San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni: Our Three-Day Salt Flats Tour
The salt flats were one of those places I had seen so many photos of that I almost did not know what to expect when we finally got there. Would it really look like that? Would the trip between Chile and Bolivia be worth the rougher parts?
Honestly, yes. Standing out on the water at sunrise, with the car, mountains and everyone around us reflected underneath, was unreal! But that beautiful final morning came after a freezing border wait, a shared room and a bathroom situation I would definitely want to know about before booking.
Dan and I travelled one way from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni over three days and two nights, in early February. Here is the route we actually did, what the overnight stays were like and the questions I would ask before choosing a tour.
Is the San Pedro to Uyuni Tour Worth It?
I would absolutely do it again, provided you are comfortable with basic accommodation, long stretches in a shared vehicle and a flexible route. Our group and guide made such a difference, and the salt flats lived up to what we had hoped for.
This is not three days entirely on the white salt flats. Most of the crossing is a road trip through Bolivia's high-altitude landscapes, with lagoons, hot springs, rock formations and small settlements before the final salt-flat morning.
If your main priority is a comfortable hotel every night, look closely at the accommodation category rather than choosing from the cover photo. If you enjoy the journey as much as the destination, there is so much to love here.
What to Check Before Booking a One-Way Tour
The single most important detail is where your tour starts and finishes. A three-day trip departing Uyuni is not automatically the same route as a three-day trip leaving San Pedro. Some itineraries return to Chile; ours ended in Uyuni.
We booked through an agency in San Pedro. The links here are for comparing available tours, not a claim that every listing is the exact company we used.
Compare Uyuni salt-flat tours here. Before paying, open the full itinerary and check:
- Direction and duration: San Pedro departure, Uyuni finish, three days and two nights if you want our trip shape.
- Room and bathroom arrangements: shared or private on each night, not just a general hotel category.
- Language: whether the booking includes an English-speaking guide or a driver speaking another language.
- Group size: there were six travellers plus our driver in the vehicle.
- Meals and dietary needs: vegetarian food was available on our tour, but request it in advance.
- Extras: reserve admission, hot springs, toilets, water and any border-related charges.
- Weather changes and onward timing: what happens if conditions change, and when the tour actually finishes.
Where to stay before the crossing
We spent three nights at Hostal Anpaymi Atacama before leaving Chile. Having our own bathroom and a kitchen was a lovely contrast to the moving part of the trip ahead.
Hostal Anpaymi Atacama
Our three-night base with a comfortable private room, our own bathroom and a shared kitchen. The simple, practical stay I would start with for a tour-based visit.
Our Atacama itinerary covers those days, and the San Pedro accommodation comparison includes two other places I would look at.
Our Three-Day Route from Chile to Bolivia
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| Day | Our main experiences | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Border crossing, Laguna Blanca and Verde, Dalí Desert, hot springs, geothermal stop and Laguna Colorada | Shared room with our group |
| Day 2 | Rock formations, a lagoon walk, canyon scenery, village stops and Uyuni train cemetery | Private room and bathroom in Uyuni |
| Day 3 | Sunrise reflections, dry salt flats, breakfast stop, flags and perspective photos | Tour finished in Uyuni; we travelled onwards |
This records our itinerary, not a guaranteed stop list. Conditions and operators can change the order or omit a stop. Use it to understand the experience, then compare it with your own booking confirmation.
Day 1: The Border, Lagoons and Hot Springs
Our accommodation pickup was around 6am. The border was freezing, with snow around us, and the wait felt long: roughly an hour and a half to two hours on our morning. Toilets were not available to us during that stop. I would use the bathroom before leaving and keep warm layers accessible rather than buried in the bag.
After the border arrangements, we changed into a Land Cruiser. There were the two of us, an Italian couple, two Brazilians and our driver, with luggage secured on the roof. Keep your day bag with you for a reason: you will want water, camera, warm clothes and whatever you need for the next stop without unpacking everything.
The day moved through Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde, the Dalí Desert and hot springs before continuing through the high-altitude scenery. I loved how different the stops felt, even when they were all part of the same enormous landscape.
The hot springs were worth getting changed for! Bring swimwear and a towel, and do not build your plan around a full shower afterwards. The showers were not usable during our visit.
Later came the geothermal area at Sol de Mañana and Laguna Colorada. The red lagoon and flamingos were a highlight in their own right, not just something to drive past on the way to Uyuni. I have kept the place-specific detail in our Laguna Colorada guide.
The first night, honestly
We shared a room with the group. The beds were comfortable, there was thick bedding and the family hosting us were lovely. Dinner was good too, with soup, chicken, vegetables, rice and dessert. Those things genuinely helped after the long day.
