Uyuni

Uyuni Airport (IATA: UYU) handles flights from La Paz and Cochabamba via Boliviana de Aviación. The town is also reachable by train from Oruro on the east and Villazón on the Argentine border to the south. Most overland travelers arrive via bus, with numerous companies operating from Potosí, Sucre, and La Paz. The train station sits in the town center, with bus company offices clustered nearby.

The entire town of Uyuni is walkable. The train station, most hotels, restaurants, tour operators, and the market area on Avenida Potosí are all within a few blocks of each other. The Train Graveyard lies a couple of kilometers south along the railway to Chile and is typically visited as part of organized salt flat tours rather than independently.

The dry season (May-October) offers the most reliable weather for salt flat tours, though nights can be extremely cold even when daytime temperatures climb. The wet season (December-March) creates a mirror effect on the salt flats when thin water layers transform them into a giant reflection pool, though some roads become impassable. Tours operate year-round, but be prepared for rapidly shifting temperatures from scorching daytime sun to below-freezing nights.

Budget options abound in Uyuni's compact center. Hotel Avenida (Ferroviaria 11) offers singles from Bs. 30 and doubles from Bs. 60, with private bath rooms at Bs. 100. Bunker Hostel B&B on Avenida Ferroviaria and Piedra Blanca Backpackers Hostel on Av. Arce cater specifically to backpackers. For mid-range comfort, Tonito Hotel (Ferroviaria 60) has doubles with private bathroom at Bs. 400, featuring solar-heated showers and airport transfers. Luna Salada Hotel at the salt flat entrance offers glamping and spa experiences for those wanting proximity to the flats.

Avoid overpriced, disappointing Western food aimed at tourists. For authentic and cheap meals, look for restaurants displaying 'Almuerzo' signs—a complete lunch with soup and main course costs around Bs. 10. Minuteman Pizza (Ferroviaria 60, inside Tonito Hotel) serves pizzas from Bs. 35 with a breakfast buffet at Bs. 50, plus a good selection of South American wines. Restaurant Pizzeria Jalisco on Avenida Arce near the train station offers pizza, Mexican food, and vegetarian options with free WiFi. On Thursdays, several blocks of Avenida Potosí transform into an open-air market selling handicrafts and local produce.

The primary attraction is the Salar de Uyuni, visited on day trips or multi-day tours of up to four days extending toward the Chilean border. Standard three-day tours cost around Bs. 600 plus Bs. 50 for onward transport to San Pedro de Atacama. Within town, Avenida Ferroviaria features railroad monuments, and Bolivia's first locomotive stands at the corner of Calle Santa Cruz (with another in Pulacayo, 20 km toward Potosí). The Train Graveyard south of town showcases dozens of rusted locomotives and wagons. The Museo Ferrocarril y Museo Arqueologico Antropologico sits behind the train station, though opening hours are unreliable (supposedly M-F 08:00-12:00, 14:30-18:30).

Temperature extremes define Uyuni's hazards: when the sun isn't shining, it becomes extremely cold requiring layers, thermal underwear, scarves, and gloves; when the sun does shine, cars and open areas heat up quickly. Altitude sickness affects travelers ascending to 5,500 m on extended tours toward Chile—ascend gradually. Choose reputable tour companies over the cheapest options; stories of broken-down vehicles, intoxicated drivers, and theft exist. Secure your luggage vigilantly when boarding public buses—some companies may "forget" to deliver it. Never walk into the desert alone; fatalities occur regularly.

Internet cafes charge around Bs. 5 per hour for standard speeds, while Hotel Julia offers faster connections. Call Shop Uyuni on Av. Arce, 30 m from the clock tower, handles international calls at approximately Bs. 2.50 to most destinations. Mobile coverage exists but can be unreliable in the salt flat areas during tours.

Backpackers can survive on Bs. 150-200 daily including budget accommodation (Bs. 30-60 for basic hotels), cheap Almuerzo meals (Bs. 10), and incidentals. A salt flat tour runs Bs. 600-650 for three days including meals. Transport to La Paz or Potosí costs Bs. 50-100 by bus. Internet is Bs. 5/hour and laundry service is Bs. 15/kg. Budget an extra Bs. 50 if continuing directly to San Pedro de Atacama from tour's end.

The Salar de Uyuni itself is the main day trip, easily arranged through tour operators clustered near the train station. Most tours depart around 10:00 and include visits to the Train Graveyard, Incahuusi Island with its giant cacti, and various lagoons. For those not continuing onward to Chile, the return journey passes through Potosí, a high-altitude colonial mining city famous for its mining tours of Cerro Rico.

From Uyuni, buses serve Potosí (mining tours), Sucre (colonial capital with dinosaur footprints), La Paz (government seat and gateway to Lake Titicaca), Oruro (Carnival fame), and Tupiza (trails and Argentina gateway). Trains run overnight to Oruro and Villazón on the Argentine border, from where you can reach Salta and Buenos Aires. If exiting Bolivia to Chile, arrange an exit stamp at the immigration office on Ferroviaria before departure—open seven days a week with a two-hour noon break. Some tours from Uyuni include direct transport to San Pedro de Atacama for approximately an extra US$10.