Buenos Aires to La Paz: Salt Flats & Sand Dunes (Self-Launched)
15 days · Argentina, Chile & Bolivia
G Adventures charges £1,899
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 15-day overland adventure from Buenos Aires to La Paz, connecting the Atlantic to the Andes across Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Dance in Buenos Aires milongas, sip Malbec in Salta, ride the legendary Tren a las Nubes, cross the world's driest desert at San Pedro de Atacama, and finish with the surreal Salar de Uyuni salt flats and Bolivia's high-altitude capital. Built for backpackers who want the same route and experiences as the original small-group tour, at a fraction of the cost, using local buses, budget flights, hostels and self-bookable day tours.
Day-by-day
Arrive in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Land in the 'Paris of the Americas' and settle into a Palermo or San Telmo hostel. Spend the evening wandering the cobbled streets of San Telmo, grab a bife de chorizo at a parrilla and test your nerve at a low-key milonga tango club (many offer free beginner classes). Book any city tours directly the night before.
🚌Taxi/Airport bus from Ezeiza ~£8-10; local Sube card for city transport
🛏Budget hostel dorm or private in Palermo/San Telmo (~£12-18/night)
- →Self-guided San Telmo & Plaza de Mayo walk
- →Optional: Buenos Aires bike tour (GetYourGuide, ~£22)
- →Optional: Buenos Aires guided city tour (~£20)
- →Evening milonga tango experience
Fly to Salta
Salta, Argentina
Skip the 20-hour bus and take a budget domestic flight to Salta in the northwest. Check into a hostel near the Plaza 9 de Julio, then head out for a Peña Folklórica show to dance, drink delicious Argentine red wine and try the city's famed empanadas. Book any onward transport to Cafayate or the Tren a las Nubes now if doing them.
🚌Budget flight Buenos Aires–Salta (~£60-90 booked ahead on Flybondi/JetSMART)
🛏Hostel dorm in central Salta (~£10-15/night)
- →Plaza 9 de Julio orientation walk
- →Optional: Peña Folklórica folklore show (~£12)
- →Empanada taste-testing
Salta City & Quebrada Day Trip
Salta, Argentina
Explore Salta's colonial cathedral, MAAM museum (home to the famous Llullaillaco mummies) and San Bernardo cable car for panoramic views. In the afternoon join a self-booked small-group day tour of the Quebrada de Humahuaca or the nearby wine town of Cafayate for dramatic red rock formations and Torrontés tasting.
🚌Local buses and shared minivan for day tour
🛏Hostel dorm in central Salta
- →MAAM Museum entry (~£3)
- →San Bernardo cable car (~£2)
- →GetYourGuide Quebrada/Cafayate day tour (~£30-40)
Salta to San Pedro de Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Cross the Andes by shared minibus/overland service to Chile — a stunning high-altitude drive over the Jama Pass. Complete Chilean immigration at the border, then descend to the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. Hostels here are simple but atmospheric; book your Valle de la Luna sunset tour for tomorrow.
🚌Shared minibus Salta–San Pedro de Atacama (~£35-50, 10-11 hrs)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Pedro de Atacama (~£12-18/night)
- →Andes border crossing over Jama Pass
- →Evening stroll and stargazing in the world's clearest skies
Valle de la Luna & Atacama
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Join a self-booked tour of the Valle de la Luna to see salt caves, the Three Marys rock formations and Duna Mayor, finishing with sunset over the volcanoes. You can also add an early-morning El Tatio geyser tour or rent a bike to explore the valley independently.
🚌Local tour minibus (pickup from hostel)
🛏Hostel dorm in San Pedro de Atacama
- →Valle de la Luna sunset tour (~£15-20)
- →Optional: El Tatio geysers sunrise tour (~£25)
- →Bike rental to explore valleys (~£8)
Begin Salt Flats & Desert Crossing (Day 1)
Atacama to Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Start the classic 3-day 4x4 crossing from San Pedro de Atacama into Bolivia. Today covers the Altiplano: the green Laguna Verde at the foot of Licancabur volcano, the steaming Sol de Mañana geysers, the red Laguna Colorada teeming with flamingos, and the rock formations of the Salvador Dalí desert. Nights are in basic high-altitude refuges.
🚌4x4 shared with other travellers on a booked 3-day tour (~£150-190 total)
🛏Basic altiplano refuge, multi-share (~£10-15, often included in tour)
- →Laguna Verde & Licancabur volcano
- →Sol de Mañana geysers
- →Laguna Colorada flamingos
- →Salvador Dalí desert rock formations
Salt Flats & Jukil Community (Day 2)
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Drive deeper across the Altiplano past the Valley of the Rocks, then spend the afternoon crossing the blinding white Salar de Uyuni itself. In the evening, stop at a small desert-oasis community (Santiago de Agencha / Jukil) — a rural village surrounded by towering cacti — for a homestay-style community lodge night and shared dinner.
