Do US citizens need a visa to visit Bolivia?

No. Since December 1, 2025, US citizens can enter Bolivia without a visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days a year. You need a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your arrival date. Rules can change, so check the US State Department page before you travel.

How do you get from Cusco to the Uyuni salt flats?

The quickest way is to fly from Cusco to La Paz and then take a short domestic flight from La Paz to Uyuni. On our 8-day tour you fly to La Paz on day 5 and continue to Uyuni early the next morning, with our airport transfers arranged at each end. See the full 8-day Peru and Bolivia itinerary .

When is the best time to visit the Uyuni salt flats?

Come from January to March for the mirror effect, when rainwater covers the flat, though some areas and Incahuasi Island are often out of reach. Come from May to November for the full crossing, white hexagonal crust and clear skies. May and June also suit Machu Picchu, in Peru’s dry season.

How high are La Paz and Uyuni, and will the altitude affect me?

La Paz sits at about 11,980 ft (3,650 m), its airport in El Alto at 13,323 ft (4,061 m) and the Salar de Uyuni at 11,995 ft (3,656 m). Mild headaches and shortness of breath are common on the first day, which is why our tours visit Cusco first. Drink water, eat light and take the first afternoon slowly. Our guides carry oxygen and a first aid kit on hikes.

Can you see Peru and Bolivia in 8 days?

Yes, if you focus on the highlights. Our 8-day tour covers the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain, a day on the Uyuni salt flats and the Train Cemetery, linked by flights. It is a full program; add a day for a slower pace or time in La Paz.

How much do your Peru and Bolivia tours cost?

Our 8-day Peru and Bolivia tour starts from USD 2,499 per person, and the 16-day Galapagos, Peru and Bolivia tour from USD 5,189 on a small-group basis. Prices are based on double or triple occupancy and exclude international and domestic flights, which we can add to your quote. The 8-day tour includes transfers, licensed English-speaking guides, entrance fees and the Machu Picchu ticket, train and shuttle bus.

What makes the Uyuni salt flats so special?

The Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world, about 4,086 square miles (10,582 km²) at almost 12,000 ft. In the dry months the crust forms white hexagons to the horizon; after rain it becomes a mirror, and islands of giant cacti rise from the middle.

Are Bolivia tours suitable for travelers who want comfort?

Yes. Our Bolivia itineraries use flights instead of long overland drives between Cusco, La Paz and Uyuni, transfers and local guides, and you choose the hotel category. Nights at Uyuni are cold, especially from June to August, so bring warm layers. A night in a salt hotel can be added.

Can I combine Bolivia with the Galapagos and Machu Picchu?

Yes. Our 16-day Galapagos, Peru and Bolivia tour starts with island hopping from San Cristóbal, including Kicker Rock and Española, then continues to Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu before flying to La Paz and Uyuni. Flights link every leg, and we coordinate all of them. See the 16-day tri-country itinerary .

Bolivia and Peru Tours

From Machu Picchu to the Uyuni salt flats in one private trip

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WhyYou’ll Love These Tours

The Largest Salt Flat on Earth About 4,086 square miles (10,582 km²) of white crust that turns into a mirror of the sky after rain.
Machu Picchu First Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu before Bolivia, so you reach La Paz and Uyuni already used to the altitude.
Flights Coordinated We plan the Cusco to La Paz and La Paz to Uyuni flights around your tours, with airport transfers arranged.

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An unforgettable Peru trip thanks to Exploor Peru!

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Peru and Bolivia Tours to Machu Picchu and Uyuni

Most travelers go to Bolivia for one place: the Salar de Uyuni, about 4,086 square miles (10,582 km²) of salt crust at 11,995 ft (3,656 m), the largest salt flat in the world. Our Bolivia tours pair it with Cusco and Machu Picchu, so you see the Inca heartland and the salt flats in one private trip, with the flights between the 2 countries planned by our team in Cusco.

