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Major city · Bolivia

Atocha

Skip unless you are a railway or mining-history enthusiast: half a day is enough to see the old town and the abandoned mine galleries.

Atocha is a small mining town of about 10,000 people in the Potosí Department, reachable by train or bus from Uyuni or Tupiza. It has no tourist infrastructure and very few visitors. The main draws are the colonial-era ruins of Atocha Vieja, the abandoned mine galleries of the former Bolivian Mining Corporation, and the nearby town of San Vicente where Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed. Most travellers pass through on the way to or from the salt flats.

basic guide: no trip line yet
More
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
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More ways in
Print / PDF guide
Local time, weather, currency, airports
Weather
see forecast
Currency
BOB
Best months
Apr–Nov (dry season)
avoid Dec–Mar (rainy season, road conditions worsen)
Airports
Uyuni (UYU) · Potosí (POI)
Nights
0–1

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide for Atocha: no airport-to-bed path, walking clusters or day plans yet. Fares and schedules here are unverified. What this page does cover
Rules in force · 6Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
  • South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
  • South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
  • South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
  • Bolivia ↗Visa rules depend on your passport (some nationalities need a visa in advance): check with Bolivia's migration authority or a Bolivian consulate.
  • Bolivia ↗Most of the tourist route is above 3,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on arrival, and see a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.
  • Bolivia ↗Protests and road blockades (bloqueos) are frequent and can close routes and cities for days; watch local news and keep plans flexible.

Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide

Checking your follows…
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾

Not in this guide yet

  • Walking areas with bag rules
  • Day plans checked against opening hours
  • Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
  • Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Atocha110 ▾

Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.

EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Atocha, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Show all 12 answers
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

Atocha Vieja (colonial ruins)Abandoned mine galleries and winchesSan Vicente – site of Butch Cassidy's deathScenic train and bus routes above 4000 m
Airports
UYU Uyuni Airport (Joya Andina) (Nearest airfield with scheduled service; about 3–4 h by train or bus to Atocha — check schedules) · POI Potosí Airport (Capitán Nicolás Rojas) (Regional airport; road connection to Atocha is long and partly unpaved — check)

Map of Atocha

Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.

TupizaUyuni

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors

  • Atocha
  • Basic guide

Directions in Google Maps · Apple Maps

Guides nearby

  • Tupiza · 77 km straight line
  • Uyuni · 82 km straight line

Best months at a glance

From the guide's best and avoid lists

  1. Jan

    Avoid

    18°C (64°F)

  2. Feb

    Avoid

    18°C (64°F)

  3. Mar

    Avoid

    18°C (64°F)

  4. Apr

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  5. May

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  6. Jun

    Best

    14°C (57°F)

  7. Jul

    Best

    14°C (57°F)

  8. Aug

    Best

    15°C (59°F)

  9. Sep

    Best

    17°C (63°F)

  10. Oct

    Best

    18°C (64°F)

  11. Nov

    Best

    19°C (66°F)

  12. Dec

    Avoid

    18°C (64°F)

Best: Apr–Nov. Avoid: Dec–Mar. Month by month →

Warmest Nov (19°C (66°F)), coolest Jun (−5°C (23°F) low), wettest Jan (18 rain days), driest Jun (1). Averages, not a forecast.

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Atocha: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

18°C (64°F)

3°C (37°F)

18 rd

Feb

18°C (64°F)

3°C (37°F)

15 rd

Mar

18°C (64°F)

2°C (36°F)

12 rd

Apr

17°C (63°F)

0°C (32°F)

5 rd

May

15°C (59°F)

−3°C (27°F)

2 rd

Jun

14°C (57°F)

−5°C (23°F)

1 rd

Jul

14°C (57°F)

−5°C (23°F)

1 rd

Aug

15°C (59°F)

−3°C (27°F)

2 rd

Sep

17°C (63°F)

0°C (32°F)

4 rd

Oct

18°C (64°F)

2°C (36°F)

7 rd

Nov

19°C (66°F)

3°C (37°F)

10 rd

Dec

18°C (64°F)

3°C (37°F)

16 rd

High / low, both scales · rd = rain days

Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The town is small enough to walk everywhere. To reach Atocha Vieja (3 km) or the mine galleries, you can walk or take a local taxi.

See & doDay-trips, door to door

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time
Uyunigo

Door to door: 3–4 h

Train or bus, about 3–4 h

Scenic route; check train schedules in advance.

Tupizago

Door to door: 3–4 h

Train or bus, about 3–4 h

Red-rock scenery; good for hiking.

Villazón and La Quiacacaution

Door to door: 5–6 h

Train or bus, about 5–6 h

Border crossing to Argentina; allow extra time for formalities.

San Vicente (Butch Cassidy site)

go

Door to door: 1–1.5 h

Local bus or taxi, about 1 h

Small town with a memorial; no facilities.

Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Town centre

Several simple inns; all walkable.

PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
Bs 100–200
Mid
Bs 200–350
High
Bs 350+

Watch out

Safety

Atocha is safe for daytime wandering, but the mine galleries are dangerous and should not be entered without a local guide. Altitude sickness is a real risk above 4000 m. Carry cash and a charged phone; mobile coverage is patchy.
  • Altitude: the town sits above 4000 m; take it easy on arrival.
  • No ATMs in town – bring enough cash from Uyuni or Tupiza.
  • Mine galleries are unmaintained and unsafe to enter without a guide; check locally.
  • Road blockades can occur; ask about conditions before travelling.

Emergency numbers

Police
110
Ambulance
118
Fire
119

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

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AtochaAtocha

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police110
  • Ambulance118
  • Fire119

Embassy

No embassy in Atocha. The nearest major consulates are in La Paz. For emergencies, contact your embassy in La Paz.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Bus Uyuni → Atocha: about Bs 30–50, 3–4 h (check)
  • Train Uyuni → Atocha: about Bs 40–70, 3–4 h (check)
  • Taxi town centre → Atocha Vieja: about Bs 20–30

Say or show

  • Hola — Hello (OH-lah)
  • Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-see-ahs)
  • ¿Cuánto? — How much? (KWAHN-toh)
  • ¿Dónde está la terminal de buses? — Where is the bus station? (DOHN-deh es-TAH lah tehr-mee-NAHL deh BOO-sehs)
  • Necesito un médico — I need a doctor (neh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh)
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Atocha. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Apr–Nov (dry season) · avoid Dec–Mar (rainy season, road conditions worsen) · month by month →
  2. 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 4 day-trips, door to door
  6. 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
  2. Walking clusters with bag rules
  3. Day plans checked against opening hours
  4. Field-verified times and fares

Meanwhile

Back to Bolivia

Sources

Ask about Atocha

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