Across Salar de Uyuni Itinerary
The Across Salar de Uyuni Road Trip is a fantastic journey stretching across 572 km, taking you from the city of Uyuni in Bolivia to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. With a recommended time of 3 days, you will have plenty of time to take in the stunning landscapes and nature along the way. You can also visit UNESCO Heritage Monuments like the Church of San Lorenzo de Carangas and the Inca ruins of Sillustani.
Be aware that the roads along the route can be quite poor in places, with some only accessible by 4WD. You will also need to cross a border along the way. The best time of year to take this road trip is during the dry season, from April to November.
The Across Salar de Uyuni Road Trip offers a truly unique experience and is sure to leave you with plenty of memories. It is suitable for drivers of all levels and can be managed on a moderate budget. So if you're looking for an unforgettable road trip, this is the one for you!
3
number of days
572 km
route length
fair
budget
explorer
good for
on the right
traffic direction
moderate
accident level
Distance 572 km
Driving time 18.7 h
Pace: slow
131.5 kWh
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Uyuni in Bolivia is an ideal starting point for the “Across Salar de Uyuni Road Trip”. Located in the south of Bolivia, the city offers a variety of interesting sights to visit, ranging from the Uyuni Train Cemetery, with an abundance of rusting locomotives, to the Dali Desert, a surreal landscape of rocks sculpted by wind and rain. The nearby Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat, an incredible expanse of blindingly white salt that reflects the light of the sun. The nearby salt hotels are also a popular attraction, offering a unique experience of sleeping in a room made entirely from salt.
For those traveling by air, the closest international airport is Viru Viru International Airport (VVI), located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The airport offers various car rental services, making it easy to begin your road trip through Bolivia.
Uyuni is a great starting point to begin exploring Bolivia’s stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. From Uyuni, the “Across Salar de Uyuni Road Trip” will take you through some of the country’s most spectacular sights, offering an unforgettable journey through the breathtaking Bolivian countryside.
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1
Uyuni
- Salar Uyuni
Distance 239 km
Driving time 6.5 h
Pace: slow
55.1 kWh
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Itinerary
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Embark on a thrilling road trip from Uyuni to Salar Uyuni! This journey takes you through some of the world's most spectacular landscapes and offers a unique opportunity to explore the Bolivian highlands. The entire trip is 239km long and can be completed in fewer than 7 hours. A 4WD vehicle is necessary for this journey, and some sections may be inaccessible to cars with camper trailers. Be sure to keep an eye out for UNESCO Heritage sites along the way. Although there are a few gas stations along the route, it is best to fill up your tank before you begin the journey. As you drive, you will be greeted by picturesque landscapes and scenic roads. Take your time to soak in the beauty of the Bolivian highlands and don't forget to take lots of pictures! For more information on attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please refer to the "Itinerary" of this stage. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready for an unforgettable road trip!
2
Salar Uyuni
- San Pedro de Atacama
Distance 332 km
Driving time 12.3 h
Pace: slow
76.4 kWh
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Itinerary
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Embark on an exciting road trip from Salar Uyuni, Bolivia to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile! This 332km journey will take you fewer than 13 hours and is full of incredible sights and experiences. You'll need a 4WD to take on this adventure, and you'll cross the border between Bolivia and Chile. Some sections of the route may be inaccessible to cars with camper trailers, so plan accordingly.
Along the way, you'll see stunning landscapes, historical sites, and plenty of scenic roads. Visit the village of San Juan de Chuchini, where you can explore the colonial churches and buildings. At the Salar de Atacama, you'll be able to observe the vast salt flats and take in the breathtaking views. And don't forget to stop by the Valley of the Moon, where you'll be mesmerized by its unique rock formations.
For more information about attractions, accommodation options, recommended restaurants, and campsites along the route, please refer to the Itinerary for this stage. Enjoy your journey!
San Pedro de Atacama
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San Pedro de Atacama is the perfect ending point for the "Across Salar de Uyuni Road Trip". Located in the northern Chilean desert, it is a small oasis in a vast desert landscape. It is a paradise for those who enjoy desert landscapes, star gazing, and outdoor adventures.
