Self-Launched Bolivia & Chile: La Paz, Sucre, Uyuni Salt Flats & San Pedro de Atacama
11 days · Bolivia & Chile
G Adventures charges £1,550
No-markup version: ~£770 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day self-launched version of G Adventures' La Paz–Santiago route: the high-altitude markets of La Paz, colonial Sucre, gritty Potosí, then the showstopper — a shared 4x4 crossing of the Salar de Uyuni and the desert altiplano down to San Pedro de Atacama, finishing in Santiago. You book the salt-flats tour directly in Uyuni (the single biggest saving), fly or overnight-bus the long hops, and stay in hostels and guesthouses. Expect cold nights at altitude, dirt roads, and some of the best landscapes on the continent — all for roughly a third of the group-tour price.
Day-by-day
Arrive La Paz — acclimatise at 3,600m
La Paz, Bolivia
Land at El Alto (4,000m!) and take a shared taxi or the Mi Teleférico cable car down into the bowl of La Paz. Take it very easy on day one — altitude headaches are real. Wander the Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas) and the San Francisco church area in the late afternoon, drink coca tea, and eat a light dinner. Book your Sucre flight and confirm your Uyuni 4x4 availability online tonight (several operators — Quechua Connection, Red Planet, Salty Desert, Hodaka Mountain — sell via email/WhatsApp in advance).
🚌Shared airport minibus to centre ~£4; cable cars ~£0.35 a ride
🛏Hostel in La Paz Centro/Sopocachi (dorm or private), £10–16
- →Witches' Market wander
- →Mi Teleférico cable car ride
- →Acclimatisation walk in the historic centre
La Paz highlights, then fly to Sucre
La Paz → Sucre
Morning city tour: either a free walking tour (tip-based, ~£4) or the Mi Teleférico loop plus the Valley of the Moon park on the city's edge (entrance ~£1.50). Optional Death Road downhill biking if you're feeling brave (~£55–75 booked direct with a La Paz operator, far cheaper than the £150 the tour charges). Late afternoon flight La Paz–Sucre (BoA/EcoJet, ~£45–65 booked early) — the alternative is a 12+ hour overnight bus (~£18). Sucre is lower and warmer; walk the whitewashed Plaza 25 de Mayo at dusk.
🚌Domestic flight La Paz–Sucre ~£50 (or overnight bus ~£18); airport taxi ~£3
🛏Hostel/guesthouse near Plaza 25 de Mayo, £9–15
- →Free walking tour of La Paz
- →Valley of the Moon (La Paz)
- →Optional Death Road mountain biking
Sucre — Bolivia's whitewashed capital
Sucre
A full free day. Visit the Casa de la Libertad and the Convent of San Felipe de Neri (rooftop views), then head out of town to the Cal Orck'o dinosaur trackway (local bus/taxi ~£3, entry ~£4) or hike the hills around Recoleta. Mountain biking and Spanish courses can be booked locally at short notice. Evening: cheap set lunches (almuerzo) for ~£2.50 and a beer on the plaza.
🚌Local buses/taxis around town £2–4
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Sucre, £9–15
- →Casa de la Libertad museum
- →San Felipe de Neri convent rooftop
- →Cal Orck'o dinosaur tracks
- →Optional hiking or mountain biking
Bus to Potosí and the Cerro Rico
Sucre → Potosí
Morning bus to Potosí (3–3.5 hrs, ~£4) — one of the highest cities in the world at 4,090m, so pace yourself again. Afternoon visit to the Casa de la Moneda mint museum (~£3.50). Optional cooperative mine tour the next morning (~£12–18 booked direct, vs the £35 the operator charges) — go with a reputable operator that uses the miners' cooperative tour scheme. Watch the sunset over Cerro Rico from the Mirador.
🚌Local bus Sucre–Potosí ~£4
🛏Budget hotel/hostel in Potosí, £9–15
- →Bus to Potosí
- →Casa de la Moneda
- →Cerro Rico viewpoints
- →Optional mine visit
Potosí to Uyuni — jumping-off point
Potosí → Uyuni
Morning bus through the altiplano to Uyuni (3–4 hrs, ~£5). Spend the afternoon shopping for the 4x4 trip (cash, snacks, water, warm layers, sunscreen), visiting the Train Cemetery by local taxi (~£3), and confirming your 3-day tour departure tomorrow. Most operators include the transfer into Chile/San Pedro in the tour price — make sure that's in writing. Cheap pizza and craft beer town in the evening.
