Choose from 3 Fun Things to Do in Uyuni
ShowingFilter 1-3 of 3 listings.
Train Cemetery (Cementerio de Trenes)
During the nineteenth century, Uyuni was an important hub of transportation with plans for expanding the already-existent rail network. When those plans fell through, numerous trains and rail equipment were left in the desert to rust. What remains is known as the Train Cemetery (Cementerio de Trenes).
Hollowed out locomotive bodies from the Gilded Age sit out in the open, many heavily corroded from the salt of the nearby salt plain — the world’s largest. Visitors are free to snap photos of the train bodies, and even climb inside.
Practical Info
The Train Cemetery is located close to the Uyuni Salt Flats, so it’s possible to stop by on the way.
Address: Uyuni, Bolivia
From $ 20
Tunupa Volcano
Rising from a blindingly white sea of salt, Tunupa volcano is a multi-hued cone that pokes from an alpine wonderland. Here in Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni, everything you think you know about landscapes is completely turned upside down, as the massive salt plane plays tricks on your eyes, and pink flamingos hang by lakes that burst in deep shades of red. Above it all stands Tunupa Volcano, a dormant and often snow-covered peak that rises up to 17,457 feet. Though ascending up to the frigid summit requires some mountaineering, a viewpoint at 15,500 feet offers visitors a sweeping, panoramic view of the Salar de Uyuni beneath you. Like gazing out on a blanket of clouds from the slopes of a colorful mountain, the white down below is actually formed as part of the world’s largest salt flat. Many tours to Salar de Uyuni incorporate scaling the volcano, and while the air is cold, thin, wind-whipped, and it’s noticeably harder to breathe, the view from the slopes of Tunupa volcano is one you won’t ever forget.
Practical Info
Because of the very high altitude, visitors need to be properly acclimated and take it slow when hiking. As for photographing the mountain itself, the colors tend to burst the strongest in the hour just before sunset.
Did You Know? Tunupa volcano is home to caves that are full of ancient mummies.
Address: Uyuni, Bolivia
From $ 60
Salar de Uyuni
In Bolivia’s Altiplano, Salar de Uyuni—a 4,086-square-mile (10,582-square-kilometer) stretch of land encrusted with thick etchings of salt—is the world’s largest salt flat. Salar de Uyuni is famed for its massive scale and mirror-like appearance during the wet season, an effect that has lead it to be named a natural wonder of the world.
The Basics
The can’t-miss Salar de Uyuni is one of Bolivia’s most famous attractions. Though the site is technically remote, located high in the rural Altiplano, guided salt flats tours provide an easy way to visit the hassle of arranging transportation. Tours to the flats typically include a hike to Fish Island (Incahuasi Island) in the middle of the salt expanse, a visit to the world’s first salt hotel, and plenty of time to take photos, as playful optical illusions using the endless white horizon are popular among travelers. Specialty tours, such as nighttime visits under the stars, sunrise tours, private tours, and 4x4 excursions, offer additional memorable experiences. If you have time, bundle Salar de Uyuni into a multi-day tour for visits to hot springs, Laguna Colorada, and Laguna Verde as well.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Salar de Uyuni is a must-see attraction in Bolivia.
- Bring sunscreen, layers, sturdy shoes, and your camera.
- The giant salt flat is at 12,000 feet (3,660 meters) above sea level. Avoid altitude sickness by giving yourself plenty of water, rest, and time to adjust.
How to Get There
The most common jumping-off points for Uyuni tours are the towns of Tupiza and Uyuni. Flights from La Paz make it possible to visit as a day tour from Bolivia’s capital, and you can also visit from San Pedro de Atacama, across the border in Chile. Guided tours typically include hotel pickup and drop-off in Uyuni.
When to Get There
Salar de Uyuni is remarkable no matter the season. The dry season gives the flat a cracked, desert-like appearance, while a trickle of water from nearby streams causes an otherworldly, mirror-like reflectivity during the rainy season (December to March). Visit in November for a chance to see pink flamingos flocking at their mating ground.
Prehistoric Origins of the Flat
Salar de Uyuni was once covered by prehistoric lakes, including the massive Lago Minchin. Their slow evaporation left behind the salt that composes the flat today.
Address: Calle Potosí esq. Sucre, Uyuni, Bolivia
From $ 60