Do I need to book the salt flats tour in advance?

Yes, especially during high season (June-August). Tours fill up and you don't want to waste time in Uyuni looking for availability. Book online or through your hostel in La Paz.

Can I do the salt flats as a day trip?

No, the standard tour is 3 days/2 nights minimum. Day trips only cover a small portion of the salt flats and miss the colored lagoons, flamingos, and geysers that make the tour special.

What's the altitude like and how do I prepare?

La Paz is at 11,500 feet, the salt flats at 12,000 feet, and some lagoons reach 14,000 feet. Arrive 1-2 days early, drink lots of water, chew coca leaves, avoid alcohol initially, and consider altitude sickness medication.

Is it safe to travel alone in Bolivia?

Generally yes, especially on organized tours and in main tourist areas. Use common sense: don't flash valuables, avoid isolated areas at night, and stick to reputable tour companies. Solo female travelers should take extra precautions in La Paz after dark.

How to Plan 1 Week in Bolivia and the Salt Flats

A week in Bolivia gives you time for La Paz (2 days), the Uyuni Salt Flats tour (3 days), and either Sucre or Lake Titicaca (2 days). Book your salt flats tour in advance, budget $50-70 per day, and arrive 1-2 days early to acclimatize to the altitude.

Choose your arrival city. Fly into La Paz (highest capital in the world) or Santa Cruz. La Paz puts you closer to the salt flats and Lake Titicaca. Santa Cruz is closer to Sucre and has better weather for acclimatization.
Plan your salt flats tour. Book a 3-day/2-night Uyuni tour before you arrive. The standard route covers the salt flats, colored lagoons, flamingos, and ends in San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (or starts there and ends in Uyuni). Tours run year-round but dry season (May-October) offers the mirror effect, wet season (December-March) provides reflections.
Schedule acclimatization time. Spend your first 1-2 days in La Paz taking it easy. The city sits at 11,500 feet. Walk slowly, drink coca tea, avoid alcohol, and don't plan strenuous activities until you adjust.
Pick your third destination. Choose between Sucre (colonial architecture, comfortable altitude at 9,000 feet, 1-hour flight from La Paz) or Lake Titicaca (Copacabana town and Isla del Sol, 3-hour bus from La Paz). Sucre works better if you're flying out of Santa Cruz.
Book internal transport. Reserve flights between major cities (La Paz-Sucre takes 1 hour vs 12 hours by bus). For ground transport, book overnight buses in advance for popular routes. The La Paz-Uyuni bus takes 10 hours and runs overnight.
Plan around weather. Dry season (May-October) offers clear skies and the famous mirror effect on the salt flats when there's water. Wet season (December-March) provides dramatic cloud formations and guaranteed reflections but can cause tour cancellations.

Do I need to book the salt flats tour in advance?: Yes, especially during high season (June-August). Tours fill up and you don't want to waste time in Uyuni looking for availability. Book online or through your hostel in La Paz.
Can I do the salt flats as a day trip?: No, the standard tour is 3 days/2 nights minimum. Day trips only cover a small portion of the salt flats and miss the colored lagoons, flamingos, and geysers that make the tour special.
What's the altitude like and how do I prepare?: La Paz is at 11,500 feet, the salt flats at 12,000 feet, and some lagoons reach 14,000 feet. Arrive 1-2 days early, drink lots of water, chew coca leaves, avoid alcohol initially, and consider altitude sickness medication.
Is it safe to travel alone in Bolivia?: Generally yes, especially on organized tours and in main tourist areas. Use common sense: don't flash valuables, avoid isolated areas at night, and stick to reputable tour companies. Solo female travelers should take extra precautions in La Paz after dark.