Bolivia / 2012

Tupiza, Bolivia

From Salta, Argentina, it takes 7 hours by bus to La Quiaca, a border town across from Villazon of Bolivia.

At the La Quiaca bus station, we couldn't figure out the direction so we took a taxi, which was a good thing because when I was walking to the passport control at the border, I realized every step makes me totally out of breath! Altitude!

There was no line at the control booth, so Argentina exit & Bolivia entry were done very fast. Now we were at Villazon, and started walking to the bus terminal. Because I thought it was close by. It wasn't. And it was an uphill. At 3447m. Should have gone for another taxi ride.

The Vilazon bus terminal was quite a scene. I've never seen touts working so hard for buses!
Another 2 hours take you to Tupiza, our base for the Salar de Uyuni tour.

Red rocks and llamas around Tupiza

Valle de la Luna

Valle de la Luna, zoom in

Colorful landscapes

Salar de Uyuni Tour, Bolivia

Day 1. To Uyuni

On the first day of the tour, we met with our tour mate Annabelle, guide/cook Nancy, and driver Jorge. Our luggage went up the roof of the jeep, and we started out towards Uyuni.

We drove pass a lot of red mountains, weird rock formations, and of course, llamas.

Train Cemetery near Uyuni. There's a talk to transform this lot into a museum, but for the time being,

they are just lying there for everyone to see, free of charge.

Day 2. Salar de Uyuni

Started our day at a craft market like a good tourist.

And started to see some salt.

And then a lot of salt.

A mandatory photo session

After a day in the salt flats, we arrived at the "salt hotel" to spend the night. The whole building was made of salt, and more importantly, there's was a hot shower.

Night falling over the flats

Day 3. Lagunas

Turned out, I liked these colorful lakes even more than the salt flats.

Driving away from the flats, the land becomes less white.

Laguna Canapa, with a few flamingos

Laguna Hedionda

Laguna Hedionda, with a LOT of flamingos

Laguna Honda or Laguna Ramaditas... Can't be sure.

Laguna Colorada, for sure.

Laguna Colorada was located at 4278m above the sea level, and our accommodation that night was a whopping 4340m. It made my brain mushy, but the altitude sickness pills kept my stomach stable.

A bigger problem was the cold! No heat in the subzero temperature and the room was super drafty. That night, I literally wore all the clothes I was carrying, plus a parka, a hat, gloves, 3 socks. And then a sleeping bag, and 3 blankets. It actually worked and I went through the night without feeling cold.

Next morning, we woke up super early to see geysers.