Overview
About Uyuni
Uyuni sits at 3,656 meters on the windswept Altiplano, a dusty outpost that has become the primary gateway to the Salar de Uyuni – the world’s largest salt flat. By day, the blinding white expanse stretches to the horizon, mirroring the sky in a surreal, endless plane; by night, the absence of light pollution reveals a Milky Way so vivid it feels tangible. The town itself is a utilitarian cluster of tour agencies, hostels, and llama-meat restaurants, but its rough edges only amplify the otherworldly landscapes that surround it – from the rusting hulks of the Train Cemetery to the technicolor lagoons of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve.
What to see & do
Top attractions
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Train Graveyard (Cementerio de Trenes)FreeKid-friendlyHistoricalCulturalScenicUnique
Rising from the stark white flats of the Salar de Uyuni like the bleached bones of a industrial leviathan, the Train Graveyard is a haunting open‑air museum where dozens of steam locomotives and ore wagons have been slowly surrendering to the Altplano’s corrosive winds since the 1940s. The twisted metal, peeling paint, and hollowed‑out boilers create a surreal, almost post‑apocalyptic sculpture garden that photographers adore for its dramatic interplay of rust orange against the blinding salt crust. It is a poignant reminder of Bolivia’s brief railway boom — when British‑built engines hauled silver from Potosí to the Pacific — before the mineral veins ran dry and the lines were abandoned.
Logistics
Practical info
Getting there & around
Most visitors explore the salt flats and surrounding reserves on organized 4×4 tours departing from town; independent travel is difficult due to the lack of paved roads, extreme altitude, and sparse signage. Within Uyuni, taxis and shared minibuses (trufis) connect the bus terminal, train station, and main plaza.
Food & drink
The culinary scene revolves around hearty Andean staples: quinoa soup, grilled llama or alpaca, and papas a la huancaína. Tour agencies often include meals on multi-day excursions – expect simple but filling plates of rice, lentils, and fresh trout from Lake Titicaca. For a treat, seek out a café serving api morado, a warm purple-corn drink spiced with cinnamon.
Stay aware
Safety considerations
Altitude sickness is the primary concern – spend a day acclimatizing before heading onto the salt flat. Intense UV radiation demands high-SPF sunscreen, sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat. Nighttime temperatures plummet below freezing year-round; pack insulated layers. Choose reputable tour operators with well-maintained vehicles and oxygen supplies.