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Author: Salar de Uyuni Editorial Team
Quick Summary: Uyuni has no finished bus terminal building. Buses arrive at and leave from company offices clustered around Avenida Cabrera and nearby streets, a short walk from the train station, tour agencies and the main square. Most overnight buses arrive between about 04:00 and 07:00, while tours leave around 10:30, so your first hours are about staying warm, finding your agency, storing bags, eating and booking your onward ticket.
If you arrive in Uyuni on an overnight bus, your first impression will probably be cold, quiet streets in the early morning light, a pile of bags on the pavement and a lot of other sleepy travelers wondering what happens next.
This guide explains how Uyuni’s bus “terminal” actually works, where buses stop, which departures leave when, and exactly how to spend the hours between a dawn arrival and a 10:30 tour. For the wider picture of reaching the salt flats, see our how to get to Salar de Uyuni guide.
There Is No Real Terminal Building
This surprises almost everyone. A dedicated bus terminal has been under construction outside Uyuni for years, but it is not the place you will use. Instead, buses work from company offices in the town centre, mostly along Avenida Cabrera and the streets around it, including Avenida Arce and Calle Avaroa. Buses park outside their own offices to load and unload.
What that means for you:
- Your bus stop is your company’s office, not a central station.
- There is no single departures board. Each company posts its own times.
- Everything is close. Uyuni’s centre is compact, and most things you need are within a 5 to 10 minute walk.
Key Places Within Walking Distance
| Place | Where | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bus company offices | Around Avenida Cabrera, Avenida Arce and Calle Avaroa | Arrivals, departures and ticket sales |
| Todo Turismo office | Avenida Cabrera 158, between Avenida Arce and Calle Bolívar | Arrival and departure point for the main tourist bus to La Paz |
| Train station | Avenida Ferroviaria at Avenida Arce | Ferroviaria Andina trains to Oruro and south to Villazón |
| Tour agencies | Mostly along Avenida Ferroviaria, Avenida Potosí and the central streets | Where 1-day and 3-day tours start |
| Main square and clock tower | Town centre | A useful landmark for getting your bearings |
When Buses Arrive
| From | Typical arrival in Uyuni | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| La Paz (Todo Turismo) | About 06:00 | Arrives at its own office on Avenida Cabrera |
| La Paz (other companies) | About 05:30–07:00 | Arrive at their own offices nearby |
| Sucre (direct overnight) | About 04:00–06:00 | Long, cold wait before tours leave |
| Potosí | Throughout the day and late evening | Daytime buses arrive too late for 10:30 tours |
| Oruro | Daytime and evening | Several companies |
| Oruro by Ferrobus train | Tuesday about 04:30 | Arrives at the train station |
What to Do at 7am: A Step-by-Step Plan
You have arrived. It is cold, the town is just waking up and your tour leaves at 10:30. Here is how to use the next three hours well.
- Layer up before you start walking. Put on your warm jacket, hat and gloves before you leave the bus. Mornings in Uyuni are often well below freezing from May to September.
- Collect your bag with your receipt stub. Check it is yours and undamaged before the bus leaves.
- Head to your tour agency. If you booked ahead, go straight there. Many agencies expecting bus arrivals open early and let clients wait inside and store luggage.
- Store anything you do not need on tour. On a 3-day tour, take only a small bag with warm layers, toiletries, water and snacks. Leave the rest at the agency or your hostel.
- Find breakfast and a bathroom. A few cafés and hostels open early. Many places do not open until later in the morning, so do not count on a wide choice at 7am.
- Book your onward bus now. If you are leaving Uyuni on the evening your tour ends, buy that ticket this morning. Evening buses to La Paz, Potosí and Sucre fill up.
- Sort out cash. Uyuni’s ATMs are limited and sometimes empty. You need bolivianos for park fees on the 3-day route: Bs 150 for the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, plus Bs 30 each for Polques Hot Springs and Isla Incahuasi.
- Buy water and snacks for the tour, especially if you are doing 3 days.
- Take it easy. You are at 3,656 m after a night with limited sleep. Drink water, eat something, and rest if you can.
If you arrive before 6am
Arriving on the Sucre overnight bus or the Monday night train means a very early, dark start. A few options:
- Book a bed for the previous night at a hostel, so you can check in on arrival.
- Ask your tour agency whether it opens early for arrivals.
- Wait in the bus office if the company allows it, rather than on the street.
