Uyuni to Salta: How to Cross From Bolivia to Argentina

Uyuni to Salta - How to Cross From Bolivia to Argentina

If you’re backpacking on an amazing trip through South America, then it’s likely crossing land borders between different countries is going to feature in your adventure.

And it doesn’t get more adventurous than having to flee Bolivia, as the President resigns and chaos reigns on the streets, into nearby Argentina… as I did!

And before you ask, I couldn’t cross into Chile instead because there were big protests, violence on the streets and a curfew in place there too.

And so it was I went from Uyuni to Salta in a rather whirlwind and unplanned way, with little time to research how I might do it.

But luckily, this border crossing from Bolivia to Argentina was pretty straightforward, so if you want to travel from Uyuni to Salta too (albeit under hopefully better circumstances) here’s the full lowdown on how to do it swiftly, easily and safely…

 


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Getting to Uyuni

So the first part of this journey obviously involves you getting to Uyuni.

It’s likely you’ll be heading here from La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, so read this post to learn all about the different ways to make this journey, including by bus, plane and train.

Once in Uyuni, I highly advise staying in the great hostel Piedra Blanca if you’re on a budget.

This super place is Bolivian-owned, spacious, clean and cosy – definitely needed in the cold nighttime temperatures of the altiplano here!

There’s also a guest kitchen, free breakfast, great wifi and a roof terrace – winning!

After relaxing at Piedra Blanca, it’s then time to take a tour on the amazing Uyuni salt flats.

You can choose from either a 1 or 3 day tour, depending on your budget and timeframe.

All tours depart around 10am and usually include an accommodation pick-up, which makes things very easy.

Check out this post I wrote about everything you need to know for your Uyuni tour of the salt flats, including all the different types of tours you can pick from and how to choose between them, as well as money-saving and packing tips.

 

 

 

Uyuni to Salta by Plane

Bolivia, Uyuni, Me and Flags

I guess it’s worth pointing out at this stage that the whole of this border crossing post is going to be about making the journey overland.

However, for those of you who may be thinking about flying between Uyuni and Salta, I’m going to quickly cover this for you here… and likely put you off!

That’s because flying from Uyuni to Salta is not straightforward and all the flights I researched involved at least 2 or 3 stops, with risky self-transfers.

All flights from Uyuni route through La Paz, and it’s then likely you’ll either have to also stop in Lima or Buenos Aires on your way to Salta.

What’s more, the quickest flight time is around 16 hours and the longest Skyscanner gave me was around 40 hours and cost as at least $500 USD!

Ridiculous.

Trust me, the overland route I’m going to explain here is much quicker!

And much cheaper.

And much better for the environment.

 

Salta to Uyuni Tour

Bolivia, Uyuni Tour, Window View

As a result of the above, this article will concentrate on the independent traveller way to cross from Uyuni to Salta using public transport.

However, if you don’t like the sound of this and don’t feel comfortable with it, then it’s helpful to know you can also take a tour which covers both Salta in Argentina and Uyuni in Bolivia, as well as the border crossing between them.

If it’s your first time in South America, you don’t speak a lot of Spanish or you’re nervous about adventuring on your own, a Salta to Uyuni tour (or visa-versa) might be a great option for you.

Many of these tours start / end in Buenos Aires or La Paz too, which makes sourcing transport into and out of these capitals a lot easier as well.

 

From Uyuni to Villazon By Bus

Bolivia, Uyuni, Town

Ok, so now we’ve got the flight and tour issue out the way and you know you’re going to travel overland independently from Uyuni to Salta, here’s how to do it!

After you’ve enjoyed your stay in Uyuni and decided it’s time to head onto your next country, it’s time to take a bus from Uyuni to the Bolivian border town of Villazon.

There’s a few companies that ply this route, but they all seem to have similar departure times – weird and annoying, but that’s often how it goes in Bolivia!

So most buses either leave very early in the morning or in the early afternoon from Uyuni to Villazon.

If you want to arrive into Salta during daylight hours (as I always do in a new country / city) then I highly suggest you take the early morning bus to Villazon.

This is exactly what I did, care of the bus company Trans Salvador.

With their office and departure point situated in the centre of Uyuni, they were easy to find and I bought my ticket there the evening before departure.

