bus from Santiago to La Paz

1

As far as I know there is not a direct bus from Santiago to La Paz. It is not possible to book buses on line in Bolivia.

Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.

2

You will have to take a bus from Santiago to Arica and from there to La Paz. You will probably need the break. It is 22 hours Santiago-Arica. You can only book tickets from outside Chile through a travel agent - many people use Santiago Adventures. The bus company may need to se your passport to sell a ticket to La Paz.

3

Pretty sure none of the bus companies running between Arica and La Paz have online booking. Theres several that are very similar standard and all leave roughly between 7 and 9 am. If youre in a rush good to try and get the earliest one, reduces chances of queues at border. Quite a few houses that double as cheap hostels opposite the bus terminal or nearby that are handy if you dont need to go to the centre.

4

toid, I would be grateful if you could let me know of the company that goes from Santiago to Arica in 22 hours, the bus I have planned leaves at 23.30 and arrives in Arica at 5.30 2 days later!

5

I think toid had a freudian slip . Santiago - Arica by bus is at LEAST 28 hours, but with stops , breakdowns and what not`s you are looking at some 30 hours on a bus. :( Plus around 8 hours Arica- La Paz.

I would buy a one way Air Comet ticket Santiago - Iquique (2 hours 15 minutes and only usd$80) and from Iquique I would take the bus to Arica. (4 hours away and only usd$12) I say this option beats the hell out of the bus Santiago Arica. :)

Unfortunately Air comet does not fly to Arica, and Lan`s one way fares are even more expensive than their round trip ones. I don`t know how much Sky Airline charges for a one way Santiago - Arica.

Have a nice trip!

Viajando por el mundo!!! My Photo Sets my Flickr

6

Sunny Days hostel is pretty cool. Its 10mins from the bus station. They have a website if you search for it.

7

Hey Guys,very helpful thread for me here.

We may go the santiago flight to iquique - bus to arica - bus to La Paz.We then have about two to make our way up to cusco for inca trail (26th Jan.) Could you recommend attractions for myself and girlfriend around the la paz/bolivia area and on the way to cusco?Are the salt flats etc around here?

haven't had th chance to research it fully yet so excuse my ignorance.

Cian

8

Get that fllight to Iquique, yes the bus ride was long (and unpleasant next to the toilet!). We couldn't get tickets here in Argentina, so we had to settle for an unpleasant 30 hours!

If you do go to Arica, not that all buses leave at about 10am or earlier, with no more until the next day.

I would personally go on to San Pedro de Atacama, then on to Bolivia and the Salt Flats via a tour.

Salar de Uyuni is about 12 hour bus ride from La Paz of which 6 are comfortable enough, the rest is hideous) Option of a train to Oruro, then you must bus to La Paz but that's the better stretch.

La Paz is great for wondering about, crazy place. Much fun. worth 4 days at least. Do further searches on Potosi, Sucre, Rurrenbaque, Copacabana, and into Peru Arequipa and the Colca Canyon. It all depends on your time and interests of course.

Have fun