Uyuni, Bolivia
Saturday, October 7, 2006
We did a three day trip into the Salar de Uyuni and deserts and volcano country of south west Bolivia with Andes Salt Expeditions. It was a great trip, the scenery is unreal. We started in the Salar de Uyuni, a vast salt pan, over 12,000 square kilometres dotted with occasional islands on which grow huge cactuses. Then we ascended into the high altiplano desert and saw all the various mineral lakes, each a different colour because of the specific mineral concentrations and all containing flamingoes, even though we were between 4000m and 5000m above sea level. Also saw Andean foxes, lots of wild vicunas (a slender type of brown llama) and vizcachas (Andean rabbit things), although I was only quick enough to see the ears! Amazing mirages at every turn... Got some absolutely stunning photos but it's taking forever to load them up, so they might have to wait until later! Finished the trip with a visit to an active geyser field and hot spring baths before taking a bus down into Chile.
Claire
