Nilo 
Bolivia and Chile in 7 days
Across the altiplano to the salt flat
La Paz seen from the cable car, the crossing of the Salar de Uyuni to Isla Incahuasi and Santiago at the foot of the Andes.
La Paz → Uyuni Salt Flat → Santiago · 7–9 days
- Days
- 2–3
- When
- May–Sep
- Per person/day
- Average 70–110 USDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
- Days
- 3
- When
- May–Oct
- Per person/day
- Average 40–70 USDMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
- Days
- 2–3
- When
- Mar–May · Sep–Nov
- Per person/day
- Average 110,000 CLPMid-range · per person/day
Cost scope
Per person per day: accommodation, meals, urban transport, visits and a small allowance for extras. Flights excluded; larger purchases vary. Editorial estimate, not a quote.
Who it is for
For anyone who wants scenery found nowhere else and accepts altitude and dirt roads.
Not for anyone who suffers at altitude, since La Paz and Uyuni lie above 3,600 m.
The strategy
La Paz opens the trip at high altitude. Allow time for arrival and gentle activities, without assuming full acclimatization before Uyuni. Arrange the salt-flat crossing with the operator and check the journey to Santiago, including connections and travel between the airport and accommodation.
What you will see
- Plaza Murillo, La Paz. The central square since the 16th century, with the metropolitan cathedral completed in 1925, the Palacio Quemado (burned in 1875 and rebuilt) and the Casa Grande del Pueblo, a 29-story tower opened in 2018.
- Salar de Uyuni, Uyuni Salt Flat. The world's largest salt flat covers 10,582 km² of salt crust at 3,656 m.
- Cerro Santa Lucía, Santiago. The former Huelén, a 69 m rock outcrop over the city, landscaped by Vicuña Mackenna in 1872 with terraces, staircases, and the Terraza Neptuno.
Day by day
La Paz
- Day 1: Historic center, slowly
- Day 2: The canyon seen from above
- Day 3: Outside the valley · if you have more time
Uyuni Salt Flat
- Day 4: Acclimatizing, trains and choosing an agency
- Day 5: Crossing the salt flat to Incahuasi
- Day 6: North of the salt flat: Tunupa, Coquesa and Ojos del Salar
Santiago
- Day 7: The founding grid and the 20th century
- Day 8: Museo de la Memoria, La Chascona, and San Cristóbal
- Day 9: The high city, the market, and the mountains · if you have more time
