Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Salta to La Paz: the Altiplano and Uyuni by 4x4 from Tupiza
12 days from Salta to La Paz: a border crossing at La Quiaca, three days of 4x4 across the Altiplano, plus the salt flat on Day 8, then Potosi, Sucre and a flight to La Paz.
12 days · Salta to La Paz · up to 12 guests
A lagoon with red water behind white mineral crust, filed on Wikimedia Commons as Laguna Colorada; photographed August 2006. The lagoons on the proposed route are not yet fixed. Photo: Lion Hirth (User:Prissantenbär), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, resized
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 12 days, 11 nights
- Start and end
- Salta to La Paz
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Activity level
Active
Plan for short walks on most days, long road days on Days 3, 4, 8 and 9, and three days of 4x4 across the Altiplano, plus the salt flat on Day 8, on rough tracks, with simple lodges at high altitude. The Government of Canada lists Uyuni at about 3,656 m and La Paz at about 3,640 m; the lagoons route climbs above 4,000 m, Laguna Colorada is reported at about 4,278 m, and Potosi is about 4,090 m. Five of the eleven nights are at about 3,600 m or higher. The border crossing at La Quiaca and Villazón is described by guides as on foot. Altitude affects people regardless of fitness; speak to a doctor first. Shorter-walk options are not step-free alternatives.
- Meals included
- 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners
- Season
- Proposed dry-season window
Highlights
Why this trip
- Salta's colonial centre, the MAAM museum and a peña
- The Quebrada de Humahuaca at Purmamarca, Tilcara and Humahuaca
- A border crossing at La Quiaca and Villazón, described by guides as on foot
- Tupiza's red canyons, on horseback or on foot
- Three days of 4x4 across the Altiplano, plus the salt flat on Day 8, to high lagoons, route to be confirmed
- A night on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni and a planned sunrise on the salt, sky permitting
- Potosi's mint and Sucre's white colonial centre
What makes this trip different
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Day by day
Itinerary
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Salta
Salta airport (SLA) to your hotel in central Salta
- Dinner
- Stay in Salta
Fly into Martin Miguel de Guemes International Airport (SLA) in Salta, a colonial city at roughly 1,150 m (reported), the lowest point of the trip. A driver is proposed to meet you in arrivals and take you to the hotel in the centre. If you land early, walk to Plaza 9 de Julio, the arcaded square with the pink cathedral, and sit under the arches.
Evening
In the evening your See Sight Tours guide, to be appointed, briefs the group on the twelve days: that this trip includes a border crossing at La Quiaca and Villazón, described by guides as on foot, that up to three nights are in simple lodges between roughly 3,650 and 4,300 m, that three days are in 4x4 vehicles on rough tracks, and how to look after yourself at altitude. A welcome dinner of northwestern dishes follows. Arrival times vary, and an early or late flight may change the plan.
Included
- Pick-up at Salta airport (SLA), proposed
- Welcome briefing with your guide
- Welcome dinner
Free time: Free until the evening briefing
Salta: the colonial centre, the MAAM and a peña
Salta on foot
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Salta
A day in Salta on foot, which is how to see it. We walk the arcaded Plaza 9 de Julio, the cathedral and the churches of the old centre, then visit the Museo de Arqueologia de Alta Montana, the MAAM, where Inca child offerings reported to have been found near the summit of Llullaillaco are displayed. Which, if any, of the children is on show is not stated by the museum, so we cannot promise one. The museum's own listing, read on 9 November 2026, gives Tuesday to Sunday 11:00 to 19:00 with last entry at 18:30 and Monday closed, with holiday hours to be confirmed, so rechecking each date is needed. The rest of the day is free for the market or a rest.
Evening
In the evening we have dinner at a peña, a restaurant with live folk music, where guitars and bombo drums play zambas and chacareras; the venue is unconfirmed.
Included
- Guided walk in Salta's old centre
- MAAM entry
- Dinner at a peña with live folk music
Optional experiences
- Cable car up Cerro San Bernardo, subject to operation
Free time: Free time before dinner
Activity: Dates must avoid a Monday for this day because the MAAM is closed. Which child is displayed is not stated by the museum and is unconfirmed.
