Train Cemetery — Local services in Uyuni

So, I decided to check out Uyuni's famous Train Cemetery – or as I like to call it, "The Great Bolivian Iron Graveyard." Let me tell you, the approach was an experience in itself. Before I even reached the actual trains, I felt like I was already at a junkyard. It’s Bolivia, after all, where littering is apparently considered a form of abstract art. The path was "decorated" with plastic bags and the occasional lollipop wrapper. I wisely decided to stick to the train tracks to avoid any… unpleasant surprises underfoot. I finally arrived at the first wagons, which had clearly seen better days. “Bruises” doesn't even begin to describe the state they were in. It was more like total annihilation. The whole lot was just one giant, mangled piece of scrap metal – bashed from all sides, wheels long gone, just left to rust in the desert sun. It’s like all the scattered trash of Bolivia decided to have a convention in one place.

What surprised me most? They've turned this into a tourist attraction! Even more surprising? It's free! Which, let's be honest, is a good thing. Paying to see this would be like paying someone to kick you in the shins.

Mountains of scrap, wagons, steam locomotives, and cranes stretched as far as the eye could see. It looked like the aftermath of a robot apocalypse, except nobody bothered to clean up. It’s basically a massive, open-air museum of rust, decay, and questionable waste management practices. If you’re a fan of post-apocalyptic scenery, industrial decay, or just really, really like rust, this is your place. If you’re expecting a pristine museum experience… well, you’re in the wrong country.

Verdict: A unique, if slightly depressing, experience. Definitely worth a visit if you’re in Uyuni – especially since it’s free. Just wear sturdy shoes, watch where you step, and try not to inhale too deeply. Four out of five rusty bolts (because it is kind of cool in...

Imagine Mad Max and Thomas the Tank Engine had a really weird breakup. That’s the Train Graveyard in Uyuni. Located just 3 km outside town, this post-apocalyptic playground of rusted locomotives is the final resting place of Bolivia’s railway dreams… and Instagram’s gritty best friend.

Historical stat break: Trains date back to the late 1800s, imported from Britain during Bolivia’s short-lived railway boom. The dream? Connect Uyuni to the Pacific. The reality? Mining collapse in the 1940s left these metal beasts to rot in the salt and wind. Altitude: 3,656 m above sea level Entry fee: Free, because nothing says “abandoned dream” like open access.

The site stretches across a vast salt-flat edge, where iron giants lie dismembered, tattooed with graffiti, and slowly dissolving into dust. Some carriages are welded into makeshift jungle gyms. Health and safety? Never heard of her.

Tour groups roll in daily, snapping “edgy” photos on top of train roofs while dodging tetanus. Meanwhile, local kids treat it like a desert skate park.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ +1 for post-industrial vibes +1 for raw, surreal scenery –1 if you hate sand, rust, or the smell of historical abandonment +1 if you’re into ghost towns, steampunk dreams, or locomotives...

What an out of this world place! Just amazing, weird and decadent atmosphere. The tours starting in Uyuni will always bring you there, usually in the morning time, for half an hour. We really found it was too crowded (everyone was there at the same time, around 11am) and that half an hour was too little for such a photogenic place. Be ready to take zillions of photos. You can go inside and up some wagons. Anyway be careful because it slippery and not at all safe.

HOT TIP: if you happen to have some free time in Uyuni after 12pm or even better during the afternoon just walk to this place from the town center, it’s only 30min. Sunset is nice there. Avoid to walk during the night though, because the long street to get there is a bit too empty.

The line installed in the end of the XIX century used to serve the mining in the salt flats. When the industry collapses in the 40’s these wagons...