How to reach the Uyuni Train Cemetery by train
Station, train, journey time and the final stretch — the complete guide.
Take the train to Uyuni station (a stop of the Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús). From there you reach the Train Cemetery with a short taxi ride (about 10 minutes) or a 30–40-minute walk from the town of Uyuni; it is usually the first stop on the salt-flat tours.
Many Salar de Uyuni tours include the cemetery as their first stop; ask when you book.
Why visit
The Uyuni Train Cemetery is a graveyard of rusting steam locomotives and wagons abandoned on the open Altiplano, about 3 km south-west of the town. These are the machines that hauled minerals toward the Pacific coast in the early 20th century and were left stranded when mining declined. Today it is one of the most photographed places in Bolivia. You reach it from Uyuni station —the same Ferroviaria Andina hub from which the salt-flat trips are organised— and in fact most tours begin right here.
Getting there from the corridor
| Starting point | Train route |
|---|---|
| From Oruro | Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús · 6 h 53 min (Monday 21:30 → Tuesday 04:23) · Bs 60, then taxi to the cemetery |
| From Tupiza | Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús · 5 h 53 min (Thursday 18:10 → Friday 00:03) · Bs 47 (sum of legs), then taxi to the cemetery |
| From Villazón | Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús · 9 h 33 min (Thursday 14:30 → Friday 00:03) · Bs 72 (sum of legs), then taxi to the cemetery |
Step by step
Take the Expreso del Sur – Ferrobús and get off at Uyuni station.
As you leave the station, take a short taxi ride from the town of Uyuni.
This brings you to the Train Cemetery.
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 Uyuni is 6 h 53 min on the Ferrobús, and then a short taxi ride from the town of Uyuni to the Train Cemetery.
Can you walk to Uyuni Train Cemetery from the station?
Not directly: you need a short taxi ride from the town of Uyuni. Many Salar de Uyuni tours include the cemetery as their first stop; ask when you book.
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