Our day starts earlier so that we can make it on time to Uyuni Salt Flats before sunset. We commence by travelling through Siloli Desert and stop by rock formations that include The Stone Tree. We still travel north alongside the Chilean border, passing a chain of beautiful lagoons, that are still with little wind and thus reflect the mountains and surrounds stunningly! They are in order of appearance; Ramaditas, Honda, Chiarkota, Hedionda and CaƱapa. We do some short walks around these lagoons and head off down a rocky pass called Pasito Tun Tun.
When the pass is conquered we drive towards a main road to get a view of the always active Volcano Ollague. It is split 50/50 between Chile and Bolivia and has a steaming fumarole on the Chilean side. After this quick stop we have a long drive east to Uyuni and then Colchani where we will spend the night. We pass many small villages and larger towns as well as Boliviaās largest mine: San Cristobal; which is an open-pit silver, lead and zincĀ mine.
We arrive at our āHotelā for the night: called Palacio del Sal. It is self-rated at 7 stars; which is nowhere close to reality. There are 2 toilets to share for 30 people and no running water at all, not even to wash your hands or brush your teeth. It is however a novelty to sleep in a building made entirely of salt bricks. This hotel also has a view across the Uyuni Salt Flats. We have about an hour to spare before heading off to join the hundreds of people for sunset. There are no rules as to where one can and cannot drive on the salt pan; so it is a free for all!! Which also means that you have people parked in front of you, in the way of your photosā¦
The sunset was a great golden colour, without any clouds in the western sky. We head off to dinner after the sun says goodbye for the day.
