Updated Date:
Author: Salar de Uyuni Editorial Team
Quick Summary: The overnight bus is still the best all-round option from La Paz to Uyuni: about 9 to 10 hours, roughly $25 to $45, and it saves a hotel night. BoA’s daily one-hour flight is best for tight schedules and anyone who cannot sleep on buses. The train via Oruro now runs on a reduced, mostly overnight schedule in 2026, so it only makes sense if your dates line up and you want the experience.
There are three ways to get from La Paz to the Salar de Uyuni without joining a multi-day package: an overnight bus, a one-hour flight, or a bus to Oruro followed by a train south. Each one suits a different kind of traveler, and 2026 has changed the math on all three.
This guide compares them on time, total cost, comfort and reliability, so you can choose the right one for your trip. For other starting points, see our how to get to Salar de Uyuni guide.
Quick Comparison Table
| Factor | Overnight bus | Flight | Bus + train via Oruro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | About 10–11 hrs | About 3–4 hrs including airport transfers | About 12–14 hrs including the Oruro connection |
| Typical one-way cost | $25–$32 cama under regulated fares; $39–$45 historically for Todo Turismo | From about $78–$94 when booked early; often more | Bus fare plus train fare; usually the cheapest on paper |
| Frequency | Several companies nightly | BoA, roughly once or twice a day | Limited days per week |
| Comfort | Good on a cama bus | Best | Variable; mostly overnight in 2026 |
| Saves a hotel night? | Yes | No | Yes, usually |
| Best for | Most travelers, budget, first-timers | Short trips, comfort, poor sleepers | Rail fans with flexible dates |
Dollar figures use the Banco Central de Bolivia official rate of Bs 11.90 per dollar for 2 October 2026.
Option 1: The Overnight Bus
The bus is how most visitors reach Uyuni, and for good reason. It leaves La Paz in the evening, covers 546 km of fully paved road via Oruro, and arrives between about 05:30 and 07:00, in time for tours that typically leave around 10:30.
What it costs in 2026
Bolivia removed its diesel subsidy in September 2026, and a transitional fare table took effect in La Paz on 28 September. For La Paz to Uyuni, regulated fares now range from Bs 295 to 386 for cama, Bs 196 to 269 for semicama and Bs 133 to 186 for a normal seat. Todo Turismo, the main tourist operator, prices separately and has historically charged around $39 to $45.
Pros and cons
- Pro: it doubles as accommodation. You save a night’s lodging in La Paz or Uyuni.
- Pro: same-day tour start. Arriving at dawn lets you join a 1-day or 3-day tour that morning.
- Con: sleep is not guaranteed. On a semicama or a bus with weak heating, the night can be long and cold.
- Con: road disruptions. Strikes and blockades affected Bolivian roads repeatedly in 2026.
Best for: first-time visitors, budget travelers, and anyone who sleeps reasonably well on transport. For a detailed look at the night itself, see our La Paz to Uyuni route page.
Option 2: Flying La Paz to Uyuni
Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) is currently the only airline flying nonstop between La Paz and Uyuni. The flight takes about an hour from El Alto International Airport to Uyuni’s Joya Andina airport, a short taxi ride from town.
Schedule and fares
Recent schedules show BoA flying the route roughly daily, with a typical morning departure around 07:10 arriving about 08:10, and some days with a second flight. Recent one-way fares have started at roughly $78 to $94 when booked early, but prices climb near holidays and in July and August. Older guides that mention Amaszonas or EcoJet on this route are out of date.
The hidden costs and time
The flight is fast, but the trip around it is not.
- Airport transfer in La Paz. El Alto airport sits above the city at over 4,000 m. Allow 30 to 60 minutes by taxi from central La Paz depending on traffic.
- Early check-in. For a 07:10 flight, you are leaving your hotel well before dawn.
- Extra hotel night. Unlike the bus, you still need a bed the night before.
- Weather. Wet-season storms and strong winds can delay flights, especially between December and March.
Best for: travelers with limited days, families with young children, travelers who never sleep on buses, and anyone who wants to arrive fresh for a 3-day tour at altitude.
Option 3: Bus to Oruro, Then the Train
The train is the romantic option, but in 2026 it needs careful planning.
How it works
First, take a bus from La Paz to Oruro, about 230 km and roughly 3.5 to 4 hours. Under the September 2026 fare table, normal seats on that leg run Bs 38 to 55. Then board the Ferroviaria Andina train south from Oruro to Uyuni.