The bus left at 6am, sharply, so I’d advise getting there around 5:45am to stow your luggage and get comfortable.

Bring a blanket and pillow onboard if you want to have a snooze, as well as snacks and water for breakfast, as the bus doesn’t stop until Tupiza and then only quickly.

 

From Tupiza Instead

Bolivia, Salar, 4wd

So yes, this bus stops at Tupiza, which means if you’ve finished your Uyuni tour in this town, or have spent a few days exploring the amazing landscapes around, you can simply hop on the bus from the terminal here instead and then head straight to Villazon saving yourself a few hours.

Easy!

Tupiza is a great option if you want to take a Uyuni tour that is less crowded.

Otherwise, if you’ve come from Uyuni, use this opportunity of a quick stop to visit the bathroom and buy water / snacks, because it’s straight to the border from here.

 

Arrival at Villazon

Argentina, Humahuaca, Street Art

If you take the 6am bus from Uyuni to Villazon, you’ll arrive at this border town around 12:30pm in the main bus terminal.

There’s really nothing to see here, it’s a pretty bleak place, so getting out asap would be my recommendation!

And my second and most important tip is to ignore the tours who will try to sell you a package that goes all from Villazon bus station to Salta.

They put a crazy mark-up on the taxi ride and bus tickets, which you can easily buy yourself.

Instead, exit the station and use maps.me or google maps, to find directions to the border.

The actual frontera is situated quite far away – it’s at least a 20 minute walk which, with a heavy pack, you may prefer to avoid.

As such, start walking and hail down a taxi as you go.

Lots will pass you on the streets so this is easy.

A taxi to the border should then cost around 4 Bolivianos, aka nothing!

 

At the Bolivia – Argentina Border

Argentina, Humahuaca, Market Lady

I’d heard horror stories about the Villazon – La Quiaca border crossing between Bolivia and Argentina, but it looks like they’ve revamped and cleaned it up in recent years, because the whole process here was very efficient and straightforward when I arrived!

The border is physically a bridge that stretches across a river, but before you cross, make sure you change any Bolivianos you have leftover into Argentinian Pesos, plus any USD etc if you need a bit more cash – remember you’ll need a long bus fare and food as a minimum before you reach Salta.

You’ll get the best rate on the Bolivia side and there’s a blue-fronted currency exchange office where the locals were going just right by the bridge, so I guess they offer the best rates.

Weirdly, there’s no Bolivia exit point here, so simply, cross the bridge and head to the Argentinian immigration office on the other side.

 

Arrival into Argentina

Argentina, Humahuaca, Doorway

The Argentinian immigration office was housed in a container-like structure on the right-hand side immediately after you cross the bridge.

Head here to get your entry stamp and sort your Bolivian departure.

The officials here do both, so you don’t actually get a Bolivian exit stamp as they simply stamp you into Argentina and sort the paperwork via this.

I repeat, you will not get a Bolivian exit stamp and that’s ok!

As long as you get the entry one into Argentina at this point, you’re good.

Afterwards, pass into the official immigration building to have your bag scanned and exit.

Hoorah you’ve made it into Argentina!

PS. There’s bathrooms here if you need as well. Just ask for directions!

 

Departing La Quiaca

Argentina, Humahuaca, 14 Colour Mountain

From the Argentinian side of the border, you’ll then have around 10 minutes to walk from the immigration post into the town of La Quiaca and its bus terminal, which is located slightly uphill.

There is an ATM to be found a few streets away from the bus terminal (down a street to the left, as you walk up to the bus station) if you need one at this point.

From La Quiaca terminal, which is tiny and basic by the way, there are regular buses leaving to destinations across Argentina.

All offer luggage storage underneath and comfortable seats.

Buy your tickets at the various kiosks and have some change to tip the luggage handlers.

There is a bus that goes all the way to Cordoba and onto Buenos Aires from there.

However the most popular destinations by bus from La Quiaca are Humahuaca, Tilcara, San Pedro de Jujuy and Salta – if you want to get to Buenos Aires you can take a flight from either of the latter of these two.

All of these destinations will involve the same bus, as they are just different stops along the same route.

