Cross-border trip · Argentina to Bolivia
Private transfer from Salta to Uyuni, via La Quiaca and Villazón.
We drive you from Salta to the Uyuni salt flat in Bolivia, up the Quebrada de Humahuaca, across the La Quiaca–Villazón bridge and on through Tupiza. You travel in a 19-seat minibus or a 4x4 pickup with a professional driver, one way or return, in one long day or two easier ones. We file the vehicle's international trip permit and tell you which documents each passenger needs.
The road
Salta to Uyuni, leg by leg
It is about 690 km (430 miles). We follow Ruta 9 the whole length of the Quebrada de Humahuaca to La Quiaca, cross the international bridge into Villazón and continue through Tupiza and Atocha to Uyuni. On the Bolivian side, the Tupiza–Atocha–Uyuni road is a paved mountain road, completed in 2023.
Pure driving time is close to 9 and a half hours, before the border. We recommend two days, with a night in the Quebrada or in Tupiza; if your group prefers, we do it in one long day.
| Leg | Approximate distance, altitude and what to know |
|---|---|
| Salta to the Quebrada de Humahuaca | Ruta 9 through Jujuy, with Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca along the way. This is where most stops fit. |
| Humahuaca to La Quiaca | Ruta 9 continues across the Jujuy plateau, through Abra Pampa, to La Quiaca at about 3,400 m (11,200 ft). Salta to La Quiaca is about 400 km. |
| La Quiaca to Villazón | The crossing is the international bridge between the two towns. Bolivia is one hour behind Argentina all year round. |
| Villazón to Tupiza and Uyuni | About 290 km of Bolivian mountain road through Tupiza and Atocha. Uyuni and its salt flat sit at about 3,650 m (12,000 ft). |
Distances and driving time: approximate, calculated on OpenStreetMap data with the OSRM routing engine on Oct 10, 2026. Tupiza–Atocha–Uyuni road: Bolivian Roads Administration, reported by El País (Tarija), Mar 15, 2023.
The border
The La Quiaca–Villazón crossing
It is the most direct Argentina–Bolivia crossing for Uyuni from Salta: it sits on the same Ruta 9 and, unlike the passes into Chile, it does not depend on snow. You exit Argentina on one side of the bridge and enter Bolivia on the other.
Official sources do not agree on the hours. On Oct 10, 2026, Argentina's page for the crossing listed Monday to Saturday, 7:00 to midnight, while another government page lists 7:00 to 24:00 with immigration open around the clock. We check the hours the day before and reach the border with time to spare.
Live status: La Quiaca–Villazón crossing on argentina.gob.ar (Border Police, National Roads and Weather Service). Checked Oct 10, 2026.
Documents
What each passenger needs
- Most travelers from outside South America: a valid passport. Bolivia sorts nationalities into groups that do or do not need a tourist visa. The rules changed on December 1, 2025, when several countries, the United States among them, moved to the no-visa group. Confirm yours with a Bolivian consulate before you travel.
- Argentine citizens: national ID card (DNI) or passport.
- Citizens of Mercosur and associated countries: the national ID card recognized under the Mercosur agreement, or a passport, unless their nationality needs a visa.
- Minors leaving Argentina may need a travel authorization, depending on who travels with them. Argentina's immigration office explains the cases.
Official sources, checked Oct 10, 2026: visa exemptions of Dec 1, 2025 (Bolivian Foreign Ministry), visa groups (Bolivian consulate), Mercosur travel documents and travel authorization for minors (Argentine immigration).
Roads in Bolivia
Blockades, time zone and longer trips
Roads in Bolivia can be closed by blockades. The Bolivian Roads Administration (ABC) publishes the state of the national road network on its road-status map. We check it before leaving, and if the road is cut we tell you and reschedule with you.
Uyuni can be the end of the trip or one part of a longer one. If you want to continue through Bolivia, or come back through Chile and San Pedro de Atacama, we plan it on request around your dates.
- One way: we drop you at your lodging in Uyuni.
- Return: we pick you up in Uyuni on the agreed date and drive you back to Salta, or to Salta or Jujuy airport.
- Stops: Purmamarca, Tilcara, Humahuaca or Tupiza, whichever your group chooses.
Road status in Bolivia: ABC road-status map.
Booking
What we need for the price and for the permit
For a price, send us the date, how many are traveling, where we pick you up, one way or return, and whether you prefer one day or two. We normally reply the same business day, Argentina time.
Every trip abroad needs its own permit from the CNRT, Argentina's national transport regulator. It is filed at least 72 hours before departure and includes the passenger list, so when you confirm we ask for each traveler's full name and passport or ID number. Book at least a week ahead. The vehicle travels with its insurance extended to Bolivia.
- 19-seat minibuses and 4x4 pickups with a professional driver
- CNRT license No. 60284 in force
- AMT permit for passenger transport within Salta province
- Licensed travel agency
- International trip permit filed by us, for every trip
- Trips of one day or several
- Drivers work in Spanish; English messages are answered in English
Frequently asked questions
What travelers ask before heading to Uyuni
Can it be done in one day?
It can, but it is long: about 690 km and close to 9 and a half hours of driving, plus the border. We recommend two days, with a night in the Quebrada de Humahuaca or in Tupiza.
Why La Quiaca and not another crossing?
Because it sits on Ruta 9, the road out of Salta, and on the Bolivian side a paved road continues to Uyuni. It is the most direct way. If the crossing or the road has a problem on your travel day, we tell you beforehand and work out the alternative together.
Will the altitude affect me?
From Humahuaca onward the trip stays above 3,000 m (9,800 ft), and Uyuni is at about 3,650 m (12,000 ft). Many people feel it on the first day, and splitting the trip in two helps. If you have a medical condition, ask your doctor before the trip.
Do I need a visa for Bolivia?
It depends on your nationality. Argentines and citizens of Mercosur and associated countries enter with their ID card. For everyone else, Bolivia has a list of countries that need a visa and countries that do not, and the list changed in December 2025. Confirm with a Bolivian consulate before you travel.
What if there is a road blockade?
We check the Bolivian Roads Administration map before leaving. If the road is cut, we do not risk leaving you stranded: we let you know and reschedule with you.
Do you publish prices?
No. The price depends on the date, the number of travelers, one way or return, the number of days and the vehicle the group needs. Send us those details and we reply with a price.
More questions about getting around Salta and Jujuy are answered on our tours and transfers page.
Who we are. Lausof SRL is a family-owned transport company based in Salta. We have carried passengers since 2010 under CNRT license No. 60284. About the company.
Related: International trips · Salta to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile · Tours and transfers in Salta and Jujuy
Updated Oct 10, 2026. Border hours, entry rules and road status are published by the governments of Argentina and Bolivia and can change.
Ready to plan the trip to Uyuni?
Tell us the date, how many are traveling, where we pick you up, one way or return, and a name and contact for the booking.
English inquiries: write to contacto@lausof.com or send a WhatsApp message to +54 9 387 526-9009. We reply in English, normally the same business day (Argentina time, UTC−3). Phone calls are answered in Spanish.
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