Are Bolivian Buses Safe? Bus Safety and Our Experience from Uyuni to Sucre

Todo Turismo buses in the middle of Uyuni salt flats

If you’ve landed on this article, you’ve probably already heard that Bolivian buses may not be… the most comfortable? 😅 And if you’re like me, you’re probably scouring Google to figure out: Are Bolivian buses safe? Which company should I choose? Should I just skip the bus altogether?

Before our trip, I was also wondering about the safety of Bolivian buses. We were looking for advice on how to get from Uyuni to Sucre by bus, but I felt like there wasn’t much practical information out there, mostly horror stories. So I thought I’d share my own experience here, partly to tell the story, partly to give you some honest advice if you’re planning to take a Bolivian bus ride.

Getting to Sucre

We had just finished the classic 3 days / 2 nights tour across the salt flats and desert from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni. After days of dusty jeeps, surreal landscapes, and freezing nights, I was excited to get to Sucre, a city everyone calls the most beautiful in Bolivia.

It's too charming to skip, right?!

But there was one logistical problem: the only way to get there is by bus.

And unfortunately, while we were in Atacama, we had read some very sad news. Just that week, a terrible bus crash in the Bolivian mountains had killed more than 30 people. Not exactly the type of story that gives you confidence about your own upcoming bus ride.

Choosing how to get from Uyuni to Sucre

Bolivian roads already had a reputation for being unsafe, and if you read too many forums (like I did), you’ll find every horror story: drunk drivers, buses in poor condition, steep mountain passes with no barriers… you name it. This all made me anxious, but I also really didn’t want to miss Sucre.

Our original plan was to take the direct overnight bus from Uyuni to Sucre. But after all the horrifying news and my endless googling, I panicked and decided against it. Instead, we made a new plan: take a day bus to Potosí (a city halfway through), hopefully stay safe on the road in daylight, then continue to Sucre with another day bus.

The first part of the plan went well. The bus from Uyuni to Potosí was fine. The road was long, yes, but not scary. The biggest danger was a llama crossing in front of us! I could deal with that.

Very dangerous llamas on the road!

Where things went wrong…

The problem came once we reached Potosí. The idea was to take another bus from there to Sucre, but the second bus was going to leave from a different station at the other side of the city. By the time we arrived, we were hungry, exhausted, and dizzy from the altitude. So we thought we’d be clever: let’s splurge and just take a taxi. After some haggling, the cost was only $20 and in two and a half hours we'd arrive in Sucre. Easy.

Big mistake!

The driver started the ride by making a cross sign across his chest, apparently summoning God's protection on the highway. Then he proceeded to drive like an absolute maniac! So much for God's protection... The road from Potosí to Sucre is beautiful but full of sharp mountain curves and he took them at Formula 1 speed. He was overtaking on blind corners, and twice came frighteningly close to a full-on frontal crash.

I say this as an Italian, I’m used to crazy driving. But this was another level! For two and a half hours I sat in the backseat holding for dear life, and almost found myself praying and believing in God again. 😅

Obviously, we made it in one piece. But not without very tense moments and regret!

So… are Bolivian buses safe?

After my experience, here’s my two cents:

• You’ll probably be fine. Thousands of buses criss-cross Bolivia every day and most people get where they need to go without a problem.

• Stick with reputable companies. If you’re traveling La Paz – Uyuni, go with Todo Turismo - they're known for being reliable, clean(er) and safe(r). Another reputable company that operates throughout the country is 6 De Octubre. Pay the extra couple dollars - it’s worth it.

• Day buses are less stressful. The roads are beautiful, you avoid the worst of overtired drivers, and you actually get to see the landscapes (though don't look down at the drop-offs!).

• Avoid taxis for long distances. This was the biggest mistake we made, thinking that we were being smarter and safer. Really, just don’t. Taxi drivers are trying to get you to destination as soon as they can so that they can drive back / hopefully find a new client. It was not safer, not cheaper, and definitely not less stressful.

Bottom line: Bolivia by bus isn’t comfortable and it’s not without risks. But if you do your research, choose good companies, and travel smart, you’ll most likely be just fine. So don't be a scaredy-cat like me and book that bus.

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