Be prepared for police stop and searches on this bus service – it’s a major drug traffic route and they conduct a lot of spot checks, so have your passport at the ready to show any officer that asks you for it.

For the bus to Humahuaca I paid 345 Argentinian pesos and the journey took 2 hrs.

For Jujuy, the bus costs 600 Argentinian pesos and takes 4 hours.

To Salta its’ 7 hours.

However do be aware that Humahuaca, Tilcara and Pumamarca are all lovely authentic towns, which offer good accommodation and tourist services.

If you want to visit the amazing landscapes around here, including the 14 coloured mountain, or experience the unique culture in this part of Argentina, you don’t need to go all the way to Salta from the border first.

Instead, hop off the bus from La Quiaca at one of these lovely towns and enjoy them for a few days – my favourite was Humahuaca and you can learn why here.

You can then continue onto Salta afterwards.

 

Salta to Uyuni

Argentina, Humahuaca, Doorway

And don’t forget, if you are travelling the other way, from Argentina to Bolivia i.e. from Salta to Uyuni, you can follow the exact process I describe above, just in reverse.

Just make sure you take an early bus to La Quiaca and try to arrive into Uyuni before dark, which is about 6pm.

I’d also book somewhere to stay in Uyuni in advance.

Although touristy, Uyuni is not a town you want to be strolling through, looking for accommodation with all your possessions, after dark.

I highly recommend the great hostel Piedra Blanca if you’re on a budget.

I stayed there and loved it!

 

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Mini Argentina & Bolivia Travel Guide

When to Visit?

I highly recommend visiting Argentina and Bolivia during the shoulder season month of November – when both countries have good weather.

 

How Long to Spend There?

Argentina is a huge country and you really need at least 1 month to do this destination justice.

If you do not have that much time, then choose one section of the country only and enjoy that!

More ideas can be found in my ideal 10 day Argentina itinerary post here.

Allow at least 2 weeks to travel Bolivia.

 

Travel Insurance for Argentina & Bolivia

World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while travelling and claim online from anywhere in the world.

Alternatively, if you’re a long-term traveller, digital nomad or frequent remote worker seeking travel health cover, check out Safetywing’s Nomad Insurance policies.

 

Recommended Argentina & Bolivia Tours

One of the best ways to discover the marvel of Argentina or Bolivia if you’re short on time, is to take a day trip there with a local.

You can find a list of guided tours (including costs and reviews) here at GetYourGuide.

Otherwise if you’re looking for multi-day tours of Argentina, check out these great picks.

Or for Bolivia, take a look at these top picks for some super ideas and prices.

 

5 Key Packing Items for Argentina & Bolivia

#1 Good Camera – You will be pretty much snapping non-stop in these countries and will need a good camera to do this gorgeous country justice. I highly recommend the Sony A6000, which I use for all my travels and love, not least because it’s light, compact and robust!

#2 Good Walking Shoes – There will be a lot of walking in Argentina and Bolivia – from cities to national parks! Make sure your feet are comfortable therefore with a pair of New Balance Trainers. Perfect for stylish strolling, I love mine.

#3 Good Guidebook – I’m still a massive fan of the Lonely Planet Guidebooks and do think their Argentina edition is well put together.

#4 Good Water Bottle – Travelling in huge, hot South America can be thirsty work, so make sure you have a metal water bottle that you can refill as you go.

#5 Good Sun Hat – And there’s no denying you’ll need a good sun hat for protection in South America too. In my opinion, you can’t go past this Hello Sunshine one, which is both gorgeous and ideal for keeping the rays off your face and neck.

For more details about what to wear and pack for your travels in Argentina, check out this article I wrote.

 

Travel Money in Argentina and Bolivia

When it comes to paying for things in Argentina and Bolivia, you can’t get better than a Wise card.

The easy way to spend abroad with real exchange rates, no markups and no sneaky transaction fees, you can use your Wise card just like a debit card here… and it links easily with Google and Apple pay – sold! Grab yours here.

 

SAVE THIS TO PINTEREST!

 

So there you have it my complete step-by-step guide on how to travel from Uyuni to Salta by bus.

Have you made this journey recently?

Has anything changed?

If you have any info to add or update, please drop it into the comments box below so you can help fellow travellers out.

Thanks 🙂

 

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