The 8-day Peru and Bolivia tour, from USD 2,499, starts in Cusco with a full day in the Sacred Valley (Moray, the Maras salt pools and Ollantaytambo) before the train to Machu Picchu Pueblo (Aguas Calientes) and a private guided visit of the citadel. Day 4 is the hike to Rainbow Mountain. Then you fly from Cusco to La Paz, continue by air to Uyuni for a day on the salt flats, with its salt formations and cactus-covered islands, visit the Train Cemetery of rusted steam engines just outside town and fly back to La Paz.

The 16-day Galapagos, Peru and Bolivia tour, from USD 5,189 on a small-group basis, starts with island hopping in the Galapagos, then adds Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain, a half-day tour of La Paz with its cable cars and 2 days around Uyuni, the second one across the high desert to colored lagoons with flamingos. If the Galapagos is the main draw, see all our Galapagos tours.

Why we go to Peru first. Cusco sits at about 11,150 ft (3,400 m), La Paz at about 11,980 ft (3,650 m) and Uyuni at 11,995 ft (3,656 m), while La Paz airport, up in El Alto, is at 13,323 ft (4,061 m). After several days in the Cusco region your body has already adjusted, so Bolivia comes at the end of both itineraries, not the start. Our guide to avoiding altitude sickness explains what helps.

Entry for US citizens. Since December 1, 2025, US citizens no longer need a visa for Bolivia: you enter with a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond arrival, for tourist stays of up to 90 days a year. Older guides still describe the paid visa, so check the US State Department page before you travel.

International and domestic flights are not included in our prices, but we book and coordinate them with your itinerary. Flights between La Paz and Uyuni are short, and in the rainy months they are canceled more often, so we build in some slack.

8-Day Peru & Bolivia Tour

Two countries, one journey - for travelers who don't do ordinary.

Cusco, Machu Picchu, Uyuni & more

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from:USD 2499

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16-Day Galapagos, Peru & Bolivia Tour

Three countries. Three wonders. One expedition worth planning for.

Galapagos, Peru & Bolivia

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Featured Bolivia Experiences

Crossing the Uyuni Salt Flats
Drive across the largest salt flat on Earth, with stops at salt formations and islands covered in giant cacti, and a mirror effect after rain.
A Night in a Salt Hotel
Walls, beds and tables made from blocks of salt at the edge of the salar. A night in one is optional on both tours, so ask us to add it.
Colored Lagoons & Flamingos
On the 16-day tour, a second day beyond the salar crosses the high desert to brightly colored lagoons where flamingos feed below the volcanoes.
La Paz by Cable Car
On the 16-day tour, a half-day city tour of La Paz includes a ride on its cable car network, open since 2014, with views over the whole valley.

When to Visit Uyuni, and Which Tour to Choose

The mirror, January to March. After rain, a thin layer of water turns the salar into a mirror of the sky. November to April is the wet season, and the reflection is most reliable from January to March. The trade-off: large parts of the flat become impassable to 4x4s, Incahuasi Island is often out of reach and flights are canceled more often.

The white crust, May to November. The whole salar is open, with its hexagonal salt patterns and clear skies. Days are bright, but nights from June to August drop well below freezing, so pack proper layers. In Peru, roughly May to September is also the driest time for Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain, which makes May and June a good fit for both countries.

8 or 16 days? Choose the 8-day tour (from USD 2,499) if you have one week and want Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Uyuni with nothing else in between. It is a full program, including a strenuous high-altitude hike on day 4. Choose the 16-day tour (from USD 5,189) if this is your big South America trip and you want the Galapagos too, with free days in Lima and Cusco and a second touring day beyond the salar.

Both tours can be adjusted: add a night in a salt hotel, a day in La Paz before Uyuni or extra rest days in Cusco. Prices are per person, from, and exclude flights.

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Salar de Uyuni vast white salt flat landscape with jeep Bolivia Peru with Exploor Peru

Pink flamingos on Uyuni Salt Flats high-altitude lagoon Bolivia Peru with Exploor Peru

Did You Know?

When rain leaves a still layer of water on the Salar de Uyuni, its 4,086 square miles (10,582 km²) of salt turn into a mirror of the sky. The same water makes parts of the flat impassable and often keeps tours away from Incahuasi Island, so pick your dates for the mirror or for the full crossing, not both.