Collecting infos on Bolivia

Planing a trip to Bolivia, and asking for some advises

14 years ago, October 6th 2009 No: 1 Msg: #88564 Delete Edit

B Posts: 1,583

I'm in the process of planing a trip to Bolivia.

These are the points, arriving in La Paz on a Tuesday afternoon. Leaving out of Calama 10 days after on a late Thursday.

Few questions: options to get to Uyuni. How many trains do they have from Oruro per week in high season? I don't specially want to spend too many days in La Paz, one or two would be a max.

Is there a way to get in a 4x4 straight from La Paz, does this make sense.

How many days for the Salars, and how many days to do San Pedro de Atacama. I realize we have time to do all the best stuffs, but I want to make sure I plan wisely.

Ok, and if you want to send me a travel agent recommendation, do it by PM, it will save time to all the moderators. If you are a travel agent, I'm also happy to receive a details itenary for 2 people, but only by private message, as spams and travel agents are not specially welcomed on the forums.

Thanks a lot already for you help,

Peter Reply to this

14 years ago, October 6th 2009 No: 2 Msg: #88581 Delete Edit

Wanderly Wagon
Wanderly Wagon

B Posts: 177

Hey

It takes 4 days to do the salt flats from Uyuni and get to San Pedro. Uyuni is probably the biggest dive in SA. Some good accomodation can be got there and also some very bad. Uyuni is noted and most famous for the salt flats tour and then food poisoning!!
Is Calama in Chile? If so there is really cool stuff to do in San Pedro. I dont want to make your list any longer but i saw some pretty cool stuff there. One memorable trip was with this eccentric French guy to see the stars in the desert ( the driest in the world). Really cool. Another is sandboading if you have never done it and also a trip to see a landscape very similar to the moon. i have a few blogs on them which might be of help. http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/Wanderly-Wagon/Trips/2613

The road from La Paz to Uyuni is very bad. Buses are very scary! In boliva you can get a good taxi to anywhere, with the right amount of cash!! You can also do the Salar tour from San Pedro returning to San Pedro. I dont know if i've helped at all but it might help!

Darren Reply to this

14 years ago, October 7th 2009 No: 3 Msg: #88640 Delete Edit

Maisondubonheur
Pierre-Alexandre

B Posts: 1,583

Thanks Darren, yes we will also be in San Pedro de Atacama....but what I'm trying to find is...is there more than 2, or 4 trains per week from Oruro to Uyuni...or as somebody done La Paz-Oruro in a 4x4 and how much would that cost. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 7th 2009 No: 4 Msg: #88678 Delete Edit

ElAustraliano
Paul Morrison

B Posts: 308

The train Sth of La Paz is great and you see hundreds of Pink Flamingos .You can do 1 ,2 ,3 or 4 day tours of the Salt Lakes.The later finishing in Tupizo ,spelling ???.This is where Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid were killed ,in 1919 I think.I hired a 4*4 and driver for 3 days for US$130 .The Death Road bike ride is a great day and isn't the dangerous ride the name suggests.The Death Road name is from when it was the main hway east out of La Paz and buses and trucks would often plummet to their deaths.A few years ago a bus went over killing 40 local residents.There was a riot and the Govt agreed to build a new road.The new road is possibly the best in Bolivia and the Death Road is only used by "crazy gringos" on bicycles.These tours leave from La Paz.I strongly reccomend "Downhill Madness".They are a bit more expensive than other companies but you get what you pay for.Bolivia is in my top 3 countries in Sth Am.Enjoy Reply to this

14 years ago, October 8th 2009 No: 5 Msg: #88721 Delete Edit

Ali
Ali Watters

B Posts: 5,200

For the downhill - Gravity Assisted is also good - can personally attest that they have the advertised climbing and rescue gear... (long story!) - Paul I would disagree on the danger - spent a few days with a friend in a hospital in La Paz and met a ton of people (read crazy gringos) with broken limbs and faces.

There is a really good Pizza/Italian restaurant in Uyuni ... Pizzaman?? can't remember the exact name ask in the hotels/hostels - it's famous 😊 and a welcome break from chicken and rice.

I went from Tupiza to Uyuni - and the scenery and desolate places between there were an eye opener - probably one of the harshest places on the planet for people to eek out an existence.

