Some of this railcar cab ride between Uyuni and Atocha and, in the second part, to Tupiza takes place above 4,000 metres or 13,000 ft elevation where there are few trees to be seen, although there is a fair amount of festuca orthophylla tussock. Trees start appearing below about 3.500 metres elevation.

Although it is only 89 km in distance from Uyuni to Atocha and about another 100 km from Atocha to Tupiza, it takes over 5 hours all up. It seems a reasonably comfortable way to experience desolation away from most forms of civilisation!