Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni is a salt pan and solonchak located in the Oruro and Potosí departments of Bolivia. Covering 10,582 square kilometers at an elevation of 3,661 meters, it is the second most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The best time to visit depends on your preference for the landscape. January and February are the wettest months, with 12 to 14 days of rain, which can create a reflective water surface on the salt pan. If you prefer drier conditions with minimal rain, visit between May and August, though temperatures during this period are colder, with lows reaching -6 °C. The area is located 293 kilometers from Sucre. The nearest airport is Joya Andina International Airport in Quijarro, situated 89 kilometers away.
Weather by month
The warmest month is December, with an average high of 19 °C. The wettest is January, with about 76 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 17 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
| Average low, °C | 4 | 3 | 2 | -2 | -4 | -6 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -2 | 0 | 2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 76 | 55 | 37 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 10 | 33 |
| Rainy days | 14 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 11 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
