Chile to Bolivia by Jeep (warning : extreme camera-happiness ahead)

The most popular way to get from San Pedro (Chile) t0 Uyuni (Bolivia) is by jeep, over the Salt Plains.

We had heard all sorts of horror stories about some of the companies and drivers (ie drivers getting drunk, and then driving! and really dodgy Jeeps) so after doing a bit of reading and asking around, we ended up booking with Cordillera Traveler who were fantastic.

Our driver was called Edgar (legend, with a very varied selection of music on his i-pod...) and we spent the 3 days with Chris (from USA/Phillippines), Simon (London) and Sandra (Germany) and had a ball. One of the highlights of our South America trip so far!



Immigration in the middle of nowhere



First stop - stunner. (Oh and the lakes not bad either... ho ho ho)




The green lake - pictures don't do it justice, it was absolutely stunning

 

Enthusiastic Kiwi



Llama



Boys in the natural hot pool (I took my shoes off and paddled)

We stayed the first night in a building with no heating or electricity. Brrrrr. I slept in tights, fleecy pants, merino, t-shirt, another merino, puffer jacket, 2 pairs of socks and a beanie. And I was toasty.

Day 2 brought us geysers, flamingos, some more sweet tunes from Edgar's i-pod and more coloured lakes.

Who invited this Flamingo?

Mmmmm.... is that Rotorua I smell?

The "Stone Tree" - volcanic rocks from a gazillion years ago

We stayed the second night at a "Salt Hotel". Pretty much everything was made out of salt - the novelty wore off when we stepped out of the shower onto a salty floor! Day 3 brought us what we had been looking forward to the most.... the Bolivian Salt Flats. They are the largest in the world, and measure 12,106sq km. Yikes. 

Our little friend that we made at the hostel. Once I gave him one push on the bike the rest of my night was over!



Sitting at the salt table on salt chairs... up at 5am to see the sunrise on the Salt Flats



Jesus..... or Leo from Titanic

On Cactus Island, looking over the  Salt Flats



Required funny salt flat photos - loads of fun

Yum

Double Yum

Our last stop of the trip was in Uyuni... at a "train graveyard", which is surrounded by piles and piles of rubbish. Sounds bizzare? It was. We managed to find a 'New Zealand' graffitied on one of the trains.

We stayed the night in Uyuni (against advice from... pretty much everyone!). But we managed to find a delicious pizza place (who also sold chocolate cake and fresh out 0f the oven cookies - win) and hung out with about 10 of our new Jeep buddies.