Salt Flats, Bolivia: The Definitive Guide to Going

I wrote each post regarding my tour of the salt flats and greater area in real time. Now that it’s over and I’m warm again, I can reflect on what I would and would not recommend.

Here are the posts in the series to get you caught up:

Boliviana de Aviación: An Aerial Shot of the Great Salt Flats
Booking Salt Flats Tour Upon Arrival: Good Or Bad Idea?
Salt Flats, Bolivia: An Epic, Extraordinary Adventure (Day 1)
Salt Flats, Bolivia (Day 2): Living in the Land Cruiser
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia (Day 3): Geysers, Hot Springs, and Chile

3 Days Versus 1 Day
The most unique photos were from the salt flats which were captured on day 1. The photos of the Colorada Lagoon, the geyser, the flamingos, the mountains, and the scenery were taken in day two and day three. While I love the photos and enjoyed seeing so much of Bolivia, I would not recommend the 3 day tour if you’re short on time. I would recommend the 3 day tour if the next stop on your tour is Chile.

English Guide vs. Spanish Guide
I hate tours. I hate tour guides who talk and talk. I would not pay double the price to hear an English guide explain to me what can be ascertained by simply observing my surroundings/Googling later. At the same time, I speak enough Spanish and my guide spoke slow enough that I was able to, mas o menos, get the gist of what he was saying.

Book Ahead Or Upon Arrival?
I highly recommend Camel Solara (and I don’t get paid for doing so). I would book them ahead of time. If you can’t get a hold of them, then I wouldn’t fret about making an advanced booking. The tour should cost between 750 and 800 Bolivianos (~$115 USD) per person which includes transport and meals. It does not include entries into the national parks or the bathrooms.

Are You Too Old to Go?
I am over the hostel life. Three days of not showering, sharing a dorm, and listening to backpackers doe-eyed view of the world is not my idea of a good time. Luckily, the people in my group we were my age and not into playing the game of how do you pronounce ‘water’. Unfortunately, if you do want to go, you will have to endure these annoyances and these accommodations. I’m not saying it’s a big deal to tolerate these things for the sake of adventure or that I would pay a premium to be driven around in a Lexus instead of a Land Cruiser. I recommend completing this trip early on in your travel ventures when you are more affable and more open to not having a hot shower or paying to use the toilet.

Should You Go?
Hell yes!

And with that, I’m outta here.