This travesía starts in Potosí, one of the most important mining cities in colonial America. From there, we will begin our journey through the fascinating Bolivian altiplano towards the Salar de Uyuni. The travesía will come to an end at the oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, situated in the driest desert in the world.
Our journey across the altiplano begins in the mythical Bolivian city of Potosí, whose vast silver deposits sustained the Spanish Empire for centuries.
The altitudes during the journey through the altiplano range from 3,600 to 4,700 meters (11,800 to 15,420 feet) above sea level.
Potosí, the starting point of the travesía, is at 4,000 meters (13,120 feet), while the San Pedro de Atacama oasis, at the end point, is located at 2,500 meters (8,200 feet).
During the first day of the travesía, the treks we go on are less challenging and don't require high levels of physical exertion, which will allow your body to acclimatize sufficiently for the journey ahead.
Uyuni and the Bolivian altiplano zone have a dry climate, similar to that of San Pedro de Atacama, but much colder due to the high altitude. Daytime temperatures range from 2ºC to 15ºC (36ºF to 60ºF) in the winter months (May to August), dropping down to as low as -20ºC (-4ºF) at night. From September to December, the daytime temperatures range from 5ºC to 20ºC (41ºF to 68ºF).
Between January and March, the Bolivian altiplano winter arrives, damaging roads and blocking paths. For this reason, this travesía is only available between April and December. In San Pedro, however, the phenomenon has a lesser effect, causing only occasional rainfall. The climate is very pleasant year round, with sunshine over 328 days a year.
The average daytime temperatures range from -5ºC to 23ºC (23ºF to 73ºF) in the winter and from 12ºC to 25ºC (54ºF to 77ºF) in the summer. Take a Uyuni tour with Explora to experience the altitude and climate.