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Voykit pocket guide · 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.
- Country
- Bolivia
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry season)
- Avoid
- Dec–Mar (rainy season, road conditions worsen)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- BOB
- Money
- Currency is the boliviano (BOB, Bs). Cash rules outside larger hotels and restaurants in La Paz and Santa Cruz.
- Daily spend
- Budget Bs 100–200 · Mid Bs 200–350 · High Bs 350+ (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Entel, Tigo and Viva sell SIMs with passport registration in their own shops.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Ambulance 118 · Fire 119
- Plugs
- Types A, C · 230 V · 50 Hz · Some La Paz buildings have 115 V — check.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: Round up; about 10% in tourist restaurants.; Uyuni driver and cook: Bs 50–100 per traveller for 3 days, shared.; Guides: Bs 30–70 a day.
- Water
- Not safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- Pay a boliviano or two; bring paper.
Get in
By air
- 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
Typical fares
- 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
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The town is small enough to walk everywhere. To reach Atocha Vieja (3 km (1.9 mi)) or the mine galleries, you can walk or take a local taxi.The town is small enough to walk everywhere. To reach Atocha Vieja (1.9 mi (3 km)) or the mine galleries, you can walk or take a local taxi.
See and do
Known for
- Atocha Vieja (colonial ruins)
- Abandoned mine galleries and winches
- San Vicente – site of Butch Cassidy's death
- Scenic train and bus routes above 4000 m
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Uyuni | Train or bus, about 3–4 h | 3–4 h |
| Tupiza | Train or bus, about 3–4 h | 3–4 h |
| Villazón and La Quiaca | Train or bus, about 5–6 h | 5–6 h |
| San Vicente (Butch Cassidy site) | Local bus or taxi, about 1 h | 1–1.5 h |
Sleep
- Town centre
- Several simple inns; all walkable.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | HolaOH-lah |
| Thank you | GraciasGRAH-see-ahs |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto?KWAHN-toh |
| Where is the bus station? | ¿Dónde está la terminal de buses?DOHN-deh es-TAH lah tehr-mee-NAHL deh BOO-sehs |
| I need a doctor | Necesito un médiconeh-seh-SEE-toh oon MEH-dee-koh |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake and 'buenos días'; avoid: Rushing into business
- Photos: Ask, and accept a no; avoid: Photographing rituals uninvited
- Sea question: Listen; avoid: Joking about Bolivia's lost coast
- Queues and blockades: Patience; avoid: Arguing with protesters
Scams and watch-outs
- 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.
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.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Atocha yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Atocha Vieja (colonial ruins)
- Abandoned mine galleries and winches
- San Vicente – site of Butch Cassidy's death
- Scenic train and bus routes above 4000 m
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Atocha, revision 5232479 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5232479
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/atocha). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.