There are plenty of Bolivian bus horror stories littering the internet. As you research your trip and read these stories, you may start to feel like buses aren’t a great way to travel the country. I’ll admit that there are some things to watch out for, but you absolutely can take buses in Bolivia. In fact, I’d argue that, depending on your route, they are the best way to travel.
So, I put together my top tips for buses in Bolivia. Plus, I’ve included some of my own experience for people who aren’t sure which bus line to use.
Tips for Buses in Bolivia
Let’s start with some general tips for taking buses in Bolivia.
Research Your Bus Company
If you do any research about traveling in Bolivia, you’ll likely read some horror stories about bus in Bolivia. In general, the buses in Bolivia don’t have a great reputation and that can scare plenty of people off. While there are absolutely some bad bus companies, there are some that are decent.
I’m not going to say that these bus companies are fantastic, but some are definitely better than others and you should do your research. It’s not just about comfort, but also about safety on these buses. I can put up with some discomfort, but safety is one of the things that I will pay a bit more for.
Your best option for research is accounts by other travelers. Talk to people who have traveled to Bolivia, search out blog posts, or visit travel forums to see which buses people have used and which they recommend. Remember though, every bus will have at least one story for someone not enjoying their ride. If it’s safety, that’s a huge red flag. If it’s comfort, that’s a bit easier to overlook.
You Can Find Schedules Online
TicketsBolivia is your best friend for traveling Bolivia by bus. Yes, you can buy your tickets online, but the site is an amazing resource for trying to figure out you bus schedule.
As I said in the last tip, you’ll want to research your bus company and pick a reputable one. If your bus company is listed on TicketsBolivia and accepts payment over the internet, that’s a good sign. It’s no guarantee that it’s a truly reputable company, but its definitely a step in the right direction.
Honestly, I’d be hesitant to buy a ticket from a company that’s not listed on TicketsBolivia (though I did do this when I traveled from La Paz to Copacabana since it was my best option).
It’s Cheaper to Buy Your Bus Ticket in Person
Just because you can buy your bus ticket online, doesn’t mean you should. This is especially true if you’re traveling on a budget since tickets purchased online are more expensive.
Now, the fee to purchase your ticket on TicketsBolivia is minimal and won’t break the bank. But, right now, Bolivia is having some money issues and the unofficial exchange rate that you can find on the streets is much better than what you get if you use your card. So, to save money, I’d recommend purchasing your ticket in person.
That said, I did use TicketsBolivia when I booked my bus ticket to go from Copacabana, Bolivia to Puno, Peru. I didn’t have enough Bolivianos for the bus ticket and I didn’t want to deal with exchanging such few Bolivianos, so I just bought the ticket online even though I knew it was more expensive.
Pay Your Terminal Fee
You can buy your bus ticket online or in the bus station itself, but this ticket never includes the terminal fee. In Bolivia, most bus stations charge a separate fee for using the terminal. The good news is that this fee is very small, typically less than two Bolivianos, but it’s still there.
Where you pay your fee depends on the station. In Uyuni, a woman came on our bus to collect the fees as we left the station. In Potosi, no one was at the terminal fee desk so I didn’t pay. In Sucre, there was a desk inside the station and you had to present the terminal fee receipt to be allowed to the boarding area. In La Paz, I used a “bus station” that was just a random stretch of road, so there was no terminal at all.
The fees are minimal, but don’t be surprised if you have to pay more to leave the bus station.
Bus Stations are Loud and Chaotic
Do not expect to find a quiet area to wait in any Bolivia bus station. While descriptions online can make the bus stations sound worse than they actually were, I would still recommend trying to limit the time you spend in Bolivia bus stations.
Rather than letting travelers try to figure things out on their own, the workers at the the bus station have decided that the best way to get business is to call out destinations at the top of their lungs. In some stations this echoes and will drive you crazy in no time. There’s nothing more annoying than hearing “Potosi! Potosi! Potosi!” shouted over and over again.
As a tourist, be prepared for “La Paz” and “Uyuni” being shouted at you every time you walk into a bus station. These are the most popular destinations for tourists and the bus employees want to make that sale and get you on their bus.
For this reason, I highly recommend doing your research and knowing which bus you want to take before arriving at the bus station. Don’t just buy your ticket from the first person you meet.
