The Atacama Desert in northern Chile and the Uyuni Salt Flats in Bolivia are among the most popular routes for a South American road trip. Of course, most travelers want to keep costs low while still having a high-quality experience. In this guide, I’ll share real travel insights—from Atacama sightseeing and rental cars to Uyuni tours and actual budget breakdowns.
Atacama Desert, Chile
The Atacama Desert is vast, and attractions are spread far apart. That means you’ll either need to join tours or rent a car to explore properly.
The landscapes are incredible, but there is one major downside:
💸 High entry fees for almost every attraction
In the Atacama Desert, almost every site charges an individual entrance fee.
- Around 11–16 USD per site (as of 2026)
- Prices are gradually increasing every year
Realistically, if you visit multiple spots, you may end up spending 100–200 USD per person, which is quite expensive for budget travelers.
🚗Renting a car in Chile: “Morning Rent a Car” highly recommended
We used Morning Rent a Car, and honestly, it was excellent.
✔ Why it was great:
- Deposit: 300,000 CLP (around 300–330 USD), one of the cheapest in the area
- Daily rate: 45,000 CLP (around 45–50 USD), also the cheapest locally
- Free delivery to your hostel
- Very fast communication
- Friendly staff (Sarah was especially helpful)
At first, we thought the reviews were “too good to be true,” but it turned out to be the best rental company we’ve ever used.
Alternative to the Atacama Desert: Salta, Argentina is more budget-friendly
Personally, I would also recommend Salta, Argentina as an alternative.
Reasons:
- Overall costs are similar to Chile
- Many attractions are free or cost only 3–5 USD
- Landscapes are very similar to the Atacama Desert
For budget travelers, this is a very realistic option.
Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
The Uyuni Salt Flats are extremely difficult to access independently due to off-road conditions. So, joining a tour is essentially mandatory.
🧭 Tour structure (almost all are similar)
There are many tour companies in the Atacama region, but the itineraries are mostly the same.
Main options:
① 3 nights / 4 days Returns to Atacama
② 2 nights / 3 days Ends in Uyuni
💰 Price differences come from service quality
The differences in tour pricing usually depend on:
- Hotel quality
- English availability
- Whether it’s direct operation or outsourced
- Guide quality
🎒 Cheapest tour experience
We compared many options and chose the cheapest one.
- Price: 180,000 CLP for 2 nights / 3 days (about 200 USD)
- Tour company: 📍Janaj Pasha
🚙Real tour review
🗣 Language
- Mainly Spanish-speaking
- However, staff answer questions properly
- We had a Spanish speaker in our group, so it wasn’t an issue
🚙 Driving
- Very stable
- Confident off-road driving
🏨 Accommodation
- Private rooms
- Clean and comfortable
- Hot showers available
- Wi-Fi on the first night is group-paid (about 9 USD per group)
- Free Wi-Fi on the second night
🍽 Food
- Surprisingly good
- Fresh vegetables served at every meal
💱 Currency exchange (Bolivianos)
Exchange rates in San Pedro de Atacama are surprisingly good. Recommended exchange spot:
💡 Money tips
- Exchange money in Atacama (Chile → Bolivianos) before entering Bolivia
- In Uyuni, cash is still necessary for:
- Toilets
- Drinks
- Boot rentals
- Entrance fees
👉 We recommend exchanging extra cash. About 50 USD per person is a safe amount.
🥶 Border crossing tips
- Around 2 hours waiting at the border
- Breakfast is eaten outside in freezing cold temperatures
- Gloves, scarf, and hat are essential
- You cannot access large luggage during this time
⚠️ Real opinion about Uyuni town
Common feedback from travelers:
- There is not much to do in Uyuni town
- Some mention a higher risk of food-related illness
- Many travelers leave immediately after arriving
After the tour, you are dropped at the bus terminal, where buses are available to many destinations.
🧭 Summary
- Atacama Desert can be explored by rental car, but entry fees are expensive
- Salta, Argentina is a cheaper alternative
- Uyuni Salt Flats require a tour
- Even the cheapest tours offer good value
- Exchange money and prepare for cold weather
