Bolivian Wonderland

Best Of IgoUgo

Overview

Quote:

Just 30 minutes outside the Bolivian town of Uyuni, the landcruiser cruises on land that seems to magically turn white. Looking ahead, it seems as though you are entering a white world of mirage. Looking behind to the brown town of Uyuni, you are reminded that you didn't just slip into a dream. Or did you? What appears to be dirty snow gradually transforms into a perfect sea of white salt. You have reached the Salar de Uyuni. There are no roads to follow and no landmarks to notice; just the faint tracks of that last landcruiser lost in the horizon, and the mental compass of your tour guide. As if the Salar weren't fascinating enough, imagine exploring an island in the middle of it all, covered ...Read More

Just 30 minutes outside the Bolivian town of Uyuni, the landcruiser cruises on land that seems to magically turn white. Looking ahead, it seems as though you are entering a white world of mirage. Looking behind to the brown town of Uyuni, you are reminded that you didn't just slip into a dream. Or did you? What appears to be dirty snow gradually transforms into a perfect sea of white salt. You have reached the Salar de Uyuni. There are no roads to follow and no landmarks to notice; just the faint tracks of that last landcruiser lost in the horizon, and the mental compass of your tour guide. As if the Salar weren't fascinating enough, imagine exploring an island in the middle of it all, covered with cacti ... or stumbling upon pink flamingos living in red lakes. Imagine being a guest in a small Bolivian town smack in the middle of nowhere and then imagine crossing the border into Chile - where prices rise and roads are paved, and, of course, don't forget to imagine the expanse between it all. There is an adventure awaiting you in the altiplano of Bolivia.

Quick Tips:

As much as I don't like tours, a tour is almost mandatory for this trip. It is a 3 day tour that will cost you about 60 dollars for everything, and can be done in either direction-from Uyuni, Bolivia to San Pedro, Chile or vice versa. There are virtually no buses that travel through this vast and mostly unpopulated area of Bolivia, and you can be sure that the ones that do will take you the round-about way. I did meet a few people (when myself and a friend were going in circles after taking the advice of locals) in a town across the Salar form Uyuni, who were setting out on a 5-7 day walk across the Salar, but they were VERY prepared people, and they did not have the fortune of seeing the lakes, geysers and incredible landscapes further on. You could end up for days without food and water if you don't plan right and attempt this on your own. Oh, and BRING SUNGLASSES.

Best Way To Get Around:

Refer to quick tips and suggestions. Our particular tour group actually picked up a lone Bolivian hiker and gave him a lift as far as he wanted, but that was because we had an extra space in our car which most do not have. If you wanted to take that chance, it is up to you! Read Less

Cheer!
Flag

Coronado Beach Resort

Best Of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Salt Hotels"

Quote:

I myself have not actually stayed at either of these hotels, but would do so in an instant. If you start in Uyuni, Bolivia, with your tour group, the first stop will be at the beginning of the Salar de Uyuni (which is a massive area of Bolivia covered in pure salt), where you will be able to poke your nose around inside the two salt hotels. You heard it right, salt. The hotels are constructed completely out of salt bricks, salt floors, salt tables and chairs and even salt chess sets!!! (I regret not checking out the bathroom!!!!!!) If you did not have the money or time to do the whole 3 day tour, this would be a great way to see the Salar...bicycles are even rented to really throw your sense of di...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on August 6, 2000

Coronado Beach Resort
1415 Orange Ave.
Coronado, California 92118
(619) 522-6000

Cheer!
Flag

Isla del Pescado

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

If a person vetoes the whole tour idea and sets out on their own from Uyuni, Bolivia, most likely Isla del Pescado will be the farthest they will get, with the exception of a regular Bolivian town of Llica just on the other side of the Salar. It is rumored that tour guides might tell us that this island in the middle of the salt desert is in fact the bonified Isla del Pescado, but the real thing is somewhere off in the horizon, off the regular tour track. Whatever the island's name, it is an incredible journey into a surreal landscape of ancient cacti. Once on the island, it is impossible to deny a feeling of being inside a fairy tale. The strong high-altitude sun strikes the pure white ground and...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

Thanks to the Pachamama

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

After meditating upon the inspiration of natural wonders such as the Salar de Uyuni and the Isla del Pescado, the tour begins to take you out of whiteness and into a vast expanse of browns. Quinua, a local grain very high in protein and calcium, grows like a weed in the high altitude, llamas, vicunas and alpacas are more sighted than Bolivians, and the town of San Juan welcomes you for a night's rest. There is really 'nothing' to do here except appreciate the stars and wander around amongst the dirt houses taking in the other-worldliness of this kind of life. Often the thought came to my mind that I could have just as easily been born in San Juan, Bolivia, and how very different my life would be. ...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

Laguna Verde

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

The first thing on the schedule after a cold night at Laguna Colorada are the geysers, which are most spectacular at sunrise, followed by a dip in the hot springs at 7 a.m.. A lot of the people who take the tour cannot bear the thought of stripping down to a bathing suit in freezing weather and at the highest altitude on the trip, but i assure you won't regret a good hot soak after freezing your bones the previous night. Feeling as if in a movie, we pass surreal rock formations (which is why it is referred to as The Valley of Salvador Dali) and friendly foreign mammals, soon to arrive at the Laguna Verde (green lake). Very distinct from Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde is a picture-perfect, tidy, icy-gre...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

San Pedro de Atacames, Chile

Best Of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:

San Pedro de Atacames, Chile, can be an ending point or a starting point for the 3 day tours in the Bolivian wonderland. (4 day roundtrip tours are also available if time is a limiting factor) Coming from Bolivia and ending in Chile can be quite a delight but also quite a shock. At the border, roads change into smoothly paved surfaces, streets have less trash, people look and speak entirely differently, weather turns warm and in general, organization and cleanliness come into play. However, with all of these luxuries, one tends to miss the low Bolivian prices, terrific markets and simple Bolivian mentality. There is a good and bad side to all. San Pedro de Atacames has a bit of a party reputation, the...Read More

Cheer!
Flag

IgoUgo

Bolivia Journals

Upload Photos