BND-005Worth a year
Is Salar de Uyuni & Atacama road trip worth it?
For most people, yes, though it is busier than the photos suggest. The Uyuni salt mirror and the altiplano into Atacama are among the most singular sights on the whole list, and the high crossing is unforgettable. The route has become well-trodden, so anyone chasing solitude will feel the disappointment.
€€€ · May–November (dry); January for mirror effect · 4–7 days
Worth it if
- You want a landscape that reads as another planet
- You can cope with altitude above 3,600 metres
- Sharing the view with others doesn't spoil it
Skip it if
- You are sensitive to high altitude
- You expected an empty, private salt flat
- You are travelling with children under twelve
The catch
The mirror effect only appears in the wet season, and the crossing spends days above 3,600 metres in convoys of 4×4s. Time it wrong and you get dry flats and altitude headaches instead of the reflection.
BND-003 · Iceland Highlands by 4×4 — F-roads and wild hot springs
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