How to get from La Paz to Uyuni
The largest salt flat on Earth, Uyuni is even more incredible in-person than when looking at the photos.
It is here we can enjoy incredible landscapes, and even see the legendary mirror-effect when heading during the wet season.
It doesn’t stop there though, with the surrounding region also home to many other hidden and remote gems. These include the fiery geysers of Sol de Mañana, green and red lagunas as well as natural rock sculptures located in the middle of a desert.
La Paz to Uyuni
This guide we’ll explore some of the best ways of getting from La Paz to Uyuni. We’ll also take a look at where to stay as well as some other tips based on our time spent here.
Uyuni Quick Summary:
- 📍 Where is it: Southern Bolivia
- 🗺 Difficulty Getting There: Moderate
- ⏱ Time needed: 1-3 days
- ☀️ Best Time to Visit: June-September (Dry Effect), December-February (Mirror Effect)
Where is Uyuni, Bolivia?
Whilst the Salt Flats of Uyuni are pretty famous, many don’t realize that Uyuni is actually the name of the town from which the tours begin to explore the flats and surrounding region.
Being honest there’s very little to see and do in the town itself, and most will stay just a night whilst sorting logistics depending on where they’re heading (such as La Paz and Sucre).
Given Uyuni is located right on the Bolivian Altiplano at an altitude of 3700m, it can get really cold here year-round. This means you’ll need a coat at night, but also sunscreen during the day as it’s intense and can easily burn.
Is Uyuni worth visiting from La Paz?
Absolutely, and this particular trip is a really popular one to take for those who don’t have much time to travel around Bolivia.
Most night-buses arrive in Uyuni early in the morning (between 5-7am), and the tours then begin around 9:00am which is ideal from a logistical perspective. You’ll also get to stay in a warm cafe whilst you wait for your tour agency to collect you.
Like we said the town has very little to see, however even during the day tour alone we can see a cacti-covered island, wild vicuña as well as the epic Salt Flats themselves.
How far is Uyuni from La Paz?
Uyuni is located roughly 540 km south of La Paz, which takes around 8 hours by bus.
As already mentioned you’ll need to take a night-bus to arrive, which is convenient since you won’t waste precious daylight.
Another important consideration is to bring altitude sickness medicine with you if you’re prone to issues like George is (given much of the journey is above 3500m). Take a look at our South America packing list which covers more on what equipment to carry to Bolivia.
Where to stay in Uyuni?
If you do want to stay one night in the town before moving on, then there’s plenty of options to choose from.
Those on a backpacking budget will want to stay at Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel. Here you’ll be able to stay in a heated dorm room, and also have an additional breakfast available at the property.
If you’re looking for a nice upgrade, then we recommend staying at the Hotel Rey David. Here you’ll be in a sleek private room, along with your own private bathroom. You’ll also have breakfast included in the room rate.
Are you looking for a truly memorable night stay? Then consider the Hotel de Sal Luna Salada – which is made almost entirely out of salt from the Salt Flats! Here you’ll be staying right on the Salar de Uyuni, with a private restaurant and spa services on-site.
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How to get from La Paz to Uyuni
Overall getting from La Paz to Uyuni is quite easy, although it can be a little tiring. Through our experience here we’ve found 3 main ways of making the trip.
Bus from La Paz to Uyuni
Out of all the options available, the bus is both the most simple and economical option of them all. A one-way bus costs between $15-20, and leaves from the main bus terminal in La Paz. The journey takes around 9 hours.
There’s various buses to choose from in the terminal, including reputable companies such as TransOmar, Panasur and Cruz del Norte. Buses usually depart from 19:00 and onwards, so it’s good to book your ticket at the terminal earlier the same day.
It’s important to mention that the buses can be quite chilly at night, so be sure to bring an extra blanket and jumper on-board. Especially so as when you’ll arrive in Uyuni it will be pretty cold.
Overall the bus is a really great option, especially for those who will be exploring both Peru and Bolivia on the same trip.
Driving from La Paz to Uyuni
Another option for the more flexible drivers out there is to rent your own car and drive yourself. It’s great since you can leave on your own schedule, and also make stops along the way at lesser-known destinations (such as the lakes around Oruro).
Driving will take around 8 hours without stops, so again it will be best to leave in the very early morning. You’ll arrive at Uyuni in the afternoon, however keep in mind that Uyuni tours only leave around 9:00am so you’ll have to sleep the night here.
Just take care as driving in Bolivia can be quite hectic at times (which is similar with other Andean nations such as Ecuador and Peru).
Small Group Tour to Uyuni
Lastly we have the group tour which departs La Paz, visits Uyuni and returns the next day. It’s by far the best option for travelers with less time, given it will only take two days and all logistics will be sorted for you.
On this Group Tour you’ll arrive early and head straight on a tour where you’ll visit the Salt Flats, as well as other awesome nearby gems such as Isla Incahuasi as well as the Dakar monument. You’ll also have all transport and meals included over the two days.
Getting from La Paz to Uyuni
Thanks for reading our guide on how to get from La Paz to Uyuni.
Renowned for its picturesque white salt flats, the Uyuni region actually has much more going for it. Here we can see Pink Flamingos, multi-coloured lagoons as well as some scenic desert landscapes.
There’s also different ways of getting here, depending on how much time you have to explore Uyuni.
In this guide we’ve explored how to get from La Paz to Uyuni, as well as where to stay and what to do.
Be sure to read our Backpacking Bolivia Itinerary to learn more about what this incredible country has to offer.
👉🏽 P.S. If you’ve found this guide helpful, buy us a coffee here to say thanks! Or, support us by downloading our South America Travel Bible to get our best content.
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