Bolivia was significantly cheaper than Chile, which was very timely for the budget! We booked our all inclusive tour from San Pedro De Atacama all the way through to Uyuni. There are literally hundreds of tour companies in San Pedro. Do not bother booking online, just shop around when you get there. Cruz Andina was great value for money as it included two nights accommodation, all of our meals, transport and other costs along the way. We paid $180 USD ($275 NZD) each, which was well worth it. The price doesn’t vary much between companies, but the quality does. On top of that we would have spent around $50 NZD during that time for park entries, souvenirs, water and snacks. Once we had finished the tour, we used overnight buses to get to and from La Paz, which is a great way to save on accommodation! These were the only things we booked in advance. For accommodation we just used booking.com the night before, and looked for 3 star hotels that had significant discounts and good reviews.
Top tips
- Trust tripadvisor for your tour companies and restaurants. You want a company that will take care of you from start to finish. Cruz andina, which we used, were very good.
- Splash out a bit on nice accommodation in La Paz. An extra $10 a night will get you a bigger room and a better breakfast.
- Always carry small change for the Banos (Toilets)!!! When you are drinking lots of water, you need to go a lot. They cost between 1 – 5 Bolivianos. BYO toilet paper ๐
- Go with the tourist bus companies for over night trips. Slightly more expensive, but it’s safer and more reliable.
- Use cash overy card – USD for big payments (accommodation and trips), and Bolivianos for food, etc.
- Get a seat downstairs on the overnight buses. Either book this online or rush to the front of the cue! Much better for sleeping.
- Try choose a hotel that allows early check in after your overnight bus.
1 NZD = 4.5 Bolivianos
La Paz
| Bolivianos | NZD | |
| Accommodation (per night) | 300 | $70 (double room) |
| Food (per meal) | 45 | $10 (per person) |
| Bottled water | 5 | $1 |
| Glass of wine/beer | 20 | $4 |
| Cable car | 3 | $0.65 (per ride) |
| Bus from Uyuni Todo Turismo | 310 | $70 |
| Bus to Cusco Bolivia Hop | 270 | $60 |
| Average cost per day | 270 | $60 |
100 Days of Travel 