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Author: Salar de Uyuni Editorial Team
Quick Summary: The Train Cemetery sits about 3 km southwest of Uyuni town at roughly 3,670 m and is the first stop on almost every Salt Flats tour leaving Uyuni. It is a field of rusting British-built steam locomotives abandoned after Bolivia’s mining economy collapsed in the mid-20th century, and most visitors spend 30 to 45 minutes there. It is free to enter, has no shade, no toilets and no safety railings, so bring water, wear closed shoes and watch for sharp metal. Visit in the morning if you can — the light is better and the wind is usually weaker.
Most people arrive in Uyuni for the salt. The Train Cemetery is what they see first, and it is often the stop they end up talking about later. It is not a museum, not a park, and not curated in any way. It is a stretch of open Altiplano scattered with the skeletons of steam locomotives, open to anyone who walks out to it, in a place where the wind carries salt that has been eating the metal for eighty years.
This guide covers what the site actually is, how to reach it, what a visit feels like on the ground, and how to decide whether to give it more time than the standard tour stop allows. For the historical background in more depth, our dedicated page on the Train Graveyard goes further into how the site formed.
What the Train Cemetery actually is
Locals call it the *Cementerio de Trenes*. English speakers use Train Cemetery, Train Graveyard and Train Boneyard more or less interchangeably — they all refer to the same site.
What you will find there:
- Roughly 100 locomotives and carriages, though nobody maintains an official count
- British-built steam engines, many from Manchester and Glasgow foundries, dating from the late 1800s and early 1900s
- Rolling stock stripped of most copper, brass and usable fittings
- Rails still running through the site, some of them buried in drifting sand
- Two or three carriages fitted with rope swings by locals, which have become the most photographed objects on site
There is no fence, no ticket office and no guide on duty. A few vendors sell water, snacks and knitted goods from stalls near the entrance track, and sometimes a small community contribution is requested. That is the whole infrastructure.
Why the trains ended up here
Uyuni exists because of the railway. In the late 19th century the Bolivian government backed a rail network to move silver, tin and other minerals from the Andean mining districts down to Pacific ports, primarily Antofagasta in Chile. British engineers built and supplied much of it, and Uyuni became the junction town where lines met and locomotives were serviced.
The system worked until the ore did not. As the richest deposits were exhausted and global mineral prices fell through the mid-20th century, mining towns emptied and the freight disappeared. Locomotives that were already aging and difficult to source parts for were simply left on the sidings outside town.
Two things then happened. Scavengers took whatever could be sold or reused — which is why the engines look gutted rather than merely old. And the salt did the rest. Uyuni sits on the edge of the world’s largest salt flat, and salt-laden wind is brutally corrosive. Eighty years of that produced the rust-red, perforated metal you see today.
It is worth understanding this before you go, because the site reads very differently once you know you are looking at the collapse of an entire regional economy rather than a themed photo stop.
Where it is and how to get there
The Train Cemetery is about 3 km (roughly 2 miles) southwest of central Uyuni, just off the road toward Colchani and the salt flats. Getting there is easy by Bolivian standards.
| Option | Time from Uyuni centre | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Included on a Salt Flats tour | 10 min drive | Included in tour price | First-time visitors — this is how most people see it |
| Taxi from town | 10 min | Low; agree the fare and a wait time before you get in | Travelers who want longer than a tour allows |
| Walk along the tracks | 30–45 min each way | Free | Budget travelers, photographers wanting early light |
| Bicycle hire in town | 15 min | Low, hourly rental | Independent travelers on a full day in Uyuni |
If you walk, follow the rail line southwest out of town rather than the road — it is the more direct route and you will not get lost. Start early. Uyuni sits at about 3,670 m, the air is thin, and an hour of walking at that altitude on your first day is more work than it sounds. Take water and sun protection even for a short trip.
On a tour versus going independently
Nearly every 1-day and 3-day tour departing Uyuni includes the Train Cemetery as the first stop, usually between 10:00 and 11:00 in the morning. That is convenient, but it also means eight to fifteen 4x4s arrive at roughly the same moment and every good vantage point has somebody standing in it.
Going independently the day before or after your tour costs you an hour and a taxi fare, and gives you the site nearly to yourself. Photographers, in particular, should consider it. If you only have one day in Uyuni, the tour stop is fine — you will still see everything, just with more people in the frame.
What a visit is actually like
Expect 30 to 45 minutes on a standard tour stop. That is enough to walk the length of the site, climb on two or three engines and take photos. Some drivers stretch it to an hour if the group is enthusiastic.
Things travelers consistently underestimate:
- The wind. It is constant and it picks up through the day. Afternoon visits can mean grit in your eyes and camera.
- The temperature swing. Mornings in June and July can start below freezing; by midday you may want short sleeves. Layers are not optional. Our Uyuni packing guide covers the full list.
- No facilities. No toilets, no shade, no reliable water beyond what vendors have on the day.
- The metal. Edges are corroded to razor sharpness in places, and floors of carriages have rusted through. Climbing is normal and nobody will stop you, but it is genuinely at your own risk.
Best time of day and season
| Timing | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise to 9am | Soft low light, minimal wind, almost empty | Best for photographers; requires independent transport |
| 10am–12pm | Good light, tour groups arriving | The standard tour window — fine, but busy |
| Afternoon | Harsh overhead light, strongest wind, dust | Weakest option unless you are on a reverse-direction tour |
| Sunset | Warm light on rust, dramatic silhouettes | Excellent, but arrange your ride back in advance |
Seasonally, the site is accessible year-round. The dry season, roughly May to October, gives you reliable blue skies and firm ground. The wet season, roughly December to March, brings dramatic cloud, occasional puddles that reflect the wrecks, and a real chance of mud on the approach track. Neither season closes the site. Our guide to Salar de Uyuni weather explains how the two seasons shape the wider trip.
