I have heard a lot about visa problems about entering Bolivia, so I was very worried that we might not be able to enter. After reading different forums online, I decided to cross the border on land. (It seems more likely to be able to enter and also if we fail, we can take a bus to Chile instead). First, we flew from Iguazu to Salta, and we stayed there for the night at a hostel called "7 Duendes", the owner (or the manager?) was super nice and helpful, and it was very cheap with breakfast included. Then the next day, we went to the bus terminal and caught the 7a.m. bus to La Quiaca/Villazon. La Quiaca is the town on the Argentinian side of the border and Villazon is the town on the Bolivian side. The bus stopped at different stations on the way, and the road condition was not very good, so the bus was driving kinda slow... it took us around 6+ hours to get there.
When the bus stopped, you will see some locals get on the bus and sell food! The Empanadas were SOOOO GOOD. (And very cheap!) During the bus ride, the scenery was very unique. The surrounding area has mountains with various colors reflecting the minerals present in the soil. (There are a lot of mines in the area). A lot of people stopped in Quebrada de Humahuaca, a narrow mountain valley located in the Province of Jujury, to look at the "mountain of 7 colors". It was made a UNESCO world heritage site in 2003.
We made it to the border in the afternoon. After getting off the bus, you need to walk to the border, which is about a 15 minute walk. The border station is total chaos. First, we need to line up for getting out of Argentina, then we have to line up on the other side of the station for entry into Bolivia, but you end up talking to people in the same window. The whole setup was confusing. Moreover, it looked as though you could just walk past the border and nobody would say or do anything. I was very nervous about crossing the border, but I made it!!! I am from Hong Kong, and I heard it is not easy to get a visa if you are Chinese. However, I renewed my BNO passport, and it worked!! I don't even need a visa! For people who have an American passport, all you need to do is pay, and they will give you a visa upon arrival, and the visa often lasts from 10 - 20 years.
Once you cross the border, there are money exchange places for you to get some Bolivianos. Remember they only accepts perfect US dollars! It cannot be torn, have missing corner, or things written on it, etc., it needs to look brand new. Once you get some Bolivianos, it's time to get some snacks for the road! You cannot believe how cheap things are in Bolivia, the exchange rate is around 1 USD to 7 Bolivianos, and a burrito-looking wrap is like 4 Bolivianos. The food WAS SOOOO GOOD too! There are markets, where you can buy fresh fruits, tamales, bread, etc. According to the locals, the crops there are grown with non-GMO seeds, and without any chemicals. And you can totally tell from the taste! It is so flavorful!
Then, we took a bus from Villazon to Tupiza, where we will be taking a tour to Uyuni.
*Note* From Salta to Villazon, there is an increase of 2200m in altitude. I did not know that Villazon is located at a higher altitude, so I was not prepared for it. I was having a pretty bad headache when I got there, and the bus ride from Villazon to Tupiza was very unpleasant. So, be aware!
*Note* There is a one hour time difference between Argentina and Bolivia. It is very important because you will need to know when to board your bus! We bought a bus ticket as soon as we got to Villazon, and they usually have some space for you to store your belongings before the bus ride if you don't want to carry it around. (Do not leave valuables!) The bus system is very chaotic here, make sure you know where your bus will be for boarding as there aren't clearly defined gates for where the bus will depart.