The town of San Pedro de Atacama offers stunning views of the Andes Mountains and the Atacama Desert. Visitors can explore the Valle de la Luna, a desert area with its own unique landscape, and the Piedras Rojas, an area of red sandstone formations. For a unique experience, visitors can take a dip in the Puritama Hot Springs, or take a star-gazing tour of the Atacama Desert's night sky.
San Pedro de Atacama is also home to many archaeological sites, including the Tulor Village and the Chaxa Lagoon. Visitors can explore the Atacama Desert's many ancient ruins and petroglyphs.
For those traveling by air, the closest international airport is El Loa Airport (CJC), located in Calama, Chile.
San Pedro de Atacama is the perfect destination to end a road trip. With its stunning desert landscapes, archaeological sites, and night sky tours, it offers travelers a unique experience that they won't soon forget.
Across Salar de Uyuni at a glance
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Start:
Uyuni
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End:
San Pedro de Atacama
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Distance:
572 km
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Stay:
3 days
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When to drive:
January, March, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
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More info:
More info you can find in the "Itinerary" section at each stage.
No doubt our itinerary will become a perfect inspiration for your future holiday excursions.
Our itinerary can be used as a template that you can recreate in its entirety or only partially and that can be enriched with diverse stopovers of your choice.
If travelling by car is your plan when exploring highlights around Bolivia, there are a number of essential traffic regulations to follow and a bunch of elements to bear in mind to make your trip smooth.
These tips will surely become useful for holidaymakers who are considering hiring a car or camper rental in Bolivia.
When on a tour around Bolivia, you should pay attention to the local traffic regulations.
When moving around Bolivia in a car, it is best to avoid alcohol at all.
Holidaymakers ought to remember that the permitted level of alcohol in blood is not that high and amounts to only 0‰.
The maximum speed when travelling around the build-up areas is 50km/h.
When it comes to undeveloped areas, you should bear in mind that the maximum speed is 80km/h.
In Bolivia, you can drive at the allowed speed of 100km/h on motorways.
We recommend driving with your headlights on at daytime and equipping your car with a fire extinguisher and first aid kit to increase the safety.
You’re probably wondering about the costs of the whole trip.
The amount of money that you have to spend during the whole road trip will vary depending on the budget option that you select.
Take a look at the available budget options.
Travel expenses connected with fuel in the cheapest offer will be roughly 63 EUR.
Within the economy offer, accommodation options will cost approximately 121 EUR.
The travel expenses related to restaurants and food within this option will cost up to about 108 EUR.
Travellers will have to pay around 225 EUR if they go for the cheapest hire car offer as well.
Thus, going for vehicle rental will increase the costs of the road trip from about 292 EUR to around 517 EUR.
When it comes to the standard offer, you should be prepared to pay the maximum of 88 EUR on the fuel needed to cover the itinerary.
Cost amounting to 198 EUR can be expected by all tourists who are considering standard overnight stays.
For food and restaurants within the standard range of services, you will have to pay about 144 EUR.
Travellers who want to cover the trip in a standard rental car can expect a cost of approximately 293 EUR.
The whole estimated cost of the tour is 722 EUR with car rental and 430 EUR without a hire vehicle.
The available premium option has been prepared with the most demanding holidaymakers in mind.
Drivers who would like to rent a car will pay around 1,019 EUR for the whole road trip, whereas those who are not interested in vehicle hire will spend around 659 EUR.
Travellers who want to cover the road trip in a premium rental vehicle can expect a cost of approximately 360 EUR.
In the top standard version of the road trip, you will pay about 113 EUR for fuel.
Travellers who are considering top services in all aspects of their tour should expect to pay more or less 330 EUR for hotels and roughly 216 EUR for food and restaurants.
Our tour can be easily adjusted to the needs of all camper enthusiasts.
If you choose this mode of transport, you will pay up to approximately 675 EUR.
If you are wondering about the gasoline costs for the whole trip, they will amount to around 125 EUR.
Tourists should expect to pay around 108 EUR for expenses connected with food and more or less 88 EUR for overnight stays if they want to travel in a camper.
The section Road Trip Costs presents all the presented costs in detail.
The part of Bolivia described in our road trip idea is great to be visited between October and April.
There are plenty of intriguing scenic drives and road trips that are available on our website if you like Across Salar de Uyuni Road Trip.
Even the most demanding of holidaymakers will surely be taken aback by the great versatility of travel opportunities available on our website.