This isn’t your average road trip. It’s an Andean odyssey through Bolivia’s mind-bending landscapes and Chile’s otherworldly deserts, valleys, and coasts. Instead of forcing your way across vast deserts or unpaved salt flats, we’re going with the smart traveler's toolkit: mix in 4x4 excursions, scenic flights, long-distance buses, and the occasional rent-a-car dash.

From La Paz’s sky-high chaos to San Pedro’s cosmic desert, and finally the colorful cliffs of Valparaíso, this journey connects South America’s most surreal landscapes with local color and culture, all without burning yourself out behind the wheel.

Stops Along your Bolivia & Chile Trip

La Paz, Bolivia – Cable Cars, Markets & Mountains

The dizzying capital of Bolivia (literally—it sits at 3,650m) is the best place to start your acclimatization and your journey. With Indigenous tradition rubbing elbows with modern street art, it's one-of-a-kind.

Recommended Stay: 2–3 days

How to Get There: Fly into El Alto International Airport (LPB)

Sights

• Witches’ Market (Mercado de las Brujas): A fascinating walk through traditional remedies, talismans, and llama fetuses used in Aymara rituals.
• Mi Teleférico: Ride the world’s highest cable car network and get a bird’s-eye view of the city’s bowl-shaped sprawl.
• Valle de la Luna: Strange, crumbling clay formations 30 minutes from downtown—Bolivia’s own badlands.
• Mirador Killi Killi: For sweeping views of La Paz surrounded by snow-capped mountains.
• Cholita Wrestling at Multifunctional de El Alto: A uniquely Bolivian spectacle where women in traditional dress wrestle lucha libre-style.

Uyuni & Salar de Uyuni – Salt Flat Dreamscapes

This stop is all about the Salar and the surreal surroundings. A proper tour through the salt flats and the south Bolivian wilderness is done best with a guided 4x4 tour—not your own rental.

Recommended Stay: 3–4 days

How to Get There: Fly from La Paz to Uyuni (1 hr) or take a night bus (10–12 hrs)

Sights

• Salar de Uyuni: A dazzling, dreamlike salt flat stretching to the horizon—even more magical when it mirrors the sky during rainy season.
• Isla Incahuasi: A bizarre island of towering cacti and coral fossils in the middle of the salt.
• Train Cemetery: Rusty steam engines left to decay in the desert—post-apocalyptic and photogenic.
• Tunupa Volcano: Hikeable and sacred to locals, offering stunning views of the salt flats below.
• Palacio de Sal: Spend the night in a hotel made entirely of salt bricks—yes, even the furniture.

Sud Lípez Region – Geysers, Flamingos & Mars-Like Valleys

This is Bolivia at its wildest, with red lagoons, steaming geysers, and gravity-defying rock formations. It’s remote, rugged, and best seen on a 3-day guided 4x4 tour from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama.

Recommended Stay: 2–3 days (as part of the 4x4 tour to Chile)

How to Travel: Join a multi-day guided jeep tour from Uyuni that includes border drop-off in Chile

Sights

• Laguna Colorada: A red-hued lake dotted with flamingos, thanks to algae and minerals.
• Sol de Mañana Geysers: An active volcanic zone of steaming vents, boiling mud, and surreal smells.
• Laguna Verde: A turquoise lake at the base of perfectly symmetrical Licancabur Volcano.
• Desierto de Dalí: A windswept desert dotted with surrealist rock formations—looks painted.
• Polques Hot Springs: A chance to soak in steaming pools under crisp Andean skies.

San Pedro de Atacama, Chile – Desert Magic & Starry Nights

Just across the border, San Pedro is an oasis village that’s also Chile’s adventure capital. From here, you’ll explore the Atacama Desert’s alien beauty, volcanic valleys, and clearest skies on Earth.

