PREMIUM
Cordillera Traveller (Chilean operator)
4WD 6-seat + driver + cook
Daily · 08:00 pickup
Price
$280-400 3-day all-in
3-day full board Lagunas Colorada + Verde Salar de Uyuni sunrise Insurance
Latin America bus route · Border crossing
🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama Uyuni 🇧🇴
San Pedro to Uyuni is NOT a bus route — it's the famous 3-day 4WD jeep tour across the Bolivian altiplano. Cordillera Traveller + Estrella del Sur + Cruz Andina are the reliable operators. Journey starts at Chilean-Bolivian Hito Cajón border, crosses Salar de Chalviri, Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde, and arrives Uyuni via the Salar de Uyuni (world's largest salt flat). 4WD accommodates 6 passengers + driver + cook. Altitude 4,000-5,000m throughout. Not for altitude-sensitive travellers.
Distance
550 km
Duration
3-day 4WD tour
Operators
3
Region
Latin America
Scam-note + booking tips
AVOID sub-$200 tours — 4WDs at extreme altitude + gravel roads are safety-critical. Cordillera Traveller has the best safety record. Also: Bolivia visa required for some nationalities (US $160!) — apply at Bolivian consulate in advance OR at Hito Cajón border (long queue).
Operators comparison
RELIABLE
Cruz Andina (Bolivian operator)
4WD 6-seat + driver + cook
Daily · 08:00 pickup
Price
$220-320 3-day all-in
3-day full board Same route Slightly older vehicles
BUDGET
Local Bolivian budget operators
4WD 6-seat
Price
$180-250
Older vehicles, less reliable maintenance. Multiple documented crashes on high-altitude gravel roads. Read reviews carefully.
Book San Pedro de Atacama → Uyuni
Live schedules + prices. Cancel free 24h before departure.
Border crossing: Hito Cajón (Chile side) — Bolivian border checkpoint at Laguna Blanca
Visa
Chile: visa-free 90 days for US/UK/EU/AU/CA/NZ. Bolivia: US citizens need visa ($160!). Most other Western nationalities visa-free 30-90 days. Apply Bolivia visa in advance if possible.
Tips
- →Border processing 30-60 min. High altitude (4,500m+) so slow.
- →Bring passport + Bolivia visa (if required) + entry fee cash.
- →No ATMs at border — bring USD cash for Bolivia entry.
- →Tour operator handles logistics + paperwork.
Stay in Uyuni
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Frequently asked
Is the San Pedro to Uyuni 4WD tour safe?
Reputable operators (Cordillera Traveller, Cruz Andina, Estrella del Sur) have solid safety records. Budget operators (sub-$200) have documented accidents. Read TripAdvisor reviews carefully before booking. Altitude 4,000-5,000m throughout — genuinely challenging for sensitive travellers.
Bolivia visa for the tour?
US citizens: $160 fee at Bolivian consulate or at border (long queue). Most other Western nationalities visa-free. Apply visa 5-7 days ahead at nearest Bolivian consulate if required. Border staff at Hito Cajón have limited English.
What's the itinerary?
Day 1: San Pedro → Hito Cajón border → Laguna Verde + Laguna Colorada + Chalviri hot springs → overnight at basic refugio (dormitory). Day 2: Salar de Chiguana + Ojo del Perdiz + overnight at Salar de Uyuni edge (salt hotel). Day 3: Salar de Uyuni sunrise + Isla Incahuasi (cactus island) + arrival Uyuni town by 17:00.
What to pack for the tour?
Warm layers (nights hit -10°C at 4,500m altitude), sunscreen SPF 50+ (UV extreme at altitude), sunglasses (salt flat glare), toilet paper (no facilities at some stops), $200-300 USD cash (Bolivia entry + tips + extras), Diamox altitude meds if you're sensitive.