The world's largest salt lake, the "Mirror of the Sky" in Bolivia
The pale salt lake stings the eyes as you drive towards the vast white expanse of the Uyuni salt lake, where you can see glittering salt grains like diamonds everywhere. The salt flats look like mirrors under the sun, as if time has stopped flowing. Driving on the salt lake, the reflection of the sunlight on the huge area of the lake makes the sky blend perfectly with itself.
The Salt Lake is located in the south of Bolivia and is the largest salt lake in the world. After it rains, there is a thin layer of water on the crusty salt lake, and the smooth mirror surface reflects the breathtaking view of the sky, making it the "mirror of the sky". This is a miraculous place polished by 40,000 years!
The mirror-like view of the salt lake can be seen only when you visit during the rainy season from December to March, and only when the weather is clear and there is no strong wind can this big calm mirror reflect the purest color of the sky.
There is also a time to come here, as Bolivia is located in the southern hemisphere, the year is divided into two seasons: the dry season and the rainy season. During the rainy season, from December to March, Uyuni becomes a huge saltwater lake, and only during the dry season, from April to November, when the lake dries up and the surface becomes hard, is it possible to explore the salt lake by car. So for most tourists, May-October is the ideal season to travel.
PlayaBlanca, the only hotel in the Uyuni Salt Lake, has all walls and furniture made of salt and a small exhibition of salt sculptures, all with uniquely South American images.
Bolivia is the most economically backward country in South America, and the cost of food, housing and transportation is very low. Even in the capital, La Paz, Bolivia's most economically developed city, a night in a two-room apartment costs about $20-$30. The rooms are simple but clean, have hot showers, breakfast is included, and are conveniently located and safe.
In addition, the air in the western highlands of Bolivia is thin, the sun is strong, and the UV rays are very powerful. Although the photos will therefore be very good, it is easy to sunburn your skin, especially on the salt lake, where there is no shade and the reflection of the water, sunscreen feels inadequate, but sun protection should still be done.