The Sleeping Lion 3

-By Enriqueta Zambonini-

In this third chapter of our journey through South America’s most exclusive escapes, we rise above the ordinary once again—this time into the ethereal silence of Bolivia’s highlands. Beyond the well-trodden trails and camera flashes, we uncover a place where luxury means isolation, stillness, and the sublime geometry of nature. Welcome to Uyuni – a mirror to the sky, and a portal to the extraordinary.

3. Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia: The World’s Highest Mirror, Without the Crowds

The Uyuni Salt Flats are, without a doubt, one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes on the planet. But what makes the experience truly exclusive isn’t just getting there – it’s how and when you arrive. Far from the tourist crowds, the most discerning travelers choose to explore this white desert out of season, when silence reigns, the skies are clearest, and the salt is an infinite work of geometry.

Private aviation operators offer tailor-made journeys from Lima, Buenos Aires, or Santiago, with private jets landing directly at the small Uyuni airport. From there, luxury 4×4 vehicles – stocked with gourmet snacks, bilingual guides, and private routes – lead guests into what feels like another planet.

On the flattest surface on Earth, time dissolves. Picture private dinners set on salt platforms lit by lanterns under the Andean sky, paired with high-altitude Bolivian wines and signature cuisine. Sunrise photo sessions capture the precise moment the sky turns into a flawless mirror. Guided walks take you to trackless zones where silence becomes a portal to beauty that feels otherworldly.

Accommodation elevates the journey even further: five-star salt hotels offer sustainably designed suites, panoramic views, and premium services in the heart of nowhere. Think of spa treatments using the salt itself, and astronomical telescopes for stargazing in one of the least light-polluted skies on Earth.

Many private itineraries also include complementary experiences: scenic flights over Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde, desert crossings through Siloli, or visits with local communities preserving ancestral wisdom amid surreal surroundings.

Traveling to Uyuni by private jet isn’t just about comfort. It’s a statement of intent – a decision to travel in a way that prioritizes deep connection with the land, the intimacy of the moment, and the privilege of the unexplored.

Astonishing fact: when it rains, Uyuni transforms into the world’s largest natural mirror, reflecting the heavens in hypnotic perfection.

The map is far from complete. Join us in the next edition as we continue tracing the rare, the remote, and the remarkable corners of South America.