Uyuni – Villazon – La Quiaca bus. Crossing the Bolivia/Argentina border

Most buses to Villazon leave at 10 PM or very early in the morning at 6 AM.

The trip takes 6 hours, and the 10 PM bus arrives around 5:30 AM in Villazon. Who wants to be woken up at 4 AM to cross the border? Not us! Who wants to get up at 5 AM, walk among stray dogs to catch a 6 AM bus? Definitely not us!

We had to go around the bus terminal in Uyuni asking each bus company what time they leave, and we finally find a company called Quechisla. They have buses leaving every day at 8 AM and 10 AM to Villazon.

The only downside is the lack of toilets on board. But the bus stops every 2 hours for a 5-minute pee break (1Bs for toilet access). Vendors regularly get on the bus to sell empanadas or colorful jellies.

The seats are comfortable but not semi-cama. The ticket costs 40Bs/person.

In Villazon, the bus drops us right in front of the terminal.

A taxi arrives and we share it with other passengers. 10Bs/person to the Bolivian-Argentine border.

JB takes the opportunity to get rid of his bolivianos and get Argentine pesos. Honestly, we should have taken the opportunity to exchange our US dollars too because we’ll get a very bad rate on the other side of the border in La Quiaca.

We show our passports and surprise: no exit stamp, just a piece of paper.

We then cross the bridge and arrive at Argentine counters. We show our passports and they ask our final destination. I answer “Buenos Aires” because I make a mistake, but they just want my hotel address. I give it, they note it down, and that’s it. No stamp!! 🙁 Sniff

We cross the street to get our bags scanned.

Several taxis are waiting 10 meters away and drop us off at our hotel in La Quiaca for 1000$AR.

Everything is smoother than I imagined; I thought it would be a bit sketchy because of drug trafficking, but no, it’s super calm.