Salt lakes, dust and pink flamigos

Salar de Uyuni

Leaving LaPaz, we boarded a bus then a train headed for the Salar de Uyuni (Salt flats), a four day trip that was to show us some very different landscapes. An integral part of the trip through these landscapes was the hope to see the pink flamigos.

After an overnight stay at the Julia hotel we loaded ourselves into the red 4WD for the journey to the öutback¨of Bolivia. Stop one was the graveyard for old trains and bits of train.

After a bit of the old, we headed off to see the very new Hotel de Salada, the many star salt hotel on a small rise overooking the salt flats. ´With cries of I wish and why didnt we....we managed to curb our envy enough to share their hospitality and morning tea of hot drinks and toasted sandwiches... if you get the chance to stay - just do it- the magnificent decor, the layout and the maximisation of the view in framed windows.

barb shovelling salt, I think it´s called housework! From the inside looking out

Regretfully, pulling ourselves away and ´time to vaminos, we headed off across the salt flats to be amazed by the lack of reference points.

Lunch was at the island (Cactus island till we remember its real name!). Our driver prepared lunch (Llama steaks and salad, quinoa and fried banana) while we clambered up the track to see 360 degrees of salt and sky and 4WDs!

Tim and Barb wandered off for a walk to try and get a feeling of the isolation, but we decided we´d better pick them up as we drove past.

Just to give you an idea of the diversity of South America, less than a week later we are sitting in a cafe in Patagonia doing the blog and its snowing outside!

Lots more of the same, we finally arrived at our salt hotel (not quite the grandeur of our morning tea stop...but hospitable all the same). Other travellers joined in our games and Tim´s magic even teaching Tim a new trick - Vino Tinto helped with the mood and a good time was had by all.

Our salt hotel

Next day was an early start to find the flamingos... and we did..

Laguna Colorado (Red Lake)

from lagoon to lagoon we found flamingos and ended up in a tiny hotel which was very basic, indicative of the region.

Day three was an even earlier start to get to the gysers early and give some people time to swim and paddle in the hot springs.

The very volcanic landscape eventually led to the Bolivian border post where we transfered to a bus for the ride into Chile at San Pedro de Atacama dropping 2000mts in altitude during the trip.

Bolivian Border post in the middle of the desert.

From here we rapidly transported ourselves to the sea at Antofogasta for some well earned luxury.

view from our balcony over a pisco sour- sea level again at last

Ciao from the deserts ... next the Patagonian adventure