Uyuni Salt Flats Full Day Tour: Train Cemetery & Sunset

Lunch arrives in the middle of the salt flat, nine hours into a single day that crosses four distinct landscapes.

A full-day shared tour of the Salar de Uyuni departing Uyuni at 10:30am, visiting the Train Cemetery, Colchani salt processing plant, waterholes and salt extraction sites, Incahuasi Island, and Tunupa Volcano for sunset with an English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup and drop-off, bottled water, and lunch in the salt flat are included. The tour ends around 7pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Train Cemetery30m
2. Salar de Uyuni4h

Full day tour of Uyuni Salt Flats

• Depart Uyuni city at 10:30am
• Visit Train Cemetery with photo stops
• Stop at Colchani salt processing plant
• Enter Salar de Uyuni and visit waterholes
• See salt extraction and Playa Blanca Hotel
• Lunch in the middle of Salar de Uyuni
• Visit Incahuasi Island and giant cactus
• Arrive at Tunupa Volcano foot for photos
• Observe flamingos and watch sunset
• Enjoy sunset at Salar with courtesy wine
• Return to Uyuni city

The experience

Nine hours means the route covers ground most visitors don't reach in a single push. You start at the Train Cemetery, abandoned locomotives rusting on the altiplano, then move into Colchani to see how salt gets processed by hand before entering the Salar itself. The landscape shifts from industrial ruin to working extraction ponds to the vast white expanse most people picture when they think of Uyuni, and the guide walks you through what you're actually looking at instead of just pointing.

Lunch happens at 12:30pm in the middle of the salt flat with no town in sight, which changes how the day feels. Before that, you stop at the Playa Blanca Hotel (one of the first structures ever built out here), and watch salt being harvested from waterholes. After lunch, Incahuasi Island appears with its famous giant cactus, then the route pushes toward Tunupa Volcano by 3:30pm. The final stretch is the sunset: you're positioned at the foot of the volcano, flamingos are visible in the distance, and a courtesy wine arrives as the light goes.

The guide speaks English throughout and handles the route. Hotel pickup starts at 10:30am from central Uyuni (note that pickups from Hotel Luna Salada begin at noon due to distance). You travel in a 4x4 Toyota with other travelers on the shared tour, and the vehicle returns you to Uyuni around 7pm.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off from central Uyuni (or noon departure from Hotel Luna Salada).
• bottled water throughout the day.
• professional English-speaking guide.
• lunch served in the Salar de Uyuni.
• sunset with courtesy wine at Tunupa Volcano.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 10:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (12 to 89 years) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish, Spanish and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 22 pickup points.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 7

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availableInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Joker Expedition, Bolivia.

Is this one for you?A shared tour works well if you're comfortable traveling with other visitors and want to split the cost of the vehicle and guide. The nine-hour span lets you move through multiple distinct zones (from the Train Cemetery through salt extraction to the island and volcano) without backtracking, so a single day captures what would take two shorter trips to see separately.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

What exactly is the Train Cemetery and how long do we spend there?

The Train Cemetery is a collection of abandoned locomotives left to rust on the altiplano, a remnant of Bolivia's mining era. It's the first stop after departure from Uyuni at 10:30am, visited with photo stops before the route moves into Colchani.

Can I see flamingos on this tour?

Yes. Flamingos are visible in the distance when you reach Tunupa Volcano at 3:30pm for the sunset portion of the day.

Is Incahuasi Island included, and what's the giant cactus?

Incahuasi Island sits in the middle of the Salar and is part of the itinerary at 1:30pm. The island is known for its giant cactus, a landmark visible from a distance across the salt flat.

What time does the tour end and how do I get back to my hotel?

The tour returns to Uyuni around 7pm after the sunset at Tunupa Volcano. Hotel drop-off is included, so your driver takes you back to your accommodation.

Is lunch included, and what do we eat?

Lunch is included and served at 12:30pm in the middle of the Salar de Uyuni. The specific menu isn't detailed in the tour description, but it's prepared on-site during your visit.

Do I need to be fit for this tour?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most of the day is spent in the vehicle with photo stops at various sites. The minimum age is 12.