North through Purmamarca to Humahuaca
Salta to Humahuaca by road through Jujuy and Purmamarca
- Breakfast
- Stay in Humahuaca
We leave Salta and drive north through the green Jujuy lowlands and up into the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a valley reported as UNESCO World Heritage listed of banded rock.
Afternoon
The first stop is Purmamarca, at about 2,300 m (reported) under the hill of seven colours, where we walk the short circuit of coloured rock and have a late lunch on our own. We continue by Maimara and Tilcara, where the Pucara hill fort above the village gives a view along the valley, to Humahuaca, a historic town of narrow streets at about 3,000 m (reported). This is a long day, roughly four to five hours of driving including stops, as an estimate to be confirmed, and we are already sleeping at 3,000 m, so we walk slowly, drink water and eat lightly.
Evening
Dinner is free so guests can listen to their appetite and altitude.
Included
- Vehicle and driver, Salta to Humahuaca
- Purmamarca circuit walk with your guide
- Tilcara Pucara visit, if time allows
Easier option: Skip the Pucara climb and rest in Tilcara
More active option: Walk the full Pucara circuit
Free time: Free evening in Humahuaca
Activity: Long driving day, with the first night at about 3,000 m.
Crossing the border at La Quiaca to Tupiza
Humahuaca to La Quiaca, on foot across the bridge to Villazon, then Tupiza
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Tupiza
This is the border day and the longest, so we start early. We drive north from Humahuaca to La Quiaca at the end of Argentina's Ruta 9, then leave the vehicle and cross the international bridge on foot to Villazon in Bolivia, as travel guides describe the usual way; guests walk with their own bags and arrangements for luggage and vehicles on each side are to be confirmed. The Government of Canada's Argentina advice says land border posts with Bolivia and Chile are regularly closed in winter (June to September) because of weather, and its advice for both countries describes demonstrations and roadblocks that can close roads, so if the crossing or the road is closed the day would change and the plan for Tupiza may be shortened. Immigration queues, opening hours and entry rules for your passport must be checked in advance with official sources, and queue times cannot be predicted. A Bolivian vehicle would take us on to Tupiza, which guides put at about two to three hours from the border. Tupiza lies at about 3,000 m (reported) among red rock formations, and Tupiza is lower than the nights that follow.
Included
- Vehicle and driver, Humahuaca to La Quiaca
- Assistance at the border by your guide
- Bolivian vehicle to Tupiza
- Lunch
Easier option: Rest at the hotel in Tupiza on arrival
Free time: Evening free in Tupiza
Activity: Border crossing times, hours and queues are unverified; a winter weather closure, a roadblock or a strike could stop the crossing. The day may run long and the plan for Tupiza may shorten.
Red canyons of Tupiza, then the 4x4 begins
Tupiza red canyons, then south by 4x4 into the Altiplano
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Southern Altiplano lodge
Morning
In the morning we ride or walk among the red canyons around Tupiza, with their eroded pinnacles and dry riverbeds; a horseback ride of about two hours is proposed for those who want one, and walking is the alternative. Then we load into our 4x4 vehicles for the first of three days across the southern Altiplano.
Evening
A group of 7 to 12 would travel in two or three vehicles, each with a driver, and the lodge for tonight is a simple one on the plateau whose name and exact place depend on the operator's route, which we have not yet fixed. The road climbs from about 3,000 m to well above 4,000 m, so everyone feels the altitude from today. We eat the first full-board day together; the lodge will be basic, with shared bathrooms possible. Expect long hours on rough tracks.
Included
- Red canyon ride or walk with local guides
- 4x4 vehicles and drivers
- Lodge accommodation, full board
Easier option: Walk the canyon instead of riding
More active option: Add a longer canyon walk or ride
Activity: Altitude above 4,000 m from this day. The lodge, the exact first-night location and the route are unconfirmed.
High lagoons
Across the southern Altiplano to the Laguna Colorada area
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Laguna Colorada area
The second 4x4 day takes us through the heart of the high Altiplano, with volcanoes, wind-scoured desert and the coloured lakes. We plan to stop at high lagoons; flamingos are reported in this region but sightings are never guaranteed. Which lagoons we see depends on the final route; Laguna Colorada itself is reported at about 4,278 m, and the red-tinted water and white mineral crust are the best known. We stay at a simple lodge in the area, where nights fall well below freezing and the heating, hot water and electricity may be limited. Many people report poor sleep and headaches at this height. We do not promise any wildlife, colour or clear sky, and we may shorten the day for health or weather. Meals are served at the lodge.
