While La Paz and Uyuni are the two most popular destinations on most Bolivian itineraries, if you are like us, you would also want to spend a few days in Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia.
Walking through the beautiful, history-packed streets of Sucre, you get a peek into Bolivia’s past and insights about its rich cultural heritage, whereas Uyuni presents one of the most surreal landscapes on our planet.
But how do you make the leap from Sucre’s historic streets to the surreal landscapes of Uyuni?
In this guide, we are going to share with you the best travel options from Sucre to Uyuni. The goal is to help you pick the mode of transport that best suits your itinerary, budget, and thirst for adventure.
How to Get from Sucre to Uyuni: An Overview
Take the direct bus or split the trip in Potosi (Sucre → Potosi → Uyuni) if you want to explore along the way.
You can also book a tour from Sucre, though we recommend keeping transport and the Uyuni tour separate for flexibility.
| Option | Features | How |
|---|---|---|
| Direct bus | Most economical, long overnight ride | Browse and book here Use code PARADISE5 for 5% off |
| Indirect bus via Potosi | If you want to break the journey and visit Potosi (we recommend) | Book separately: Sucre to Potosi Potosi to Uyuni |
| Flight | Fastest, not available on all dates | Flights are typically operated by BoA |
| Uyuni tour from Sucre | Tours exist, but we recommend booking transport and Uyuni tour separately | Arrange your own transport to Uyuni, then book a salt flats tour from Uyuni |
🏛️ Planning your activities? Read our guides on Sucre and Uyuni.
🚠 Traveling from La Paz to Uyuni? Check our La Paz Itinerary and see how to get to Uyuni from La Paz.
Direct Bus from Sucre to Uyuni
The bus from Sucre to Uyuni provides an affordable and authentic travel experience. The journey will take you through an ever-changing landscape, offering glimpses of Bolivia’s rich topography and local lifestyles.
Why Choose Sucre to Uyuni Bus? This option is ideal for the most travelers, as it is easy to book, economical and flexible.
Trip Duration: The bus ride takes about 8 hours.
Bus Companies: Companies like 6 de Octubre, Autobuses Emperador and Expreso 11 De Julio run overnight direct buses from Sucre to Uyuni.
Most of these are sleeper buses, that is, they have up to 160 degrees reclining seats. Some providers may offer additional amenities like WiFi and individual curtains.
Note that, the fleet of buses from Sucre to Uyuni can be simpler and possibly, less comfortable, compared to buses for the ride from La Paz to Sucre, or, from La Paz to Uyuni.
Cost: You can find a seat for 28-32 USD.
Pro Tip: Carry toilet paper!
How to Book: You can browse options and availability on Bookaway. Use our code PARADISE5 for a 5% discount.
Both are easy to use, and provide a good comparison of prices and features across bus companies.
🚐 Book your transfer here on Bookaway →
💰 Get 5% discount by using our exclusive promo code PARADISE5
Sucre to Uyuni with a break in Potosi
We wanted to explore Potosi, once one of the richest cities not just in Latin America but in the world. It has fascinating architecture, and the history of economical changes of the city due to silver mining, that is visible as you explore the city.
So we planned to spend a few days in Potosi, after Sucre, and before going for the Uyuni tour. You will get to know another new Bolivian city, with an interesting history.
📍Potosi New Bus Terminal (for arrival from Sucre)
📍Potosi Old Bus Terminal (for departure to Uyuni)
Why Choose the Indirect travel from Sucre to Uyuni via Potosi? We found Potosi worth exploring for its history and architecture.
Trip Duration: The bus ride from Sucre to Potosi takes around 4 hours, and it takes another 4 hours from Potosi to Uyuni.
Bus Companies: Trans Emperador and Transtin Dil Rey runs direct buses from Sucre to Potosi multiple times per day. There are several companies that run direct buses between Potosi and Uyuni.
Our bus from Sucre to Potosi was comfortable, but do not expect a luxury one. We took a day bus and watch the mountainous landscapes throughout the journey.
Whereas, the bus from Potosi to Uyuni was comfortable as well, but not like the overnight buses between La Paz to Uyuni or La Paz to Sucre. We took the bus in the late afternoon, and reached Uyuni at night.
Cost: The bus from Sucre to Potosi costs 8 to 10 USD and the bus from Potosi to Uyuni costs between 14 to 18 USD.
