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Salar de Uyuni & the Altiplano: the Day-by-Day Itinerary
The Salar de Uyuni is ten thousand square kilometres of blinding white salt — in the wet season it becomes a perfect mirror of the sky. Beyond it, this route climbs through Potosí's silver-mine history to Sucre's white colonial calm.
Salar de Uyuni & the Altiplano is a 650 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as 4–6 days; the plan below is the 5-day version for May, built from 94 verified places, with real road-routed transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.
Customize this plan → 4-day plan · 5-day plan · 6-day plan · best time to go
5
days
629 km
distance
15.7 h
driving
22
curated stops
💡 Good to know for this plan
- Dry season: the salt crust is drivable corner to corner and the night skies are absurd.
Day 1 Uyuni → Salar de Uyuni
🌡 -6.9–18.2°C · 🌧 ~1 rain days · ☀ 11.0h light
09:00
Museo Ferrocarril y Museo Arqueologico Antropologicomuseums & heritage
Discover intriguing rail history and ancient artifacts.
50 min · Uyuni
open: Supposedly open M–F 08:00–12:00, 14:30–18:30, but it doesn't seem to s
09:50
Secretaria De Turismo
90 min · Uyuni
13:22
Isla del Pescadohistory & sagas
Explore fossilized coral topped with rare, slow-growing cacti.
50 min · Salar de Uyuni · Bs30
14:12
Salt-Mining Area
See massive salt piles left to dry under the sun.
50 min · Salar de Uyuni
15:02
Tunupa Volcano
Gaze at a dormant volcano, sometimes hosting flamingos at its base.
50 min · Salar de Uyuni
Overnight: Salar de Uyuni
e.g. Salt Hotels
Day 2 Around Salar de Uyuni
🌡 -6.9–18.2°C · 🌧 ~1 rain days · ☀ 11.0h light
09:00
Viscacha Area
Watch Viscachas emerge from rocky outcroppings for food.
50 min · Salar de Uyuni
09:50
Laguna Amarilla
Admire the striking yellow waters colored by sulphur.
50 min · Salar de Uyuni
Overnight: Salar de Uyuni
e.g. Salt Hotels
Day 3 Potosí
🌡 -4.9–22.0°C · 🌧 ~1 rain days · ☀ 11.1h light
14:33
Casa Nacional de Monedamuseums & heritagehistory & sagas
Tour the historic mint where colonial silver coins were crafted.
50 min · Potosí · Entrance is Bs. 40 for foreigners (Bs. 2
15:23
Mining tourhistory & sagas
Experience harsh, unchanged mining conditions from colonial times.
90 min · Potosí · There are many tour agencies in Potosí o
16:53
Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peacechurches & landmarks
50 min · Potosí
18:30
Doña Eugeniabudget eats
Taste the famous spicy Kalapurka soup served on a volcanic rock.
75 min · Potosí
Overnight: Potosí
e.g. Koala Den · Hostal More
See the remaining 2 days of the 5-day plan →
Route map
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