How to get to the Tupiza canyons by train
Station, train, journey time and the final stretch — the complete guide.
Take the train to Tupiza station (a stop of the Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús). From there you reach the Tupiza canyons and gorges with a 4×4, horseback or bicycle tour from the town of Tupiza (the station is about a 10–15-minute walk from the centre; the canyons are a few kilometres out).
The canyons are visited on an organised excursion; there is no direct public transport from the station to them.
Why visit
Tupiza is ringed by red sandstone hills and gorges —the Quebrada de Palala, the Cañón del Inca, El Sillar, the Puerta del Diablo— that look straight out of a Western. In fact, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid rode through here. It is the lowest and mildest stop on the corridor (2,850 m), a relief after the Altiplano. Tupiza station sits in the town itself; from there you arrange the horseback, 4×4 or mountain-bike excursions that run through the canyons. It is also the last stop before Villazón, on the Argentine border.
Getting there from the corridor
| Starting point | Train route |
|---|---|
| From Oruro | Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús · 14 h 13 min (Monday 21:30 → Tuesday 11:43) · Bs 107 (sum of legs), then tour to the canyons |
| From Uyuni | Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús · 5 h 43 min (Tuesday 06:00 → Tuesday 11:43) · Bs 47 (sum of legs), then tour to the canyons |
| From Villazón | Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús · 2 h 50 min (Thursday 14:30 → Thursday 17:20) · Bs 25, then tour to the canyons |
Step by step
Take the Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús and get off at Tupiza station.
As you leave the station, take a tour from the town of Tupiza.
This brings you to the Tupiza canyons and gorges.
Useful information
Frequently asked questions
How much is a train ticket?
One fare per leg, no classes: Oruro–Uyuni Bs 60, Uyuni–Atocha Bs 22, Atocha–Tupiza Bs 25 and Tupiza–Villazón Bs 25; longer journeys add up the legs (Oruro–Villazón: Bs 132). More on the fares page.
What days does the train run?
Once a week in each direction: the Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús leaves Oruro on Monday at 21:30 and Villazón on Thursday at 14:30. Always check the schedule before you travel.
How long does it take from Oruro?
From Oruro to Tupiza is 14 h 13 min on the Ferrobús, and then a tour from the town of Tupiza to the Tupiza canyons and gorges.
Can you walk to Tupiza canyons from the station?
Not directly: you need a tour from the town of Tupiza. The canyons are visited on an organised excursion; there is no direct public transport from the station to them.
Where can I see more attractions on the corridor?
The what to see near the Bolivia Train guide lists every attraction by station.
Contents
Updated: October 2026