🚌Bus Potosí–Uyuni ~£5; local taxi to Train Cemetery ~£3
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in Uyuni, £10–16
- →Scenic bus to Uyuni
- →Train Cemetery
- →Salt-flat tour briefing and prep
Salar de Uyuni — day 1 of the 4x4 crossing
Salar de Uyuni
The classic 3-day shared 4x4 tour (typically 6 passengers per vehicle, ~£100–140 per person direct, including food, driver/guide, and the border transfer — G Adventures' equivalent sits inside a much bigger ticket price). Day one: the Train Cemetery, Colchani salt-processing village, the endless white hexagons of the salt flat with all the forced-perspective photos, Isla Incahuasi with its giant cacti (small extra entry), and sunset on the salt. Overnight in a basic salt-hotel or community guesthouse with a shared multi-bed room — bring a sleeping bag liner and thermals.
🚌Shared 4x4 Land Cruiser
🛏Basic salt hotel / community guesthouse (multi-share), included in 4x4 tour
- →Isla Incahuasi
- →Salt flat photography stops
- →Colchani village
- →Sunset on the Salar
Lagunas Route — red and blue lagoons, flamingos
Desert altiplano, Bolivia
Full day driving the surreal altiplano: Laguna Canapa, the red-stained Laguna Colorada with its flocks of James's flamingos, the Arbol de Piedra rock formation, and herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. Altitude pushes above 4,500m — drink water, eat coca sweets, don't overexert. Second night in a very basic hostel (no hot showers, shared dorms), again included in the tour.
🚌Shared 4x4 Land Cruiser
🛏Basic altiplano hostel (multi-share), included in tour
- →Laguna Colorada flamingos
- →Arbol de Piedra
- →Laguna Hedionda
- →Wildlife spotting
Geysers, hot springs, and the border to San Pedro
Uyuni → San Pedro de Atacama
Very early start for sunrise at the Sol de Mañana geyser field (4,900m — genuinely freezing), then a soak in the Polques hot springs. Cross the border at Hito Cajón (bring your passport and the exit form; there's a small Bolivian exit fee ~£2) and continue by shared van down to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Steep descent, big scenery. Check into a hostel, eat well, and sleep.
🚌4x4 to border + shared transfer/bus to San Pedro (often included in tour; budget ~£8)
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in San Pedro de Atacama, £14–22
- →Sol de Mañana geysers
- →Polques hot springs
- →Laguna Verde and Licancabur views
- →Border crossing to Chile
San Pedro de Atacama — Valley of the Moon
San Pedro de Atacama
Book a shared minibus tour to the Valle de la Luna for sunset (~£15–18 via GetYourGuide, Klook, or a local agency on Caracoles street) — dunes, salt caves and the Cordillera de la Sal. Morning options booked locally: sandboarding (~£20), the El Tatio geysers tour (~£25, 4am start), or the Cejar salt lagoon and hot springs (~£22). Evenings: stargazing tours are superb here (~£20–25, one of the darkest skies on earth).
🚌Shared minibus tours; town is walkable/bikeable
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in San Pedro de Atacama, £14–22
- →Valley of the Moon sunset tour
- →Optional El Tatio geysers
- →Optional stargazing tour
- →Optional sandboarding
Overland through the Atacama to Santiago
San Pedro → Calama → Santiago
Shared transfer or local bus to Calama (~£5, 1.5 hrs), then fly Calama–Santiago (LATAM/Sky, ~£45–70 if booked ahead; overnight bus is ~£30 but eats a day). Alternatively the full overland route via Antofagasta and La Serena takes 24+ hours — only worth it if you're time-rich. Land in Santiago, metro into Bellavista or Lastarria, and toast the trip over a completo and a pisco sour.
🚌Shared transfer/bus to Calama ~£5; flight Calama–Santiago ~£55; Santiago metro ~£0.70
🛏Hostel in Bellavista/Lastarria, £16–26
- →Atacama desert scenery
- →Bellavista neighbourhood
- →Cerro San Cristóbal walk (free)
Santiago and departure
Santiago, Chile
Morning at the Mercado Central, the Museo de la Memoria, or a self-guided walk of the Centro Histórico. If you have a late flight, a day trip to Valparaíso by bus is doable (~£5 each way, 1.5 hrs — or book a small-group tour ~£30). Airport bus (Centropuerto, ~£2) or taxi (~£12) to SCL.
🚌Centropuerto airport bus ~£2
🛏—
- →Mercado Central and Lastarria stroll
- →Museo de la Memoria
- →Optional Valparaíso day trip
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£770 | £1,550 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £780 per person (50%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£770
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 Self-Launched Bolivia & Chile: La Paz, Sucre, Uyuni Salt Flats & San Pedro de Atacama cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £770 per person for 11 days in Bolivia & Chile. 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 £1,550 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £770 — a saving of roughly £780 (50%) per person.
How long is the Bolivia & Chile trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through Bolivia & Chile.
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, backpacker trip through Bolivia & Chile, 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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