Day 190 – Uyuni, BO and the Salar de Uyuni

Day 190 – Uyuni, BO and the Salar de Uyuni      02/27/11      Mileage: 0

After breakfast we set out to book a 4×4 to take us out on the Salar de Uyuni…the largest salt flat in the world. We could have taken the bikes, but with the salar partially flooded, the salt water would have sprayed all over the bikes and it is highly corrosive and hell on the electrical system. We shopped around a bit but decided to book a private tour with the three of us. So at 11 our Land Cruiser showed up and we were off.

It was a 20 minute drive from Uyuni to the edge of the salar, then our guide eased the Lan Cruiser into the water and out onto the salar. The water was around 6 inches deep, but after a mile or so lessened to 2-4 inches. The water created a vast mirror reflecting the sky and surrounding mountains…it was magical.

 Our destination was the Salt Hotel out on the salar, and as the name implies, it is made entirely out of salt blocks except for the roof.

Even the furniture was carved out of blocks of salt. It was a cool scene and as more Land Cruisers showed up it turned into a giant tailgate party in the middle of the salar!

Our guide cooked a nice meal of llama steaks…

After a nice lunch of llama steaks that our guide prepared, we drove farther out onto the salar for more pictures. We also took the obligatory perspective photos that play tricks on the eye.

Here’s a shot with my motorcycle boot…and what it looks like being shot below.

I’m not sure why my boot is in the jumping photo’s????  LOL

Back on dry land just off the salar we also visited a small salt harvest operation which was interesting.

After that it was back to Uyuni and the hotel to work on the bikes. I put in a fresh spark plug, topped up the oil, cleaned the air filter, adjusted the chain and most importantly spooned on the Michelen knobby tires I’ve been carrying specifically for the rugged Bolivian Altiplano we would be crossing over the next few days.

With that complete we grabbed dinner and a few beers before calling it a night. Tomorrow we set out across the Altiplano for what will be the most remote riding so far…