If you are going to accompany someone to the Route of the Gunmen – Gravel Race 2026, this tour can become one of your favorite days. It is a journey that combines history, Andean landscapes, and well-being. It starts in Pulacayo, an old mining town that was once one of the most important centers of silver in Bolivia, and ends in Tomave, relaxing in natural hot springs with a view of the mountains.
Pulacayo is just a few kilometers from Uyuni, but it seems to be decades away in time. Its silent streets, industrial ruins, and motionless locomotives tell the story of a country that transformed thanks to mining. During the visit, you will tour the Casa de Aniceto Arce, a former Bolivian president and one of the great promoters of silver exploitation in the area. Entering this large house is like opening a window to the 19th century: antique furniture, architectural details, and privileged views of the mining camp.
One of the most curious corners of the tour is the first bowling alley in Bolivia, set up for the entertainment of the engineers and employees of the mine. Today it is silent, but it retains that atmosphere of a social club from another era. Along with the old locomotives, the rusty tracks, and the industrial structures, this place makes Pulacayo feel almost like a movie set: a mix of western, industrial revolution, and highland.
From Pulacayo, the tour continues to more open areas, with panoramic views of the plains and stops to observe highland fauna: llamas, vicuñas, and even Andean ostriches if the group is lucky. The landscape is vast and clean, the kind that compels you to take a deep breath and just look. Then, the route takes you to the small town of Tomave, where you will get to know its colonial church and the daily life in a little corner of the Andes that is little altered by tourism.
The most anticipated point of the day is usually the stop at the hot springs of Tomave. There, you will have time to change, enter the hot pools, and let your body relax. There is no city noise, no crowds: just hot water, cold air, and mountains around. It is an ideal moment to chat with other companions, rest, and let the stress float away in the steam.
Before returning to Uyuni, the group usually enjoys a picnic lunch and, if the weather permits, a view of the so-called Laguna Verde from a nearby viewpoint. It's not always a long hike: it's more of a leisurely stroll to fully appreciate the surroundings and take the last photos of the day.
This tour is perfect if you are interested in history, photography, and places with soul. It is not a shopping trip; it is a journey to the heart of a mining Bolivia, rebellious and silent, that still leaves deep marks on those who visit it.