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[gnmf1]

I am going to Chile in May and am flying into Santiago. I would like to go on and see the salt flats in bolivia. I've heard about 3-day trips but not sure where they go from. Does anyone know if they go from Santiago or would i have to make my way to somewhere else in order to join a trip?

Also, has anyone got any suggestions about any companies or trips that i could go on just to see the salt flats and a rough idea of the cost of these trips?

Thanks!

[starlagurl]

I just found Semi-backpacker's blog on the subject, she landed in Santiago as well, but then she went to Valparaiso, San Pedro de Atacama and THEN Uyuni.

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...36420/tpod.html

She's pretty active on the forum, so send her a message, and hopefully she'll see this topic you posted and you can talk with her about it.

[kathryn77]

Hey there, I did it backwards, but yeah if you get up to San Pedro de Atacama in North Chile (if you don't break the journey, it's a 23 hour bus ride, but comfy buses as Chile is definitely the most well-off country in SA!) You'll be able to book the trip when you get there, and yeah, it's 3 days across high altitude terrain. Because of that it was FREEZING at night, so take some thermals!!! On the negative side, you pay more to do it that way than you would from Bolivia, but on the plus side, you will see the salt flats last, and they are amazing!!

You won't be able to 'just see the salt flats' by going in that way - you could have done from Uyuni. Sorry, but I can't remember how much it was, but it was worth it. You're in a jeep with up to 5 other people plus the guide who is also the cook for the trip! Your meals and accommodation are included too. If your budgets low, try and avoid a lot of time in San Pedro de Atacama - it was soooo expensive (well, having come from Bolivia!)

[gnmf1]

Hey there, I did it backwards, but yeah if you get up to San Pedro de Atacama in North Chile (if you don't break the journey, it's a 23 hour bus ride, but comfy buses as Chile is definitely the most well-off country in SA!) You'll be able to book the trip when you get there, and yeah, it's 3 days across high altitude terrain. Because of that it was FREEZING at night, so take some thermals!!! On the negative side, you pay more to do it that way than you would from Bolivia, but on the plus side, you will see the salt flats last, and they are amazing!!

You won't be able to 'just see the salt flats' by going in that way - you could have done from Uyuni. Sorry, but I can't remember how much it was, but it was worth it. You're in a jeep with up to 5 other people plus the guide who is also the cook for the trip! Your meals and accommodation are included too. If your budgets low, try and avoid a lot of time in San Pedro de Atacama - it was soooo expensive (well, having come from Bolivia!)

Hey.. thanks a lot for that! So do you think it would be worth making my own way into bolivia and to uyuni in order to make the trip cheaper?? Presumably there are tours going from Uyuni too? Any other highlights you would recommend in bolivia and/or Chile? Also, thanks for the thermals tip! I was wondering how cold it would be! Do you know what the temperature would be like in san pedro de atacama? Cheers!

[kathryn77]

Hiya, no problem at all!
I wasn't really clear about the cheaper thing - it wasn't drastically different from what I remember. I'd say by the time you got yourself to Uyuni another way you probably wouldn't save anything than if you'd gone from San Pedro de Atacama anyway. I think it just cost more relatively as your money goes further in Bolivia (there was also more competition from different firms offering that trip than I believe there to be in SPdA) If I were you, I'd definitely do it that way round, because you will see the salt flats on the last day, and that's the best part of the trip. Other highlights of the 3 days are standing over the active volcanoe's, the scenery and the flamingos!

I wasn't in Chile too long. I think everyone needs to make their own mind up about places, but I wasn't that keen on it. I preferred the randomness of Peru and Bolivia to the European feel of Chile! I only stayed in SPdA one night as it was quite expensive (relatively). I was there this time last year and it was really hot! Having just done the 3 day freezing our asses of trip, this was a welcome change! How cold did it get? Well, put it this way, on the second night, I slept in pyjamas; alpaca wool hat, gloves, jumper and leg warmers; inside my sleeping bag; under the provided duvet; in a dorm room with 5 other people - and I was still cold!!! Trust me when I say you can not have too many alpaca wool garments on that trip! (But do it, it's good and you can laugh about it after when you're defrosting!)

Other highlights - I went horseriding in SPdA in Chile - you can go various places - I went to the Valley de la luna which was lovely.