Recommended Stay: 3–4 days

How to Get There: Arrive via jeep tour from Bolivia, or fly into Calama Airport (CJC) and transfer 1.5 hrs by shuttle

Sights

• Valle de la Luna: A sunset hike or bike ride through sand dunes and salt caves—the closest you’ll get to walking on Mars.
• Laguna Chaxa & Salar de Atacama: See thousands of flamingos wading through mirror-flat lagoons backed by volcanoes.
• El Tatio Geysers: Rise before dawn to watch geysers shoot into freezing air, with golden sunbeams lighting the steam.
• Astronomical Tours (e.g., SPACE Obs): The Atacama is one of the darkest places on Earth, perfect for telescope-based stargazing.
• Pukará de Quitor: Ancient stone fortress ruins overlooking the valley—a taste of Atacameño history.

Valparaíso – Bohemian Cliffs & Colorful Streets

From the desert, skip the 20+ hour drive and fly to Santiago, then bus or train 1.5–2 hrs to Valparaíso, Chile’s most artistic and eclectic city by the sea.

Recommended Stay: 2 days

How to Get There: Fly Calama → Santiago (2 hrs) → Bus/train Santiago → Valparaíso (1.5 hrs)

Sights

• Cerro Alegre & Cerro Concepción: Explore steep, street art-covered neighborhoods with cafes, boutiques, and murals on every wall.
• La Sebastiana (Pablo Neruda’s House): The poet’s hilltop home with wacky rooms, spiral staircases, and Pacific views.
• Ascensor Reina Victoria: Take this classic funicular up the hillside to old neighborhoods.
• Museo a Cielo Abierto: An open-air museum with giant murals painted by Chilean and international artists.
• Valparaíso Port: Watch the working harbor bustle from the promenade, or hop on a short boat tour to see the hills from the sea.

Smart Travel Itinerary: Bolivia to Chile (One-Way)

• ✈️ Fly into La Paz
• 🚌/✈️ La Paz to Uyuni (overnight bus or flight)
• 🚙 3-day jeep tour through Salar de Uyuni & Sud Lípez to San Pedro de Atacama
• 🚌 Explore San Pedro with day tours (based in town)
• ✈️ Fly from Calama to Santiago
• 🚉 Take a bus/train to Valparaíso
• ✈️ Fly home from Santiago (SCL)

Good to Know

• Altitude Matters: Many areas are 3,500m+, especially in Bolivia. Take it easy for the first few days.
• Border Crossing: At Hito Cajón (Bolivia → Chile), tour operators handle immigration stops, but bring cash and ID handy.
• Cash vs. Card: Bring cash for Bolivia (ATMs are unreliable in remote areas); cards work fine in Chile, especially cities.
• Spanish: Essential in rural areas. Basic phrases and translation apps go a long way.
• Accommodations: Book 4x4 tours, Uyuni hotels, and Atacama stays in advance, especially during peak dry season.

Best Time to Travel

• May–October: Bolivia’s dry season—ideal for Salar tours, hiking, and high-altitude drives.
• January–March: Rainy season—see the mirror effect on Salar de Uyuni, but expect delays and muddy routes.
• Year-round in Atacama: It’s the driest desert in the world, with excellent conditions almost all year.

For Foodies

• Salteñas (La Paz): Sweet, savory, and messy in the best way—try them hot at Paceña La Salteñería.
• Quinoa Soup (Uyuni): Nutty, warming, and always welcome on chilly nights. Try it at Minuteman Pizza (yes, they do both).
• Flamingo-shaped Meringue (Uyuni): Found at gas station cafés and desert lodges—cute and local dessert humor.
• Chorrillana (Valparaíso): A glorious pile of fries, beef, onions, and eggs—best shared at J. Cruz M.
• Fresh Fish at Caleta Portales (Valparaíso): Cheap, fresh, delicious—go early and eat what the boats bring in.

This Bolivia-to-Chile adventure is a journey through the rawest, most awe-inspiring corners of the Andes and Atacama. You’ll experience changing altitudes, ecosystems, cultures, and cuisines—all tied together by smart logistics and unforgettable views.

Skip the backache-inducing cross-country drives and ride, fly, and hike your way from salt to sea. This is a trip where every leg feels like a new world. 🌍💨🦙