Why does everything sound so sexy in Spanish? It’s an elixir for my nerves on the curvy gravel path with its precipitous drops. Enrique Iglesias croons through the SUV’s speakers. Day 1: Stunning landscapes, salt flat sunset and a salt hotelįrom Tupiza, La Torre’s headquarters, we drive steadily uphill into the Bolivian Altiplano (high plain).

The latter alleviates a bit of our angst about the almost 5000 m (16,404 ft) elevations we will be reaching. Our Land Rover is loaded with food, fuel, supplies and oxygen. We know right away we have scored a great crew with Elvis our English-speaking guide, Leo our driver, and Agustina our cook-definitely an over-the-top indulgence having three staff for the two of us.

Our off-road journey takes us across the giant salt flat and through volcano-studded landscapes dotted with outrageous rock formations, flamingo-filled lakes and steaming geothermal fields. We are on a 4-day Salar de Uyuni tour, traveling from Tupiza, Bolivia to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile with La Torre Tours. Easier said than done at 3656 m (11,995 ft) but I muster the energy for the requisite crazy photos on the world’s largest salt flat. “One, two, three… jump,” yells Elvis our guide. The impressive mirror effect at Salar de Uyuni-C.Helbig

Largest salt flat