Villazón
Potosí Department · Cities
Villazón is the southern border town, linked by a bridge to La Quiaca in Argentina. It's the busiest crossing for travellers between the two countries, with shopping streets and exchange houses. You can also arrive by train from Uyuni and Tupiza, at the end of the Altiplano line.
3,443 maltitude
0 to 1 dayto spend there
Things to do
- Cross the border to La Quiaca (Argentina)
- Station: train to Tupiza and Uyuni
- Change money before moving on
What to eat
- SalteñaBolivia's pastry: slightly sweet dough with a juicy filling of meat, potato and olives. Eaten in the morning, without spilling the juice!
- Picante mixtoA plate of several meats (chicken, tongue, beef) in chilli sauce, with chuño and rice. For chilli lovers.
Tip. At 3,400 m: coming from Argentina, go up gently. Immigration doesn't work all night: check the hours before you set off.
Also here
- Border Villazón – La QuiacaThe most used crossing into Argentina, on foot over the bridge. From La Quiaca, buses to Jujuy and Salta. Formalities don't run all night: arrive in daytime.
How to get to Villazón
Photos of Villazón
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More places in this region
Sajama National ParkBolivia's highest peak (6,542 m), geysers, hot springs and llamas.
Curahuara de CarangasThe “Sistine Chapel of the Altiplano”: an adobe church covered in murals.
OruroAn Altiplano mining city, famous for its UNESCO-listed carnival. Starting point of the train to Uyuni.
Obrajes and Capachos hot springsNatural hot-water pools on the Altiplano, less than an hour from Oruro.
Machacamarca railway museumOld steam locomotives and the history of the mining railways, south of Oruro.
Lakes Uru Uru and PoopóShallow Altiplano lakes on Oruro's doorstep, visited by flamingos.
ChipayaVillage of the Uru-Chipaya, one of the oldest peoples of the Andes, with round earthen houses.
Coipasa Salt FlatBolivia's second-largest salt flat, wild and almost without visitors.
UyuniBase town for Salar tours, with a train cemetery on the edge of town.
Salar de Uyuni + Sud Lípez (tour)The world's largest salt flat, then the colourful lagoons of the Sud Lípez. The highlight of many trips.
TupizaWild West scenery: red canyons, cacti and the last ride of Butch Cassidy.- CotagaitaA small green town in a fruit-growing valley, on the road from Potosí to Villazón.