Lin Mei
Los Angeles
Why I want to go to this place — 4 months ago
- Day 1 LA PAZ-ORURO-UYUNI
We start the day taking a regular bus from La Paz to Oruro (approx. 3 hours / 10.00–13.00 ). Once in Oruro we’ll be assisted to take the train to Uyuni (6 hours / 10.00–13.00 ). Enjoy the mountain vistas on the east side and unfolding views of salt playas and volcanic outcroppings. Around the shallow lakes you’ll spot huge flocks of flamingos. Upon arrival you’ll transferred to your hotel. (B) Train Oruro-Uyuni
- Day 2 UYUNI–INCAHUASI ISLAND-TAHUA
Drive to Colchani, a community of some 70 families on the shores of Uyuni’s Salt Flat. The entire village is dedicated to the cottage-industry production of salt for national consumption. This is the best place to observe the traditional method of salt extraction from the Salar. Fresh salt is first scraped off the salt flat’s surface and piled in conical heaps. Then it is transported to Colchani where ovens are used to dry the salt. Salt is next bagged and iodized by workers in small co-ops. We then enter Uyuni’s Salt Flat and head to the Coquesa village dominated by Tunupa Volcano to visit its impressive mummies. We continue to Incahuasi Island, lost in the middle of the salt flat, this island is home of cacti, a variety of birds, and a colony of vizcachas. We drive along the Western Andes Range south, to the village of Tahua. Overnight in a basic lodge. (B,L,D) Coquesa
- Day 3 TAHUA–ALOTA-VILLAMAR
Today, you’ll discover some of Bolivia’s most spectacular and most isolated marvels. We cross Chiguana Salt Flats (3,800 m/ 12,470 ft) visiting Cañapa and Hedionda Lagoons and observing bizarre rock formations eroded by the wind in the Valley of the Rocks. Finally we reach Villamar. Overnight in a basic lodge. (B,L,D) Hedionda Lagoon
- Day 4 VILLAMAR-SAN PEDRO
We enter the National Reserve of Avaroa, highlighting Red Lagoon at 4,300 m (14,100 ft), the “Morning Sun” Geysers, the Dali desert where huge rocks are scattered, and are so-called due to their similarity to works by Salvador Dali , White Lagoon and finally Green Lagoon. This bright turquoise lagoon is on the foothills of Licancabur Volcano (6,000 m/19,680 ft). We say goodbye to Bolivia and cross the Chilean border. A smooth descent from there will take you 2,000 m (6,560 ft) down to the Atacama Desert, and its oasis town San Pedro. (B)
