Bolivia - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 190

By bus Buses from Potosí, Oruro and Tupiza pull up in
front of the various bus company of ces, three blocks
north of the train station along the partly pedestrianized
Av Arce. Todo Turismo (Santa Cruz 155; T 02 6933337)
buses to La Paz are the most comfortable option. Their
service (with heating, food and toilet) leaves daily at 8pm.
Advance booking recommended.
Destinations La Paz (3-4 nightly at 8pm; 11hr); Oruro
(2-3 nightly; 8hr); Potosí (4 daily at 7pm; 4hr); Sucre
(4 daily; 10hr; better to take the bus from Potosí); Tarija
(1 daily; 18hr); Tupiza (1 daily; 6hr). There are also daily
services (at 3am) to Avaroa and Calama in Chile.
By train The train station is on Av Ferroviaria in the centre
of town. If you're arriving on a late-night train, most hostels
will open their doors to you no matter what time it is.
Remember to buy your ticket in advance; you will need your
passport as ID. Check W fca.com.bo for more information.
Destinations Oruro 12.05am Thurs & Sun with Expreso del
Sur, 1.45am Tues & Fri; (7hr); Villazón 10.40pm Tues & Fri
with Expreso del Sur (9hr); 2.50am Mon & Thurs with Wara
Wara del Sur via Tupiza (5hr 30min).

is friendly eno ugh an d it's one of the cheapest places in
town. Doubles B$100
La Maison Martinet Av Potosí 16 T 02 2732631,
W lamaisonmartinet.com. The layout is akin to a hotel,
but the rooms on offer are actually apartments, each with
a mini-kitchen and sitting room. Sleeping three-four
people, they work out as good value if you're in a group.
The place is decked out with antique apothecary and
medicinal artefacts. Apartments B$350
Hostal Marith Potosí 61 T 02 6932174, W marithotel
.com. A few blocks from the centre, the bright, clean
rooms are set round a courtyard (though this is rather
spoilt by the plasti c sheet ing stretched across it). Breakfast
included. Doubles B$120
Piedra Blanca Backpackers Av Arce 27 T 76437643.
This rambling, ramshackle place set back from the street
has some charm, not least thanks to the row of stained-
glass windows down one side of the U-shaped building.
Guests get breakfast and c an us e the kit chen. P rivate
rooms are overpriced. Dorms B$55 , doubles B$150

2

EATING AND DRINKING
As with accommodation, the range of places to eat in
Uyuni is pretty limited. The food market on Potosí and
Avaroa has cheap and decent local dishes.
Arco Iris Plaza Arce. The best pizzas on this tourist
honeypot strip, and, with its brick arches, it's a little more
atmospheric than most. Pizzas from B$33, and drinks are
relatively cheap.
Extreme Fun Pub Av Potosí 9. It really depends on your
idea of fun, but you can't deny this place's dedication to
boozing with a wacky twist (how about a “Llama Sperm”
shot?). One room has a floor of salt. Prices are pretty high,
though there are drinks promotions early in the evening.
Daily 2pm-1am.
La Loco Av Potosí. An endearingly weird railroad-themed
bar and restaurant. From the outside, its long low block
looks every centimetre the frontier town saloon; inside, the
bar itself is a riveted railway carriage, and there's a large
circular fireplace for cold nights. Drinks promotions 7-8pm.
Veggie lasagne B$38, llama steak with quinoa B$55.
Minuteman Pizza In the Toñito Hotel , Av Ferroviaria.
Oddly located directly outside the army barracks, this place
is renowned for its buffet breakfast (7.30-10am), which is
expensive but bountiful (B$50), from porridge to pancakes
with maple syrup. Their pizzas, served 5-9pm, are among
the best in town.
Pizzeria Doña Isabella C Camacho T 73759824. The
chef-patron has ambitions to move closer to the train station,
but for now the strange dining room is part of this place's
appeal. Set up like a family sitting room, with just four tables,
the pizza oven sits incongruously in one corner. The pizzas
(from B$45) can be made with quinoa flour bases, and are
better than those at more touristy places. Daily from 6pm.

INFORMAT ION
Internet There's no wi-fi in town and internet connec-
tions are often agonizingly slow. Try Macinternet on Av
Potosí (B$5/hr).
Money There are a few ATMs on Av Potosí east of the
clocktower.
Tourist information Infotur (Mon-Fri 8am-noon & 2.30-
7pm) on Av Potosí is the best source of information, though
they cannot recommend one Salar de Uyuni tour operator
over another. These operators, all situated within a few
blocks of Av Arce, are also a good source of information,
though their main aim is to sell you a trip (see box, p.195).

ACCOMMODAT ION
There's a limited range of accommodation in Uyuni and
most of it is fairly basic.
Avenida Av Ferroviaria 11 T 02 6932078. A vast, narrow
and rambling place. Though rooms are very basic, most
have windows o ut ont o the central area and are bright
enough. Doubles B$60
Hospedaje El Salvador Av Arce 346 T 02 6932407. You
can step off your bus and straight into this place, so it's
convenient for late-night arrivals. It looks tiny from the
outside, but is of warren-like proportions within. Rooms
are basi c and hot water is only available in the day.
Doubles B$100
Julia Av Ferroviaria, at Arce 314 T 02 6932134, W julia
hoteluyuni.com. Friendly, comfortable hotel with heating.
Rooms have cable T V, brea kfast is included and internet
is available. Doubles B$120
Kory Wasy Av Potosí 350 T 02 6932670, W korywasy
.com. The gloomy rooms lack natural light, but the welcome