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Published: March 5th 2014
With an 8:30am pick up and only a 15 minute drive from San Pedro to the border, it wasn't long until we had said goodbye to Chile for the final time and hello to Bolivia. With the Bolivian border being little more than a garden shed with a flag, it was a pleasant five minute border crossing (unlike the 4 hrs Chile/Argentina crossing).
Once we passed the border, it was then time to change from minibus to 4x4, which we would be travelling across the arid Bolivian desert in over the next three days. With images in our head of being stuck on a three day tour with a bunch of Argentinians or even worse...Germans, it came as a pleasant surprise when we discovered our 4x4 buddies were two Aussies and an English girl. However, with five English speaking tourists and a Spanish speaking driver/guide, it was certainly going to be a hand signalled filled few days.
The rest of our first day was pretty actioned packed, and started with visits to a couple of different but equally stunning lakes and with that, our first chance to get up close to some flamingoes. After the first two lakes we
then went on to visit another natural hot spring. As we skipped the springs the previous day, we decided with the blue skies, stunning backdrop, and bath like hot waters we couldn't say no. We changed into our swimwear and carefully edged our way into the steaming hot water. After sitting back and soaking for half an hour or so, it was soon time to get changed, hop back in the car and set off to the next stop on the itinerary; some more geysers (technically they weren't actually geysers, but the easiest way to describe). However, this time instead of bubbling water, steam and sulphur it was bubbling mud, steam and sulphur. With such a bizarre sight, it was ever so tempting to get closer and closer to the edge, which sparked the discussions of "what would happen if you fell in". With that in mind we quickly got our pics, had one last peek and made our way back to safety. By this time it had already been quite a long day, so we headed to our base for the night, dumped our bags and had some lunch. But that wasn't the end of the day...
A
quick rest and a chance to let our lunch go down and before we knew it, we were back on the road (well, rocks), en route to to our final stop of the day; lake Colorado. With its blood red waters contrasting against the white salt deposits, dark mountains and clear blue sky, it was an impressive site. However, yet again it seemed to be the flamingoes that were stealing the show. A short drive later and we were back at our base, ready for dinner and a chill out. Dinner done, it was time to relax with all the other guests who were travelling in the other 4x4's...we had a mass game of Uno! Exhausted from the long day it wasn't long after 9pm that we were all tucked up in bed.
After a chilly nights sleep in the desert, we were up early, had breakfast and were raring to get going again. Less than two minutes after setting off, we pulled over after spotting a pair of baby llamas by the side of the road. Just as we all hoped out and were taking photos, a tiny local girl, no more than 4 years old came running
out hugging the llamas...exceptionally cute though it was, we didn't have time to waste so were on our way again soon.
Our first stop of the day was the stone tree; a kind of upside down looking rock which resembles a tree. Standing there all on its own and balanced in a precarious looking way, it was quite peculiar. With a number of other more conventional much larger rocks in the vicinity, it didn't take too much encouragement before we had all scaled one of the rocks and were posing for a group photo. Photos done, we hoped down (still in one piece thankfully) and were off to stop number two; another lake! Yet again, this was not just any old lake, with shallow turquoise water, flamingoes, yellow sulphur around the edges and a snow capped volcano in the background, it was pretty impressive. With bellies rumbling already, this seemed like as good a place as any to stop for a spot of lunch. With an impressive spread laid out by our driver/guide/host, it made for a pretty memorable meal.
Last but not least, our final stop of the day before reaching our hostel was an area with
a number of rocks resembling various creatures such as elephants and birds. Once the obligatory photos were taken with them, we were once again off climbing on the other rocks like kids let loose in a playground. Once we'd all remembered how old we were again, we were back in the 4x4's and en route to our hostel for dinner, drinks, uno (of course) and off to bed.
The day we had all been waiting for and the primary purpose of the trip...the Bolivian salt flats. With props (for photo poses on the salt) and ideas at the ready, all that stood between us and the salt flats was a stop at the train graveyard and a short drive via the town of Uyuni. Firstly though; the train graveyard, with its many huge old rusting steam locomotives and carriages which were once used to haul the many millions of tonnes of salt from the flats to places far away. It was quite an eerie yet mesmerising experience climbing into the drivers cabs of these huge machines which would have once been steaming along full speed whilst men continually shovelled coal to keep the huge cargo moving to it destination.
Another group photo spiralled over one of the locomotives and off to the salt flats we were headed.
Within minutes of driving onto the salt, all that could be seen for miles ahead was a sea of pure white salt with the mountains and mountains reflection off the shallow layer of water covering the expansive area. Flip flops on, out we hoped and up we jumped, posing for numerous midair photos. After exhausting each and every midair pose we could think of, we were then heading to another area of the salt flat which was dry; this would give us the opportunity to pose for the perspective photos which the flats are so famous for. Five people standing inside a ring, standing on a giant beer can, propping up an enormous wine bottle...you name it, we did it. With some of the pics looking great and with some a looking a wee bit over ambitious (and not so successful), the trip had finally come to an end.
After three days of incredible scenery, bizarre rock formations, and more pink birds and lakes than you can shake a Bolivian stick at, we were still going despite the altitude. Having
met and spent time with some great people, all in all it was a brilliant trip with the photos to prove (as always).
The altitude continues with the worlds highest capital city...next stop, La Paz.
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Nat and matt
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Amazing pics
Looks like you are having loads of fun!!! Xxxx