This Summer Yampu’s Sales Manager Karolina Guilcapi traveled to Bolivia and Chile with her husband and oldest daughter for a site inspection.  Visiting La Paz and Uyuni in Bolivia and the Atacama Desert in Chile, the purpose of her trip was to research this unique crossing and to inspect the hotels recommended by Yampu Tours along the way!

Ever since reading about this remote part of Latin America a few years back, Karolina has been dreaming of this unique route and terrain (often compared to landscapes out of this world!) Having decided she must explore it for herself, we are thrilled to relay that the red lagoons, endless stretches of salt flats, local culture and the fascinating indigenous flora and fauna did not disappoint!

Beginning in Bolivia, Karolina and her family explored La Paz, set high in the Andes Mountains (3,650meters/11,975feet).  Within this old-world Andean community they visited the highlights combined into a half-day tour: Downtown La Paz, Valle de Luna (Moon Valley) and the Markets.

The Main Square in the downtown neighborhood of La Paz is very similar to those you will find in other major cities throughout South America, however without the crowds of tourists.  Here, time seemingly stands still and you can frequently find events and dancing in the streets.

The Valle de Luna National Park is located 20-minutes outside of the city.  The series of trails wind through amazing rock formations (again out of this world landscapes!) and the local guides have the expert knowledge to choose the best path based on your abilities.  This particular part of the tour is a great opportunity for photos.

The markets of La Paz are a huge highlight, including produce markets, a large flower market and an artisan market; but the most popular is the local witch doctor market!  Unique to La Paz, the narrow streets of small shops and stalls are run by the older locals selling everything from love potions and spells to good luck charms and medicines.  The markets in La Paz are a great opportunity to explore the indigenous culture and community; however the people are often shy and may not interact as freely as you may wish.  Particularly within the markets the locals do not appreciate pictures therefore we recommend putting your cameras away while visiting the markets.

Traveling from La Paz the next stop was Uyuni; the quickest transfer is by plane, approximately a one hour flight.  Uyuni itself is a small and dusty town with very basic accommodations.   When crossing the Salt Flats we recommend spending an overnight at one of the salt hotels located approximately 15-minutes outside town.  Living up to their names, the salt hotels are made entirely of salt from the floor to the furniture!

The first day of your crossing includes a tour of Uyuni visiting Colchani (train cemetery), Ojos de Agua Geysers and the local Salt Museum. 

Today you also visit the Salt Flats, a large and dramatic scenic landscape despite being all white.  Driving over the salt terrain is what you would assume driving over the moon would seem like, with unmatched views stretching over an endless horizon.

During the second day the landscape becomes increasingly bizarre with visits to the Green and Red Lagoons.  The water surface of the Green Lagoon mimics a giant emerald with the intense color resulting from the high magnesium content of the waters.  

At the Red Lagoon you will enjoy a box lunch and a glass of red wine, a lunch that you are sure to remember for a lifetime, before continuing on into Chile.

The transfer across the Uyuni Salt Flats into San Pedro de Atacama, Chile can also be done in one day over nine hours during the dry season (April – November).

Reaching San Pedro de Atacama your tour becomes less rustic.  A tiny oasis village, San Pedro has a laid back atmosphere and a variety of excursions to please all levels of adventurers! The desert terrain offers horseback riding, trekking, sand-boarding and biking.

We recommend ending your tour in Chile, because the accommodations are more luxurious than in Bolivia.  Here we recommend upgrading to an all-inclusive stay at either the Tierra Atacama or the Explora Atacama.  

Chile tends to be more expensive and the all-inclusive option creates a more obvious budget, with your choice of excursions included.  The other benefit of the all-inclusive option is enjoying the gourmet meals offered by the hotels, tending to highlight local produce and flavors!

This Bolivia and Chile tour, crossing via the Uyuni Salt Flats is an amazing itinerary that gives you a unique experience of South America.  We recommend Bolivia tours and Chile tours to any traveler who has visited South America before.  For more details please contact us!

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