La Paz to Buenos Aires: Andes & the Atacama Desert — Self-Launched
15 days · Bolivia, Chile & Argentina
G Adventures charges £1,912
No-markup version: ~£708 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of G Adventures' 15-day 18-to-39s route from La Paz to Buenos Aires, linking the Bolivian altiplano (La Paz, Sucre, Potosí) with the Salar de Uyuni salt flats 4x4 crossing into Chile's San Pedro de Atacama, then over the Jama Pass to Salta and on to Buenos Aires. Instead of a CEO and private vehicles you use local buses, a shared tourist 4x4 from Uyuni, and a domestic flight to Buenos Aires. All optional add-ons (Death Road, Potosí mines, Valle de la Luna, tango show) are bookable independently, often cheaper on the ground. Costs are backpacker/budget estimates per person in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive in La Paz — acclimatise
La Paz, Bolivia
Land at El Alto (4,061m) and take it slow — altitude is no joke. Shared minibus/taxi down into the city bowl (~BOB 50-80 / £6-9). Stay in the Sopocachi or Centro area close to the Witches' Market. Afternoon: gentle wander to Plaza Murillo and the San Francisco church, coca tea breaks, early night. Cash in hand: withdraw bolivianos here or change USD (bring clean, untorn notes).
🚌Airport minibus to city (~£7)
🛏Hostel private or dorm, Sopocachi/Centro (£10-15)
- →Plaza Murillo and cathedral
- →Witches' Market browse
- →Mirador Killi Killi sunset
La Paz by day, night bus to Sucre
La Paz → Sucre
Morning: self-book a La Paz city walking tour (Red Cap / GuruWalk free-tour model, tip £3-5) or the Mi Teleférico cable car network for city views (~BOB 3 per ride). Optional afternoon: Death Road mountain biking with a reputable operator (Barro Biking / Gravity, ~£95-120) instead of a city day if you're a confident rider. Evening: overnight bus La Paz–Sucre (~12 hrs, full cama seats, £12-18) with Trans Omar or similar — buses leave from the main terminal and book out, so reserve a day or two ahead.
🚌Night bus La Paz → Sucre (~£15)
🛏Overnight bus (reclining seat)
- →Mi Teleférico cable car
- →Free walking tour (tip)
- →Death Road biking (optional, extra)
Sucre — the White City
Sucre, Bolivia
Arrive early morning, check in near the Plaza 25 de Mayo and recharge. Afternoon gentle exploration: Convento de San Felipe de Neri rooftop (great views, ~BOB 15), Museo de la Recoleta, and the central market for a cheap almuerzo (£2-3). Sucre sits at ~2,800m so the air is much friendlier than La Paz.
🚌Walking; local taxi ~£1
🛏Hostel in Centro/Recoleta (£8-13)
- →San Felipe de Neri rooftop
- →Museo de la Recoleta
- →Plaza 25 de Mayo
Sucre — dinosaur tracks & hiking
Sucre, Bolivia
Day trip options booked direct with local agencies on the plaza: Cal Orck'o dinosaur trackway at the cement works (~BOB 30 entry plus taxi ~BOB 40 return, total £6-8), or a hike around the Chataquila/Chaunaca ridge, and the Textile Cooperative for woven crafts. Optional Sunday: Tarabuco indigenous market by shared minibus (~£8). Cheap food at Mercado Central — try chorizo chuquisaqueño and salteñas.
🚌Shared taxi/minibus to Cal Orck'o (~£5)
🛏Hostel in Sucre (£8-13)
- →Cal Orck'o dinosaur tracks
- →Textile Cooperative
- →Chataquila hike (optional)
Sucre → Potosí
Potosí, Bolivia
Local bus or shared minibus south to Potosí (~3 hrs, BOB 30-40 / £4). Potosí is the world's highest city of its size (4,090m) — arrive and go easy. Afternoon: Casa de la Moneda (national mint museum, ~BOB 40 / £4.50, guided visits hourly) and the Mercado Central for a hearty api con pastel.