The 2026 schedule reality
Ferroviaria Andina has operated a reduced Ferrobus service on the Oruro–Uyuni–Villazón line. The schedule most consistently published by its online sales partner Tickets Bolivia is:
| Direction | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| Oruro to Uyuni | Monday, 21:30 | Tuesday, about 04:30 |
| Uyuni to Oruro | Friday, about 01:00 | Friday, about 08:00 |
Older timetables showing the Expreso del Sur and Wara Wara del Sur running twice a week each still circulate online. Treat them as historic until you confirm otherwise directly with the railway or its ticket agent.
What that means for you
- You will mostly travel in the dark. The classic argument for the train, seeing the Altiplano by day, does not really apply on the current schedule.
- You arrive at about 4:30am. That is a long, cold wait before a 10:30 tour departure.
- Your dates have to fit. With one departure a week in each direction, the train rarely suits a short trip.
Best for: rail enthusiasts with flexible dates who want the experience for its own sake.
The Real Cost of Each Option
Ticket prices only tell part of the story. Here is a fuller comparison for one traveler.
| Cost item | Overnight bus | Flight | Bus + train |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main ticket | $25–$45 | $78+ | Oruro bus plus train fare |
| Taxi in La Paz | Short city taxi | Longer taxi up to El Alto | Short city taxi |
| Night’s accommodation | Not needed | Needed | Often needed, depending on timing |
| Meals | Included on tourist buses | Usually not needed | Buy your own |
| Time lost | One night | Morning plus airport time | Most of a day and a night |
The bus wins on value. The flight wins on comfort and time. The train wins only on novelty.
Which Option Is Best for You?
- Best for first-time visitors: overnight bus with a tourist operator such as Todo Turismo.
- Best for budget travelers: overnight cama bus within the regulated fare band.
- Best for comfort: BoA flight, ideally with a night in Uyuni before your tour.
- Best for photographers: flight or bus, arriving a day early so you can add a sunrise or sunset session; see our Salar de Uyuni photo tips.
- Best for wet-season mirror-effect trips: the bus, which is less exposed to storm-related flight delays; book a buffer day either way.
- Best for travelers with flexible dates who love trains: the Oruro train, if your days match the schedule.
Starting From Peru?
If you are coming from Cusco or Puno, you first need to reach La Paz. Bolivia Hop and its partner Peru Hop cover that corridor with hotel pickups, a bilingual host and help at the Kasani–Yunguyo border. Public buses on that stretch look cheaper, but taxis to terminals, waiting time and handling the border alone in Spanish narrow the gap quickly. Public buses suit locals and fluent Spanish speakers who want to travel direct. Neither Hop service runs La Paz to Uyuni, so you still choose between the bus, flight and train above.
FAQ
What is the fastest way from La Paz to Uyuni?
Flying with BoA is fastest, with about an hour in the air. Including the taxi to El Alto airport, check-in and the short ride into Uyuni town, expect about 3 to 4 hours door to door.
What is the cheapest way from La Paz to Uyuni?
A regulated local bus is usually the cheapest, with normal seats from Bs 133 and cama seats from Bs 295 under the fare table that took effect on 28 September 2026. The bus and train combination can be similar or slightly cheaper on paper, but limited train days often add accommodation costs.
Is the train from Oruro to Uyuni still running in 2026?
Ferroviaria Andina has been running a reduced Ferrobus service, most consistently listed as leaving Oruro on Monday at 21:30 and arriving in Uyuni around 04:30 on Tuesday. Schedules have changed several times, so confirm directly with the railway or Tickets Bolivia before planning around it.
Which airlines fly from La Paz to Uyuni?
Boliviana de Aviación (BoA) is currently the only airline operating nonstop flights between La Paz and Uyuni. Older guides mention other carriers, but recent flight data shows BoA alone on the route.
Should I fly or take the bus to Uyuni?
Take the bus if you sleep reasonably well on transport, want to save money and a hotel night, and plan to start a tour the morning you arrive. Fly if you are short on time, travel with young children, or know a sleepless night at altitude will spoil your first tour day.
Limitations
Bus fares, flight prices and train schedules on the La Paz to Uyuni route changed repeatedly in 2026 because of fuel shortages, the September removal of the diesel subsidy, strikes and blockades. Airline schedules vary by season, and train timetables published online are often out of date. Treat the prices and times here as planning guides, confirm them with BoA, the bus operator or Ferroviaria Andina before booking, and keep a buffer day before any fixed tour or onward flight.