Included
- 4x4 vehicles and drivers
- Stops at high lagoons
- Lodge accommodation, full board
Easier option: Stay near the vehicle at lagoon viewpoints
Activity: Altitude above 4,000 m on this day and night. Lodge and route unconfirmed; extreme cold is possible.
Rocks, salt and a night at the edge of the flat
From the lagoon country towards the Salar de Uyuni edge
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Salar de Uyuni edge
The third 4x4 day leaves the coloured lakes and heads north through wind-carved rock fields, volcanic plains and small villages towards the Salar de Uyuni.
Evening
We lose altitude across the day, and the air feels easier by evening. The proposed night is in a salt hotel on the edge of the flat, built from salt blocks, with the salt crust close at hand; the hotel is not appointed and the style may be simple. If we arrive in time we walk on the salt crust for sunset. The flat's surface changes with the season: we propose the April to October dry window and do not plan around a water mirror, which belongs to the wetter months when the Government of Canada says the salt flat becomes dangerous to visit. We do not promise any particular state of the salt. Dinner and breakfast are at the hotel. Tomorrow's sunrise depends on the sky and the cold, so dress for it.
Included
- 4x4 vehicles and drivers
- Sunset on the salt crust, if time allows
- Salt-hotel or edge-of-flat lodge, full board
Easier option: Stay at the hotel and watch from the terrace
Activity: Hotel and exact edge-of-flat location are unconfirmed; route order is an estimate.
Sunrise on the Salar and on to Potosi
Salar de Uyuni sunrise, Uyuni town, then road to Potosi
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Potosi
Morning
We rise early for sunrise over the salt crust, where the horizon vanishes in a white glare if the sky is clear.
Afternoon
After breakfast we drive across the flat, stopping where the vehicles can stop, and reach Uyuni town for a short walk and lunch. Then the road to Potosi, which is roughly four hours by our estimate, to be confirmed, runs over high plateau, and the city appears below its silver mountain, the Cerro Rico, at about 4,000 m, the highest overnight of the trip's cities.
Evening
We reach the hotel in the evening and rest. We do not plan any activity tonight. Cerro Rico mine visits are not part of the plan, and any underground option would be a separate decision on safety and conditions.
Included
- Sunrise on the Salar with your guide
- Vehicle and driver to Potosi
- Lunch in Uyuni
Easier option: Skip the dawn walk and join the group for breakfast
Activity: Potosi sits at about 4,000 m; slow evening advised.
Potosi's mint and the road to Sucre
Potosi, the Casa Nacional de Moneda, then Sucre by road
- Breakfast
- Stay in Sucre
Morning
In the morning we visit the Casa Nacional de Moneda, the colonial mint where Potosi's silver was turned into coins. Opening hours are reported inconsistently, so admission must be reconfirmed for each date. After the visit we walk to a viewpoint or the old centre if energy allows, then drive to Sucre, roughly three hours by road, an estimate to be confirmed. Sucre lies lower, at about 2,800 m (reported), and the air is noticeably easier. The white colonial centre is the city reported as where Bolivia declared independence.
Evening
We arrive in time for a stroll around the main plaza before a free evening. Expect a long day with a mid-morning start, and allow time for the road, which can be slowed by weather, roadworks or the blockades the Government of Canada describes.
Included
- Casa Nacional de Moneda visit with your guide, subject to admission
- Vehicle and driver, Potosi to Sucre
Easier option: Visit the mint and skip extra walking in Potosi
Free time: Free evening in Sucre
Activity: Mint hours and tour format are unconfirmed.
Sucre, the white city
Sucre's old centre on foot
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Sucre
A day in Sucre. We walk the old centre with its white colonial buildings, courtyards and churches, visit a museum or house chosen with the guide, and look at the market.
Afternoon
The afternoon is free, for a long lunch, a textile museum, or a rest after the Altiplano.
