2-Day Salar de Uyuni Tour: Train Cemetery & Salt Flats

Two days crossing the world's largest salt flat, from abandoned trains to mirror-like water at sunset

A 2-day shared tour of Salar de Uyuni departing from the town of Uyuni, Bolivia, with overnight accommodation in a basic hostel. You'll visit the Train Cemetery on day one, cross the vast salt flats to Incahuasi Island and the Dakar Monument, and watch the sunset reflected in shallow water. On day two, you'll pass the Pulacayo silver mine, visit a colonial church, bathe in hot springs, and see three color-changing lagoons before returning to Uyuni by evening. The tour includes pickup from your hotel or the bus terminal, meals, a professional Spanish-speaking guide, and transportation throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Explore Salar de Uyuni and surroundings

• Pick up from hotel or bus terminal
• Visit abandoned train cemetery
• Drive through salt eyes on Salar de Uyuni
• Have lunch on the route
• Visit Incahuasi Island and Dakar monument
• Take photos of salt flat illusions
• Watch sunset at water mirrors
• Go to hostel for overnight stay

Day 2: Visit Pulacayo mine and lagoons

• Pick up from hostel at 9:30 am
• Visit Pulacayo silver mine
• Visit Colonial Church
• Optional hot springs and sauna
• Have lunch on the route
• Visit three colored Altiplanic lagoons
• Visit New World Desert
• Return to Uyuni city by 6:00 pm

The experience

The Train Cemetery sits a few kilometers southwest of Uyuni, a sprawl of rusted locomotives abandoned on the edge of the salt flats: said to be the largest railway cemetery in the world. Day one starts with pickup from your hotel or the bus terminal, then heads straight there. From the cemetery, the route pushes into the Salar itself, passing through different salt eyes as you drive deeper into the immense white expanse. Lunch happens on the route. You'll pass Incahuasi Island and the Dakar Monument, both landmarks where the salt flat opens up for photographs and optical illusions created by the flatness and light. At sunset, the tour moves to the mirrors of water (shallow pools where sky and earth blur into one reflection) before heading to the hostel for the night.

Day two picks up around 9:30 am from the hostel. The route passes the main Pulacayo silver mine, then a colonial church. You have the option to soak in the hot springs and saunas nearby. Lunch is again on the route. The afternoon focuses on the Altiplanic Lagoons, where you'll visit at least three lagoons known for their different colors. The tour ends at the New World Desert before returning to Uyuni by 6:00 pm. Throughout both days, a professional guide leads the group in Spanish, and the tour operates as a shared experience with other travelers.

Accommodation is a basic hostel with a private bathroom in a shared room. Breakfast, two lunches, and one dinner are included, along with all transportation and guide services. You'll need at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the terrain and the altitude of the Altiplano.

What’s included

• Hotel or bus terminal pickup on day one.
• professional Spanish-speaking guide throughout.
• all transportation in all-terrain vehicles.
• overnight accommodation in a basic hostel with a private bathroom in a shared room.
• one breakfast, two lunches, and one dinner.
• access to hot springs and saunas on day two (optional).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (3 to 65 years) · Under 3: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 15

Live guideSpanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 16 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical level

Operated by Chullos Travel Peru

Is this one for you?This 2-day format leaves your first and third days free for other activities in Uyuni or the surrounding region, making it a middle option between a single-day tour and a longer expedition. You'll need moderate physical fitness for the altitude and terrain, and the shared-group format keeps costs down while connecting you with other travelers on the same route.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly is the Train Cemetery and why is it on this tour?

The Train Cemetery is a sprawl of abandoned locomotives on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni salt flats, a few kilometers southwest of the town of Uyuni. It is considered the largest railway cemetery in the world and marks the starting point of the tour into the salt flats, offering a striking contrast between industrial decay and the vast white landscape.

Can I bathe in hot springs during this 2-day tour?

Yes, on day two you have the option to enjoy the hot springs and saunas near the Pulacayo silver mine and colonial church, though it is not mandatory. The tour includes time for this if you choose to take it.

What are the Altiplanic Lagoons and how many do we visit?

The Altiplanic Lagoons are part of the high-altitude plateau landscape and are known for their different colors. On day two, you'll visit at least three of these lagoons before the tour ends at the New World Desert.

Does the tour include meals, and how many?

Yes, the tour includes one breakfast, two lunches, and one dinner across the 2 days. Meals are served on the route during the driving portions of each day.

What time does the tour end on day two?

The tour returns to the town of Uyuni at 6:00 pm on day two, giving you the evening to settle back into town after the Altiplanic Lagoons and New World Desert visits.

Is the guide Spanish-speaking only, or are other languages available?

The professional guide leads the tour in Spanish. If you need interpretation in another language, contact the operator before booking to discuss options.