Salar de Uyuni

Our initial concern regarding the salt flat tour was that we were going to be stuck in a four by four for three days with four soap dodging, bongo playing hippies in happy pants, as they were waiting in the same vicinity as us. We needn't have worried, as they got into another vehicle, and we had the pleasurable company of a Bolivian couple (from La Paz) and a mum and daughter from Rosario, Argentina. All acted as our translators for the 3 day tour, as our guide wasn't bilingual.

The first day we visited the train cemetry, and the salt flats themselves.

The train cemetry. This occured because of the revolution in 1952, after the workers abandoned the railways.

Andyb in his silly hat at the Salt Flats

Lisab in her silly hat at the Salt Flats

At this time of year (rainy season), the salar is covered in a few inches of water. This gives the effect that (from a distance) the vehicles are travelling in the sky, and appears very surreal. We were unable to visit Fish Island (we were told the water was too deep there) and would like to visit the Salar again in dry season, for the contrast. Despite this, we saw some amazing sights, and witnessed some of the most dramatic scenery we've seen in South America.

One of the lakes

One of the rare James flamegoes that we spotted

Our transport for the 3 day tour

We visited the volcanic mud pools, which bubble away at very high temperatures. We thought they were fantastic, but we haven't visited Iceland (yet!)

On the last day we visited the "Daliesque" desert. Apparently, he camped nearby for about 3 months; this view testifies to how the landscape influenced his paintings.

Laguna Colorado.

This is one of the Llama's we saw during the trip, complete with carnival ribbons. The farmers dress up their livestock for the duration of carnival!