heckit's blog: Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

May 14, 2009

7:00 am arrive Uyuni
8:00 am Expediciones Lípez
11:00 depart on tour
Cemeterio de Ferrocarriles
Choc
Salar de Uyuni
Isla del Pescado
Photos
Gruta de las Galaxias
5:00 pm Hotel Agua Quiza

May 15, 2009

7:30 am depart
Volcán Ollagüe
Laguna Chañupa
Laguna Dionda
Arbol de piedra
Laguna Colorada
Walk

May 16, 2009

5:30 depart
geysers
7:00 am Aguas termales
Laguna Verde
Border: Bolivia/Chile
Lunch: Maku Villa Mar
Valle de Rosas
5:00 pm Uyuni
6:30 Dinner w/ Edgar & Family

I went on a three day tour of the Salar de Uyuni with Lípez Tours. There were five other travelers plus the driver, Edgar. The Salar de Uyuni, the remnant of a prehistoric lake, is the world’s largest salt flat at 3653 masl that covers 12,000 sq. km. My guide mentioned that the flat is 60 meters deep in some areas. It is estimated to have 10 billion tons of salt. The salt is harvested in piles by the locals. The Isla del Pescado sits like an island in this sea of salt. It is covered in cactus and rocks made of fossilized prehistoric coral. The high altitude air made for some amazing photographs.

The entire area is known for Dali-esque landscapes. There is the Army of Rocks (fossilized coral) that appear to march in the desert and the Arbol de Piedra, where rocks have been shaped into strange forms by the wind. We were able to go to Laguna Colorada where we saw South American flamingos: James’s, Chilean, and Andean. And there is the Laguna Verde which is partially toxic. While it is warm and pleasant during the day, it is freezing at night as the area is exposed to chilly winds in a high altitude.

On our last day, we got out early to see the geysers and go for a dip in a hot springs. I was a little unsure of getting into the hot spring as it was FREEZING. But I was encouraged by people who stripped down to their shorts and got in hot water. It was an amazing experience to get in at 7:00 am as the sun was breaking forth and the hot water relaxed your body and evaporated any aches and pains away. When I got out it was actually not as cold as I thought it would be; my body was still steaming as I dried myself and got dressed. I had foolishly dipped my head underwater and my hair froze once I was out, as evidenced by the flakes of ice that fell when I ran my fingers through my hair.

Our guide, Edgar, served as guide, driver and cook, though a flat tire on our 4WD on the second day put him in a worrisome and irritable mood. We were also fortunate to have great travel mates. The trek, glitches, and concern for one another helped us to bond and enjoy each other’s company. At the end of the trek, my travel mates invited Edgar, his fiancé and his son to dinner.