Common Tourist Bus Routes in Bolivia
I think that Bolivia is a bit easier to find bus routes than other countries within South America thanks to the incredibly helpful TicketsBolivia. But, there are often several options for each route and with all the fear about safety with buses in Bolivia, I thought I’d cover a few of the most popular tourist routes.
Uyuni to Potosi
There’s loads of companies running this route and since this is just a four hour bus route during the day, I don’t think it matters which bus you pick.
I used TransEmperador and had a decent experience. I wouldn’t say there was anything special about it, but it was one of the better journeys I had on Bolivian buses.
Potosi to Sucre
Like with the route from Uyuni to Potosi, I don’t think it makes a big difference which bus you take from Potosi to Sucre. It’s a four hour journey, so you can do it during the day and you should be fine.
Keep in mind that Potosi has two bus stations. Buses from Uyuni use the Old Terminal while buses to Sucre use the New Terminal. Make sure you are aware of which bus terminal you need.
Based on the good experience I had had when I traveled from Potosi to Sucre, I used the same TransEmperador bus line. Unfortunately my bus experience was worse this time. It was still a four hour bus ride, but one hour of that was spent on the side of the road waiting for enough passengers to fill up the bus. Safety wise, it was fine, so I can’t complain too much.
Sucre to La Paz
The bus from Sucre to La Paz is a long one and you’ll want to look at taking an overnight bus since it’s a 12 hour journey. This was a bus that I was nervous about just because I had read so many warnings about safety on overnight buses. Well, it all worked out ok, but I definitely paid for the experience. My overnight bus from Sucre to La Paz cost more than my most expensive hotel in Bolivia.
I used Trans Copacabana S.A. for my bus journey. There’s two companies with nearly identical names and I’m not sure if it really matters which bus you take. I can say that my bus had full 180 degree lay flat seats and curtains which made it one of the nicer overnight buses I had in South America.
La Paz to Copacabana
If you look on TicketsBolivia.com, you’ll likely only see one bus that goes from La Paz to Copacabana. That’s actually true and there is only one morning bus that departs the main bus terminal and goes to Copacabana.
However. There is another bus to Copacabana, but you won’t find it online. It departs from the La Paz Cementario Station, which isn’t so much a bus station and is rather a stop on the side of the road near a cemetery. Buses leave every hour or so. They’ll leave as soon as the bus is full, but there’s always plenty of people traveling so while you likely will have to wait, I don’t think it’s an unreasonable wait.
I can’t even tell you which bus I took since there is no online presence, but I can confirm that they leave every hour or so. Expect to pay about 40 BOB for the journey.
Copacabana to Puno, Peru
I went from Copacabana to Puno, which involves crossing the Bolivia-Peru border. I used TransTiticaca which I would recommend. Even though it was a South American bus, they had someone on the bus explaining the border crossing in English as well as Spanish. They made it super easy to cross the border and I would recommend them for people not wanting to use PeruHop.
Uyuni to La Paz
This is one route that I did not take, but it’s another popular route. Many travelers just visit the Uyuni Salt Flats and La Paz on their visit to Bolivia, and the bus is the best way to get between the two destinations. It’s another overnight bus since the journey is so long.
Having never taken this route, I can’t give any first hand experience on bus companies. However, I know it’s a very popular route with backpackers. According to TicketsBolivia, TransTiticaca operates the route, which is who I traveled with when I traveled from Copacabana, Bolivia to Puno, Peru.
Final Thoughts
Traveling by bus in Bolivia doesn’t have to be stressful and with the proper research, you’ll be able to have an easier (and safer) trip.
Continue Your Adventure
La Paz: In the capital city of La Paz, there’s no shortage of day trips including hiking at Chacaltaya Mountain, Charquini Lagoon, and Moon Valley. For adrenaline, bike down Death Road.
Bolivia: Near Sucre, you can hike at the Maragua Crater. Halfway between Uyuni and Sucre is Potosí, which was once one of the richest cities in the world. In the very north, visit Copacabana and Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca. And lastly, no trip to Bolivia would be complete without visiting the Uyuni Salt Flats. Learn even more in my Bolivia Travel Guide.
