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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Travel
Julie Delahaye

Bolivia's salt flats: top tips if you're visiting the spectacular Uyuni salt flats

Bolivia's salt flats have become somewhat of an Instagram legend.

The vast, white landscape with its hexagonal patterns, and the mirror effects produced when it rains have made the flats a hit with intrepid explorers sharing their adventures on social media.

But the Uyuni Salt Flats, in southwestern Bolivia have been attracting visitors since long before Instagram was even created.

(In Bolivia, they're called the Salar de Uyuni).

Still, it's not difficult to see why they're such a hit.

Thousands of years ago they served as a huge salt lake, but nowadays they're an impressive desert.

During the dry season, expect a pristine, white landscape, while in the rainy season the water transforms the ground into a seemingly flawless reflective surface.

So, how big are the Bolivian salt flats? At just over 4,000 square miles, they're the largest salt flats in the world.

The world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia, photographed at sunrise (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The Bolivian salt flats also got some major Hollywood credentials when they served as a filming location for Star Wars: The Last Jedi.

Want to visit and see them for yourself?

The nearest towns/cities from which you'll find tours departing tend to be La Paz, Tupiza and Uyuni itself.

Bolivia's salt flats are absolutely spectacular (Moment Editorial/Getty Images)

Your best bet is to go with a tour operator, especially as they will know the best routes. You can choose from one-day to four-day tours, depending on how much time you plan to spend there.

The Uyuni Salt Flats are the largest salt flat in the world (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

However, it's worth leaving space on the itineraries to spend a few days in the region, as the flats have an elevation of around 11,995 ft above sea level - so the altitude can take some time to get used to (you may want to look into altitude sickness tablets).

The salt flats have a desert climate; hot and sunny in the day, with temperatures plummeting in the evenings.

As for what to wear to the Bolivia salt flats, you're going to want layers, as the weather can be volatile. In the summer, you'll want light layers (T-shirts, shorts) and heaps of suncream, while in the evenings you'll want plenty of jumpers and long trousers/leggings to cope with the colder temperatures.

If you want to see the mirror effect, then head during the rainy season (December to April), but it's worth noting that if there is excess rain then tours could be cancelled.

The dry season (May to November) has slightly cooler temperatures and the ground has hardened meaning you can drive across to slightly more remote parts of the landscape.

It's worth noting that there are ongoing political tensions in Bolivia, so make sure to check the FCO's latest travel advice before you plan a trip.

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