TAYKA ROUTE ITINERARY, 3 DAYS AND 2 NIGHTS

A classic and most complete option to visit the most important atractions of the Salar de Uyuni and the South Lipez Highlands, with accommodation at confortable rustic hotels of the Tayka Network, local community based administration.

During the first two days you will observe and experience the magnificent "Salar" and the next time you will be able to visit the great landscape of the coloured deserts and lagoons of the Eduardo Abaroa Reserva of Andean Fauna.

DAY 1: UYUNI – UYUNI SALT FLAT – TAHUA

Our first activity will be the visit to the Train Cemetery and Colchani. Later, inside the Salar de Uyuni we will arrive to the “Salt Hotel-Museum”, the first of its kind. 

At noon we will visit the “Incahuasi Island” in the middle of the Salt flat; there are extraordinary calcareous rocks, large populations of Cactus, caves, tunnels and a spectacular 360 grades panoramic view of the Salt Flat. We will continue our tour to the north part of the salt flat visiting a local museum, where we will be able to see pre-Columbian mummies. Later we will get to the Salt Flat viewpoint at the foot of the Tunupa volcano.

At the end of the afternoon we will arrive to Tahua for overnight.

DAY 2: TAHUA – MINOR LAGOONS - SILOLI DESERT

We cross the infinite salt plane from north to south, leaving it behind we will travel along the volcanoes range with their eternal snow going to Lípez, there we will have a view of the Ollagüe Volcano at the distance. Then we restart the trip to the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, where we will appreciate the svelte figure of the wild Vicuñas, while we get to the lagoons of Cañapa, Hedionda and Honda where you will see different kinds of birds.

Then we will arrive to the Siloli Desert where we will have some time to take pictures of this magnificent landscape and if it is possible you would see the Vizcachas (wild desert rabbit).

DAY 3: SILOLI DESERT– GREEN LAGOON – UYUNI

This day we need to get up very early (at 5:30 approximately), our first activity is the visit to the Stone Tree, famous rock formation in the Desert, latert we will get to the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, arriving to the Geysers of “Sol de Mañana” during the most active moment and with the first ray of sunlight. The cold is intense but, we will be able to walk among the smoky and noisy geysers, boiling mud stewpot where red and grey mud is boiling. Later we will enjoy a bath in the hot springs, in the middle of the Lípez Highlands.

Later we will get to the Dali Desert, there are surrealist columns of stones sculpted by the wind. After that, we will appreciate the Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon), one of the pearls of the Reserve at its best moment; we are now at the foot of Licancabur volcano.

It’s time to take the road back, towards Uyuni we will arrive to the Laguna Colorada (The Red Lagoon), this is the main flamingos nesting site, and there you will find three kinds of flamingos and other kinds of birds as Andean seagulls and wild ducks. The red color of the lagoon comes from the effect of the solar radiations and wind on the algae and plankton.

We continue our journey, in the afternoon; we will take a walk around the Rocks Valley, giant volcanic rocks close to Alota. Our last stop is at San Cristóbal village which has been moved from its original site to the actual one for the needs of one the biggest mine in Bolivia.

Arrival to Uyuni at 18:00 approximately.

• Uyuni and Eduardo Avaroa Reserve are strategic places to continue the trip towards San Pedro de Atacama (Chile), La Quiaca - Jujuy - Salta (Argentina) and  Potosí - Sucre - Tupiza (Bolivia)

Recommendations

Access to attractions may be limited during the rainy season, so that access roads to the town of Uyuni. The rainy season starts in December and ends in March.

Altitud variation

From 3665 meters in Uyuni to 4870 at the Siloli Desert.

Optional activities

• Galaxies cave
• San Pedro de Quemes
• Ascent to Tunupa Volcano, Licancabur Volcano, Uturuncu Volcano
• Visit to "Ciudad de Roma" of San Antonio de Esmoruco
• Extension to San Pedro de Atacama
• Extension to Tupiza