Isla Incahuasi, Bolivia, Is One Of The Most Surreal Places I’ve Been To

Not exactly what you would expect to find in the middle of the world’s highest salt flat. Yet, here you go.

March 2020 was a month that I will never be able to forget, while it was the beginning of a horrendous time for the whole world, and in my case, one of the most traumatic experiences in my life, it was also, at least in the first half, an opportunity to visit some of the most mystical and fascinating places ever. A few days before my misadventure on Easter Island, I traveled to Bolivia, to visit the Salar de Uyuni, which I think is an absolutely unique and unmissable place, should one opt for a trip to South America.

The off-road vehicle that accompanied us on the salty adventure, such a poser.

The previous days, I had spent in San Pedro de Atacama, in northern Chile, the ideal base from which to stay in order to discover all the wonders that the driest desert in the world has to offer. Being close to the border with Bolivia, it is quite easy from here to trespass into the other country, which, once through customs, welcomes the traveler with landscapes as immense as they are varied.

Colorful lagoons, sun-drenched deserts, snow-capped volcanoes, endless expanses where one can observe the exotic local fauna: believe me when I say that this is a true hymn to the beauty of our planet. However, the main character of this unique scenario is just one: the Salar de Uyuni. What is it exactly? Oh, it’s simply the world’s largest salt flat.

This is where we had breakfast. Coffee wasn’t great but, can you even complain in front of this?

As much as I loved the Salar, I will dedicate another article to it, as the focus of this one, is an even more unique place, within an already unique place.

Does it make any sense? I’ll explain.

Right where you wouldn’t expect it, in the middle of this huge white “stain”, and by huge I mean that you can see it from space, lies a mountain, and not just “any mountain”.

I’m talking about “Isla Incahuasi”. As you can tell from the name, it is considered to be an island, for how it emerges from what used to be an extremely ancient sea. It’s hard to believe the marine origin of anything found at 4000 meters altitude, but the traces of shells and corals all over the place reveal this fact as an undeniable truth.

The sign indicating the beginning of the path to reach the top of the Island.

Right where you’d never expect it because you think nothing vital can survive here, in the middle of a dazzling white “sea”, here there are more than 5,000 cacti, who enjoy their privileged view for a 360-degree panorama of the Salar de Uyuni.

Isla Incahuasi is a rocky natural monument of marine limestone and volcanic sediments, and the soil is fertile enough to allow the growth of large, centuries-old cacti, herbaceous plants and lichens.

With a half-hour hike, you are on top of this pile of barren rocks and can enjoy the 360-degree together with the local cacti, and get a different perspective on the objectively beautiful Salar amidst long, spiny, branching green arms.

Surreal, isn’t it?

The feeling I had on that clear morning, as soon as I reached the top of the mountain, was that of finding myself on an unknown, undiscovered planet where one can breathe air of absolute freedom. For a moment I really forgot that I was on the same planet as chaotic metropolises, medieval European villages or ancient Thai Buddhist temples, war zones, or idyllic resorts: it was all so far away, too far to be true.

Making (silent) friends is always good when traveling.

Except it’s all real, as much as Isla Incahuasi is an absolutely dreamlike and seemingly surreal place, luckily it can be visited and give unique emotions. If intent on traveling to Bolivia, among the many wonders of this country, make sure that this true spectacle of nature is on your list.

Did you know about Isla Incahuasi’s existence? Would you like to visit such a mysterious place?

Let me know in the comments :)

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Thank you!