The 3-day Uyuni tour at a glance
The 3-day tour is the standard way to see more than the salt flat. It runs over 2 nights in simple lodges, mostly by 4x4 with a driver-guide. Day one covers the flat. Day two crosses highland lagoons and desert to Laguna Colorada. Some trips return to Uyuni after day three, others continue to geysers, hot springs and Laguna Verde and end at the Chilean border and in San Pedro de Atacama.
Offers differ in price, group size and ending, so compare the same ending first. Prices below are 2026 examples per person. They do not include everything you will pay on the way.
Our picks: three-day tours
Take the tour that ends in San Pedro de Atacama if you are continuing into Chile, as the border transfer is included. The lagoon tour returns to Uyuni and adds wine and snacks at sunset, and the desert tour covers meals and sleeping bag in the cooler months.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Three-day tour through the salt flat and deserts
- Meals for three days
- Two basic overnights
- Sleeping bag May to September
Three days with basic overnights and a Spanish-speaking driver-guide. The reserve fee of 150 BOB and Incahuasi at 30 BOB are paid on top.
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Three days from Uyuni to San Pedro de Atacama
- Two shared overnights
- Meals as described
- Border transfer to San Pedro
The route ends in San Pedro de Atacama in Chile, with the border transfer at Hito Cajón included. Park entries, including the reserve fee, are extra.
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Three days across the salt flat to the coloured lagoons
- Certified English-speaking guide
- Wine and snacks at sunset
- Two hostel nights
A round trip that returns to Uyuni around 17:30 to 18:30 on day three. The reserve fee of 150 BOB and Incahuasi at 30 BOB are extra.
Check availability →3-day Uyuni tours
Multi-day jeep tours from Uyuni and trips to and from San Pedro de Atacama, with current prices and availability. Check where each tour ends and what is included.
The route day by day
An example route. Stops and lodges vary by operator and season.
Day 1: salt flat and Incahuasi
The tour leaves Uyuni around 10:30 and visits the salt flat, Colchani and Incahuasi Island. The first night is in Atullcha at about 3,700 m, in a simple lodge. When the flat is flooded, the island visit can drop out.
Day 2: lagoons and Laguna Colorada
The route passes Chiguana, views toward Ollagüe, highland lagoons and the Siloli desert with the Árbol de Piedra, then reaches Laguna Colorada. The second night is in Huayllajara at about 4,300 m, the highest sleeping point of the trip.
Day 3: geysers, hot springs and Laguna Verde
On trips that end in Chile, the third day goes to Sol de Mañana at about 4,900 m, the Polques hot springs, the Dalí Desert and Laguna Verde and Blanca. The border is reached around 10:30 and San Pedro de Atacama around 13:00. On trips that return to Uyuni, the tour is back in town around 17:00.
Where the two versions differ
The third day is where the versions differ most. If you want the geysers, the hot springs and Laguna Verde, confirm that your tour includes them. Sol de Mañana and the lagoons also appear on the page for Laguna Colorada.
Prices and endings compared
Per person in 2026. Currencies are shown as each offer states them.
| Offer | Price | Ending | Included and extra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return to Uyuni, departs 10:30, up to 5 guests | BOB 1,560 or $195 | Uyuni, around 17:00 | Lodging, meals, transport and a Spanish-speaking guide included. Park entries, water and snacks extra. 80 percent refund up to 48 hours before |
| Return to Uyuni, other offer | $229 until 31 December 2026, $259 from 1 January 2027 | Uyuni | Basic lodging and sleeping bag included, room heating not. Park posts BOB 210 combined, paid separately. Changes or cancellation up to 24 hours before |
| Uyuni to San Pedro | BOB 1,680 or $210 | San Pedro de Atacama, around 13:00 | Border crossing with a vehicle change |
For most visitors, the version that ends where the next leg of the trip starts is the better choice: Uyuni if you continue to La Paz or Sucre, San Pedro if you continue in Chile. See the page on the trip from San Pedro de Atacama for the other direction.
Fees, cash and what to bring
The main extras on a 3-day tour.
Reserve fee
The Eduardo Avaroa reserve fee is BOB 150 per person in 2026. This amount belongs to the reserve, not to the salt flat, and it is usually paid in cash on the way. Tour prices normally leave it out.
Island and hot springs
Incahuasi Island costs BOB 30 per person. Hot spring pools cost BOB 6, 10 or 30 depending on the offer. Ask your operator which amounts apply to your booking.
Cash
Entry fees are paid in bolivianos on the spot, and cash machines are not available after you leave Uyuni. Take enough cash before the tour starts. See what to pack.
Cold nights
Nights at 3,700 m and 4,300 m are cold. A sleeping bag is recommended in winter, and one offer excludes room heating. Bring warm layers and a hat.
Altitude
You sleep at about 3,700 m and 4,300 m, and Sol de Mañana lies at about 4,900 m. General guidance is to avoid heavy effort and alcohol during the first 48 hours and to talk to a doctor before the trip. See altitude.
Fuel shortage in September 2026
In September 2026, fuel shortages in Uyuni led to cancelled tours. Check the current situation before you book.
3-day Uyuni tour: frequently asked questions
How much does a 3-day Uyuni tour cost?
In 2026, offers from Uyuni range from BOB 1,560 or $195 to $229 per person, and a trip ending in San Pedro costs BOB 1,680 or $210. Park entries, water and snacks are often extra.
Does the 3-day tour end in Uyuni or in Chile?
Both versions exist. Some tours return to Uyuni around 17:00, others cross the border and end in San Pedro de Atacama around 13:00. Confirm the ending for your booking before you pay.
What is the park fee on the 3-day tour?
The Eduardo Avaroa reserve fee is BOB 150 per person. One offer puts park posts at BOB 210 combined. These amounts are paid separately from the tour price and can change.
Can I cancel or change the booking?
It depends on the offer. One allows changes or cancellation up to 24 hours before the start. Another refunds 80 percent up to 48 hours before. Read the terms before you pay.
Is a day tour enough instead?
A day tour covers the salt flat, the train cemetery and, when dry, Incahuasi Island. It does not reach the lagoons or the geysers. See the tour comparison.