Uyuni Train Cemetery Salar de Uyuni Holidays & Tailor-made Tours

Just outside the town of Uyuni lies one of Bolivia's most unusual attractions - the Uyuni Train Cemetry, a vast collection of rusting locomotives and abandoned railcars dating back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A Railway Project with Big Ambitions

In 1888, the Bolovian government launched a plant to build a railway network linking the Andes to the Pacific coast via Chile. The aim was to boost exports - especially minerals - using British-built locomotives and infrastructure. Uyuni was to become a major hub for mining transport and regional trade.

Decline and Abandonment

The project, however, never reached its full potential. It faced resistance from local Indigenous communities who saw the railway as a discruption to traditional life. Ultimately, the collapse of the mining industry in the 1940s led to the abandonment of the railway lines.

A Ghostly Landmark in the Salt Winds

Today, the corroded trains lie scattered across the salt plains, slowly decaying in the dry, wind-swept air. The site has become a surreal and photogentic stop for visitors exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats, offering a glimpse into Bolivia's industrial past.