Top 10 Salar Secrets – Get the most out of your trip
Make the most of your time on the Salar. (Photo: boywiththethorninhisside)
The Salar de Uyuni is an amazing place. For most, a visit is a once in a lifetime experience – so you want to make sure you get it right. Follow these top tips for an unforgettable salar tour.
10. Avoid common cons
Some tour companies include the entrance fee for Incahuasi island in their tour prices. If you pay this, look out! There have been several reports of drivers taking groups to an island which they insist is Incahuasi, but is actually entirely different, and does not have an entry fee, so the drivers can pocket the cash. Be aware of this, and if you can, ask other travellers about other cons which may be circulating.
9. Beware of tricky agencies
Many agencies employ all sorts of tricks to keep their costs down, and are not always upfront about them. Watch out for: veggie options which are simply non-vegetarian meals without meat; transfers to other agencies in the case of underbooking; prebooked guides masquerading any guide you may have requested; and bottles of wine which are promised but never materialise.
8. Know the seasons
It’s raining, it’s pouring … (Photo: 3rdparty!)
Bolivian winter is from April to October, and it’s cold: nighttime temperatures can drop to -20ºC. The summer is from November to March when nights are a bit less extreme, but it’s also the rainy season which means water on the Salar can turn it into a mirror. This makes for a surreal experience, perhaps more so than when it is dry, but watch out – if there’s been loads of rain, tours may have to be postponed.
7. Don’t waste your money
With most agencies, the driver/guide will spend most of the time driving, so don’t be disappointed if explanations of the area are not forthcoming. Besides, most of the scenery is fairly self explanatory: think about whether it is really worth paying extra for a guide who speaks English.
6. Don’t hang around
Don’t waste your time in Uyuni. (Photo: Michel Filion)
There’s not much to do in the town of Uyuni, so get in and out as quickly as you can. If you get in on a late night or early morning bus, try to book a tour in advance; it saves you time and hassle in Uyuni and means you can get going on the tour your first morning there – which is what you came for, after all.
5. Acclimatise to altitude
The Salar is over 3600m above sea level, so make sure you get the most out of your trip by doing everything you can to avoid altitude sickness. Try to spend some time getting used to high altitude before you leave, and keep hydrated. Alcohol dehydrates you, so avoid it if you’re experiencing symptoms. If you have not acclimatised or are very susceptible, consider paying more for a company that carries oxygen.
More on altitude sickness prevention
4. Carry the essentials
The light is blinding on the salar so if you want to enjoy it, sunglasses are a must. Remember high factor sun protection as well, and plenty of water. Even if the agency says they’ll provide water for you, it’s best to have some of your own spares … just in case.
3. Wrap up warm
Take loads of clothes for the nights and early mornings at temperatures well below freezing: accommodation is basic out in the desert and the nights get very cold. Don’t rely on sleeping bags you may have been promised by agencies – you don’t want to put yourself in a position where you can’t survive the night if they fail to materialise.
2. Don’t over-negotiate
Because of high competition, profit margins are low, so often if providers agree to price discounts (for you or your tour-mates) they will make up the costs elsewhere: smaller meals, shorter routes or maybe an extra person. Be careful of this because it’s not just comfort that can be compromised:unchecked vehicles can mean real problems with safety – make sure you check it yourself before you agree to get in.
1. Choose the right agency
With so much competition, no agency can be recommended with 100% confidence; trip providers offer similar tours, and almost all will have problems at some stage. However at certain times, certain providers come out on top. So the best thing to do is find out what people are saying at the moment. Agencies rise and fall like the tides, so take no notice of out-of-date advice: it’s no longer relevant.
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