Bolivia's Southwest Circuit: The 3-Day Jeep Tour Budget Breakdown

The Southwest Circuit is an extension of the Salar de Uyuni tour. Instead of 3 days, it's typically 4–5 days, adding Laguna Colorada, Flamingo Lakes, and the San Pedro de Atacama border region.

The full circuit is one of South America's most dramatic multi-day experiences, and it's remarkably affordable.

The Tour Breakdown

3-day tour (Salar de Uyuni focus):

Cost: $150–250 (BOB1,050–BOB1,700) USD

Duration: 3 days/2 nights

Focus: Salt flat, flamingo lakes

Physical: Moderate (high altitude, driving)

4–5 day Southwest Circuit:

Cost: $250–400 USD

Duration: 4–5 days/3–4 nights

Focus: Salt flat + colored lagoons + geothermal features

Physical: Demanding (high altitude, long drives, cold nights)

Daily Cost Breakdown

For a 5-day tour: $525–825 USD per person, all-inclusive.

What the Full Circuit Includes

Days 1–2: Salar de Uyuni (as above)

Day 3: Laguna Colorada + Geothermal features

Drive to Laguna Colorada (colored by algae and minerals, bright red)

Stop at geothermal geysers (Los Geysers, smoking vents)

Stop at Laguna Verde (green colored, sulfur content)

Remote, few tourists, extremely alien landscape

Accommodation: Basic lodge in the middle of nowhere (cold nights, no heating)

Day 4: High-altitude desert + San Pedro de Atacama border

Cross into San Pedro de Atacama (Chile border area)

Optional: Return to Uyuni town, or continue to San Pedro

Day 5: Return to Uyuni or San Pedro

Accommodation Reality

The lodges on the circuit are basic:

Rooms with thin walls and minimal heating

Beds with many blankets (nights are below freezing)

Basic bathrooms (cold water, pit toilets in some places)

Meals cooked communally and served communally

No electricity in some lodges (kerosene lamps)

This isn't a comfort experience. It's a remote experience. The lodges are sufficient but minimal.

Food

Meals are basic:

Breakfast: Oatmeal, bread, tea, coca leaf tea (helps altitude)

Lunch: Vegetable stew, rice, bread (eaten in the jeep or at a stop)

Dinner: Pasta, potatoes, vegetables (communal meal)

The food is adequate and the quantity is sufficient. It's not fancy, but it sustains you for active days.

Budget Variations

Budget tour ($250 total, 4 days):

Shared jeep (4–6 people)

Basic lodges

Standard food

Most common option

Mid-range tour ($350–400 total, 4 days):

Smaller group size (3–4 people)

Slightly better lodges

Better food options

More comfortable driving

Premium tour ($500+):

Private jeep (2 people)

Upgraded lodges

Better meals

Still high-altitude, still remote, just less shared

Sample 5-Day Circuit Cost

(Plus international flights to La Paz: $430–1,000)

Altitude Considerations

The circuit is 3,600–4,300 meters elevation. Altitude sickness is common.

Prevention:

Acclimatize 1–2 days in La Paz before the tour

Drink coca tea (local remedy, mildly effective)

Take Diamox if prescribed by doctor

Stay hydrated

Symptoms:

Headache, dizziness, nausea

Most people feel fine after 48 hours

Serious cases: Rare but possible. Tour guides are trained to recognize and respond.

Booking

Most tours are booked through agencies in Uyuni or La Paz:

Walk-in to agencies in Uyuni (book 1–2 days before departure)

Book in La Paz 2–3 days before traveling to Uyuni

Book online through tourism platforms (2–4 weeks ahead, higher prices)

When to Go

Best: January–March (wet season)

Salar de Uyuni has the mirror effect

Laguna Colorada is more colorful (higher water levels)

Coldest nights but most dramatic landscapes

Book 2–3 months ahead

Good: May–October (dry season)

Different landscape (salt patterns more visible)

Less dramatic but still incredible

Fewer tourists

Easier to book (1–2 weeks ahead)

Why It's Affordable

Labor costs: Guides and drivers earn $20–35/day, which is good income in Bolivia

Accommodation simplicity: Lodges cost $40–50/night because they're basic, government-owned, and have no profit margin

Food: Cooking en masse for 4–6 people is cheap

Scale: Growing but still not mass-market tourism

This is one of the world's great experiences at one of the world's cheapest prices.

Ready to explore Bolivia's alien landscapes?

Plan Your Southwest Circuit Trip → | Read the Full Bolivia Guide →