The Uyuni Salt Flats – largest in the world – were probably Bolivia’s premier tourist attraction when we visited in 2010 (if not today too). And it’s easy to see why. More than 10,500 square kilometers in size, and around 3,600 meters above sea level, they extend south and west from Uyuni nearly as far as Chile. Unless you have the time, money and inclination to sponsor your own expedition, you’re more or less forced to take a tour. Finding the right one is a chore, but at the end of the day, like banana pancakes in Vietnam, it’s a case of “same-same but different”. The best thing to do is just plonk down your Bolivianos, jump in the jeep, and roll out.
 Bolivian Train |
 Huayna Potosi |
 Colca Canyon |
The trip takes in all the obvious spots: the “island” in the middle of the salt plain with strange cactus growing on it; the Insta-worthy photo ops of people jumping outlandishly against the white background (hey, we went there before Insta was invented); the mounds of salt piled up by local salt traders.
But this place shone, quite literally, as the sun set. Because then, from one minute to the next, the harsh blinding white of the plains became a soft, soothing yellow, then deepened until you’d have sworn the plain was awash with liquid gold. It was cold and windy, but Heaven on Earth it was beautiful.
