Guests choose daily from hikes, bike rides, and scenic drives through volcanoes, lagoons, and salt flats. Every Exploration is adjusted to personal interest and fitness level. Highlights include biking across Uyuni, hiking the Tunupa Volcano, and walking ancient Inca trails.
Popular Options:
- Volcano hikes and high-altitude treks
- Salt flat crossings by 4x4 or bike
- Inca trail walks and cultural visits
- Exploration of desert and lagoon ecosystems
Explora Travesía offers a rare, immersive journey through one of the world’s most remote and breathtaking regions.
HIKES
Pastores
Duration: 1 hr |
Distance: 3.2 km (2 mi) |
Difficulty: Easy
This route follows the edge of the salt flat, leading to a traditional shepherding area where herds of llamas, sheep, and goats can be observed. Along the way, estancias and rest areas—both abandoned and still in use—offer insight into rural Andean life.
Chiltaico
Duration: 3 hrs |
Distance: 4.7 km (2.9 mi) |
Difficulty: Easy
This trek visits Pukará, an ancient rock fortress that once protected Andean settlements. The descent follows a community trail with views of the salt flat, crossing crop fields and grazing lands. During the harvest season, visitors can see quinoa, fava beans, carrots, onions, and potatoes being cultivated.
Qhapaq Ñan
Duration: 5 hrs |
Distance: 7.8 km (4.9 mi) |
Difficulty: Moderate
This hike follows an ancient trail marked by apacheta rock piles, historically connecting two villages. The path is home to Andean wildlife, including llamas, vicuñas, sheep, and occasionally foxes or pumas. Although now abandoned, the trail dates back to the Inca and pre-Inca periods.
Isla Pescado
Duration: 1 hr 30 min |
Distance: 2.5 km (1.5 mi) |
Difficulty: Moderate
One of the largest islands within the salt flat serves as the setting for this walk. The island features typical Altiplano vegetation and offers a climb to panoramic viewpoints. The vast white expanse of the salt flat stretches endlessly into the horizon, accompanied by the crunching sound of salt underfoot.
Queñoa
Duration: 7 hrs |
Distance: 8.6 km (5.4 mi) |
Difficulty: Advanced
A 4WD vehicle transports visitors to a viewpoint on Tunupa Volcano, where the trek begins along the southeastern slopes. The route offers wide views of the Uyuni Salt Flat and nearby villages, passing through rock formations and high-altitude queñoa forests. Certain sections require technical driving and careful navigation.
BIKE
Salar
Duration: 2 hrs 30 min |
Distance: 8 km (5 mi) |
Difficulty: Easy
This bike ride begins directly on the Uyuni Salt Flat, leading to Isla Pescado. The route offers expansive views of both the salt flat and Tunupa Volcano.
Pueblos del Salar
Duration: 4 hrs |
Distance: 28.9 km (18 mi) |
Difficulty: Moderate
Cyclists depart from Chantani, passing through quinoa plantations and various rural villages including Tahua, Chilguilla, Alianza, Caquena, and Chiltaico. Along the way, diverse wildlife such as vizcachas, hummingbirds, and butterflies can be spotted.
Tara
Duration: 3 hrs |
Distance: 32.6 km (20.3 mi) |
Difficulty: Moderate
This route covers a vast section of the Uyuni Salt Flat. The ride is characterized by the sound of tires crunching against salt and unobstructed views of the endless horizon. The journey reaches Isla Pescado before retracing the same path back.
Urqu
Duration: 2 hrs |
Distance: 11.8 km (7.3 mi) |
Difficulty: Advanced
A drive to a high-altitude point on Tunupa Volcano marks the starting point of this downhill bike ride. The route crosses llama grazing lands and passes pre-Incan stone walls (pircas), which served various defensive and agricultural purposes for Andean communities.
OVERLAND
La Pukara
Duration: 3 hrs |
Distance: 27.8 km (17.3 mi) |
Difficulty: Easy
A drive from the lodge leads to a salt flat viewpoint, offering an expansive look at the white landscape. From there, visitors have the option to hike to Pukará, a historic stone fortress that once safeguarded villages. The ruins provide insight into Andean history.
Apu
Duration: 3 hrs 30 min |
Distance: 23 km (14.3 mi) |
Difficulty: Easy
This route drives to a high-altitude plain, home to queñoa trees and llareta moss—vegetation adapted to extreme conditions. The trek provides stunning views of Tunupa Volcano and the Uyuni Salt Flat, accompanied by the occasional presence of Andean birds.
Ancestros
Duration: 4 hrs |
Distance: 49.7 km (30.9 mi) |
Difficulty: Moderate
This overland trip explores remote villages situated along the edges of the salt flat. The journey follows the Tajamari River to Guajala, a farming community with an irrigation system. The route then continues to Caquena, a village where traditional Andean ranching practices can be observed. A visit to a small school in Chiltaico is included.
Inti
Duration: 1 hr 30 min |
Distance: 24.5 km (15.2 mi) |
Difficulty: Easy
A pre-dawn drive to the Uyuni Salt Flat provides a chance to witness the sunrise ("Inti" in Quechua). As the light gradually transforms the landscape, the temperature slowly rises, making for a breathtaking experience.
Killa
Duration: 1 hr 30 min |
Distance: 24.5 km (15.2 mi) |
Difficulty: Easy
A drive to the Uyuni Salt Flat allows for sunset and moonrise ("Killa" in Quechua) viewing. The changing light reflects off the white terrain, creating a spectacular color display. During a full moon, the sunset appears in the west as the moon rises in the east.
HIGH MOUNTAIN
Colores del Tunupa
Duration: 9 hrs |
Distance: 11.8 km (7.3 mi) |
Difficulty: Advanced
This full-day hike begins in the village of Coquesa, following a communal trail under the guidance of a local expert. As the path ascends, views of the Uyuni Salt Flat become more dramatic. The hike passes through ancient Andean burial sites, where cave tombs and fabric-wrapped vessels offer insight into regional traditions and cultural history.
