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Voykit pocket guide · Bolivia
Tupiza
Spend one night in Tupiza as a base for nearby canyons or a stopover en route to Salar de Uyuni; day trips are doable, longer tours need extra night.
Tupiza is a small border town in Potosí Department, well‑connected by bus and train. Its walkable centre offers cheap hostels and tuk‑tuk rides to canyon sights. One night covers the main attractions; add another night for a relaxed canyon‑trail or horseback tour.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- Apr–Oct (dry, milder temperatures)
- Avoid
- Nov–Mar (rain, colder nights)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BOB
- Money
- Currency is the boliviano (BOB, Bs). Cash rules outside larger hotels and restaurants in La Paz and Santa Cruz.
- Daily spend
- Budget Bs 150–250 excl. bed · Mid Bs 250–400 excl. bed · High Bs 400+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Some La Paz buildings have 115 V — check.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up; about 10% in tourist restaurants.; Uyuni driver and cook: Bs 50–100 per traveller for 3 days, shared.; Guides: Bs 30–70 a day.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Pay a boliviano or two; bring paper.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bus ticket Tupiza‑Villazón | Bs 20 |
| Tuk‑tuk ride to El Angosto | Bs 30–50 |
| Horseback tour (3 h) | Bs 150 |
| Coffee at café | Bs 2–5 |
| Empanada | Bs 3–5 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- CBB · Jorge Wilstermann International Airport
- ≈200 km (124 mi) by road, about 4 h bus from Tupiza≈124 mi (200 km) by road, about 4 h bus from Tupiza
Typical fares
- Tupiza ↔ Villazón bus
- about Bs 20, 1–1.5 h (check)
- Tupiza ↔ Uyuni Ferrobus
- about Bs 40–60, 5–6 h (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Town centre is walkable. Tuk‑tuks (Bs 30‑50) or minibus (Bs 5) reach canyon sites. Buses connect to Villazón, Uyuni, Potosí and La Paz.
See and do
Known for
- Cañón del Inca
- Puerta del Diablo
- Valle de los Machos
- El Angosto
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Cañón del Inca & Puerta del Diablo loop | Tuk‑tuk from town (Bs 30‑50) or join a local tour | ≈2 h round‑trip |
| El Angosto | Tuk‑tuk (Bs 30‑50) or minibus (Bs 5) | ≈1 h each way |
| Valle de los Machos | Guided horseback or 4×4 tour (Bs 150 for 3 h) | ≈3 h total |
Sleep
- Hotel Mitru
- Budget to mid‑range, pool, breakfast included, Bs. 200 double room
- Tupiza Hostal
- Very cheap dorm‑style, Bs. 25 per night, near bus/train station
- Posada El Aborigen
- Family‑run, Bs. 60 per person, Wi‑Fi, clean rooms
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Disculpedis‑kool‑pe |
| Thank you | Graciasgra‑see‑as |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta?kwan‑to kwes‑ta |
| Where is the bus station? | ¿Dónde está la estación de buses?don‑de es‑ta la es‑ta‑sion de bu‑ses |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Rushing into business
- Photos: Ask, and accept a no; avoid: Photographing rituals uninvited
- Sea question: Listen; avoid: Joking about Bolivia's lost coast
- Queues and blockades: Patience; avoid: Arguing with protesters
Scams and watch-outs
- Bus schedules change frequently; confirm times at the terminal.
- Roads to canyon sites can be rough; use a 4×4 or join a guided tour.
- Altitude is ~2,900 m; hydrate and avoid heavy exertion on first day.
Tupiza is generally safe for day visitors; keep belongings secure, especially on buses, and avoid isolated trails after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tupiza yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Cañón del Inca
- Puerta del Diablo
- Valle de los Machos
- El Angosto
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Tupiza: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Tupiza, revision 5240483 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5240483
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tupiza). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.