Uyuni: Deluxe Camping 3 Days Tour

Sleeping in a deluxe camper van on the Uyuni Salt Flats, with the Milky Way overhead and no city lights in view, is the heart of this three-day trip. The route pairs that night outdoors with classic salt-flat stops, a visit to Incahuasi Island, and time near Tunupa Volcano.

I like two things in particular: the tour gives you a full day on the Salar, including sunset, and it combines the camper night with a four-star salt hotel for the second night. You also travel privately with a bilingual guide, so the schedule is not built around a large group.

The main consideration is the price: $1,200 per person is a substantial outlay, and you should decide whether the private vehicle, meals, two different overnight stays, and guided route make that package worthwhile for you. The one available review singles out guide Jeannette as superb, but one brief review is not enough to promise you’ll have the same guide.

At a glance: what makes this trip different

• A night on the Salar: Sleep in a deluxe camper van on the salt flats and look for the Milky Way from the middle of the Salar de Uyuni.
• A full first-day route: Visit the Train Cemetery, Colchani, the salt mounds, Incahuasi Island, the salt-water eyes, and a sunset viewpoint.
• An island walk with a wide view: Incahuasi has giant cacti and petrified corals, plus a short climb to a 360-degree view of the salt desert.
• Tunupa adds a change of scene: The second day heads toward the volcano and includes a Stone Museum visit in Chantani and a leisurely walk.
• Two distinct overnight stays: Spend night one in a camper on the flats and night two in a four-star salt hotel.
• Private transport and a bilingual guide: English and Spanish are offered, with pickup at your accommodation.

Starting at the Train Cemetery and Colchani

After pickup at your accommodation, the tour heads about three kilometers from Uyuni to the Train Cemetery. It is one of the area’s most notable attractions of its kind, and an easy first stop before the wide-open salt flats take over the day.

Next comes Colchani, a settlement on the edge of the Salar. At its local fair, you can browse crafts made from salt. It gives you a first look at how the salt is part of local life as well as the reason for the region’s dramatic scenery. If you are interested in buying something, this is the planned shopping stop, so it may be a useful time to look around.

The next stop is the salt mounds, where you have time to take photographs. The mounds give the eye a clear point of scale on the broad, flat surface. It is a good place to play with perspective in your pictures, though getting a particular shot depends on your own timing and ideas. The tour promises time for photos, not a specific photo setup.

Lunch, wine, and the open Salar

A box lunch is served in the salt flats, with local food and a selection of high-altitude wines. Eating out on the Salar is part of the experience: the setting is as far from a regular restaurant table as you can get. The package includes two lunches, so this first-day meal is not an extra expense to plan for.

The wine is an unusual addition to a sightseeing day, but it is one small part of the meal rather than the point of the trip. If you do not drink, you can still enjoy lunch and the salt-flat setting. The tour rules list alcohol and drugs among items not allowed, so it is sensible to distinguish the included wine selection from bringing your own alcohol.

Incahuasi Island’s cacti and 360-degree view

Incahuasi Island rises from the middle of the Salar and offers a very different view from the flat expanse around it. You can see giant cacti and petrified corals, then take a short walk to the top for a 360-degree view across the salt desert.

That brief climb adds some movement to a day spent largely in a vehicle or on level ground. The overview is a highlight because it lets you take in the scale of the Salar from above. Wear the comfortable shoes listed among the recommended items; the path is a walk, not simply a viewpoint beside the vehicle.

The stop also helps break up the first day. The route has several photo opportunities, but Incahuasi gives you something specific to explore on foot. The tour does not specify how long you spend on the island, so if you want to linger over the walk or photographs, ask the operator what timing to expect before booking.

Salt-water eyes, sunset, and the camper night

Later in the day, the route visits the Ojos de Sal, then pauses for sunset on the salt flats. After a day of moving between stops, this is the point to slow down and watch the light change over the open Salar.

Night one is in a deluxe camper van on the flats, with dinner included. The central appeal is clear: you are sleeping out on the salt desert rather than returning to Uyuni, and the night sky is part of the experience. The tour specifically highlights views of the Milky Way and stars from the middle of the Salar.

Keep your expectations grounded. Stargazing depends on what the sky is doing that night, and the tour cannot promise a particular display. But if an open-sky night is a major reason you are considering Uyuni, this overnight stay puts you in the setting the tour is built around. It is also a different kind of comfort from a hotel, so consider whether a camper van sounds appealing before paying a premium for it.

