La Paz to Buenos Aires: Andes & the Atacama Desert in Bolivia, South America

Map of the route for La Paz to Buenos Aires: Andes & the Atacama Desert

Places visited

Itinerary Notes

1) Please note transportation providers in Bolivia can be unpredictable and change or cancel bus routes, our itineraries may change to accommodate these changes with the best passenger experience in mind.

2) We recommend bringing USD in cash for the Argentinean portion of this tour as it is easier than using a credit card or withdrawing ARS from an ATM. USD currency is accepted in travel agencies for booking optional activities.

Itinerary

Day 1La Paz

Arrive at any time. Catch your breath before heading out for a few cold ones near the hotel with your fellow travellers. Get to know each other as you prepare for the adventure of a lifetime.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group|Connect With New Friends

Day 2La Paz/Sucre

Get to know La Paz with a free day to wander through the city's winding streets and vibrant markets before boarding a night bus to Sucre.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 3Sucre

Discover the beauty of Sucre, known as Bolivia's "White City" at your own pace with a free day to explore. Set in a valley surrounded by mountains, you can choose to go hiking or mountain biking to admire this city from a different point of view.

Day 4Sucre

One day in Sucre isn't enough, so take another free day to explore! Try optional activities such as hiking, mountain biking, a visit to the Textile Cooperative, or get up close and personal with real dinosaur tracks.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 5Sucre/Potosí

Venture south to Potosí, the highest city of its size in the world.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 6Potosí

Get out and explore Potosí on a free day. Choose to take an excursion to the Potosí Mines led by former miners, visit the Casa de la Moneda or wander the streets and visit the local market.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 7Potosí/Uyuni

It's off to Uyuni today. Breathe in the beautiful scenery while relaxing in a private vehicle. Take it easy today because your next adventure is right around the corner!

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 8Uyuni/Salt Flats and Desert Crossing

Embark on a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni. Get your camera ready because the endless white of the salt flats creates the perfect backdrop for mindbending photo ops. Settle in to your G Adventures-supported community salt-brick bungalow — complete with salt floors and salt furniture, and enjoy a delicious dinner prepared with local ingredients.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Jukil Community Experience & Lodge

Meals included:

Breakfast | Dinner

Day 9Salt Flats and Desert Crossing

Continue crossing the desert today, admiring the scenery while passing red and blue lagoons and intriguing rock formations along the route. Keep an eye out and you might spot wild llamas, alpacas, and even flamingos deep within the desert.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 10Salt Flats and Desert Crossing /San Pedro de Atacama

Get a head start on your day by rising early to cover more ground on your journey through the unique landscape of the Salar de Uyuni. Soak in the views of unimaginable scenery including volcanoes and salt lakes. Travel to the border then kick back and relax on your descent by bus to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile.

Meals included:

Breakfast | Lunch

Day 11San Pedro de Atacama

Today is full of possibilities. Explore San Pedro de Atacama on a mountain bike, cruise down the dunes on a sandboard, or chill out in the hot springs. Or visit the Valley of the Moon, an area on Earth that resembles the moon's surface. (How cool is that?)

Day 12San Pedro de Atacama/Salta

Say "Adios!" to Chile because you're heading to Argentina today. Relax on the bus en route to Salta, home to empanadas salteñas—and no visit to the town is complete without trying them! Unwind at the hotel or liven it up with a visit to a Peña Folklore show to dance the night away and sip delicious Argentine red wine.

Day 13Salta

Tantalize your tastebuds with the local cuisine today as you explore freely. Choose to saddle up and admire the scenery on horseback. Or, if you'd prefer, take a visit to the town of Cafayate to roam vineyards and sample some of the white wine produced at insanely high altitudes.

Exclusive Inclusions:

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 14Salta/Buenos Aires

Skip the long bus journey with a quick flight to Buenos Aires. Spend the afternoon exploring the city. Cruise around on a bike with a local or dine on a traditional Argentine meal while experiencing the art of the tango.

Meals included:

Breakfast

Day 15Buenos Aires

Depart at any time.

View full itinerary

What's Included

Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de Agencha
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your First Night Out Moment: Connect With New Friends
Your Discover Moment: Sucre
Your Discover Moment: Salta
4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and surrounding area (3 days)
Transportation between destinations and included activities
Internal flight
All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodations

Simple hotels (twin-share) (10 nts), hostels (multi-share) (1 nt), overnight bus (1 nt), basic hotel/G Adventures-supported community lodge on Salar de Uyuni excursion (2 nts, multi-share).

Meals

10 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 2 dinners
Allow USD345-450 for meals not included.

Transportation

Local bus, plane, 4x4 truck, van

Staff & experts

CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides.

Available extras (Add these to your tour when you book)

Buenos Aires Tango Show - From $85.00

Let professional dancers enchant you with this passionate dance. Once banned for its sensuality, tango is now an icon of Buenos Aires and a must-see when visiting this vibrant city. Enjoy a delicious multi-course meal paired with Argentine wine while taking it all in.

Death Road Biking Adventure - From $115.00

Get your adrenaline pumping as you soar down the 'world's most dangerous road.' Start high up in the Andes at 4,700m (15,420 ft) and wind your way down this steep, narrow road on the mountainside into the depths of the Bolivian jungle. This is not one for the faint of heart, adrenaline junkies only! Please note that the entrance fee of 53 Bolivianos (not included in this activity) must be paid directly to the National Park prior to biking, only local currency is accepted. We are unable to pre-pay this fee in advance, due to the park policy. Should you choose to pre-book the Death Road Biking Adventure on day 1 of your tour, you will need to book a pre-night in order to participate in this activity.

Potosí Mine Visit - From $35.00

Visit the inside of Potosí's historic mines on a eye-opening tour guided exclusively by former miners. They will share their stories firsthand about life underground. This is the only experience in the region guided entirely by former minders who have pursued toursim as a way to build a safer and healthier alternative to life beneath the surface. Visit the miners' market, an ore processing plant, and walk through the tunnels of Cerro Rico, an iconic mountain in global history. As you go, learn more about the cultural and historical significance of mining in Bolivia, and how important it was in fueling the global economy. This activity is the perfect way to enjoy a G Adventures-supported, community-led experience aiding local efforts towards education and safety around this important piece of Bolivian history. Bring a bandana and wear protective gear (boots, helmet and headlamp) as you head deep into the bowels of Cerro Rico (Rich Hill). Please note there is an optional add-on to this activity. It's recommended to consider visiting the Royal Mint Museum to complete the story. Ask your CEO for more information.

Rewilding Yampara: Walks Through Culture and Forest - From $61.00

Begin in Bolivia's capital and cultural heritage hub, Sucre. Then, travel to the Yampara Indigenous community of Pisily, located in the rural highlands near Tarabuco. The Yampara are one of the country’s oldest Andean peoples, known for their deep agricultural knowledge, ancestral weaving, and their strong relationship with the land. Hosted by a local indigenous family, the group will engage in seasonal agroecological activities, learn about sustainable practices within Andean farming, and hike through one of the largest native Polylepis forest in Chuquisaca. You'll come away from this G Adventures-supported community initiative with deeper insight into the worldview of the Yampara, their climate resilience, and food sovereignty. Finish off the experience with a traditional apthapi, a communal Andea meal featuring foods like native potatoes, quinoa, wild mushrooms, and seasonal vegetables. More than just a meal, the apthapi represents abundance, hospitality, and a shared celebration between the local community and travellers.