SALAR DE UYUNI, BOLIVIA

To have lived without seeing the beauty of the world that engulfs is a cardinal sin. On that note, we begin our journey to some of the most exotic, remote and unique places on this planet we call home. Keep your bags packed as one of these places might just call out to you. Our first stop will be in the Latin American country of Bolivia. Every country boasts of a tourist attraction, whether conventional or unconventional. Bolivia is not known for its tourism but is home to one of the most beautiful places in the world, Salar De Uyuni.

Lago Minchin, a prehistoric salt lake which covered most parts of the modern day Bolivia dried up to leave behind seasonal puddles and salt pans. Salar De Uyuni is one such inheritance. At an impressive 3653m above sea level, it is the largest salt flat on Earth. The vastness of this salt desert will make for one of the most unforgettably spectacular sights you will ever see. The salt is between 2 to 7 meters in thickness and hence can become a roadway for vehicles in places where is there is not too much water.

The drive through the Salar is not too much of an ask for any 4x4 vehicle. The peninsula of the Salar also plays host to the dominating presence of the Volcano Tunupa. It rises 1500 meters above Salar De Uyuni and provides a mesmerizing view of the entire place. Climbing the 5000m volcanic mountain may not be everybody’s cup of tea but one needn’t aim for the summit to get an amazing view. The drive from the mainland peninsula to the Volcano Tunupa passes the Isla Del Pescado. This tiny island is also called “The Island of the Fish” because it takes the form of a fish when viewed from afar. It is born out of volcanic rock formations and can be seen infested with tall cacti offering a great view of the Salar De Uyuni.

While the Salar De Uyuni may be synonymous with the largest salt flat in the world with Tunupa rising above it in the bacjground. There are other locations in this tiny unexplored location in the world. One of them being the ‘Cementerio de trenes’, the antique train cemetery. These trains were a part of the rich history of Bolivia carrying for decades, minerals from the Andes to the Pacific ocean ports.

Travellers to South America conventionally look to the behemoths of Brazil and Argentina to suffice their thirst for new experiences but Bolivia sits quite in plain sight waiting to be explored. The Salar De Uyuni is a perfect example of ignorance of beauty within access. It is paradise for geography geeks, photographers and globe trotters alike. Life is too short to not see the beauty around you.