I think a taxi from La Paz would be affordable - the train is one of the slowest transport options - I can't remember how often it ran - but the timetable in lonelyplanet was roughly accurate May last year. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 8th 2009 No: 6 Msg: #88729 Delete Edit

Maisondubonheur
Pierre-Alexandre

B Posts: 1,583

Thanks guys! Really appreciate. Ali, you did not dive in Venezuala in Los Roques? It will be part of the same trip, plus diving Easter Island...I've got the ticket, no I have to "dress" the trip! Next dive coming in a little more than a month...but should be an impressive set of them....whalesharks!!!

So now I just need to find a blogger that ctually did book a taxi from La Paz tu Uyuni! You guys know if it is possible to go on Lac Titicaca from La Paz for a single day trip...I know, so many questions...sorry... Reply to this

14 years ago, October 8th 2009 No: 7 Msg: #88784 Delete Edit

ElAustraliano
Paul Morrison

B Posts: 308

Yes Ali I saw 2 accidents but both were with the cheap $40 companies and the bikes were cheap rubbish.
Reply to this

14 years ago, October 14th 2009 No: 8 Msg: #89351 Delete Edit

Dave0881
Dave Morgan

B Posts: 14

I spent about 6 weeks in Bolivia recently. We went to Tupiza, Uyuni, Sucre, La Paz and Rurrenabaque.

Firstly I think it´s better to do the Salt flats tour from Tupiza. It´s a day longer but I think the tour is different, you see more stuff! And Tupiza is a cool little town, unlike the hellhole that is Uyuni! By the way the tour is great and will remain a highlight for me out of my year in SA!

Sucre is a really nice place to recharge after the flats, if you´re heading that way. It´s really chilled out and pretty! Would actually be a great place to Study Spanish. I did a week there and wish I´d done more. Very cheap and a few good schools! Sucre might be the kind of place I could retire in, but with only 10 days I wouldn´t head there specially.

La Paz, well, is crazy! You might find yourself a little winded flying in. Remember to account for the altitude and don´t try to do too much too soon.

Rurrenabaque is a great place to see the jungle. You can fly there in half an hour from La Paz, pretty cheap. I took the torture bus journey though cos I don´t like planes at the best of times and flying in a small one, in Bolivia, I would be scared shitless. I would really recommend Rurre if you can fit it in.

I had time and budget to see San Pedro but after a little deliberation decided not to. It sounds like there´s some great stuff to do there, but it also sounds like it´s FULL of tourists. I also imagine it´s a little like Huacacina in Peru, and I´ve been there before. If you do decide to go, remember there´s no ATM!!

So I´d recommend a Pampas tour (you see more wildlife) in Rurre and the Salt flats tour from Tupiza. But to be honest I´m not sure you´ll have time, especially considering the altitude of La Paz and the Salts tour.

Btw, I love Bolivia. Couldn´t recommend it highly enough! Amazingly varied country considering it´s size! Reply to this

14 years ago, October 14th 2009 No: 9 Msg: #89395 Delete Edit

Wanderly Wagon
Wanderly Wagon

B Posts: 177

Sorry, I just have to say, that San Pedro is nothing like Huacchina. It has the feel of a sleepy little town. San Pedro is how you would picture a South American town to be. Dusty, sleepy, cobbled, with small streets that would barely fit a car and every building is white washed. There are some great places to eat too. Yes, there are lots of tourists, but we should never forget, travelers are tourists as well no matter how feel feel about it. Huacchina is full of sun worshipers rather than anything else. There is an ATM (2 I think) in San Pedro. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 14th 2009 No: 10 Msg: #89441 Delete Edit

Dave0881
Dave Morgan

B Posts: 14

Fair enough.

Maybe I read that there´s no VISA, or maybe the ATM´s are new.

Well, as hypocritical as it might be, the amount of tourists in a place can put me off. All it takes it a positive section in the lonely planet and a place is doomed.

I´m sure San Pedro can be great fun if that´s what floats your boat. Reply to this

14 years ago, October 15th 2009 No: 11 Msg: #89538 Delete Edit

Muno
Sally and Nick Griffith

B Posts: 375

Hi Peter

We went to Uyuni about 10 years ago and then again a couple of years ago. The 3 day Salar trip is a must. Take warm clothes as at night the temperature is freezing. Anoth must see is the train cemetary just outside of town. A very surreal place and if not on your tour only a 30min walk or so from the centre. If you take the salar tour that drops you off in San Pedro De atacama be sure to get to the train cemetary before you leave in case it is not included.
San Pedro is a very sleepy town but in an amazing location. A cycle ride to the valley of the moon is quite good fun but hard work on a windy day.
Have a good trip.
Nick Reply to this

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