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The Best Things To Do In Tupiza
1. Hike Into The Cordillera De Chicas
You can head into the Cordillera De Chicas to experience one of the most unique looking landscapes in Bolivia.
The quaint, sleepy town is surrounded by dramatic red hills which jut ruggedly skyward as if they had been forced out of the ground.
Known as the ‘wild west’ of Bolivia, this is apparently where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid famously met their end.
How To Get There From Tupiza
Put ‘Puerta Del Diablo’ into your Google Maps or click here and follow the directions. This will take you outside the town and onto a dirt road leading to the mountains. It should take no longer than 10 minutes to get there.
Hiking Route
We followed this simple route:
- Stop 1: Puerto del Diablo – a vast rock formation spiking out of the ground that looks like it fell from the sky. We climbed it and took some amazing photos.
- Stop 2: Valley de Los Machos – as you enter the valley, the red rocks close in on you and their shapes become even weirder.
- Stop 3: the entrance to Canyon Del Inca – you will see a small blue sign letting you know you’ve arrived, but the path will end. You can go further into the canyon, but it required some climbing. We went for it and didn’t regret it, the tight walls of the canyon and the rock formations make it feel like you are trekking on Mars.
You can’t make it out the other side as it goes for miles, so once you have reached a point in the canyon where you don’t feel comfortable climbing, head back. We flew our drone to see how far it goes and it’s a long way, so turn around once you’ve had enough adventure.
Hiking Alternatives
- Guided Tour – there are lots of tour companies in town selling trekking trips. We wouldn’t recommend paying as it’s incredibly easy to explore by yourself
- Horseback riding – if you fancy following in the footsteps of Butch Cassidy, you can explore the Cordillera by horseback. Tupiza Natural Adventure run tours that follow the same route we outlined above ($22 – 3 hours) or extend it by visiting Canon Del Duende ($37 – 5 hours) and Quebrada Seca ($51 – 7 hours)
2. Start Your Uyuni Salt Flats Tour
If you’ve travelled to Tupiza from Argentina, then starting your Uyuni Salt Flats Tour from Tupiza is a convenient option.
On day one you explore parts of Tupiza and the Bolivian countryside such as Quebrada de Palala.
Then on the morning of the second day, you will head out onto the Altiplano, which is part of the Uyuni Salt Flats tour you do on traditional tours.
- Pros – convenient as it saves you travelling to Uyuni to start the tour, reach parts of the salt flat/altiplano earlier than other tours, so you experience it empty. Visit the Salt Flats at sunrise on the last day
- Cons – likely more expensive as it’s an extra day*. You will also get better deals in Uyuni. The first two days will require long drives so you’ll have to spend longer in the car
* Prices range from 1,200-1,400 BOB ($150-$200) for a four-day tour from Tupiza as opposed to 700-1,000 BOB ($US 100-150) for a three-day trip from Uyuni.
3. Climb To Cerro De La Cruz
If you want a good view of the town and mountains, head to one of the trails that lead up to Cerro Corazón de Jesús and Cerro De La Cruz.
Perfect for visiting in the late evening to catch the sunset, it takes a couple of hours to walk each path. Star Cerro De La Cruz in your maps and follow the directions.
After crossing the bridge leaving town, you’ll see a hill with a white cross on top of it. Walk in this direction until you reach a small white church.
From here you can follow the path up to the top. Little white cross signs marked into the cliffs will let you know you are going in the right direction.
4. Go Horseriding In The Canyons
Horse riding tours from Tupiza are a must-try for anyone looking to experience Bolivia’s landscapes in a unique way.
You’ll ride through striking canyons, colorful rock formations, and sweeping valleys that make you feel like you’re in an old western movie.
It’s the perfect adventure for both beginners and experienced riders.
If you want to see the wild beauty of Bolivia up close and get a sense of freedom, a horse riding tour from Tupiza is an unforgettable experience!
Is Tupiza Worth Visiting?
Absolutely, Tupiza is worth visiting! Known as Bolivia’s Wild West, it’s the perfect spot for adventure seekers.
- You can explore stunning red rock canyons, hike through unique landscapes, and even go horseback riding like a cowboy.
