Bolivia | A Quick Guide to Uyuni

Like many destinations these days, Instagram is largely to thank (or blame) for the rising popularity of Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia. Ten thousand square kilometres of salt with endless horizons and a perfect reflective surface are bound to draw admirers of natural beauty, photographers and curious travellers. There are many resources to help you discover the salt flats (including our own), but what to do in the town of Uyuni itself? 

The constant turnover of tourists, the disrepair of its streets and buildings – at first glance it may not seem like the most worthwhile place to visit. But you’re bound to spend a night or two there before seeing the flats, and this quaint town has its charm. From cozy places to stay, interesting sights and scrumptious food, we put together a quick guide to enjoying Uyuni, Bolivia.

A Quick Traveller’s Guide to Uyuni, Bolivia

How to get to Uyuni: from La Paz, Sucre, Chile or Argentina

Where to stay: Our favourite accommodations in Uyuni

Where to eat: Uyuni’s best restaurants

What to do: How to spend a day in Uyuni

Uyuni | Getting there

From La Paz, Bolivia

Public buses depart from the station in La Paz to Uyuni daily. The overnight bus is the most common choice for travellers as the journey is 10+ hours. Buy your tickets ($10-25 USD) at the bus station in La Paz the day before and prepare yourself, it’s a bumpy ride. Alternatively, if you’ll be travelling around Bolivia and making multiple stops you may want to go with Bolivia Hop. It’s a reliable tourist hop-on hop-off bus that travels the main routes in Bolivia. For a little more money you’ll have a more comfortable journey and a guide to help make the journey painless. Finally, you could opt for a domestic flight from La Paz to Uyuni but it will run you $150+ USD. 

From Sucre, Bolivia

The only direct bus to Uyuni from Sucre leaves bright and early. Book your ticket and confirm the time at the bus station just outside of town the day before. You can also book a ticket to Potosi (about three hours outside Sucre) and continue onward to Uyuni from there. Again, a mid-range option is to go with Bolivia Hop and if you have the funds domestic flights are also an option.

From Chile

We think this is the best way to arrive in Uyuni. A 3-day tour from San Pedro de Atacama. Read all about it here and how to plan your trip here. There is also a bus that runs from Calama, Chile if you prefer.

From Argentina

This route requires a bit of patience as there isn’t a direct bus. From Salta or Jujuy, catch the earliest possibly bus toward La Quiaca. From there you will have to walk or grab a taxi the short distance to the border and walk across to Villazon, Bolivia. The bus station on the Bolivia side is further than the Argentina side so we’d recommend taking a taxi. From there you can catch a direct bus to Uyuni. If you experience delays along the way consider stopping in Tupiza for the night. You can also do day trips to the salt flats from there. 

Related // The Ultimate Guide to Salta City

Uyuni | Where to stay

Onkel Inn Wagon Sleepbox is a charming hotel located in the main train station of Uyuni. Outside, the rooms are appropriately in converted train cars for a uniquely Uyuni experience. The two-person dorms inside are the most affordable (and coziest) rooms we found in South America. No matter which you choose the owner will surely make your stay wonderful, starting with a delicious breakfast in the dining car.

Location – Inside the Uyuni Train Station
Price per night – Ranges $17-$66 USD for a capsule to a wagon suite
Book now – Through Booking.com

Uyuni | Where to eat

Central Market | For a taste of everything Bolivia has to offer head to the Central Market. Crispy snacks, fresh fruit and fruit juices, flamboyant sodas, and local cuisines from fried chicken to grilled seafood, stir-fried rice and stews. Find a stall that’s rammed with locals and pull up a seat. Just make sure to ask how much before ordering.

Street Food | You don’t have to walk far to find street food in Uyuni. The one-person roadside kitchens near the main street open their windows to dish out sandwiches, burgers, and fries for cheap. And they’re tasty too. Those on a budget might be tempted to go back for every meal.

Minuteman Pizza | If there’s one food you can count on eating anywhere in the world it’s pizza. While most of the time it’s a tourist trap, this couldn’t be further from the case at Minuteman. Inside the Toñito Hotel, the Boston native Chris and his Bolivian wife Sussy create some of the best we’ve ever tasted. Seriously. Handmade, crispy, cornmeal dusted dough, local ingredients, and inventive combinations. Not to mention to-die-for desserts, salads, sides and dips. If you’re a pizza fan, it would be an absolute miss to pass on Minuteman while in Uyuni.

Restaurante Tika | For an upscale experience head to Restaurant Tika. Uyuni’s finest dining establishment elevates local dishes to perfection. Fresh trout and risotto, grilled bacon wrapped pork and plenty more. It’s the perfect place to satisfy a post-salt-flat-tour craving.

What to do | Uyuni, Bolivia

There’s no doubt that Uyuni’s main attraction is its proximity to the salt flats. But the town itself is worth an afternoon wander. The streets are alive with vendors, kids playing football and seemingly never-ending construction. The mismatch of architecture and rubble around town provide an eclectic backdrop for the daily buzz. 

Beyond wandering the main streets, the Uyuni Train Cemetery is the one attraction in town that’s definitely worth visiting. Uyuni was once to become a major hub of train transport for the region but the project was abandoned. These trains are all that’s left. A misfit collection of cars, parked in the sand and rusting for the rest of their days. Covered in graffiti and free to explore, they make for an interesting playground. You can climb in and around them to your heart’s content. Since they’re often the final stop on tours of Salar de Uyuni, make sure to visit before 8am or after 6pm so you can enjoy them without the crowds.

Related Reading

Our ultimate guide to Salar de Uyuni covers everything from when to go, what to pack, how to get those dreamy reflection shots and more.

Considering a 3-day tour? Read about the amazing sites between San Pedro de Atacama and Uyuni.

And, if you’re heading to San Pedro de Atacama, here’s how you can spend 3 epic days in the Chilean desert.

Are you heading to Uyuni, Bolivia any time soon?