The difficult part was the bathroom. Around fifteen people were sharing one toilet and shower, and there was no hot water during our stay. A private-room upgrade was offered, but I would ask about this before the tour rather than relying on one being available on arrival.
Ask what your tour provides on its first night, including whether a private-room upgrade also changes the bathroom arrangements.
Day 2: Desert Stops and a Much More Comfortable Room
We had breakfast around 8am and continued through rock formations, including the camel-shaped rock and the area described to us as Lost Italy. There was a lagoon walk, canyon scenery, a village lunch and a stop at San Cristóbal before Uyuni.
You spend a fair amount of time travelling between places. For me, that was part of the appeal: looking out at the landscape, stopping somewhere completely different and sharing it with the people in the car. But if you only want one iconic salt-flat photograph, recognise that a multiday crossing includes much more than that.
We reached the train cemetery before settling into our Uyuni accommodation. After the previous night's bathroom, our private room and private bathroom felt very welcome. There was a large bed and a big shower, and we were very happy with it!
Both nights were included in our tour package. You do not need to book a separate Uyuni hotel for an overnight your operator is already providing.
Day 3: Sunrise on the Uyuni Salt Flats
We left around 5am for the sunrise. This was the morning I had been imagining, and seeing the reflections in person was even better than looking at photographs beforehand.
We spent time in a wet section first, then drove to dry salt flats. That was a lovely surprise because we got two very different versions of Salar de Uyuni on the same morning: the mirror and the bright white ground.
There was breakfast at a salt-hotel stop, the flags and plenty of time for playful perspective photos. We had breakfast at a salt hotel; we did not sleep in one. If sleeping in a salt hotel is important to you, make sure that is a named inclusion rather than assuming every tour does it.
We also returned to a wet area later. The light and feeling were different from sunrise, which is why I would not treat the mirror as one quick photo opportunity and rush away. Our Uyuni timing guide explains what February gave us and why reflections cannot be promised for every date.
Packing, Altitude and Costs to Clarify
Pack for cold starts as well as sunny daytime stops. I would have a warm jacket, gloves, hat, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, sun protection, water, swimwear, a towel, toilet paper and a portable charger within reach. Protect camera equipment from water and salt rather than putting it straight on the ground for a photo.
We noticed the altitude and felt breathless at points. That is our experience, not reassurance that everyone will be fine. The CDC's high-altitude guidance explains why gradual acclimatisation matters and why fitness does not prevent altitude illness. Discuss health concerns with a clinician before travelling, tell your guide about symptoms and do not continue ascending with symptoms of altitude illness.
For money, get a written list of included meals, overnight stays and entry charges. Ask what cash and currencies you need before leaving San Pedro. The Wise card I use for travel is useful for my wider travels, but a remote stop is not somewhere I would assume card payment will be available.
Do not compare tour prices by the headline number alone. A private room, guide language, park fees and the finish point can change what you are actually buying.
If you want an extra night in Uyuni
We continued by bus to Oruro after the tour, stayed overnight and then went on to La Paz. If you would prefer a slower finish, an extra Uyuni night is an option. Confirm the tour's finish time before committing to onward transport.
Eucalyptus Uyuni
The one I would compare for an independent night after the tour, with a private bathroom and breakfast. Check cash-payment terms. This is an extra-night option, not our included tour hotel.
Eucalyptus is the one I would compare for that additional night, not the unnamed hotel included in our package. Its listing specifies cash payments, so confirm the accepted currency directly before arrival.
Watch Our Bolivia Salt Flats Vlog
The video shows both overnight rooms, the group, the cold start and the salt flats themselves. It is the easiest way to see whether this style of trip suits you.
Watch our Bolivia salt flats vlog on YouTube.
FAQs About the San Pedro to Uyuni Tour
Is the crossing three days or four?
Ours was a three-day, two-night one-way tour from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni. Other tours have different start points, return journeys or durations, so check the full route.
Did you stay in a salt hotel?
No. We had a shared room on the first night and a private room in Uyuni on the second. We stopped for breakfast at a salt hotel on the final day.
Were the rooms included?
Yes, both overnight stays were included in our tour. Only book an independent hotel if you need an extra night beyond your package.
Did you see the mirror effect?
Yes, on our February visit. We also reached a dry section that morning, but water coverage and access depend on conditions and cannot be guaranteed.
Would you do the tour again?
Absolutely. There were cold and basic moments, but we loved the group, the guide and the changing landscapes, and the salt flats lived up to our hopes.
Final Thoughts: Would I Recommend the Crossing?
Yes, with honest expectations. It is a shared road trip through remote landscapes, not a luxury hotel break. Go knowing the room setup, pack for the cold and give yourself permission to enjoy the journey. That last morning on the mirror was incredible, but it would be a shame to think the rest was just a transfer.