- Tupiza is also a great starting point for tours to the famous Salar de Uyuni. If you love outdoor activities and breathtaking views, this town should be on your list!
However, it’s a little out of the way so I only recommend it if you are heading down into north Argentina or coming in the other direction.
Tupiza Town Guide
If you are heading into Northern Argentina from Bolivia, Tupiza is an excellent stopping point before crossing the border.
The town is a 1-hour drive away from Villazon which is the border town. From here you can take a bus to Humahuaca which is the nearest town where you can see Argentina’s very own Rainbow Mountain! Alternatively, you can carry on further to Jujuy or Salta.
If you are coming the opposite way, it also makes sense to stop here and book onto a Salt Flats Tour instead of going all the way to Uyuni.
The tours are a day longer, and you will spend the first day seeing sights in and around Tupiza before heading towards the Altiplano.
Finally, if you love getting out into nature and seeing some weird and wonderful geology, then hiking in Tupiza is definitely for you.
The jagged mountains, narrow canyons and deep red colour of the rocks are strangely wonderful. The paths are easy and only a 10 minute walk from town
We cover Uyuni tours in more detail further in these posts:
How Many Days Do You Need In Tupiza?
2 days / 1 night is all you need in Tupiza, but this depends on your arrival time and schedule.
Just make sure you have one full day and night to go trekking in the valley and canyon.
- Day 1 – Late arrival from Uyuni
- Day 2 – Full day trekking in the Cordillera De Chicas
- Day 3 – Early morning bus to Villazon
See how a visit to Tupiza fits into a wider South America backpacking trip:
Where To Stay In Tupiza
As mentioned, Tupiza isn’t a popular foreign tourist destination yet, so there aren’t any backpacker hostels.
Instead, you will find a good range of budget to mid-range hotels which are all relatively cheap. We stayed at La Torre Hotel, which had clean rooms and hot showers, with a free continental breakfast of eggs, bread, cereal and yoghurt.
Hotel Mitru is another great option with an outdoor swimming pool. Definitely worth a try if you are visiting in the middle of summer”
Where To Eat In Tupiza
- Milan Centro – an Italian place with standard international dishes
- El Alamo – serves reasonably priced mains (25 BOB) including Mexican, International and Bolivian cuisine.
How To Get To Tupiza
If you are heading into Northern Argentina from Bolivia, Tupiza is an excellent stopping point before crossing the border.
The town is a 1-hour drive away from Villazon which is the border town. From here you can take a bus to Humahuaca which is the nearest town where you can see Argentina’s very own Rainbow Mountain! Alternatively, you can carry on further to Jujuy or Salta.
How To Get To Tupiza From Uyuni
Buses from Uyuni leave daily, with one morning bus and one evening bus taking 4-6 hours.
You can find most of the bus companies on the corner of Cabrera St. and Arce Av, which is also the departure/arrival location for buses. Due to the lack of infrastructure, there is no formal bus timetable so it’s best to arrive the day before and check times.
How To Get To Villazon From Tupiza
Mini-buses leave from Tupiza daily and start from 6am.
Once each mini-bus is filled (7 people max) it will leave so there are no specific times. If you are looking to book a direct time, then larger bus companies also depart from the station later in the day. You can check these times out and book directly in the station.
Mini-bus costs 20 BOBS with a 1 BOB fee to Villazon and takes an hour and 15 minutes.
We didn’t get dropped off completely at the border and had to walk a few blocks (10 minutes), have google maps ready just in case.
Read our Bolivia itineraries to see how a Tupiza visit fits with an extended Bolivia trip:
Tupiza Altitude
Tupiza is at an altitude of 2,850m (9,350 ft).
If you are coming from north Argentina which is relatively flat, take a couple of days to acclimatise. Avoid the trek up to Cerro de La Cruz as its steep and strenuous but hiking into the canyon should be fine as it is flat.
If you are heading onto a Uyuni tour next, it’s also best to take a couple of extra days. You will climb from 3,000m to 4,000m in the space of a day so might be affected by altitude sickness which could ruin your tour.
