Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia: Guide to a Month in South America

Hi there!
I’m Kim Juyoung, a freelance journalist
&
a book-loving travel and lifestyle blogger and YouTuber,
writing as Jigu Byeol Sigol Jwi.

Bolivia holds a special place in my heart.
I think that’s partly because I spent about a year working there and came home with so many memories.

Hotel Samay Wasi
Outside our cozy hotel in Uyuni, where a hot shower was a sure thing.

Whenever someone asks me for tips on planning a month in South America, one piece of advice always comes up: “You absolutely have to visit Uyuni, Bolivia.”

Why do I keep saying it?

I’m completely convinced that once you’ve seen this salt desert yourself, you’ll understand it on a whole different level.

A trip to Uyuni, Bolivia,isn’t just another sightseeing stop. For me, it was one of those defining experiences that changed the entire feel of a monthlong South America trip.

Until quite recently, visiting Bolivia came with an extra hurdle: getting a visa.

Even when you could travel visa-free through several other South American countries, Bolivia—home to Uyuni’s salt desert—was the exception.

You had to work through the paperwork in Cusco, Peru, or back in South Korea, which made Bolivia a more demanding addition to a monthlong itinerary.

Embassy of Bolivia in South Korea

As of December 3, 2025, however, South Korean passport holders became eligible for visa-free entry to Bolivia.

Now, a trip to Uyuni, Bolivia,no longer feels like something you have to brace yourself for. It’s a stop you can work naturally into a month in South America.

That one change alone made traveling in South Americafeel much more accessible to me.

imesim Bolivia eSIM: 30-Day Data Plan for Uyuni Travel

imesim

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EPOK Uyuni Salt Desert Mini Jigsaw Puzzle, 3,000 Pieces

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Uyuni’s salt desert seen from the plane

Uyuni is one of those places that’s genuinely difficult to put into words.

The landscape looks so unreal that I kept wondering, “Am I really still standing on Earth?”

Want to see what it looks like for yourself?

As you can see, the rainy season turns the flats into a vast mirror reflecting the sky. In the dry season, an endless white salt plain stretches into the distance.

That’s the real heart of visiting Uyuni, Bolivia: not the photographs, but the overwhelming feeling of being there.

It’s why Uyuni isn’t simply somewhere you stop for a picture. It stays with you.

This spot is in a place called Salinas de Garci Mendoza,
a small town near Uyuni’s #SaltDesert.

Besides the enormous salt flats most of us know, there’s another salt desert to the northwest.

In a small town between the two, you’ll find a place to stay and eat that’s well known among European road-trippers.

Surrounded by an otherwise empty plain, it stood out for how neat and well cared for it was.

I only stopped for a meal, but it left me thinking, “I could spend a few days here and take my time exploring the desert.”

Experiences like this add another dimension to the places worth visiting in Bolivia,revealing how much there is beyond the obvious highlights.

Eating in Uyuni: My Honest Take

Uyuni is a very small town.

Distances are short, and most hotels and restaurants are within walking distance.

This restaurant is called Lithium Club.

Of the local dishes I tried, the quinoa options
and tomato-based pasta were reasonably good.

Still, in this high-altitude setting, I’d keep expectations for the food modest.

That, too, is part of spending a month in South America:you learn to adjust as you go.

4. Incahuasi: An Island in the Salt Desert

Here, right in the middle of Bolivia’s Uyuni salt desert,
is the visitor attraction Incahuasi.

With cacti rising unexpectedly from the vast white landscape, Incahuasi Island is a stop on most tours.

This is Monco’s Restaurant.

Just finding a café in the middle of the salt desert was pretty remarkable.

Taking a break in the shade with a cup of coffee
felt like a precious chance to catch my breath during a demanding itinerary.

5. Essential Tips for Visiting Uyuni

Uyuni sits at high altitude, so looking after yourself really matters. I struggled quite a bit with altitude sickness while traveling, too.

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Avoid an overly ambitious schedule.
Pack warm layers for predawn and nighttime tours.
Be cautious with showers and alcohol, especially if you’re feeling unwell.
Bring U.S. dollars to exchange, then use the local currency.

Keeping these basics in mind can make your trip to Uyuni, Bolivia,much more enjoyable.

With visa-free entry now available to South Korean passport holders, traveling in Boliviano longer feels like such a logistical challenge.

Instead, it can become the country that leaves you with the most vivid memories of your month in South America.

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The sky above the salt desert,
the mirror-like landscape after the rain,
and the people I met in the middle of it all.

A little aside: Bolivia’s Andes are part of the potato’s native homeland!

Together, all those experiences made my trip to Uyuni, Bolivia,one I’ll never forget.

If you’re planning a month in South America, I’d absolutely consider adding Bolivia to your itinerary. The Uyuni Salt Flats really are worth the journey.

Bolivia Has Far Too Much to Offer for an Uyuni-Only Trip

Plenty of people think of Bolivia as “the country with that one salt desert.”

But once you’re there, the list of places to visit in Boliviaturns out to be much longer than you might expect.

There’s a city whose urban area reaches above 4,000 meters: La Paz, Bolivia;then,
the city known as the White City: Sucre, Bolivia;next,
the world’s highest navigable lake: Lake Titicaca, on the Bolivia–Peru border;and,
beyond those, lagoons where pink flamingos gather.

Bolivia is relatively affordable, too, so spending longer here won’t necessarily strain your budget during a month in South America. I really encourage you to give it a visit.

Reporting from Bolivia | OhmyNews

Personally, if you don’t feel ready to navigate South America in English or Spanish, I think joining a tour can make things easier in several ways.

Traveling independently isn’t the only way to get the most out of a trip. There are plenty of ways to explore, so take your time finding the one that suits you.

Written by

Jigu Byeol Sigol Jwi, book-loving travel blogger and YouTuber

Thanks for reading.

I’ll keep sharing my travel videos on YouTube. Until then, happy travels, everyone!

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