Major city · Bolivia
San Juan
One night only, as a salt-flat tour stop: no sights beyond a small museum and cemetery, no ATMs, no heating. Skip as a base.
San Juan sits at 3,660 m south of the Salar de Uyuni, on the road between Uyuni and the southwest lagoons. It is a tour stop, not a destination: basic beds, a small museum and cemetery, and shops that rarely stock fruit or vegetables. Come with cash, a sleeping bag liner and no expectation of a hot room.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- BOB
- Best months
- May–Oct (dry season, clearer roads)
- avoid Jan–Mar (rain, flooded salt flat and rough access roads)
- Airport
- UYU
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Bolivia ↗Visa rules depend on your passport (some nationalities need a visa in advance): check with Bolivia's migration authority or a Bolivian consulate.
- Bolivia ↗Most of the tourist route is above 3,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on arrival, and see a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.
- Bolivia ↗Protests and road blockades (bloqueos) are frequent and can close routes and cities for days; watch local news and keep plans flexible.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for San Juan110 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about San Juan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the boliviano (BOB, Bs).Bolivia-wide
- SIM or eSIMEntel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.Bolivia-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.Bolivia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Round up; about 10% in tourist restaurants.Bolivia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Bolivia-wide
- SafetyA quiet village and generally safe for tourists.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsPay a boliviano or two; bring paper.Bolivia-wide
- Emergency numbers110 police · 118 ambulance · 119 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysBlockades and strikes close shops and roads; Sunday is quiet.Bolivia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportUYU Uyuni Joya Andina (The practical arrival point; road transfer to San Juan, times vary with conditions.).
- Getting aroundOn foot.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum and cemetery entry, bothBs 10
- Budget bedBasic double room, a night, per roomBOB 80
- Mid-range bedBasic double room, a night, per roomBOB 150
- High-end bedBasic double room, a night, per roomBOB 300
A day, not counting the bed: Budget BOB 120 · Mid BOB 250 · High BOB 450
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- UYU Uyuni Joya Andina (The practical arrival point; road transfer to San Juan, times vary with conditions.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Feb
Avoid
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Mar
Avoid
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Apr
not flagged
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
May
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Jun
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Jul
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Aug
Best
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
Sep
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Oct
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Nov
not flagged
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
Dec
not flagged
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Best: May–Oct. Avoid: Jan–Mar. Month by month →
Warmest Oct (22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)), coolest Jul (−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C) low), wettest Jan (15 rain days), driest Jun (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
San Juan: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
15 rd
Feb
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
4°C (39°F)39°F (4°C)
13 rd
Mar
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
11 rd
Apr
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
5 rd
May
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
−3°C (27°F)27°F (−3°C)
2 rd
Jun
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
−6°C (21°F)21°F (−6°C)
1 rd
Jul
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
−7°C (19°F)19°F (−7°C)
1 rd
Aug
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
−5°C (23°F)23°F (−5°C)
2 rd
Sep
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
−2°C (28°F)28°F (−2°C)
3 rd
Oct
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0°C (32°F)32°F (0°C)
4 rd
Nov
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
1°C (34°F)34°F (1°C)
6 rd
Dec
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
On foot. The village is a few blocks across; everything a visitor uses is walkable. Tours and onward transfers run by 4x4 from the village.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Salar de Uyuni
goDoor to door: Half day to a full day
4x4 with a tour operator from San Juan or Uyuni
The reason most travellers are here; book the tour before you arrive.
Atocha
skipDoor to door: About 1–2 h
Road north by 4x4 or bus
A transport junction, not a sight.
San Pedro de Quemes
cautionDoor to door: About 2 h
Road south by 4x4
Another basic tour stop; only useful on a southwest circuit.
Tupiza
overnightDoor to door: 4–6 h
4x4 or bus on unpaved roads
Too far for a return day; sleep there.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Village centre
All guesthouses sit within a few blocks; pick on heating and hot water, not location.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Bs 120–200 excl. bed
- Mid
- Bs 200–350 excl. bed
- High
- Bs 350+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Basic double room1 × 1 night × BOB 80 | BOB 80 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × BOB 120 | BOB 240 |
| Hot shower surcharge2 × BOB 5 | BOB 10 |
| Museum and cemetery entry, both2 × BOB 10 | BOB 20 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × BOB 100 | BOB 200 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | BOB 55 |
| Trip total≈ BOB 303 per person per day, bed included | BOB 605 |
Hot water often on request; heating rare.
2026 estimate in bolivianos; tours and long transfers excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Guesthouse double roomHot water on request; electricity limited in some places. | Bs 80–300 |
| Hot shower surcharge | Bs 5 |
| Museum and cemetery entry, both | Bs 10 |
| Soft drink or bottled water | Bs 5–15 |
| Chocolate bar or cookies | Bs 5–20 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 3,660 m: altitude sickness is the main risk; ascend slowly and do not plan a hard first day.
- Nights are cold and most rooms have no heating; ask for extra blankets.
- Electricity may run only a few hours a day in some guesthouses.
- No ATMs and card payment is rare: bring bolivianos in cash.
- Fruit and vegetables are hard to find; shops sell drinks, chocolate and cookies.
- Roads south are unpaved and can be cut by rain or blockades — check before you commit to a transfer.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 118
- Fire
- 119
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
San JuanSan Juan
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police110
- Ambulance118
- Fire119
Embassy
No embassies in San Juan; most are in La Paz. US, UK, Canadian and Australian missions are in La Paz — check addresses and hours.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Guesthouse double, per night: Bs 80–300
- Hot shower: Bs 5
- Museum and cemetery: Bs 10 for both
Say or show
- Disculpe — Excuse me / Sorry (dees-KOOL-peh)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syahs)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-toh KWES-tah)
- ¿Hay agua caliente? — Do you have hot water? (eye AH-gwah kah-LYEN-teh)
- ¿Dónde está el baño? — Where is the toilet? (DON-deh es-TAH el BAH-nyoh)
- ¿Puedo pagar con tarjeta? — Can I pay by card? (PWEH-doh pah-GAR kon tar-HEH-tah)
Cash only in practice: bring bolivianos. No ATMs in the village.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for San Juan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Oct (dry season, clearer roads) · avoid Jan–Mar (rain, flooded salt flat and rough access roads) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for Uyuni: last transfer times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Walking cluster with rescue anchors: guesthouses, shops, museum and cemetery.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (museum, cemetery) and eat pages with last orders.
- Altitude and cold-weather fixtures so gates A–D can go green.