🚌4x4 tour vehicle
🛏Community lodge, multi-share near Salar de Uyuni (~£10-15, included in tour)
- →Salar de Uyuni salt flat crossing
- →Incahuasi cactus island (optional small entry fee)
- →Jukil/Santiago de Agencha community experience & dinner
Finish Salt Flats, Overnight Bus (Day 3)
Uyuni to Potosí/La Paz
Wrap up the 4x4 crossing with a visit to the Uyuni train cemetery and the cactus-filled Incahuasi Island photo stop if not done already. Arrive in Uyuni town, grab lunch, then board the overnight bus north toward La Paz for a sleeping-on-the-move night.
🚌Overnight bus Uyuni–La Paz (~£15-20, 10-12 hrs)
🛏Overnight bus (or optional stop in Potosí)
- →Uyuni train cemetery
- →Salt-flat perspective photos
- →Farewell to the 4x4 group
Arrive La Paz — Markets & Mirador
La Paz, Bolivia
Arrive in the high-altitude capital and check into a hostel in the Sopocachi or central area. Ease into the altitude with a gentle wander through the Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas) and along the colourful streets, then ride the Mi Teleférico cable car network for sweeping views of the bowl-shaped city and snow-capped Illimani.
🚌Local teleférico (~£0.30-0.50 per ride); trufi/minibus for hops
🛏Hostel dorm in central La Paz/Sopocachi (~£8-12/night)
- →Witches' Market stroll
- →Mi Teleférico cable car city ride
- →Plaza Murillo & San Francisco Church
La Paz — Death Road or Valley Escape
La Paz, Bolivia
Adrenaline day: self-book the famous downhill 'Death Road' (Yungas Road) mountain-bike tour from La Paz — a full-day guided ride ending with lunch and a shower. Prefer something gentler? Take a shared tour to the lunar landscapes of Valle de la Luna or the pre-Inca ruins of Tiwanaku.
🚌Tour operator minibus with hotel pickup
🛏Hostel dorm in central La Paz
- →Death Road downhill bike tour (~£30-45)
- →Alternative: Valle de la Luna tour (~£10)
- →Alternative: Tiwanaku ruins day trip (~£20)
La Paz — Cusco-style City Discovery
La Paz, Bolivia
Take a self-guided tour of La Paz's cathedrals, museums (Museo Nacional de Arte, Coca Museum) and the lively El Alto Sunday market if timing aligns. Consider a city highlights walking tour booked via GetYourGuide for history and context, and sample Bolivian salteñas and plato paceño.
🚌Walking and local teleférico/trufi
🛏Hostel dorm in central La Paz
- →La Paz guided city tour (~£15)
- →Museo Nacional de Arte (~£2)
- →Coca Museum (~£2)
- →El Alto market visit
La Paz Buffer & Optional Excursions
La Paz, Bolivia
Use this day as a flexible buffer (the original tour builds in slack for unpredictable Bolivian transport). Optional add-ons include a Chacaltaya high-altitude hike or a day trip to the Cordillera Real foothills. If timings allow, there's also the option to bus to Copacabana on Lake Titicaca to extend your trip.
🚌Local transport or tour minibus for optional activities
🛏Hostel dorm in central La Paz
- →Optional Chacaltaya hike (~£25)
- →Optional Valle de las Ánimas hike (~£15)
- →Café-hopping and souvenir shopping
La Paz — Museums & Markets
La Paz, Bolivia
A relaxed day to properly explore La Paz: the Museo de Etnografía y Folklore, the artisanal crafts at Mercado Lanza, and the surreal San Pedro prison views from outside (tours are no longer permitted). Spend the evening at a peña for Andean music and dance.
🚌Walking and local transport
🛏Hostel dorm in central La Paz
- →Museo de Etnografía y Folklore (~£2)
- →Mercado Lanza crafts
- →Optional La Paz city tour rebook
- →Andean peña music night (~£6)
La Paz — Day Trip to Valley of the Moon / Titicaca
La Paz, Bolivia
Final full day: choose between a shared tour to the otherworldly Valle de la Luna or an overnight trip to Copacabana and Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca. Sort onward travel, SIM cards and any last souvenirs today.
🚌Tour minibus or public bus
🛏Hostel dorm in central La Paz
- →Option A: Copacabana & Lake Titicaca overland (~£30)
- →Option B: Valle de la Luna (~£10)
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping
Depart La Paz
La Paz, Bolivia
Trip ends. Head to El Alto International Airport for your onward flight, or continue overland to Peru (Puno/Cusco) if extending your gap-year adventure. Settle any hostel bills and confirm your departing transport.
🚌Airport taxi/trufi to El Alto (~£6-8)
🛏N/A (departure day)
- →Departure/onward travel
- →Optional onward bus to Puno, Peru (~£10)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £1,899 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £719 per person (38%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
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.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Buenos Aires to La Paz: Salt Flats & Sand Dunes (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 15 days in Argentina, Chile & Bolivia. 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 £1,899 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £719 (38%) per person.
How long is the Argentina, Chile & Bolivia trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Argentina, Chile & Bolivia.
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, budget trip through Argentina, Chile & Bolivia, 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.