus island (Incahuasi Island)

Wet Season (Dec/Jan – May):

• • Thin layer of water
  • Sky reflections
  • Iconic “mirror” photos

Highlights

• Sunrise over Salar de Uyuni
• Isla Incahuasi (in dry season)
• Salt Hostel
• Monument of Flags
• Dakar Rally Monument
• Train cemetery in Uyuni

What’s included in a 3-Day Uyuni Salt Flats tour?

This varies slightly by operator. It would be worth asking the agency you go with to confirm the following. It is worth noting that whilst agencies advertise an English-speaking guide, that’s not the case. English isn’t widely spoken in Bolivia. However, majority of the drivers do speak Spanish so hope you have a spanish speaker in the group to translate if you don’t speak the language! The driver doubles as a guide – giving you a bit of information at each stop. Not all driver/guides are built the same. I’ve read some guides not providing any information. We were lucky with Fernando because he explained what life is like in the altiplano and answered all our questions.

Typically, the tours includes the following:

• • 4×4 vehicle transport
  • Driver (sometimes doubles as guide)
  • 2 nights accommodation
  • All meals (Day 1 breakfast → Day 3 lunch)
  • Border crossing (if starting in Chile)

Usually NOT included:

• • Entrance fees to the reserve
    • Eduardo Abaroa National Reserve (150 BOB per person)
    • Isla Incahuasi (30 BOB per person)
  • Hot spring entry fees
    • Polques Entrance (15 BOB per person)
  • Toilet stops
  • WIFI at hotels (if there is any)
  • Alcohol or extra snacks
  • Insurance

What should you bring?

It’s highly recommended to bring cash with you. Afterall in Bolivia, cash is king! The advisable amount is at least 300 BOB per person, especially if you would like to buy any souvenirs on your last day and for your onward journey.

Here’s a short round up packing list:

• • Comfortable shoes (closed in)
  • Tourist PDI card if coming from Chile + Passport
  • Bathing suit and towel for thermal
  • Sunglasses and hat – the sun is no joke!
  • Water. 2L a day per person is recommended. You can buy water at the hotels as well.
  • Personal hygiene + toilet paper
  • Sunscreen + SPF lip balm
  • If you’re not returning to Chile, all your belongings

1-Day vs 3-Day vs 4-Day Tours

I remember being a bit confused with the different options when I was first researching for the trip. This is a breakdown of the different options that are offered.

1-Day Tour (From Uyuni Only)

This can only be done from Uyuni, Bolivia. The distances are too large to visit the salt flats as a day trip from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. This is a great option if you’re short on time and only care about seeing the salt flats. It will also be the cheapest option of all the others.

Worth Noting: If you’re in Chile and only want to visit the Salt Flats as a day trip, you can take the bus from Calama, Chile to Uyuni, Bolivia, bookable on Busbud. This bus will take the entire day and you can organise a tour to the Salt Flats for the next day.

3-Day Tour (From Uyuni or San Pedro de Atacama, Chile)

This is the tour we had done and covered in the above section. I think this was probably the best value for it, as we got to explore the entire region. I would definitely say it’s worth reading the reviews for the different tour operators and going with whoever you feel comfortable with because everyone has very different expectations and experiences.

4-Day Tour (return to either towns)

This tour option only works if you don’t intend on border crossing and continuing your journey through the respective countries. I had spoken to the driver/guide and he did say there was nothing additional with this tour. You’re spending the last day driving back to the border/town.

TL;DR? Here’s some quick questions to wrap up

How many days do you need for Salar de Uyuni / Uyuni Salt Flats?

For the salt flats itself, one day is sufficient. However, if you want to explore all the spots, then it’s best to do a 3 day tour!

Is the 3-day tour safe?

With reputable operators, yes. Always check recent reviews. Tour companies don’t operate during public holidays for safety reasons. If a company is still going during then, I would be mindful!

Do you need a sleeping bag?

Not necessarily if you opt for the higher value tours that will provide you with proper accommodation.

Is there WiFi?

Rarely. Assume no connectivity! However, depending on your accommodation, WIFI can either be unavailable or available with a fee.

Can you end back in San Pedro?

If you’re starting in San Pedro de Atacama, most companies offer a return option back, this will be 4-days. If you’re starting in Uyuni, take the 3-day tour to end in San Pedro de Atacama.