🚌Local bus Sucre → Potosí (~£4)
🛏Hostal/hostel near Plaza 10 de Noviembre (£8-13)
- →Casa de la Moneda museum
- →Mercado Central
- →Cerro Rico viewpoint
Potosí mines & city
Potosí, Bolivia
Self-book a cooperative-run mine tour with a former miner (agencies on the plaza, ~BOB 150-200 / £17-22 including gear, coca and gifts for miners). It's confronting, cramped and cold — not for everyone, but it's a genuine look at life inside Cerro Rico. Afternoon recovery, rooftop views over the colonial centre, and an early dinner.
🚌Walking + local taxi (~£2)
🛏Hostal in Potosí (£8-13)
- →Cerro Rico mine tour with ex-miners
- →Santa Teresa convent (optional)
Potosí → Uyuni
Uyuni, Bolivia
Local bus to Uyuni (~3-4 hrs, BOB 30-50 / £5) across stark altiplano. On arrival: buy your 3-day salt flats + desert crossing tour tickets with a Uyuni-based operator (agencies on Av. Ferroviaria; shared 4x4, ~£95-130 pp including meals, lodging and the Chile drop-off at Hito Cajón). Confirm what's included — park fees and the Bolivian exit stamp handling matter. Evening: sunset at the Train Cemetery by local taxi (~£5).
🚌Local bus Potosí → Uyuni (~£5)
🛏Hostel in Uyuni (£8-12)
- →Train Cemetery sunset
- →Book salt flats tour
Salar de Uyuni — Day 1 (salt flats & community lodge)
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Early start in a shared 4x4 (6 passengers + driver). Drive out onto the blinding white salt flats for photo-stop chaos: forced-perspective shots, Incahuasi cactus island (BOB 30 entry), and lunch in Colchani. Continue to a salt-brick community lodge near Santiago de Agencha for the night — salt floors, salt beds, coca tea and a home-cooked altiplano dinner. Bring a warm sleeping bag and £10-15 in cash for park fees and toilets.
🚌Shared 4x4 (included in £95-130 tour price)
🛏Community salt lodge, multi-share (included in tour)
- →Salar de Uyuni photo stops
- →Incahuasi Island
- →Salt lodge community stay
Salar de Uyuni — Day 2 (lagoons & desert)
Altiplano lagoons, Bolivia
Full 4x4 day heading south through the Eduardo Avaroa reserve: Laguna Cañapa, Laguna Hedionda (flamingos), the Árbol de Piedra rock formation and the red Laguna Colorada, with vicuñas, llamas and the odd fox. Night at a basic refugio near Laguna Colorada (~4,300-4,500m, very cold — thermal layers, hat, sleeping bag liner). Dinner included by the driver's cook team.
🚌Shared 4x4 (included)
🛏Basic altiplano refugio, multi-share
- →Laguna Cañapa & Hedionda
- →Árbol de Piedra
- →Laguna Colorada flamingos
Geysers, hot springs & cross into Chile
Uyuni → San Pedro de Atacama
Pre-dawn start: Sol de Mañana geysers and the Termas de Polques hot springs (~BOB 10 entry) then the green Laguna Verde with Volcán Licancábur looming. Get your Bolivia exit stamp at the Hito Cajón border, then the tour drops you on the Chilean side where a shared transfer/bus continues down to San Pedro de Atacama (~1.5-2 hrs, often included or ~£10-15 extra). Chile charges an entry fee at this border crossing for some nationalities (payable in USD) — check yours. Afternoon: hostal check-in, hot shower, and a wander down Caracoles street.
🚌4x4 to border + shared transfer to San Pedro (~£12)
🛏Hostal in San Pedro de Atacama (£15-22)
- →Sol de Mañana geysers
- →Polques hot springs
- →Laguna Verde & Licancábur views
San Pedro de Atacama — Valle de la Luna
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Book directly with a Caracoles-street agency: sandboarding down the dunes (~CLP 45,000 / £38, includes board and transfer), or the Valle de la Luna sunset tour (~CLP 35,000 / £30 plus CLP 10,000 park entry) for salt caverns, the Tres Marías and a cracking sunset. Or DIY a bike rental (~£10/day) and ride to the valley yourself with a picnic. Evening: the Alarkapin observatory tour (~CLP 50,000 / £42) for Atacama's famously clear skies.
