With the recent run of cold weather we had and more to come in the months ahead, I wanted to feature a warm destination this month. As we head into winter, South America moves into summer. So if like
me, you’re ready to lose your frozen mind by February, then this would be a great trip to start planning. As well, the best time to visit is rainy season from December to March when the rain turns the flats
into a giant mirror, allowing you to snap incredible reflection photos.
me, you’re ready to lose your frozen mind by February, then this would be a great trip to start planning. As well, the best time to visit is rainy season from December to March when the rain turns the flats
into a giant mirror, allowing you to snap incredible reflection photos.
Dry season from April to October is also great - I visited the first week of April - it just means the flats are drier with less reflective pools of water. Still spectacular as the expanse of white stretches forever.
It’s the world’s largest salt flat and is truly an amazing sight to behold. No other singular place besides the vast and endless icebergs of Antarctica has floored me as much as the salt flats of Bolivia.
Getting here can be a little complicated and will differ depending on your plans before/after (are you only going to Bolivia or will you also be visiting Chile?) and your budget (this will dictate if you should taketrain, bus, or plane). I started my tour in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile (definitely worth a visit!) but there are several other routes you can take so I won’t bombard you all with the many details of that.
Give me a call and I am happy to talk you through the options to see what is best for you or I can even connect you to a travel advisor who can plan it for you. This goes for all trips. I never get sick of talking about travel so definitely do not hesitate!
Top 5 Things to See in the Salar de Uyuni
Most of the tours are 3 days and cover the below sights but just make sure they are on the itinerary - these are can’t miss spots.
- Salt Flats: Obviously this is the main draw but there is much more to it than I expected and it’s important to make sure your tour visits them at sunrise or sunset to see how the flats change with the light. The pyramid-shaped salt piles, pictured below, are also a super cool sight.
- Laguna Colorada: This bright red lagoon filled with flamingoes and surrounded by llamas and alpacas was probably the most interesting thing on the tour, aside from the Salt Flats themselves. The various colors of the water are caused by minerals and algae, contrasting with the white islands made of borax. The resulting imagery reminds me of the layered sand art that was so popular decades ago.
- Laguna Verde: This high-altitude salt lake sits at the foot of 2 volcanoes - Licancabur and Juriques. As its name indicates, Laguna Verde is a brilliant green color (ranging from turquoise to emerald depending on the wind’s effects on the mineral sediment inside the lake), contrasted by the white of neighboring Laguna Blanca. Don’t take a dip though! With high concentrations of lead, sulfur, and arsenic, Laguna Verde is toxic, which is why you won’t see any flamingoes here.
- Isla Incahuasi (Cactus Island): In the middle of the salt flats, this island of giant cacti and coral rock formations stands out against the vast white. This piece of land is the top of the remains of an ancient volcano, which was submerged when the area was part of a giant prehistoric lake, about 40,000 years ago.
- Uyuni: There are so many things to see in the village, from the colorful clothing and textiles to the Train Graveyard. This locomotive ghost town isn’t talked about as much but I found it to be incredibly fascinating - it’s a really cool step back into the past. Visit in the evening when the tour buses are gone.
Travel Tip of the Month
Traveling Abroad Best Practices | Tip #2: Foreign Currency Exchange
Exchanging money at the airport, a hotel, or a currency exchange counter is the most expensive way to change currency and should be avoided if at all possible. Visit your local bank before leaving the country or find out if the country you’re visiting has an in-network ATM. ATMs used to be a great way to withdraw local currency at close to the actual exchange rate but on recent travels, I’ve noticed that this has changed drastically and local ATMs can now be as expensive as exchanging at the airport, or even more, so it’s important to find one that’s affiliated with your bank at home. Once you’re abroad, using a credit card can be your best bet to not get gouged on exchange fees and bad rates but check with your bank to make sure that you aren’t being charged foreign transaction fees.
Wine of the Month
With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, I wanted to focus this month on Champagne - my favorite! If you’ve had a killer year and really want to go all out to celebrate the new decade, the best Champagne I think I have ever had was at a tasting in NYC recently - Lanson Vintage Collection 1976. It is only sold as a Magnum (1.5L) at $900 a bottle. Yes, you read that right. It’s so incredibly rich and will knock your socks off but if that’s not in your budget (is it in anyone’s really?), my favorite Champagnes are Jacques Selosse Initial Grand Cru and Krug Grand Cuvée. I tend to be most drawn to the more biscuit/brioche, savory flavors that these both have to offer so considering that and at a still formidable $210 & $165 a bottle, they’re not for everyone.
For mid-range options, I am partial to Delamotte Blanc de Blancs (~$45) and after a visit to the vineyards years ago, Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Noir ($20), which is closer to a sparkling rose with creamy berry notes.
For a low-budget sparkler that still offers quality, I suggest going with a Cava. Cava is made in the Traditional Method like Champagne (though Cava is made mainly from macabeo, parellada, and xarel-lo grapes while Champagne is made from chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and/or Pinot Meunier) with the second fermentation in the bottle, so I find that it maintains that crisp dryness that Prosecco often misses the mark on. At only $7-9 a bottle, Jaume Serra Cristalino is very drinkable and easy to find.
