Salar de Uyuni day tour: Private car, Train Cemetery & sunset

Eight hours crossing the world's largest salt flat, from the Train Cemetery to flamingos at sunset.

A private day tour of Salar de Uyuni departing from the city of Uyuni with hotel pickup, a professional guide in Spanish, and lunch served in the middle of the salt flat. The itinerary moves through the Train Cemetery, Colchani's salt processing plant, Incahuasi Island with its giant cactus, and ends at Tunupa Volcano for sunset and a courtesy wine before returning to Uyuni by 7pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Train Cemetery30m
2. Salar de Uyuni2h

Explore Uyuni Salt Flats and Surroundings

• Depart Uyuni city at 10:30am
• Visit Train Cemetery
• Stop at Colchani salt processing plant
• Enter Salar de Uyuni and visit waterholes
• Visit Playa Blanca Hotel
• Lunch in the middle of Salar de Uyuni
• Visit Incahuasi Island and giant cactus
• Arrive at Tunupa Volcano foot for photos and flamingos
• Watch sunset at Salar de Uyuni with wine
• Return to Uyuni city by 7:00pm

The experience

The tour departs at 10:30am from Uyuni and heads first to the Train Cemetery, then crosses into Salar de Uyuni itself. A brief stop in Colchani lets you see how salt is extracted and processed by hand at the artisan plant. By noon you're on the salt flat proper, stopping at waterholes and the Playa Blanca Hotel (one of the first structures ever built in the Salar) before lunch arrives at 12:30pm, served right in the middle of the white expanse.

After lunch, the route climbs to Incahuasi Island to walk among the giant cacti that dot it, then continues to Tunupa Volcano at the flat's edge. This is where the day slows: you watch flamingos in the lagoons below, take photographs as the light changes, and settle in for sunset at 5:30pm with a glass of wine included. The drive back to Uyuni takes about ninety minutes, arriving around 7pm.

A professional driver and guide who speaks Spanish leads the whole day. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport separately. The tour suits all fitness levels, though the altitude and the length of the day matter: the Altiplano sits above 3,600 meters, and you'll be in the car or walking on salt for most of eight hours.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from your accommodation in Uyuni.
• professional driver and guide speaking Spanish.
• lunch served in the salt flat.
• courtesy wine at sunset.
• visits to the Train Cemetery, Colchani salt processing plant, Incahuasi Island, and Tunupa Volcano with photo stops throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Under 12: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 4

Live guideSpanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 21 pickup points.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Joker Expedition, Bolivia.

Is this one for you?Book this private tour if you want a guide who speaks Spanish and a full day that moves through all the major stops: the Train Cemetery, the salt extraction sites, the cactus island, and sunset at the volcano. The fixed itinerary means you see everything in one departure, and the private car gives you flexibility to linger at photo moments without waiting for a larger group.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in Spanish and Portuguese.

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

The Train Cemetery is a graveyard of abandoned locomotives and rail cars left from Bolivia's mining era, located on the edge of Uyuni. It's the first stop of the day and gives context to the region's industrial past before you enter the salt flat itself.

Can I take photos at Incahuasi Island and Tunupa Volcano?

Yes. Both stops are designated for photo stops, and Tunupa Volcano at sunset is the main photography moment of the day. The guide will give you time to shoot as the light fades.

What should I bring for eight hours on the salt flat?

Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat are essential: the salt reflects intense UV light and there is no shade. Bring a light jacket for the altitude and the evening, and wear comfortable walking shoes. Water is advisable, though the tour includes lunch and a courtesy wine at sunset.

Does this tour work if I'm staying at a remote hotel like Hotel Luna Salada?

Hotel Luna Salada has a special arrangement: pickups from that hotel start at 12:00pm instead of 10:30am due to its distance from the city. Confirm your hotel location when booking so the guide knows the correct pickup time.