Uyuni, Transport hub in La Paz Department, Bolivia.
Uyuni is a small town situated at an altitude of approximately 3,600 meters (11,800 feet) on Bolivia's high plateau. It functions as the main gateway for visitors heading to explore the expansive salt flats nearby.
The town was founded in 1890 as a strategic point along the railway connecting the mining region of Oruro to Pacific ports. This connection played a key role in moving minerals extracted from the area.
The local population expresses Aymara traditions through their daily routines, celebrations, and traditional clothing that are visible throughout the town. These customs shape how the community organizes its social gatherings and daily life.
Several bus companies offer nightly departures to La Paz, with the journey taking about 9 hours on fully paved highways. Coming here, you can plan your trip around these regular services.
Near the town stands a cemetery of old trains with abandoned locomotives and rail cars from the area's early mining era. These weathered machines tell the story of the transportation equipment that once drove the region's economy.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