Photography at the Train Cemetery
This is one of the few places in the Uyuni region where the interest is texture and decay rather than scale and emptiness. Shoot it accordingly.
What works:
- Low angles from ground level, shooting up at boilers and wheels against open sky
- Close-ups of rivets, peeling paint layers, corroded sheet metal and bullet-like rust holes
- Framing through carriage windows and doorways to isolate another engine
- Silhouettes at either end of the day, when the sun is low enough to rim-light the wrecks
- Including a person for scale — these engines are much larger than photos suggest
What to watch for:
- Dust on lenses. Change lenses inside the vehicle, not in open wind.
- Harsh midday contrast. If you are stuck with a late-morning tour stop, shoot into shaded interiors rather than fighting the sky.
- Other travelers. Patience of two or three minutes usually clears a frame.
For general shooting technique across the whole trip, including perspective shots on the salt itself, see our Uyuni photography tips.
Safety and etiquette
Nothing here is dangerous if you pay attention, but there is no safety net.
- Wear closed, sturdy shoes. Sandals and open metal do not mix.
- Check any surface before putting weight on it — carriage floors have collapsed.
- Make sure your tetanus vaccination is current before travelling; cuts from rusted metal are the realistic risk.
- Keep an eye on children constantly. There are no barriers anywhere.
- Do not remove anything. Pieces of the site have been carried off for decades and it shows.
- Take your rubbish with you. Litter is a visible problem and there is no collection service.
If you are visiting independently at dawn or dusk, go with at least one other person and tell your accommodation where you are heading.
What to combine it with
The Train Cemetery works best as part of a half or full day rather than as a standalone trip.
- Colchani, the salt-processing village about 20 km north, is the next stop on most tours and the place to see salt harvesting and buy handicrafts. Details on our Colchani page.
- The salt flats themselves, another 20 minutes beyond Colchani.
- Uyuni town, which most people write off too quickly. The clock tower plaza, the market and a handful of decent pizza and llama-steak restaurants fill an evening. See things to do in Uyuni.
If you are still deciding how to reach Uyuni in the first place, our overview of how to get to Salar de Uyuni compares buses, flights and tour routes from La Paz, Chile, Peru and Argentina.
Is it worth visiting?
Honestly: yes, but calibrate your expectations. It is not a two-hour attraction. It is a 40-minute stop that is genuinely striking, photographs extremely well, and carries real historical weight if you know what you are looking at. Nobody travels to Bolivia specifically for the Train Cemetery — but almost nobody who goes regrets the stop.
Skip it only if you are on a tight one-day schedule and would rather trade the time for longer on the salt itself. Ask your operator; some will do this if the whole group agrees.
FAQ
Is there an entrance fee for the Train Cemetery?
There is no official entrance fee and the site is open at all hours, with no gate and no opening times. Occasionally a small community contribution is requested near the entrance, and vendors sell drinks and snacks on site, so it is worth carrying a few small boliviano notes. Bolivia is heavily cash-based and card payment is not available here, so do not plan on paying for anything electronically.
How long do tours spend at the Train Cemetery?
Most Salt Flats tours departing Uyuni allocate 30 to 45 minutes, and it is normally the first stop of the day, reached around 10:00 to 11:00 in the morning. Tours running in the opposite direction from San Pedro de Atacama arrive on their final day, usually in the late morning before dropping passengers in Uyuni. If you want longer, visit separately by taxi or on foot rather than asking the driver to change the schedule, since the rest of the day is timed around sunset on the salt.
Can I walk to the Train Cemetery from Uyuni town?
Yes. It is roughly 3 km southwest of the centre and takes 30 to 45 minutes on foot following the rail line. The walk is flat and straightforward, but you are at 3,670 m, so it will feel harder than the distance suggests if you have just arrived from lower altitude. Go in the morning, take water and sun protection, and avoid doing it on your first afternoon in town if you are still acclimatising.
Is it safe to climb on the trains?
People climb on them constantly and nobody prevents it, but the structures are unmaintained and heavily corroded. Carriage floors have rusted through in places and exposed edges are sharp. Test surfaces before committing weight, wear closed shoes, and make sure your tetanus cover is up to date before you travel. Treat it as an unsupervised environment rather than a managed attraction.
Does the Train Cemetery look better in the wet season or the dry season?
Both work, for different reasons. The dry season from roughly May to October gives clean blue skies, strong contrast against the rust and firm ground underfoot. The wet season from December to March brings more dramatic cloud and occasional standing water that can reflect the wrecks, but also mud on the approach and a higher chance of an overcast, flat-light day. Neither season makes the site inaccessible.
Limitations
Conditions at the Train Cemetery change without notice. The site is unmanaged, so the number of intact carriages, the presence of swings, vendor stalls and any community contribution all vary year to year. Tour timings and the order of stops differ between operators and change with road conditions, particularly in the wet season. Bolivia’s transport situation has been unusually volatile in 2026 because of the national diesel shortage and January’s regulated fare increase, so bus and tour schedules to Uyuni should be confirmed close to your travel date. Costs quoted in dollars are approximate: Bolivia moved to a floating exchange rate on 26 June 2026 and the boliviano has been trading well above the old fixed rate, so check current figures in bolivianos with your operator before budgeting.
