Bolivia Altiplano

After crossing into Bolivia (which involved a small adventure where we were directed to the take-your-shoes-off-and-walk-across-the-river border instead of the international-bridge-with-immigration-police border), it was straight to Tupiza where we wanted to start one of the classic Land Cruiser tours of the altiplano and salt flats. Although it's a lot of hours spent in a car, we had a great guide and the landscape is enough to make up for pretty much anything.

Gaining altitude out of Tupiza. Most of the tour was at 4000m or more.

Lunch stop with lots of (not pictured) llamas.

The second morning we woke around 4:30am since we had a long way to go. Also, since the accomodations are really isolated, it's impossible to make reservations so all the drivers go as fast as they can to make sure they get there first and we have somewhere to stay.

Colonial ruins.

The early wake up meant explored some colonial ruins as the sun was rising. The Spanish founded this town, probably in the 1500s, to exploit the mines in the mountain above it. The last inhabitant only abandoned it about 20 years ago.

One of many lagunas.

The general rhythm was in the land cruiser for a couple hours, bumping around with a minor headache due to the altitude, gawking over all the sights, yelling 'baby llama' every time we saw a baby llama (our driver Carmelo was really into this) and then stopping for 10 minutes to stretch and take lots of photos. And then repeat.

Volcan Licancabur, marking the border of Bolivia and Chile.

One particularly cool stop were the 'fumaroles'. You get out of the car to the pungent sulfur smell, and there are these billowing clouds of steam getting blown along by the wind, and then pits of mud (or whatever it is) are bubbling and boiling everywhere. Plus it's Bolivia so you can just walk around wherever you want, although our driver did advise to maintain at least 1m of distance!

Mud pit #1.

Mud pit #2.

Laguna Colorada (with flamingos).

Our second night we slept nearby the above Laguna Colorada.

Sunrise.

Not sure what the idea was here.

Flamencos!

Next day we passed more crazy lagunas with tons of flamingos. That night we slept in a salt hotel right next to the huge Salar de Uyuni. We woke up early (as usual) and were the first out on the salar to watch the sunrise. Once it warmed up a bit, and we ate breakfast, it was time to take lots of crazy photos! Carmelo was very enthusiastic and insisted on taking all kinds of photos of us.

Big beer!

Big Oli!

Yum!

Then, it was over! We got to ride on the roof heading off the salar. After one night in Uyuni, Virginia and I headed to Potosi, and then Sucre. Which, may or may not ever be blogged about.

On the roof!