Summer
Dec → Feb17 to 19°
nights 2 to 4°
- 11 rainy days · 66 mm
- 11.8 h of sun
When is the best time to visit Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
- Jan18°not recommended
- Feb17°not recommended
- Mar17°not recommended
- Apr16°fair
- May13°recommended
- Jun10°recommended
- Jul11°recommended
- Aug13°recommended
- Sep16°recommended
- Oct18°recommended
- Nov19°fair
- Dec19°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 18° | 4° | 11.8 h | 75 mm | 13 d | |
| February | 17° | 4° | 11.3 h | 81 mm | 14 d | |
| March | 17° | 2° | 11.3 h | 30 mm | 7 d | |
| April | 16° | -1° | 10.9 h | 4 mm | 1 d | |
| May | 13° | -4° | 10.9 h | 0 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| June | 10° | -6° | 10.7 h | 1 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| July | 11° | -5° | 10.7 h | 2 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| August | 13° | -5° | 11 h | 1 mm | 0 d | ✓ |
| September | 16° | -3° | 11.5 h | 1 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| October | 18° | -2° | 12.2 h | 2 mm | 1 d | ✓ |
| November | 19° | 0° | 12.5 h | 10 mm | 2 d | |
| December | 19° | 2° | 12.3 h | 41 mm | 7 d |
The four seasons in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Autumn
Mar → May13 to 17°
nights -4 to 2°
- 3 rainy days · 11 mm
- 11 h of sun
Winter
Jun → Aug10 to 13°
nights -6 to -5°
- 0 rainy days · 1 mm
- 10.8 h of sun
Spring
Sep → Nov16 to 19°
nights -3 to 0°
- 1 rainy days · 4 mm
- 12.1 h of sun
Book early for May to October
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
Some links are affiliate links: we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. The selection does not depend on these links.
What to do in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez, month by month
EventsSalt flat mirrorDecember to MarchFlamingos in the lagoonsNovember to MarchDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Hiking: March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December
- Towns & culture: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall), not from an opinion.
What's on in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. One of these events fills the hotels and pushes prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- December to MarchSalt flat mirror big crowds
The rainy season leaves a few centimetres of water on the salt and the crust reflects the sky, but some tracks become impassable.
- November to MarchFlamingos in the lagoons
Three species feed in the coloured lagoons of Sur Lípez during the southern summer, Laguna Colorada above all.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended18°4° at night
- 75 mm · 13 d
- 11.8 h
Busy, without the crush
February
Not recommended17°4° at night
- 81 mm · 14 d
- 11.3 h
Busy, without the crush
March
Not recommended17°2° at night
- 30 mm · 7 d
- 11.3 h
Busy, without the crush
April
Fair16°-1° at night
- 4 mm · 1 d
- 10.9 h
Low season, lower prices
May
Recommended13°-4° at night
- 0 mm · 0 d
- 10.9 h
Busy, without the crush
June
Recommended10°-6° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- 10.7 h
Busy, without the crush
July
Recommended11°-5° at night
- 2 mm · 1 d
- 10.7 h
High season, book early
August
Recommended13°-5° at night
- 1 mm · 0 d
- 11 h
High season, book early
September
Recommended16°-3° at night
- 1 mm · 1 d
- 11.5 h
Busy, without the crush
October
Recommended18°-2° at night
- 2 mm · 1 d
- 12.2 h
Busy, without the crush
November
Fair19°0° at night
- 10 mm · 2 d
- 12.5 h
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended19°2° at night
- 41 mm · 7 d
- 12.3 h
Busy, without the crush
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and 4 °C early in the morning. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.8 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
February. Cool: 17 °C at best, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 81 mm of rain over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 17 °C at best, 2 °C at night. Rain stays light: 30 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Cool: 16 °C at best, -1 °C at night. Hardly any rain (4 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
May. Cool: 13 °C at best, -4 °C at night. Hardly any rain (0 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.9 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
June. Cool: 10 °C at best, -6 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Cool: 11 °C at best, -5 °C at night. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 10.7 h a day on average. High season: book early.
August. Cool: 13 °C at best, -5 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 0 days). Plenty of sunshine: 11 h a day on average. High season: book early.
September. Cool: 16 °C at best, -3 °C at night. Hardly any rain (1 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 11.5 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Mild, 18 °C in the afternoon and -2 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (2 mm over 1 day). Plenty of sunshine: 12.2 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
November. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 0 °C early in the morning. Hardly any rain (10 mm over 2 days). Plenty of sunshine: 12.5 h a day on average. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Mild, 19 °C in the afternoon and 2 °C early in the morning. Rain stays light: 41 mm over 7 days. Plenty of sunshine: 12.3 h a day on average. Busy season, without the crush.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
May to October: over these months, recorded highs range from 10 to 18 °C, with 1 day of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Salar de Uyuni).
Which month should you avoid in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
February: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 81 mm over 14 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Salar de Uyuni).
What is the hottest month in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
November, with 19 °C on average in the afternoon and 0 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni).
What is the coldest month in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
June, with 10 °C at best during the day and -6 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni).
What is the driest month in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
May: 0 mm over 0 days of rain, against 81 mm in February, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
November, with 12.5 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
Does it get cold at night in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
The gap between day and night reaches 20 °C in October: 18 °C in the afternoon, -2 °C at dawn. Pack an extra layer, even in high season.
When is the best time to hike in Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez?
March, April, May, August, September, October, November, December: highs between 12 and 29 °C and no more than 9 days of rain a month according to 2015-2024 records (Salar de Uyuni), the safest windows for walking.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Salar de Uyuni and Sur Lípez guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🧭 When to visit Bolivia: the country overview→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
Compare with other destinations
Photos: Laura Rudi / Pexels