If you have limited time or budget, choosing between a sunset tour and a sunrise tour can feel like trying to decide between two equally tempting options—it's truly a dilemma of choosing between fish and bear’s paw. Both have their unique charm and allure. Fortunately, when I planned my budget, I made sure to set aside enough for both tours so I could witness the Sky Mirror even in the dry season—just in case I regretted not doing either later on. If you have the time and money, I’d highly recommend joining both, as they’re both absolutely worth it, each offering a different kind of beauty.
Sunrise Tour
Time: 0400–0800
Price: 800 BOB per car (up to 1–7 people)
Pros: Less wind, calmer water surface that more easily creates mirror-like reflections; the rising sun paints the sky in dreamlike colors
Cons: Fewer visible stars, colder than the sunset tour
Sunset Tour
Time: 1600–2000
Price: 800 BOB per car (up to 1–7 people)
Pros: The starry night sky is much more visible after dark, with clearly visible constellations compared to before sunrise
Cons: More wind, and the reflections on the water tend to be less smooth
Although June isn’t the best season to see the Sky Mirror, organizing a group was quite challenging. Luckily, we still managed to form a group of five. Of course, one person can go solo, but splitting the cost makes it much more worthwhile.
The sunset tour departs at 4 pm. After gathering at the agency, we got on the van, and our local driver took us out to the salt flats. Relying on experience, the position of the sun, and a compass to navigate, we first headed to a small hut where we changed into waterproof boots (included in the price), then drove another ten to twenty minutes to an area without water to view the salt fields. The blindingly white salt flats looked just like snow—a completely new sight for someone like me who had never seen snow before. The vastness of the salt flats far exceeded my imagination—I swear even if the driver closed his eyes for ten minutes, he wouldn’t hit anything.
Gazing at the endless salt flats is incredibly therapeutic. If I ever got lost in them, I’d probably never find my way out in this lifetime.
Before sunset, the driver took us to an area with water. I’d always wondered how they could be so confident about finding water??? But in truth, they never disappoint. Though the water is scarce during the dry season, there was just enough to create some long-awaited reflections. Even if no water had been found, the arid salt flats were still stunning and well worth the trip.
Once we arrived at the water-filled area, it was absolutely breathtaking. I immediately set up my tripod and GoPro to capture a timelapse. Unfortunately, being a beginner, I didn’t really know how to use the GoPro or timelapse settings. Even though I left it running for over half an hour, I only ended up with a two-second timelapse. Maybe that little regret is what motivates me to come back again?
Eager to take photos with the salt flats, I ran around on them despite the cold. Splashes from the shallow water soaked my pants, which I didn’t notice at first—but once the water dried, the salt residue gradually appeared, turning my black pants into a sparkling white mess.
Our driver wasn’t one to waste time—he knew exactly how excited Asian tourists could get. Just as we were starting to really enjoy ourselves, he called us back to take group photos. Nothing but the usual poses and classic videos—you never quite know why you’re told to strike a certain pose.
As the sun sank lower and the temperature dropped, everyone couldn’t wait to get back into the van to warm up, quietly waiting for the moment the stars would appear. The outskirts of Uyuni can get as cold as minus twenty degrees—it’s seriously freezing. The waterproof boots offered zero insulation. Standing in them for long periods while trying to photograph the starry sky, even with two pairs of socks, my toes were nearly numb. So I learned my lesson and wore three pairs of socks on the next day’s sunrise tour—but it didn’t help much; my toes were still in nothing but pain.
I really wanted to run toward the setting sun. It felt like if I just kept sprinting, I could reach where the sun disappeared and embrace it.
When the sun finally dipped below the horizon, pulling the dark night sky down with it, in the light-pollution-free outskirts, the stars had nowhere to hide. The Milky Way was visible to the naked eye—an unimaginable luxury and treasure for city dwellers like us. We were more than willing to brave the cold and pay for the experience. If we were lucky, we might even spot a shooting star. What ancient people used to see as an ominous “broom star” has transformed in modern times into a symbol of hope and blessings.
When you look up at the stars, do you think of me?
I love gazing up at the starry sky, getting lost in that surreal blur where time and space intertwine.
Scientific explanations tell us that the stars we see have traveled across countless light-years to reach Earth. So when I look at the stars right now, are they in the present? The past? Or is their past my present? It’s all so mind-bending XDD
This was the most star-filled sky I’ve ever seen. If there had been enough water to create reflections, it would’ve felt like standing inside the universe itself, lost in the Milky Way. For that otherworldly, celestial experience, I’ll definitely come back to the Sky Mirror during the rainy season!!
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
Facebook Page： 一个。旅生 A Girl with a Travel Heart
Instagram：atravellress
Blog homepage: http://agnesiupw.blogspot.hk/