Uyuni is one of the most popular destinations in Bolivia as most visitors to the country try to include a salt flats tour in their itinerary and Uyuni is the main starting point for these tours (Tupiza and San Pedro de Atacama in Chile are other places where tours can be started). Although not a small town Uyuni is located in an isolated part of the country and road infrastructure is not in good condition in this area although there are plans to improve the road.

Buses From La Paz to Uyuni / Bus Uyuni to La Paz

There are direct buses each night from La Paz to Uyuni. There are no direct buses in the day although it is possible to take local buses from La Paz to Oruro then onto Uyuni , these are low quality and not recommended.

Tourist Bus Todo Turismo

There is a nightly tourist bus service run by Todo Turismo that leaves La Paz at 9pm and leaves Uyuni at 8PM each night (although from time to time there are cancelations for maintenance or due to conditions). This service is semi cama (reclining seats half way back) and has heating, toilet, hot meal, English speaking attendant and emergency oxygen bottles. This is a safe bus service and the drivers are breathalised before and after the journey. The journey is usually around 10 to 11 hours although during rainy season there can be significant delays and when conditions become too bad the service is stopped until things improve.

Other Bus Services

There are also other bus companies that offer the La Paz to Uyuni route and these leave at 7pm each night for La Paz to Uyuni and at 8pm each night from Uyuni to La Paz. There are both semi cama and normal bus services and the journey usually takes around 11 to 12 hours. These options are not as safe as the tourist bus and there are usually some accidents each year with more chance of this happening in the rainy season (Feb to April is usually the worst period) when conditions are bad

Train from Oruro To Uyuni / Train from Uyuni to Oruro

A popular option is to take a bus from La Paz to Oruro where you can catch a train to Uyuni (it also continues onto Tupiza and Villazon). This option is safe and comfortable (the bus section is basic however) but only available 4 days per week. As it is popular you need to book in advance because it is almost always sold out 1 or more days before. The train from La Paz to Uyuni leaves on the following days / times: Tuesdays and Fridays – 3.30pm from Oruro (direct bus to train station at 9am from La Paz) Wednesdays and Sundays – 7pm from Oruro (take bus from La Paz at 1.30pm to Oruro , need taxi from Oruro bus terminal to train station)

Flights from La Paz to Uyuni / Flights from Uyuni to La Paz

Starting in July 2011 there are now flights from La Paz to Uyuni and Uyuni to La Paz. Two companies are flying this route – TAM the military airline and Amaszonas.

TAM are flying Mondays and Fridays from La Paz via Sucre and leave at 9am arriving at 12pm in Uyuni and also flying from Uyuni to La Paz via Sucre same days leaving at 16.00 arriving in La Paz at 18.20

Amaszonas have started flying La Paz to Uyuni and now have daily scheduled flights that are direct leaving at 8.15am and arriving in Uyuni 9.15am with returning flights Uyuni to La Paz on the same days leaving at 9.40am arriving La Paz 10.40am.

It is possible to arrange for a pre booked tour to pick you up at the airport to meet with the the Amaszonas flgihts and then go striaght on a tour.

Private Transport

It is also possible to rent private transport to go from La Paz (or other cities) to Uyuni but this is an expensive option as the driver will have to drive in both directions and also stay one night in Uyuni