Tupiza is a small town in the Potosí Department of Bolivia.
The town is close to the border with Argentina and also gateway for the Salar de Uyuni tours, and therefore has its fair share of tourists staying over night or passing through.
The beautiful surrounding of Tupiza is full of quebradas, cañones and valles. It's excellent for exploring by foot, but it's also possible to go on horseback, mountain-bike or by jeep.
- El Cañon.
- Cañon del Inca.
- Valle de los Machos.
- Puerta del Diablo.
- Cerro Elefante.
- El Angosto.
- Entre Rios.
- Mirador Cristo
- Cerro la Cruz
El Cañon.
Cañon del Inca.
Valle de los Machos.
Puerta del Diablo.
Cerro Elefante.
El Angosto.
Entre Rios.
- Canyon Trail. A great day trail that covers El Cañon, Cañon del Inca, Puerta del Diablo, Valle de los Machos and the Geoglificos runs from the northwest of the town around west and back into the town from the south. Check out OpenStreetMap for the exact trail.
- Horseback riding. There are great tours of the surrounding landscape, which looks a lot like the American southwest of western movies. The tour agencies have a syndicate: 30 Bs per hour. Ask for leather leggings. Bs. 150 for 3 hr.
- If you'd like to be a little more independent or economical, hiking or biking along the same trails as the horses is also an option. See above for navigation details.
Canyon Trail. A great day trail that covers El Cañon, Cañon del Inca, Puerta del Diablo, Valle de los Machos and the Geoglificos runs from the northwest of the town around west and back into the town from the south. Check out OpenStreetMap for the exact trail.
Horseback riding. There are great tours of the surrounding landscape, which looks a lot like the American southwest of western movies. The tour agencies have a syndicate: 30 Bs per hour. Ask for leather leggings. Bs. 150 for 3 hr.
- Tupiza has a biweekly local market stretching down from just outside the train station. Mainly consists of electronics, cheap clothes, and random knick-knacks. There are also many food kiosks and vendors past the main strip. Interesting drink and jello vendors, as well as vitamin quinoa juice.
- Sunday market. Evening. While you wonder what is happening on Sunday in the town, all the people head for this market in the northwestern corner of town. Great and inexpensive food and all other things you can think of.
Sunday market. Evening. While you wonder what is happening on Sunday in the town, all the people head for this market in the northwestern corner of town. Great and inexpensive food and all other things you can think of.
- Pastipizza. Moderate, bad service.
- Ristorante Italiana, Florida 272. For Italian food
- Il Bambino, Florida y Santa Cruz. The Bs. 10 set lunches are incredible popular with the locals.
- Cafe El Dobende, Calle Florida No. 29. A cozy coffeeshop with fantastic coffee (4-7Bs.) and salteño empanadas (3Bs). Specifically, the cafe con leche and the cappuccino are delicious. The owner is very welcoming, and they have a variety of Spanish books on their shelf. Bs. 2-10.
- Escargo, Calle Avaroa y Serrano. almuerzo. Daily (copious) set menu of 4 courses. Bs. 20.
- Market, upper level. Local food at local prices. from Bs. 7 (negotiable).
Pastipizza. Moderate, bad service.
Ristorante Italiana, Florida 272. For Italian food
Il Bambino, Florida y Santa Cruz. The Bs. 10 set lunches are incredible popular with the locals.
Cafe El Dobende, Calle Florida No. 29. A cozy coffeeshop with fantastic coffee (4-7Bs.) and salteño empanadas (3Bs). Specifically, the cafe con leche and the cappuccino are delicious. The owner is very welcoming, and they have a variety of Spanish books on their shelf. Bs. 2-10.
Escargo, Calle Avaroa y Serrano. almuerzo. Daily (copious) set menu of 4 courses. Bs. 20.
Market, upper level. Local food at local prices. from Bs. 7 (negotiable).
On weekends there could be some local fiesta, ask around.
- Diver...Gente, Florida (One block off the square. Lights of all colors are flashing, the DJ mostly trusts his DVDs. A bottle of booze Bs. 100.
Diver...Gente, Florida (One block off the square. Lights of all colors are flashing, the DJ mostly trusts his DVDs. A bottle of booze Bs. 100.
It seems common in Tupiza that the Salar de Uyuni tour is priced dependent on the number of people on the tour. However, do not fall for that trick, it is just a way to make more money off you. It is the tour company's job to find enough people, not yours. Your reference price should be the one for a 6 people tour. And from that "official price" actually you should take another 20-30% off to have the fair price. Best to tell them your price, and if they are interested, they shall contact you via WhatsApp. Do that with 6 or 7 companies (and if you got strong nerves even for leaving the next day), and certainly some will get back to you agreeing on the price. The price from San Pedro de Atacama is about US$150, but Bolivia is not Chile and should be less than that. The lowest prices from Uyuni are Bs. 600 (plus Bs. 50 for the bus until San Pedro). If you cannot get a similar price and feel you are overcharged, take the 5 hr and head to Uyuni—there are much more competing companies and number of tourists there, guaranteeing you the best price.
Most (newer) accommodations will have Wi-Fi for its guests.
Other than that there are many internet cafes which are reasonably priced but very slow at peak times.
- Salar de Uyuni – There are several tour agents offering the 3-4 day tour finishing in Uyuni. Make sure you are well acclimatized if you're doing the trip from here, since you'll go from about 3,000 m to 4,200 m and sometimes even scratch the 5,000-m mark, climbing 1,200 m in just a few hours.
- Tarija, Potosi or Sucre – These would be you next stops depending on your overall time and interests.
- Villazón or Tarija – Your next destinations if you have finished Bolivia and are heading for Argentina or Paraguay.
There are also trains to both Villazon, Uyuni and Oruro every other day.
[[Salar de Uyuni]] – There are several tour agents offering the 3-4 day tour finishing in [[Uyuni]]. Make sure you are well acclimatized if you're doing the trip from here, since you'll go from about 3,000 m to 4,200 m and sometimes even scratch the 5,000-m mark, climbing 1,200 m in just a few hours.