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View of a historic church in Cuzco, Peru with a bustling city street.

Backpacker route · 2–3 weeks

Bolivia's salt flats and the Atacama: Cusco to San Pedro de Atacama

A two-to-three-week high-altitude route from Cusco in Peru through La Paz and the Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia to the Atacama Desert in Chile. Each hostel is booked separately.

Photo: Cristhians_art / Pexels

This route runs along the high Andean plateau from the Inca heartland to one of the driest deserts in the world. It links Cusco and La Paz, crosses the Salar de Uyuni on a multi-day jeep tour and ends at San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. It is scenic, remote and demanding.

Altitude shapes the trip. Cusco sits at around 3,400 metres, La Paz is higher still, and the salt flats are about 3,650 metres above sea level, so plan gentle first days. UK government advice warns that road blockades happen in Bolivia without warning, can disrupt roads and transport, and should not be crossed, so build in spare days. Each hostel on the route is booked separately.

Each hostel on this route is booked separately with Hostelworld. There is no combined package, and transport is booked with each operator. Duration basis: Estimated by adding the suggested nights at each stop (roughly 10–14 nights) to the travel days, including a multi-day salt-flat crossing and a border-area transfer. Altitude and the chance of road blockades argue for slack in the schedule.

  1. To La Paz: Long-distance bus via Puno and the Peruvian–Bolivian border (Desaguadero or Copacabana), typically around 12–16 hours, or a flight of about 1 hour 15 with a connection. Check which border crossing your bus uses.

  2. To Uyuni: Overnight bus, typically around 10–12 hours, or a short flight from La Paz or El Alto (LPB) to Uyuni (UYU), if services are running.

  3. To San Pedro de Atacama: Most people book a multi-day 4x4 tour across the salt flats that ends at the Chilean border; a connecting bus then goes to San Pedro. Allow three days and check operator reviews and vehicle condition.

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Route tips

  • Allow a day or two at moderate altitude before the highest stops; check official health sources for altitude information.
  • Choose salt-flat operators carefully and confirm what is included before paying; vehicles and drivers vary.
  • Allow spare days for protest-related blockades, which UK government advice says can occur without warning.
  • Nights on the plateau are cold year-round, so pack warm layers; the desert day-to-night range is wide too.
  • Each hostel is booked separately, so confirm check-in times with your arrival.

Sources and review

Reviewed by the HostelConnect editorial team on 8 November 2026. Check entry rules, transport and conditions with official sources before you travel.