Atacama to Bolivia Private Transfer via Hito Cajón

From San Pedro de Atacama it is about 45 km to the Hito Cajón border crossing, which takes roughly an hour, excluding stops and border formalities. The route follows Route 27-CH toward Paso de Jama before turning off toward Hito Cajón at Portezuelo del Cajón.
If you are arriving at El Loa Airport in Calama (CJC), add around 100 km and about 1 hour 30 minutes on the paved Route 23-CH to San Pedro, or roughly 2 hours 30 minutes to the border in total.
Actual travel times depend on the weather, road conditions, border operations and the number of vehicles at the crossing that day.
Once you have completed the border formalities, you change to a Bolivian 4WD vehicle. Your onward journey then follows unpaved roads through the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve and the Sur Lípez region toward the Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni).

Yes. If you are flying into El Loa Airport in Calama (CJC), we can pick you up at the airport and, depending on your arrival time, take you via San Pedro de Atacama directly to the start of your Bolivian Altiplano tour without an extra overnight stop.
On the way, you can stop for lunch or pick up supplies in Calama or San Pedro de Atacama.

San Pedro de Atacama lies at around 2,400 m above sea level, while the Hito Cajón border post is at about 4,500 m - a climb of more than 2,000 m in roughly an hour. The air is drier, colder and thinner, and you may notice the effects of the altitude as soon as you step out of the vehicle for passport and luggage checks.
Even if it was warm in Calama or San Pedro de Atacama just an hour or two earlier, it can be much colder at the border, where windy conditions are common. Bring warm layers and keep essentials such as water, sunscreen and any medication within reach.

There are no towns, cafés, shops or gas stations along the stretches between Calama Airport and San Pedro de Atacama, or between San Pedro and the border. Bring water and a light snack with you, or pick up anything you need in San Pedro de Atacama.
With the timing agreed in advance, we can stop in San Pedro for breakfast, brunch, lunch or coffee. It is also a convenient place to buy supplies for the journey. Friends or family members can join your group here if this is part of your travel plans. Once everyone is together, the transfer continues east toward the Bolivian border.

As you leave San Pedro de Atacama, Licancabur Volcano and the neighboring Juriques Volcano dominate the view. The road then climbs quickly: the oasis and the desert plateau fall away below, giving way to the dry Altiplano, rocky slopes, sparse Puna vegetation and wide views of the Central Andes.
With luck, you may spot vicuñas along the way. On the Chilean side, the road does not pass any lagoons or salt flats. Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde come right after the border, on the Bolivian side of your trip.

The Hito Cajón border crossing lies high in the Andes on the Chile–Bolivia border. Travelers continuing to Uyuni usually arrive in the morning, complete border formalities and change to Bolivian 4WD vehicles before continuing to the lagoons, the Salvador Dalí Desert, the Lípez region and the Uyuni Salt Flats.
Border opening hours and crossing procedures may change, so we check the current situation before each trip.
A temporary closure at Hito Cajón does not automatically mean your trip is canceled. In the high-altitude regions of Chile and Bolivia, restrictions may be imposed because of snowfall, strong winds, ice, road conditions or decisions by the border authorities. These measures are taken for travelers’ safety.
We monitor the weather forecast and the status of the crossing in advance. If Hito Cajón is temporarily closed on the day of travel, the next steps depend on the reason for the closure and how long it is expected to last:

• If the crossing is expected to reopen soon, we agree on a revised meeting time with the Bolivian operator and wait for it to reopen.
• If a longer closure is expected, we check whether the journey can be rerouted through another international border crossing that is open.
• If there is no suitable alternative that day, or a detour would disrupt the itinerary too much, we postpone the crossing and adjust the following days of the trip.

All changes are coordinated with the Bolivian operator who meets you after the border formalities. Our priority is to keep the Chilean and Bolivian transfers coordinated so that you are not left at the border without a vehicle to meet you.
If the Lípez region and the Uyuni Salt Flats are the main focus of your trip, we work to keep your itinerary intact. This may mean a longer drive, a change of plan or an extra night, but we always try to protect the main highlights.
Travel at high altitude needs some flexibility, and we plan backup options before every trip.