Visit the Salt Flats - Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

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This is an amazing remarkable landmark is located in the Bolivia. The harsh beauty and desolateness of Salar de Uyuni can make for an incredible experience or a logistical nightmare. This is like a white desert. But it doesn't have sand, it features vast expanses of glistening white salt which is reflecting and exactly look like a mirror. There is no any outlet to the sea. Saltwater deposits seeped from the surrounding mountains. They were deposited here which is the lowest point of the Altiplano plateau.That water then formed a giant lake. That water has high salinity. High salinity means that whilst this vast lake has long since evaporated under the sun, a thick crust of salt remains, forming what we now know as the Salt Flats of Salar de Uyuni. At certain times of the year, nearby lakes overflow. Then a thin layer of water transforms the flats into a stunning reflection of the sky. There is no place else like it in the world. In here wildlife or wild animals are rare due to the unique ecosystem in here. But it harbours many pink flamingos.
How to Getting to the Salt Flats 

The best and most popular way to visit the Salar de Uyuni is by taking a 4×4 tour across the salt flatsAgencies drive travellers to the border before handing the tour over to a Bolivian operator. Due to the distance, this is a three-day tour.

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The Salar de Uyuni is one of the harshest environments for vehicles on the planet and occasional vehicle issues can happen, this to a certain extent is unavoidable. Most Salt Flats tours are safe and reliable. If you don’t mind a bit of rough travel then these tours are well worth it. You are guaranteed to see some of the most unique landscapes on the planet. As with all tours, pick your tour operator carefully. Once in Uyuni, before the tour, make sure your vehicle has the appropriate amount of seat belts and is in a roadworthy condition.


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Given the isolated nature of the place, the electrical power sources can be rare so bring external power packs or extra batteries to ensure your camera and phone are always charged! Batteries run down very quickly in the freezing night-time climate, so keep them close to your body or even in the bottom of your sleeping bag to preserve the power a little longer. The sun is extremely strong in the Bolivian Altiplano. Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are highly recommended. When the sun begins to set at this altitude, things get very cold very fast. Gloves, hats, extra thick socks, a scarf, thermals, and a good sleeping bag are a must if you are planning one of the multi-day tours. 


The Best Times to Visit

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It has two distinct seasons.

December to April - The rainy season

During this season more visitors come to witness the Salar’s breathtaking mirror effect. Be wary of excessive rain in December and January, as it can cause tour cancellations.Rain during February to April make it a totally different experience.

May to November - The dry season  

During this season The Salar de Uyuni is a special sight not to be missed. The temperatures are colder. The ground has hardened, and travellers can drive across the stark white landscape to places that aren’t accessible in the rainy season.  


Tips to take awesome photographs

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One of the highlights of Salar de Uyuni is an endless horizon that allows photographers to play with perspective and depth of field. The endless salt flat at Salar de Uyuni makes all kinds crazy perspective photography possible.

The key to great photos is to get the camera low to the ground and close to your prop. This gives the perspective that the prop is larger than the human subjects, who stand farther away.

Bring interesting items: Like toy animals and action figures, toy vehicles and regular props such as sunglasses, hiking boots and water bottles can all be turned into something funny and useful.

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Uyuni, Bolivia: The most popular jumping-off point for salt flats tours, Uyuni is a small, dusty town packed with tourism agencies in Plaza Arce, its main square. 

Advice from an old photographer - “Shoot, shoot, shoot! Take lots and lots of shots since it’s not so easy to see your camera screen in the glare and you might never be back here again"

Making everyone jump in the air is the last resort shot that can always come out well!!!


Altitude sickness at the Salar de Uyuni

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Visitors may experience altitude sickness if they haven’t properly acclimatized. Because it is nearly 12,000 feet above sea level. Symptoms include nausea, headaches, and insomnia among others. Altitude sickness can catch many travelers a little bit off guard. Not everyone gets sick at high altitudes and it is difficult to predict who is likely to be badly affected by it.

If you want to limit your chances of getting sick though, there are a few things you can do.Drink lots of water and slow down!! This sounds simple but both of these things are very important. Your body is struggling because you don’t have enough oxygen so avoiding any extraneous activity is a good idea. Chew Some Coca Leaves. The native people of South America have been chewing coca for centuries thanks to its ability to alleviate mild altitude sickness symptoms. Coca leaves can be bought in any supermarket and even souvenir shops or street stalls.



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