There's so much to do in Bolivia - check out the train cemetary in Uyuni (there's nothing else to do there anyway!) You can climb down a silver mine in Potosi! Great fun - see my blog here.... http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entri...61040/tpod.html
(In fact, you'll be able to see the other things I did from the blogs surrounding that entry) Don't miss Death Road in La Paz - I really recommend 'Downhill Madness' for your bikes, they were fab! You can go and see "real" dinosaur footprints in Sucre - hmmph - read my entry on that palava!
Oh, and watch out for the spitting scam in Bolivia! I went to the black market in La Paz but knew about this - someone spits on you from behind (my spitter was a sweet looking old llady!) This is to distract you while you reach your hand back to wipe it off so they can rob your wallet out of your pocket! (She never got me, hah!) When are you going? I'm so jealous!!

[kathryn77]

Oh, and the Witch's market in La Paz! Don't miss that! Dried llama foetuses and all the spells and potions you could imagine. Quite a surreal experience!!!

[gnmf1]

Oh, and the Witch's market in La Paz! Don't miss that! Dried llama foetuses and all the spells and potions you could imagine. Quite a surreal experience!!!

Awesome!! Thnaks so much for all your advice.. that really helps! I leave next thursday so getting really excited/nervous!! I'm travelling on my own for the first time so for some reason feel the need to be more prepared than usual hence all the questions! I'm not sure exactly where to go yet.. I definitely want to see the salt flats and the valle de la luna near SPdA. I have 3 weeks and need to get over to Buenos Aires which is where i fly home from. May spend a bit more time in Bolivia as the budget is tight and the less European like, the better - can got to Europe for that! My major concern is safety.. did you find any issues with that? Were you travelling alone?

[kathryn77]

How exciting! I'll need to read your blogs! Yes, I was travelling on my own too (and that was my first time travelling), but I met loads of people, so sometimes I was on my own and sometimes not. Try and meet someone who's doing the salt flat jeep tour before you go and book it, otherwise you'll end up with 5 randoms, and I heard one person that happened to, and they ended up with people who they couldn't communicate with, as they couldn't speak the same language (most people speak English, and the group could, but just wouldn't - how rude!) 3 days in silence would be annoying! I was lucky as I met a girl on the bus from La Paz and we did this together, and ended up with 4 Taiwanese people, who were brilliant fun!

If you don't want the European feel, definitely stick around Bolivia for a while (it is definitely the cheapest country in SA that I was in!) The north of Argentina is still quite traditional, but BA is very European as well (but a cool city!) Are you travelling overland all the way? If so, I guess when you're heading to BA, you'll head to Salta? Salta is lovely! Have you got your Lonely Planet bible? It's not in it anyway, but the Hostal Quara on Santiago del estero 137 is fab (I got 'stuck' there for about a week!) You can take a bus from there straight to BA, but I'd recommend going one of these 'via routes', depending on what you're into.
1. Via Mendoza - the red wine is cheaper than water! You can also eat the hugest steaks for about £1
2. Via Igazu Falls - they are amazing! Worlds widest, plus you could get your foot into Brazil by going and seeing that side on the local bus. It only costs about 50p for the bus, and you can do the Brazilian side in a couple of hours, so you wouldn't even need to stay. Argentinian side needs a full day (I'd do them in that order if you're planning to!) (I've just realised I'm talking £ and p, and I forgot to check where you're from! Double them to get the $ if you need to)

On the safety side of things, just be on your guard, but no need to fret, common sense mainly. The only negative thing I had happen was the spitting incident - but they didn't get anything anyway. I heard of other people having stuff stolen on buses. For your backpack, I don't think I ever wasn't given a receipt (even in Bolivia!) I didn't have locks on that either and all was fine. I had a strong padlock on my daypack though. (One I got from Golds Gym - it was a combination one with numbers you pressed, and I found that great as I didn't have to worry about losing a key, and could open it in the dark by feeling the buttons). I had it on the zips, and then tucked into the side pocket, so it wasn't flopping about. I always had it wrapped round my feet, or if lucky enough to have two seats, used it as a pillow! I also made sure anything of value was buried deep inside, so that if anyone had slashed it, they wouldn't have easily been able to take anything. I'll probably get criticised for this, but I had a money belt, and stopped using it after 2 weeks - I found it unnatural, and I kept worrying about it showing/falling off etc, so I found it easier just to concentrate on having to look after one thing of value. Never put your daypack in the rack above your head, even on a daybus - my friends was swiped during the day, and she'd not even been sleeping. Feel free to ask anything else, I don't mind at all. And I'm still so jealous, esp. now I realise you're going to SA in 9 short days!

