Salar de Uyuni — Salt Flat Edge Camping near Colchani

The Salar de Uyuni is a salt crust more than 10,000 square kilometres across, sitting at roughly 3,650 metres on the Bolivian altiplano. Overlanders camp on and along its edge near the village of Colchani, where the crust is firm and the approach from Uyuni is short. It’s wide-open, no-facility camping. There’s no shade, no water, no shelter from the wind, and nights drop well below freezing. Bring everything you need, including cold-weather bedding, water for several days, and a plan for waste. You’ll see a lot of tour traffic by day. Find a spot well clear of the tracks and the salt-processing area at dusk and you’ll have the sky to yourself.

Salt is hard on rigs. Rinse the undercarriage afterward, and keep brake, bearing and suspension components in mind. During the wet season, roughly December to March, a thin brine layer can cover the crust and hide soft, unstable ground. Stay on established tracks, and ask locally before driving out. Colchani and Uyuni have fuel, food and mechanics. Verify access rules and any fees locally. Have a dirty day.

Camp on the world's biggest salt flat