Traveling Across Bolivia: La Paz To Uyuni Distance Explored

La Paz and Uyuni are two of Bolivia's highlights, with the former being the country's bustling capital city and the latter being home to the famous salt flats. The distance between the two is approximately 289 miles or 461 kilometres by air and 334 miles or 538 kilometres by road. There are several ways to travel between the two, including plane, bus, car, and train.

By plane: 1-hour flight, 6 flights daily

The flight distance between La Paz, Bolivia, and Uyuni, Bolivia, is 286 miles or 461 km. The fastest way to travel between the two cities is by plane, with a flight time of 1 hour and 4 minutes.

There are two airlines that fly this route with around six flights available daily. These are Amaszonas and Boliviana de Aviacion. Tickets can be purchased for as little as $50 USD one way if booked in advance.

The departure airport for flights from La Paz to Uyuni is El Alto International Airport (LPB), and the arrival airport is Joya Andina Airport (UYU). The total travel time, including getting to and from the airports and waiting times, is around 3 hours.

This mode of transport is the quickest and simplest way to travel between La Paz and Uyuni, but it is also the most expensive and least environmentally friendly.

By bus: 10-12 hours, $5-20, 2 companies

The bus is a great way to travel from La Paz to Uyuni, Bolivia, cheaply and efficiently. The distance between the two cities is around 546 kilometres (or 731 kilometres according to another source), and the bus ride takes between 9 and 12 hours.

There are two luxury bus companies that ply this route: Todo Turismo and Cruz Del Norte. Todo Turismo is the more expensive option, with one-way tickets priced at 250 Bolivianos. Cruz Del Norte is a more affordable option at 110 Bolivianos for a one-way ticket. Both companies offer daily overnight buses from La Paz to Uyuni.

Cruz Del Norte buses have several daily departures from La Paz to Uyuni, with tickets including full reclining seats, a snack pack, an onboard toilet, air conditioning, and occasional Wi-Fi. The bus departing at 10:30 pm is recommended as it arrives in Uyuni around 7 am when it is light and things are open.

Todo Turismo buses are also comfortable and safe, with onboard Wi-Fi, a toilet, and bedding provided. A hot dinner and breakfast are included in the ticket price.

There are other well-priced bus companies that operate this route, with tickets ranging from $13 to $39 USD or €15 to €21 for a one-way adult ticket.

By train: 2 services, 1 with dining cart

To get from La Paz to Uyuni by train, you'll first need to take a bus from La Paz to Oruro, which takes around 4 hours. From there, you can take a train from Oruro to Uyuni, which takes around 7 hours. There are two train services operating this route, both run by FCA:

Expreso del Sur

The faster and more punctual of the two trains, the Expreso del Sur departs from Oruro on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:30 PM, arriving in Uyuni around 9:30 PM. A first-class seat costs around $9 USD. This train is known for its punctuality and speed.

Wara Wara del Sur

A slightly slower but more affordable option, the Wara Wara del Sur departs on Wednesdays and Sundays at 7:00 PM, arriving in Uyuni around 2:30 AM. A first-class seat on this train costs around $15 USD. This train is a good choice if you're looking for a more budget-friendly option and don't mind a slightly longer journey.

The train journey from Oruro to Uyuni is known for its scenic views, offering passengers the chance to see lagoons filled with flamingos, quinoa fields, and llamas. It's also one of the few possibilities to travel by train in South America, making it a unique and memorable experience. The train has a restaurant car with delicious and affordable meals, adding to the charm of this mode of transportation.

By road: 334-mile drive, 7-hour trip

The distance from La Paz, Bolivia, to Uyuni, Bolivia, is approximately 334 miles (538 km) by road. The drive time is around 7 hours and 13 minutes, but you may want to add a buffer for rest stops, gas, and food.

Day 1:

• Drive for about 1 hour, then stop in Colchani and stay for about 1 hour.
• Drive for another 2 hours, then stop in Oruro and stay overnight.

Day 2:

Drive for about 4 hours and arrive in Uyuni.

Along the way, you can explore interesting places and eat at great restaurants. Remember to plan your trip in detail and calculate the driving time with stops to get a more accurate estimate of the total travel time.

By tour: Pick-up in La Paz, includes accommodation

The distance between La Paz, Bolivia and Uyuni, Bolivia is approximately 334 miles or 538 kilometres. This distance can be travelled by road in around 7 hours, 13 minutes.

There are several tour companies that offer packages that include pick-up in La Paz and accommodation. Here are some options:

• Titicaca Travel Peru offers a 3-day, 2-night tour for $290 per person in a shared service. The tour includes a bus from La Paz to Uyuni, a 4x4 vehicle for the tour, meals, and accommodation. The tour covers the Salt Flats, the Train Cemetery, Colchani, Incahuasi Island, and various lagoons in the Eduardo Avaroa National Park.
• GetYourGuide offers a 1-day, 1-night tour by flight for €851.97 per person. The tour includes hotel pick-up in La Paz, round-trip flight tickets, accommodation, and most meals. The tour covers the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Train Cemetery, Colchani, Incahuasi Island, and Tunupa Volcano.
• JOKER EXPEDITION, BOLIVIA offers a similar 1-day, 1-night tour by flight. The tour includes hotel pick-up in La Paz, round-trip flight tickets, accommodation, and meals. The tour covers the Uyuni Salt Flats, the Train Cemetery, Colchani, Incahuasi Island, and Tunupa Volcano.

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