Tupiza
A southern town ringed by red canyons straight out of the American West, with canyon horseback rides, the legend of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid's final days, and the start of the southern route to Uyuni.
Tupiza lies in Bolivia's southern Potosí Department at about 2,950 m above sea level. It is a quiet town in the Tupiza River valley, surrounded by ochre-red conglomerate mountains eroded into spires, rock walls and slot canyons. The scenery closely resembles the American West, earning it the nickname Bolivia's “Wild West.” The legendary American outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid met their end in 1908 in nearby San Vicente. The main activity is canyon touring from town: the Puerta del Diablo, Valle de los Machos and Cañón del Inca circuit, plus the Quebrada de Palala (Cañón del Duende) south of town, which you can explore on foot, on horseback or by bike. To the northwest, 4x4s follow the Palala Canyon up to the El Sillar viewpoint. Local agencies also run 3–4-day 4x4 trips via the high-altitude lakes of Sur Lípez to the Uyuni Salt Flat; they are less crowded than tours from Uyuni, but involve overnight stops along the way. The Apr–Oct dry season brings clear weather and large swings between day and night temperatures, with nights dropping below freezing in Jun–Aug; during the Dec–Mar rainy season, flash floods occasionally hit the canyons. You can reach Tupiza by train from Oruro or Uyuni, or by long-distance bus from Potosí or Villazón on the Argentine border. Plan on 2–3 days, and take precautions against the sun and altitude sickness.
Top sights
- Cañón del Inca – Tupiza's most iconic red-rock canyon, where you can hike or ride horseback deep between towering ochre cliffs.
- El Sillar – A mountain pass known as Tupiza's 'Valley of the Moon,' with dense forests of red rock spires stretching like a sea.
- Puerta del Diablo – Two razor-thin red rock walls with a narrow gap between them. It is a signature stop on the horseback and off-road canyon routes around Tup…
- Valle de los Machos – A cluster of earth pillars formed by weathering of red conglomerate. Their odd shapes inspired the name, and it is often visited together w…
- Cañón del Duende – A deep, narrow slot canyon in a dry river valley south of town, with red walls twisted like the figures of elves.
- Quebrada de Palala – A wide canyon with a red riverbed and sawtooth peaks on both sides. It is the required route to El Sillar.
- San Vicente – A mining village where, according to legend, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid met their end in 1908. Visitors can pay respects at the cem…
- Cerro Corazón de Jesús – A small hill beside the town center with a statue of Jesus at its summit, overlooking all of Tupiza and the red mountains around it.
- Plaza Independencia – Tupiza's central square, surrounded by churches, a market and travel agencies. It is the starting point for any tour.
Where to eat
- Green Planet – A small eatery known for hearty daily set menus and quinoa vegetarian dishes. It's ranked No. 1 in Tupiza on Tripadviso…
- El Alamo – A flamboyant diner with a retro American theme and Tupiza's most varied menu. Its spicy beef platter, pique macho, is t…
Itineraries
- Tupiza Canyons and Sur Lípez to Uyuni – Depart from the red canyons, take the southern route across the lagoons by off-road vehicle, and arrive at the salt fla…