Colchani

Salar de Uyuni


Located right on the edge of Salar de Uyuni, Colchani is the easiest place to access the great salt flat and the place to go if you just want a glimpse of the salar. Most salt flat tours stop here to visit the souvenir stalls and small salt museum, which is built from salt and contains salt sculptures (admission is free). Colchani is 22km north of Uyuni; buses to Oruro pass the village (B$5, 40 minutes).

The families here make their living from salt extraction as part of a cooperative; you can see small pyramids of salt draining on the salar, close to the village.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Salar de Uyuni attractions

1. Playa Blanca Salt Hotel

7.57 MILES

Although it is now closed to overnight visitors, you can still check out the salt sculptures inside and the Dakar Rally and Flag Monuments outside (add…

2. Church

13.27 MILES

The simple church on Colón is a local landmark.

4. Clock Tower

13.36 MILES

This European-style clock tower was built in 1930 with a clock mechanism that was imported from Germany. You can find the tourist police office here.

8. Museo Ferrocarril

13.52 MILES

Serious trainspotters might want to take a look inside this huge hangar of a museum, which houses several salt-crusted train engines and carriages. It's…

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