Evening
In the evening we gather for a group dinner, proposed. We do not name specific museums or restaurants because none are confirmed. The plan avoids a long drive. Choices for the day are made with the guide on the morning, depending on opening hours, the weather and how everyone feels. Nothing is booked yet, and any museum or house visit would be confirmed with the written quote. Guests who prefer a quiet day can simply stay near the hotel.
Included
- Guided walk in Sucre's old centre
- One museum or house visit, to be confirmed
- Group dinner
Optional experiences
- A textile museum or a cooking class, if a local operator is available
Free time: Free afternoon in Sucre
Fly to La Paz
Sucre to La Paz by flight, then La Paz on foot
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in La Paz
- By plane
We fly from Sucre's Alcantari airport (SRE) to La Paz, a flight of about an hour.
Evening
BoA and aggregator listings suggest early-morning and late-evening flights on some days, so the flight times and the number of weekly flights are unconfirmed, and the plan for the day depends on what is available; no ticket is booked. In La Paz, at about 3,600 m in the city and higher at the El Alto airport, we reach the hotel, then ride the cable-car system for a view of the city in its bowl, and walk around Plaza Murillo. After a day at Sucre's lower altitude the high air hits again, so we keep the pace slow. A farewell dinner is proposed. Flight arrangements and aviation timings are supplier confirmations.
Included
- Flight Sucre to La Paz, proposed
- Cable-car ride and Plaza Murillo walk
- Farewell dinner
Easier option: Take a taxi instead of walking on the steep streets
Activity: Flight is proposed, unbooked, and the schedule is unconfirmed.
Depart La Paz
La Paz hotel to El Alto airport (LPB)
- Breakfast
Morning
After breakfast a driver is proposed to take guests to El Alto airport, which sits on the plateau above the city. The transfer length depends on traffic, which can be heavy, and we do not quote a time until the hotel and flight are known. Because international flights from La Paz leave at varied times and the schedule cannot be set in advance, please do not book onward flights until the plan and flight times are confirmed in a written quote. Extra nights in La Paz or side trips are not part of this proposal; whether they can be offered, and at what cost, is not yet known. See the related trips for the Uyuni to Atacama crossing and a Bolivia highlights route that starts in La Paz. The trip ends at La Paz.
Included
- Transfer to El Alto airport (LPB), proposed
Activity: Earliest flight time to be confirmed.
- Salta2 nights
- Humahuaca1 night
- Tupiza1 night
- Southern Altiplano lodge1 night
- Laguna Colorada area1 night
- Salar de Uyuni edge1 night
- Potosi1 night
- Sucre2 nights
- La Paz1 night
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: Dry-season days can be sunny, but nights can fall well below freezing and the wind is strong. Conditions on the salt flat vary from year to year and the surface cannot be predicted for any date.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Argentina and Bolivia in one trip, by land
- People who are comfortable with simple lodges and cold nights for up to three nights
- Adventurers who prefer a progression to a single base
- Solo travellers who are happy to request a single-room quote
Not for you if you want
- Step-free access, or anyone who cannot go above 4,000 m
- Travellers who want comfortable hotels every night: up to three nights are in simple lodges
- Anyone needing a confirmed departure now: this is a proposed itinerary
- People who dislike long road days and border queues
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
11 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Salta2 nights
- Humahuaca1 night
- Tupiza1 night
- Southern Altiplano lodge1 night
- Laguna Colorada area1 night
- Salar de Uyuni edge1 night
- Potosi1 night
- Sucre2 nights
- La Paz1 night
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 11 nights: 2 in Salta, 1 in Humahuaca, 1 in Tupiza, 2 in simple Altiplano lodges and 1 in a salt hotel at the edge of the flat, 1 in Potosí, 2 in Sucre, 1 in La Paz
- Rooms shared, or your own where the lodges allow, for a supplement
- Lodges and hotels are named only when suppliers are confirmed
Transport
- Proposed pick-up at Salta airport (SLA) and drop-off at La Paz El Alto airport (LPB)
- Own vehicle and driver on the Argentine side and for Humahuaca to the border
- Bolivian vehicle from the border to Tupiza and from Uyuni to Potosi and Sucre
- Two or three 4x4 vehicles with drivers for the Altiplano days
- Proposed flight Sucre to La Paz, unbooked
- Walking across the border as in the day plan
Activities
- Salta: guided walk, MAAM entry
- Purmamarca and Tilcara: walks
- Tupiza: red canyons by horse or on foot
- Altiplano: lagoon stops
- Salar de Uyuni: sunset or sunrise on the salt
- Potosi: Casa Nacional de Moneda, subject to admission
- Sucre: guided old-centre walk
- La Paz: cable car ride
- Local fees are proposed inclusions pending confirmation
Meals
- Breakfast: 11
- Lunch: 5
- Dinner: 7
- Other meals are left free. Meal arrangements are proposed pending supplier confirmation.