🚌Tour transfers / bike rental (~£10)
🛏Hostal in San Pedro de Atacama (£15-22)
- →Valle de la Luna sunset
- →Sandboarding
- →Star observatory tour (optional)
San Pedro → Salta over the Jama Pass
Salta, Argentina
Cross into Argentina via the Paso de Jama (4,800m) by shared minibus/bus — several companies run San Pedro–Salta directly (~10-11 hrs, CLP 45,000-60,000 / £38-50), with altiplano scenery, vicuñas and salt-flat views. Arrive Salta in the evening; USD cash is king in Argentina (bring clean $50/$100 notes for the best exchange rate at cuevas/money changers). Dinner of empanadas salteñas and local Torrontés wine (~£8), or a Peña Folklore show (~£8-10 entry).
🚌Shared minibus over Paso de Jama (~£42)
🛏Hostel/hostal near the Plaza 9 de Julio (£12-18)
- →Jama Pass crossing
- →Peña Folklore show
Salta — Quebrada de las Conchas / Cafayate
Salta, Argentina
Full-day shared van tour to the Quebrada de las Conchas and Cafayate wine valley (~£45-60 pp booked direct with Salta tour agencies or via GetYourGuide), stopping at the amphitheatre rock formations and two or three high-altitude bodegas for Malbec and Torrontés tastings. Alternatively, stay in town: Museo de Arqueología de Alta Montaña (MAAM) with its mummified Llullaillaco children (~ARS entry, £4-5), the cable car up Cerro San Bernardo, and the Mercado San Miguel for tamales.
🚌Shared tour van or city bus (~£3)
🛏Hostel/hostal in Salta (£12-18)
- →Quebrada de las Conchas
- →Cafayate bodega tastings
- →MAAM museum (alternative)
Fly to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Morning flight Salta → Buenos Aires (Aerolíneas Argentinas / Flybondi / JetSMART, booked 2-6 weeks ahead ~£60-100 one way, 15kg checked bag policy enforced). Check into a hostel in San Telmo or Palermo. Afternoon: free Buenos Aires walking tour (Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, Eva Perón's balcony) for a tip, then wander La Boca's El Caminito in daylight only. Evening: tango dinner show in San Telmo or Palermo (~£45-70 booked via GetYourGuide) — or the much cheaper option of a free/cheap milonga with a glass of Malbec.
🚌Internal flight (~£80) + SUBE card bus rides (~£1 each)
🛏Hostel in San Telmo/Palermo, dorm or private (£15-25)
- →Free walking tour (tip)
- →La Boca / El Caminito
- →Tango show or milonga
Buenos Aires — city, museums & departure
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Morning: pick one — Recoleta Cemetery and the Evita museum, MALBA art museum, or a bike tour along the Costanera (~£20 via GetYourGuide). Lunch at a San Telmo parrilla (steak + wine ~£12). Optional Teatro Colón tour (~£20). Grab your SUBE card top-up and head to Ezeiza (bus 8 or Tienda León shuttle, ~£5-10) or Aeroparque for onward flights.
🚌City bus/shuttle to airport (~£8)
🛏Hostel in Buenos Aires (£15-25) or depart
- →Recoleta Cemetery
- →Teatro Colón tour (optional)
- →Bike tour or MALBA
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£708 | £1,912 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,204 per person (63%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£708
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does La Paz to Buenos Aires: Andes & the Atacama Desert — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £708 per person for 15 days in Bolivia, Chile & Argentina. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,912 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £708 — a saving of roughly £1,204 (63%) per person.
How long is the Bolivia, Chile & Argentina trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Bolivia, Chile & Argentina.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Bolivia, Chile & Argentina, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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