High in the Bolivian Andes sits the world’s largest salt flat. So massive, it was the first thing Neil Armstrong saw from the moon. Stretching over 10,000km at more than 3,600m above sea level, Salar de Uyuni is a magical place, its beauty hidden away, but beckoning for you to visit.

A friend of Grand Cata, Tealye Long, has visited the flats multiple times, most recently in June of 2019. She tells us “I wish I could go once a year. You’re surrounded by nature in its purest form. Really puts things in perspective and makes you feel alive!”

Tealye also tells us that it’s impossible to imagine the sheer vastness of the place until you see it for yourself. It feels like everything stops, especially at night. Certain times of the year, the small amount of rain they get will create shallow pools on the flats, which reflect the stars and add to the feeling of being enveloped by nature.

Aside from the flats themselves, a nearby volcano offers caves to explore, and acts as the backdrop for incredible views from surrounding lagoons, each of varying colors from green, to red, to white. A rock formation called El Árbol de Piedra, crafted by millenia of sand eroding a rock with differing densities on top (the rock is rich in iron), and bottom (quartz). For man-made sightseeing, you can also visit a graveyard for trains from an abandoned railway.

For Wine Club this month, our theme is “Lugares Escondidos,” or “Hidden Places.” The gift is a bag of salt from Uyuni, so you can get a taste of this spiritual place and make plans to visit!

Salt being piled up and ready to harvest!

A Place where Time Stands Still

“AMO SOBRE UNA MESA, CUANDO SE HABLA, LA LUZ DE UNA BOTELLA”