The largest salt flat in the world, Salar de Uyuni is a highlight of a multi-day landscape safari across Bolivia's high plains. But there are plenty more photo ops.
Salar de Uyuni —
The largest salt flat in the world, Salar de Uyuni is a highlight of a multi-day landscape safari across Bolivia's high plains. But there are plenty more photo ops.
Sarah Duff/CNN
Start the trip on the Chilean-Bolivian border (you can do it in reverse) and the startling Laguna Blanca is the first lagoon you encounter after entering the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve.
Harsh beauty —
Start the trip on the Chilean-Bolivian border (you can do it in reverse) and the startling Laguna Blanca is the first lagoon you encounter after entering the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve.
Sarah Duff/CNN
The product of arsenic and other minerals, Laguna Verde's green hue changes from turquoise to dark emerald as winds shift sediments.
Big green world —
The product of arsenic and other minerals, Laguna Verde's green hue changes from turquoise to dark emerald as winds shift sediments.
Sarah Duff/CNN
Almost the entire route between Bolivia's dusty town of Uyuni and San Pedro de Atacama, just over the border in Chile, is made up of dirt roads. Drivers often go off-roading through the desert.
Offroading, the Bolivian Way —
Almost the entire route between Bolivia's dusty town of Uyuni and San Pedro de Atacama, just over the border in Chile, is made up of dirt roads. Drivers often go off-roading through the desert.
Sarah Duff/CNN
In icy winds at more than 13,700 feet above sea level, the 96 F (35.5 C) Termas de Polques hot springs provide a warm refuge for dusty travelers.
High oasis —
In icy winds at more than 13,700 feet above sea level, the 96 F (35.5 C) Termas de Polques hot springs provide a warm refuge for dusty travelers.
Sarah Duff/CNN
The deep rust-red Laguna Colorado is a breeding ground for James's Flamingos. The mesmerizing birds are nonchalant about photographers standing feet away from them on shore.
Flamingo photo op —
The deep rust-red Laguna Colorado is a breeding ground for James's Flamingos. The mesmerizing birds are nonchalant about photographers standing feet away from them on shore.
Sarah Duff/CNN
Bolivia's southwest altiplano is home to three species of flamingos, James's, Andean and Chilean. The flamingos get their pastel pink color from carotenoids in the crustaceans they eat in the salty water of the lagoons.
Pastel beauties —
Bolivia's southwest altiplano is home to three species of flamingos, James's, Andean and Chilean. The flamingos get their pastel pink color from carotenoids in the crustaceans they eat in the salty water of the lagoons.
Sarah Duff/CNN
There's little wildlife on the trip, though you do see lots of flamingos, the occasional flock of vicunas, lone Andean foxes and llamas decorated with colorful pieces of string near the area's few tiny settlements.
Rare wildlife —
There's little wildlife on the trip, though you do see lots of flamingos, the occasional flock of vicunas, lone Andean foxes and llamas decorated with colorful pieces of string near the area's few tiny settlements.
Sarah Duff/CNN
In the middle of the Salar de Uyuni, Isla Incahuasi pops up like something out of a dream. An island of giant cactus, it's the remains of a volcano that was submerged when the area was part of a prehistoric lake.
Dreamscape —
In the middle of the Salar de Uyuni, Isla Incahuasi pops up like something out of a dream. An island of giant cactus, it's the remains of a volcano that was submerged when the area was part of a prehistoric lake.
Sarah Duff/CNN
One of the world's highest lakes sits at the summit of the active Licancabur volcano, which tops out at 17,717 feet above sea level.
Licancabur —
One of the world's highest lakes sits at the summit of the active Licancabur volcano, which tops out at 17,717 feet above sea level.
Sarah Duff/CNN