about our “two day VOLCAN TUNUPA TREK PROGRAM”:

The colorful Tunupa Volcano is located north of the Salt desert with a height of 5,300 meters above sea level, here you will find small communities like TAHUA, COQUESA and JIRIRA which are located at the foot of the volcano at 3,650 meters above sea level. Trekking Volcan Tunupa is great way to start your acclimatization if you are planning on overtaking bigger treks around Chile, Bolivia or Peru, but if you are just looking for a good ascending trek under 4,700 meters above sea level than this tour is for you. There is a bit more to explore and more to learn about the Bolivian culture and heritage with this program, we highly recommend it.

what to bring

– sunglasses (polarized recommended)
– sunscreen 50+ spf recommended
– colorful clothing (stand out in your pics)
– warm clothing (it does get cold after 4pm)
– woolen beanie (wool head cap)
– woolen gloves
– woolen scarf
– thick socks
– ear covers
– thermals (top & bottom)
– water boots (gum boots – gummistiefel)*

got salt LUNCH

unlike other travel agencies who have BORING and DULL lunch in the town of Colchani or the salt hotel museum “Playa Blanca” we take you near the center of the salt desert and set up a very attractive open area lunch for you. Our set up includes table, chairs, outdoor umbrella and our tasty home made food served with cold drinks.

covid-19 special information

GOT SALT BOLIVIA as a company takes your safety and health as number priority, this is why we have taken the following steps to make sure your travel is pleasant and safe:

– all GOT SALT BOLIVIA personnel must have the covid-19 blood test done every month.
– all GOT SALT BOLIVIA personnel such as drivers and guide are to coordinate visits to each location at times when there is very few people, hence avoiding large group gatherings and potential contact with anyone outside your group.
– all vehicles will have a COVID-19 PACK for you to use, this pack includes:

• medical mask (nose/mouth cover)
• hand sanitizer gel
• personal alcohol disinfectant spray
• infrared thermometer (temperature control)
• oximeter (blood oxygen sensor)
• oxygen tank
• latex gloves
• COVID-19 rapid test kit*

– all vehicles have the required protective equipment such as:

• disinfectant alcohol bottle
• plastic divider between driver and passenger (you can always take this down to have better view and communication with guide and driver)
• before and after the start of the program all vehicles are cleaned and disinfected, all customer touchpoints are frequently cleaned during tour.

– temperature checks are mandatory throughout the expedition for our personnel and guests, especially upon arriving to hotels or restaurants.

hotels provided in this tour

• 1st night: HOTEL TAYKA DE SAL
  – located at the foot of Volcan Tunupa in the small town of TAHUA, is this cozy community hotel. The hotel is very well maintained and has a very rustic decor, all rooms have heating and private bath with hot water.
• FAQ´S
  – is there a possibility that i don´t stay at TAYKA DEL DESIERTO? yes, because of its locations, snow on the road to the hotel and around the region can be a huge factor and we may NOT be able to access the hotel. In the event that this happens we will change accomodations to either HOTEL DE SAL TAMBO COQUESA, PALACIO DE SAL, LUNA SALADA, CRISTAL SAMAÑA or JARDINES DE UYUNI depending on availability, please see our terms and conditions.
  – double bookings? it’s a very rare case but in the event that it may happen GOT SALT BOLIVIA will work with the hotel to provide a FULL REFUND from the hotel and we will do our best to accommodate you in a hotel or lodge the best way possible.

weather on tour

Weather around the Salt Flats Desert and the South West regions near the high deserts, lagoons and bordering Chile is mostly consistent, but when it rains or snows, it can dramatically change what you see and what is available during the trip, remember we do not have control over the climate or road conditions.

• RAINY SEASON JANUARY TO MARCH
  – SALT DESERT: during this months the rain cuts off access to several parts of the itinerary, including (often) visits to Isla Incahuasi and Volcan Tunupa. When this happens, it cuts about 3 hours from the normal itinerary, the driver and guide will focus mainly on silhouette and mirror effect photography.
  – SOUTH WEST REGION: due to rain in the southeast region of Bolivia the road condition becomes very slippery and broken, due to this prepare yourself for long hours in the car, for example when climate and road conditions are good it takes about 1 hour from San Cristobal to Uyuni (1 kilometer), during rainy season it take almost 2 hours, please expect changes in the itinerary especially if you have a flight to catch.
• WINTER MAY TO AUGUST
  – COLORED LAGOONS AND DESERTS: Bolivia has the most amazing landscape, colorful desert and lagoons which are located above 4,300 masl, during winter snow falls very heavily in this region covering with a thick white coat roads and trails, when this happens, sometimes (often) we may not be able to reach hotels, hostels or visit locations in the itinerary. In the event that this happens the driver and guide will do everything in their power to get you to your hotel or hostel and to keep visits to the locations, please expect changes in the itinerary especially if you have a flight to catch.

money on tour

You can change money in Uyuni before the start of the program, however please keep in mind that common currency accepted in Uyuni is dollars, euros, chilean pesos or soles. Another important thing to remember is that the money you bring must be in impeccable state, we are talking perfect, meaning; no torns, no writing, no stamps, no damage folds, no missing pieces, the newer the bill the better.
Credit card payment are welcome at some restaurants and hotels, but during the route you will need bolivianos (bolivian cash), here is an example of some expenses you will have:

• ENTRANCE FEES:
  – isla incahuasi 30bs per person
  – galaxias cave 30bs per person
  – volcan tunupa 30bs per person
  – REA (national park) 150bs per person
  – hot springs 10bs per person
• TOILET FEES:
  – generally speaking all toilets throughout the tour charge 5bs, during the tour we have 3 toilet stops on route.
• SNACKS/SHOPING:
  – during the tour we will pass small towns where you can get snacks and additional water from the small shops, keep in mind that they take only bolivian money.