Atulcha (Bolivia)

We stopped at the village of Atulcha during a 4x4 tour we did to explore the Salar de Uyuni salt flat and its surrounding area. Lying in the province of Nor Lipez at the heart of Bolivia's Potosí region, Atulcha is a tiny hamlet of just 70 inhabitants, who mainly earn their living from agriculture, llama farming, traditional crafts and tourism.

Located high in the Andes (at an altitude of more than 12,100 ft ), this southern Bolivian village is famous for being close to the region's star attraction: the Salar de Uyuni salt flat. Surrounded by huge cacti and with its adobe buildings and its railway tracks, Atulcha has all the hallmarks of a typical village of the Bolivian Andes. As well as its traditional crafts and local museums, the area is also famous for its ancient rock art; though the immense expanse of salt remains its star attraction.