← La Paz Marathon·3 nights

Uyuni and the Salt Flat: A Longer Extension

Three nights in Uyuni after the race, for runners with time to spare, planned around altitude and the weather in the rainy season.

Duration3 nights
TransitFlight or long overland trip from La Paz; check current services and road conditions
DepartsLa Paz

After the La Paz Marathon: Uyuni

The Route: La Paz → Uyuni (3 nights) → La Paz → Airport Logistics: A flight or a long overland trip between La Paz and Uyuni. Check which services run on your dates, and keep a spare day in case roads or flights are disrupted. Marathon Month: March Duration: 3 nights

La Paz ──(flight or overland, check services)──> Uyuni (3 nights)
   ▲                                                  │
   └───────────────(same route back)─────────────────┘
La Paz hotel ──(transfer)──> Airport (LPB)

This is the longest extension in the set, and it only suits runners with time. It is also a high place. The UK government's Bolivia health advice flags altitude illness at Uyuni, so a salt flat is not a lower-altitude recovery option and it does not replace the acclimatisation plan you made for the race.

March in Uyuni is in the wet season, and rain on the salt flat can change what tours are able to do. Operators adjust routes to the conditions, and some roads can close, so ask each one what is running on your dates. Do not book a tight flight home after a tour.

Planning the trip

Check the current flight or road options between La Paz and Uyuni, since schedules and road conditions change. The FCDO has also reported disruption from protests and roadblocks in Bolivia, so keep your plans flexible and read the current advice before you book.

Nights one to three: Uyuni

The easiest recovery on arrival is nothing at all. Rest, drink water and walk for short stretches. Tours on the salt flat are mostly by vehicle, and the walking is short and flat, which suits post-race legs. Ask the operator about sun and cold, since the sun is strong at altitude and nights are cold.

The Rosario hotel group has a property in Uyuni, listed on its own site. Ask about heating, luggage storage and a late checkout. For a second option, read the current reviews before you choose.

Where to eat

Ask your hotel for a local recommendation and ring ahead for hours.

Getting home

Return to La Paz by the route you came, with a generous buffer if you fly onward the same day. The airport for La Paz is El Alto International Airport (LPB), a separate city above La Paz. Leave a spare day before an international flight, since a missed connection on this trip is easy.