WELCOME TO EXPLORA UYUNI
A contemporary lodge overlooking the Uyuni Salt Flats, designed for exploring one of South America’s most extraordinary landscapes.
Set in the foothills of Tunupa Volcano, Explora Uyuni looks across the vast white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni. With just six guest rooms, it is an intimate base for exploring southwest Bolivia, from the world’s largest salt flat to the remote landscapes of the Altiplano.
Days are spent climbing the colourful slopes of Tunupa Volcano, visiting giant cactus forests on the Salar’s islands, exploring archaeological sites and meeting the small communities that have lived around the salt flats for generations. As evening falls, the silence, exceptionally clear skies and immense scale of the landscape make this one of the finest places on Earth for stargazing.
What we love about Explora Uyuni
- Its remote location on the northern edge of the Salar beneath Tunupa Volcano – well away from the hotels around busy Uyuni town.
- Just six guest rooms, each with floor-to-ceiling windows and simple, wood-panelled interiors that keep the focus firmly on the landscape outside.
- Every exploration is led by Explora’s experienced local guides who have an excellent knowledge of the geology, wildlife, archaeology and communities of the Bolivian Altiplano.
- Wonderful food showcasing Bolivian ingredients and regional produce, with lunches often served as picnics out on the Altiplano or the salt flats.
- Architecture by Chilean architect Max Núñez, designed to minimise the lodge’s environmental impact and allow it to be easily dismantled in the future.
What to do at Explora Uyuni
Explora offers a wide range of guided explorations, allowing you to discover the Salar and the surrounding Altiplano at your own pace.
Visit the giant cacti of Isla Incahuasi, climb the lower slopes of Tunupa Volcano or explore the remarkable geological formations of the Gruta de las Galaxias. For those wanting a more in experience, there are opportunities to hike, cycle and ride, while the lodge’s location also makes it one of the finest places to experience sunrise, sunset and the extraordinary night skies of the Bolivian Altiplano.
Beyond the Salar itself, excursions visit quinoa-growing communities, ancient agricultural terraces, colourful lagoons and the remote villages that have existed here for centuries.
For many travellers, Explora Uyuni marks either the beginning or end of the remarkable overland crossing between Bolivia and Chile’s Atacama Desert. Travelling by 4×4 with a local guide and driver, the route crosses the Bolivian Altiplano over several days, staying in a series of remote mountain lodges along the way.
From Santiago, Chile’s capital city (SCL), you will need to take a two-hour connecting flight to the city of Calama. From there it is a one-hour transfer by land to Explora Atacama.
When to travel
The dry season, from April to November, is the best time for exploring the salt flats by vehicle and for doing the crossing into the Atacama Desert, offering crisp days with exceptionally clear skies.
During the wet season, usually between December and March, a thin layer of water transforms parts of the Salar into the famous mirror-like landscape that reflects the sky.
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