Isla Incahuasi
A coral-fossil island in the middle of the salt flat, covered with giant columnar cacti several meters tall. From the summit, you can see white salt stretching out in every direction.
Isla Incahuasi is a remnant volcanic rock island from an ancient lake. Its surface is covered in calcareous fossils formed by ancient algae. The island is home to many giant columnar cacti (Echinopsis atacamensis), some over 10 meters tall, and some are said to be more than a thousand years old. After landing, the loop trail to the summit takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The summit sits at over 3,700 meters, so take it slowly on the uphill sections. From the top, white salt stretches endlessly in all directions, one of the classic panoramic views of the salt flats. The island has a visitor center, a simple restaurant and toilets. The entrance fee is about BOB 30, payable in cash. The island is about 80 km from Uyuni town. Day tours usually stop here for lunch in the dry season. In the rainy season, the water is too deep for most tours to reach, so check your itinerary in advance. Caution: The sun at this altitude is intense, and the trail is covered in loose gravel, so wear non-slip shoes. Do not touch the cacti.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–18:00; tickets approx. BOB 30
Nearby sights
- Salar de Uyuni (Mirror of the Sky)
- Isla del Pescado
- Tunupa Volcano & Coqueza
- Salt Hotels & Dakar Monument
- Ojos del Salar
- Colchani
- Train Cemetery (Uyuni Railway Scrap Yard)
- Uyuni Town