Tip: Check the exact Potosi terminal you need to get to for your onward journey. Our arrival in Potosi from Sucre and departure from Potosi for Uyuni were different terminals.
If you can accommodate more days in your Bolivia itinerary, break the journey between Sucre to Uyuni with a stopover in Potosi.
This way, you will also need shorter bus journeys to get to Uyuni: first, from Sucre to Potosi, and then, from Potosi to Uyuni.
How to Book: You can browse bus options for both the routes on Bookaway. Change the dates in case the earliest default dates are not available.
🚐 Book your transfer here on Bookaway →
💰 Get 5% discount by using our exclusive promo code PARADISE5
Sucre to Uyuni Flight
There are flight connections from Sucre to Uyuni, however with one or more stopovers, at bigger airports like La Paz, Cochabamba or Santa Cruz.
📍Airport serving Sucre: Alcantarí International Airport
📍Airport serving Uyuni: Joya Andina Airport
Why Choose Sucre to Uyuni Flight? If you absolutely want to avoid bus travel.
Trip Duration: Given the multiple connections and layovers, it can take more than 10 hours by air route.
Airline: The national carrier in Bolivia, Boliviana de Aviación, also known as BoA, can make connections between Sucre and Uyuni. However you have to choose from one or more long layovers in other bigger cities.
Cost: At the time of writing this, the cost of flying from Sucre to Uyuni is pretty random, with prices reflecting up to a few hundred dollars for a one way passage.
Tip: Take the bus!
How to Book: Check for flight tickets online directly on BoA website.
Sucre to Uyuni Tour
If you are seeking roundtrip bus tickets from Sucre to Uyuni and further exploration of the Uyuni Salt Flats in one tour, then book it under a package.
You can find tour companies in Sucre offering packages that combine transportation with guided multi-day excursions to Uyuni that include overnight stays and the exploration of the surreal landscapes of the salt flats of Uyuni.
Why Choose Sucre to Uyuni Tour? Tour offers a comprehensive alternative as it typically includes round trip Sucre-Uyuni-Sucre tickets, along with the logistics of the Salt Flats tour. However, you can book the bus tickets and tour separately, like we did.
We recommend keeping the logistics separate to allow yourself time to relax between exploring Sucre and Uyuni tour. Go for direct tour from Sucre only if you have limited time.
We spent a few days exploring Sucre and Potosi, and then stayed a night in Uyuni before going on a 3-day Uyuni tour to have some buffer time exploring all the places on our itinerary.
1-Day Tour of Uyuni Salt Flats + Overnight Bus Rides: What to Expect
This tour starts and ends in Sucre, and takes you to all the attractions of Salar de Uyuni.
The tour price usually includes roundtrip tickets for public bus rides, transportation in shared 4X4 vehicle for the salt flats tour, lunch on the day of the tour, hotel pickup, the services of driver and bilingual guide, and a complimentary wine during sunset on salt flats.
This is how the tentative tour itinerary looks like:
➡️ Day 1: Overnight bus ride from Sucre to Uyuni.
➡️ Day 2: Salt flats tour starts after breakfast. Visit attractions like train cemetery and Incahuasi Island, and learn about salt gathering process in Colchani village. Enjoy lunch set up on the salt flats and end the tour with sunset view and a toast. Overnight bus from Uyuni to Sucre.
➡️ Day 3: Morning arrival in Sucre.
What Next?
Now that you are equipped with the key insights about transferring from Sucre to Uyuni, the natural next step would be to figure out your travel plans for Uyuni.
Sure, you came here for the Salt Flats, but how to go about exploring this magnificent landscape?
Check our planning resources for traveling in Uyuni, Bolivia:
- Things to do in Uyuni, Bolivia
- How to Choose the Best Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
- Uyuni, Bolivia to Atacama, Chile: Our 3-Day Tour Experience
Plan Your Bolivia Trip
- 2 Weeks in Bolivia Itinerary
- Bolivia and Peru Itinerary
- Chile Bolivia Peru Itinerary
Travel Resources
- Flights: Skyscanner
- Hotels: Booking.com | Expedia
- Tours: Viator | GetYourGuide
- Travel Insurance:
- Heymondo (get 5% off)
- SafetyWing Nomad Insurance
- eSIMs:
- Transfers: Bookaway. Code PARADISE5 for 5% off
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