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group, to be appointed
- Local guides where sites require them; 4x4 driver roles to be confirmed
Not included
- International flights to Salta and from La Paz
- Travel insurance, including medical and evacuation cover suitable for high altitude
- Visa or entry fees for Bolivia or Argentina, if any apply to your passport
- Border or exit fees
- Meals not listed
- Drinks
- Tips for drivers and cooks
- Optional extras such as Cerro Rico mine visits
- Hotel extensions and early airport transfers
- Medical costs and altitude medication
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- Price on request
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the price include?
A written quote would set this. Our working proposal covers eleven nights, 11 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners, ground transport, three days in 4x4 vehicles, a proposed Sucre to La Paz flight, listed entries and a guide, all pending supplier confirmation. International flights, travel insurance and any visa or border fees are not included. The quote sets the final price, taxes, inclusions and operators.
Can I book this trip?
Not as a confirmed departure. This is a proposed itinerary: no lodges, vehicles, flights or guides are booked and no dates are set. The enquiry form takes no payment and confirms no booking; we reply with availability and a written quote, and the quote sets the final price, taxes, operator and terms.
How does the border crossing work?
Guides describe walking across the international bridge between La Quiaca and Villazon with your own bags, then taking a vehicle to Tupiza. Hours, queues, luggage handling and entry rules are not checked for your date or passport, and the Government of Canada's Argentina advice (read 9 November 2026) says land border posts with Bolivia are regularly closed in winter (June to September). Check official sources; we give no clearance.
How high does the trip go?
The Government of Canada lists Uyuni at about 3,656 m and La Paz at about 3,640 m. The lagoons route climbs above 4,000 m (Laguna Colorada is reported at about 4,278 m) and Potosi is about 4,090 m. Altitude affects everyone differently, including fit people. Speak to a doctor before you enquire, and expect headaches and poor sleep.
What are the lodges like?
Simple, with possibly shared bathrooms, limited heating and hot water, and cold nights. None is appointed yet. The salt hotel on the edge of the flat is also unconfirmed. If you need private bathrooms every night, this is not the trip.
When is the best time to go?
We propose April to October, the dry season, with very cold nights. The Government of Canada says the Salar de Uyuni is dangerous to visit in the rainy season (November to March). We do not promise flamingos, clear skies or a particular state of the salt flat, including a water mirror, on any date.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip is proposed for 7 to 12 guests, split into two or three 4x4 vehicles for the Altiplano. Private departures for your own party are priced separately.
Is the flight from Sucre to La Paz confirmed?
No. Aggregators list a few weekly nonstop flights of about an hour, often early morning or late evening, but no official timetable was read for this proposal. The flight is proposed, unbooked and dependent on schedule.
Can I link this with other trips?
No extensions are offered yet. Our Bolivia highlights route from La Paz and the Uyuni to Atacama crossing are listed for reference; no extension has been priced.
What does Government of Canada advice say about Bolivia and Argentina?
We describe, we do not predict. The Government of Canada (read 9 November 2026) advises a high degree of caution in Bolivia because of demonstrations, roadblocks, crime and travel disruption, and normal security precautions in Argentina with regional advisories. Both pages describe protests and roadblocks that can disrupt roads and flights at short notice, and Bolivia's mentions fuel and supply shortages in spring 2026. Check the current advice, and expect that the route could change.
What entry rules apply?
They depend on your passport. For Canadian citizens the Government of Canada page lists a passport valid for at least 6 months on arrival in Bolivia, a pre-arrival online registration (SIGEMIG), and having your passport stamped at land borders; For Argentina, check the official entry requirements for your passport. Rules change, so check the official pages for your own nationality before you travel.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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