Day two: Chantani and the foot of Tunupa

The second morning starts with a buffet breakfast prepared by your guide. The route then heads toward the foot of Tunupa Volcano and the village of Chantani, where you visit the Stone Museum.

This stop adds a cultural and geological note to a trip otherwise defined by salt and sky. It also gives the day a more varied pace. The information provided does not detail the museum’s collection or visit length, so treat it as a planned stop rather than a long museum tour.

From there, you take a leisurely walk toward the top of the volcano. The wording suggests a walking portion rather than a drive straight to a viewpoint, but the tour does not give a distance, elevation, or duration. If you have concerns about walking, ask the operator for those details before you book. Comfortable shoes, sun protection, and water are sensible basics for a day outdoors, while the listed essentials specifically include sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen.

Tunupa is a welcome contrast to the Salar’s wide, level surface. The tour includes the volcano in the route, but it does not describe a technical climb or promise a particular summit view. Think of this as a guided walk on the volcano, not a mountaineering expedition.

Colchani and a second night in a salt hotel

After the volcano area, the tour visits Colchani, described as being on the banks of the Salar de Uyuni. This is a return to the settlement seen on day one, giving you another chance to see the place beyond its craft fair.

The second night is at a four-star salt hotel. That hotel stay makes the trip more comfortable and gives you a clear change of pace after the camper van. The specific hotel name, room features, and amenities are not provided, so it is worth asking for those details if they matter to your decision.

Dinner is included both nights, as are two lunches and two breakfasts. Together, the meals reduce the need to arrange food separately during the tour. The package also includes private transportation, an air-conditioned vehicle, fees and taxes, and a professional guide who speaks English and Spanish.

Day three: breakfast and transfer to Uyuni airport

After breakfast at the hotel, you are transferred to Uyuni airport. That direct end point makes the trip practical if you are flying out after the tour, though the available details do not give a departure time or say how the transfer aligns with a particular flight.

The tour lasts three days, but the schedule is described by its stops and overnight stays rather than exact start and finish times. Check availability for starting times and confirm the airport transfer details against your flight plans.

Is $1,200 per person good value?

At $1,200 per person, this is not a budget trip. The value rests on the combination of a private group, private transport, a bilingual guide, two nights of lodging, all listed meals, and a route that covers both the Salar and Tunupa. The camper night is a distinctive part of the package; the second night in a four-star salt hotel adds a more conventional place to rest.

The private format may matter most if you want flexibility and a guide focused on your group, rather than a shared vehicle with strangers. Still, the details do not say how many people can join your private booking or how much control you have over stop durations. Ask about the group size and schedule before booking, especially if you are comparing this with lower-priced shared tours.

One traveler, Jourdan from France, left a five-star rating after a May 2024 trip and specifically praised guide Jeannette. That is a useful, specific sign that the guide can shape the experience, but it is just one account. Jeannette’s name is worth knowing, though you should confirm who will lead your own departure rather than assume she is assigned to every tour.

The price does not include tips or travel insurance. Add those costs to your own budget. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now without paying immediately, which offers some flexibility if your plans are still taking shape.

Who should book this tour?

I would consider this tour if you want to spend a night on the Salar itself, prefer private transport, and like the idea of pairing the salt flats with a volcano walk. It suits someone who wants a guided route with meals and lodging arranged, and who values the camper experience enough to pay more than they might for a basic shared outing.

It may be less suitable if your priority is the lowest price, if you want detailed activity times in advance, or if you are not comfortable with an overnight in a camper van. The tour also includes outdoor walking, so ask for more information about the Tunupa route if that part may be difficult for you.

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. Pets are not allowed, and alcohol and drugs are listed as prohibited. If the Milky Way view, rather than simply seeing the salt flats, is your main reason to go, remember that the sky is an element no tour can control.

FAQ

How long is the Uyuni Deluxe Camping tour?

The tour lasts three days and includes two overnight stays.

What are the two overnight accommodations?

You spend the first night in a deluxe camper van on the Salt Flats and the second night in a four-star salt hotel.

Which meals are included?

The tour includes two dinners, two lunches, and two breakfasts.

What places are visited?

Stops include the Train Cemetery, Colchani, the salt mounds, Incahuasi Island, the Ojos de Sal, Chantani’s Stone Museum, and the area near Tunupa Volcano.

Is the tour private, and what languages are offered?

Yes. It is a private group tour with a professional guide who speaks English and Spanish.

Is pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is included at your accommodation. The final day includes a transfer to Uyuni airport.

What should I bring, and what is the cancellation policy?

Bring your passport or ID card, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, a sun hat, and sunscreen. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.