Typical Morning Temperatures
These are approximate early-morning ranges. Wind chill can make it feel much colder.
| Months | Typical early-morning conditions |
|---|---|
| June–August | Often around -10°C to -5°C, sometimes colder |
| May and September | Often around -5°C to 0°C |
| October–November | Around freezing, cold wind |
| December–March | Cool, typically a few degrees above freezing; rain possible |
| April | Around freezing |
For month-by-month detail, see our Salar de Uyuni weather guide.
Departures From Uyuni
| To | Typical departures | Journey time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Paz | Evening, about 19:30–21:00 | About 9–10 hrs | Todo Turismo at 21:00, local lines earlier |
| Potosí | Several daily, morning to evening | 3.5–4 hrs | Paved road, about 204 km |
| Sucre | Overnight, about 21:30–22:00 | About 8 hrs | Direct lie-flat buses |
| Oruro | Several daily | 4.5–7 hrs | Or the weekly Ferrobus train |
| Tupiza and Villazón | Early morning | Varies with road conditions | For Argentina; 4×4 transfers also available |
| Calama, Chile | Limited days, early morning | Long day | Change buses at the border |
Under the transitional fare table introduced in La Paz on 28 September 2026, after Bolivia removed its diesel subsidy, La Paz to Uyuni cama fares run Bs 295 to 386. Fares from Uyuni are set locally and are typically similar; check at the office window.
Going to Chile
Most travelers heading to San Pedro de Atacama do not use the bus at all. They book a 3-day tour that ends at the Hito Cajón border with a transfer to San Pedro. See our San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni guide for how that works.
The train
The Train Graveyard is the town’s most famous railway sight, but working trains still run from Uyuni station. Ferroviaria Andina’s reduced Ferrobus schedule has most consistently been listed as arriving from Oruro early on Tuesday and leaving for Oruro early on Friday. Confirm the current schedule with Tickets Bolivia before planning around it.
Safety and Scams Around the Bus Offices
Uyuni is generally calm, but early mornings and busy evenings around bus offices are when small problems happen.
- Watch your bags. Keep your daypack on you while you sort out your big bag.
- Be cautious with street sellers. People meet arriving buses with tour offers and “last seats.” Some are genuine, but do not hand over cash without written confirmation.
- Use official ticket windows for onward buses.
- Check for “condicionado” tickets during strikes or blockades, which means the company may not guarantee arrival.
- Take a registered taxi if you need to reach the airport or a salt hotel outside town.
Facilities Near the Bus Offices
Around the main cluster of bus offices, you will typically find:
- Paid public restrooms
- Cafés and snack shops
- Luggage storage, often at agencies and hostels
- Currency exchange
- Shops selling water, snacks and warm accessories
Do not expect a waiting hall, heated seating or a central information desk.
FAQ
Where is the bus terminal in Uyuni?
Uyuni does not have a working central terminal building. Buses arrive at and depart from company offices clustered in the town centre, mainly around Avenida Cabrera, Avenida Arce and Calle Avaroa. Check your ticket for your company’s exact office address.
What time do buses arrive in Uyuni from La Paz?
Overnight buses from La Paz usually arrive between about 05:30 and 07:00. Todo Turismo publishes a 21:00 departure from La Paz with arrival in Uyuni at around 06:00 at its office on Avenida Cabrera.
What should I do when I arrive in Uyuni early in the morning?
Put on warm layers, collect your bag, go to your tour agency to wait and store luggage, find breakfast, and book your onward bus for after the tour. Make sure you have enough bolivianos for park fees, as ATMs in Uyuni are limited.
Can I store my luggage in Uyuni during a tour?
Yes, in most cases. Many tour agencies store luggage for clients during 1-day and 3-day tours, and hostels often store bags for guests. Ask before you book, and keep valuables with you.
When do buses leave Uyuni for La Paz?
Buses to La Paz leave in the evening. Todo Turismo departs at 21:00 and arrives in La Paz at about 06:30, while local companies have typically left earlier, around 19:30 to 20:00. Book your seat the morning you arrive.
Limitations
Uyuni’s bus arrangements are informal and change often, and the town’s planned terminal may eventually alter where buses stop. Departure times, companies and fares listed here come from published operator and booking-platform information and changed repeatedly in 2026 because of fuel shortages, the removal of the diesel subsidy, strikes and blockades. Temperatures are approximate. Confirm your company’s office address, departure time and fare directly, and check road conditions before travelling.