[gnmf1]

How exciting! I'll need to read your blogs! Yes, I was travelling on my own too (and that was my first time travelling), but I met loads of people, so sometimes I was on my own and sometimes not. Try and meet someone who's doing the salt flat jeep tour before you go and book it, otherwise you'll end up with 5 randoms, and I heard one person that happened to, and they ended up with people who they couldn't communicate with, as they couldn't speak the same language (most people speak English, and the group could, but just wouldn't - how rude!) 3 days in silence would be annoying! I was lucky as I met a girl on the bus from La Paz and we did this together, and ended up with 4 Taiwanese people, who were brilliant fun!

If you don't want the European feel, definitely stick around Bolivia for a while (it is definitely the cheapest country in SA that I was in!) The north of Argentina is still quite traditional, but BA is very European as well (but a cool city!) Are you travelling overland all the way? If so, I guess when you're heading to BA, you'll head to Salta? Salta is lovely! Have you got your Lonely Planet bible? It's not in it anyway, but the Hostal Quara on Santiago del estero 137 is fab (I got 'stuck' there for about a week!) You can take a bus from there straight to BA, but I'd recommend going one of these 'via routes', depending on what you're into.
1. Via Mendoza - the red wine is cheaper than water! You can also eat the hugest steaks for about £1
2. Via Igazu Falls - they are amazing! Worlds widest, plus you could get your foot into Brazil by going and seeing that side on the local bus. It only costs about 50p for the bus, and you can do the Brazilian side in a couple of hours, so you wouldn't even need to stay. Argentinian side needs a full day (I'd do them in that order if you're planning to!) (I've just realised I'm talking £ and p, and I forgot to check where you're from! Double them to get the $ if you need to)

On the safety side of things, just be on your guard, but no need to fret, common sense mainly. The only negative thing I had happen was the spitting incident - but they didn't get anything anyway. I heard of other people having stuff stolen on buses. For your backpack, I don't think I ever wasn't given a receipt (even in Bolivia!) I didn't have locks on that either and all was fine. I had a strong padlock on my daypack though. (One I got from Golds Gym - it was a combination one with numbers you pressed, and I found that great as I didn't have to worry about losing a key, and could open it in the dark by feeling the buttons). I had it on the zips, and then tucked into the side pocket, so it wasn't flopping about. I always had it wrapped round my feet, or if lucky enough to have two seats, used it as a pillow! I also made sure anything of value was buried deep inside, so that if anyone had slashed it, they wouldn't have easily been able to take anything. I'll probably get criticised for this, but I had a money belt, and stopped using it after 2 weeks - I found it unnatural, and I kept worrying about it showing/falling off etc, so I found it easier just to concentrate on having to look after one thing of value. Never put your daypack in the rack above your head, even on a daybus - my friends was swiped during the day, and she'd not even been sleeping. Feel free to ask anything else, I don't mind at all. And I'm still so jealous, esp. now I realise you're going to SA in 9 short days!

More ace tips - thanks! Since you said you dont mind, i have some more questions!!

Did you go to salta from bolivia? If i did that would i then be able to go to Igazu falls from there and then on to BA? Was thinking i would go from santiago to BA and then to Igazu falls but i guess it makes more sense to do it bolivia - salta - Igazu - BA, instead of having to go back to santiago from SPdA?

I've been travelling for just over a year now and have somehow managed to hit all the plcaes i've been when the weather hasnt been cold so i havent actually needed a proper coat yet! I'm just wondering now, do you think it will be cold enough to need a proper coat? I'm in australia at the mo so obviously i'll be able to get anything i need here. I'm still a bit confused about the temperature.. i keep hearing different things.. some people say it will be freezing and others hot!

In terms of money.. did you take american dollars in cash or travellers cheques? I know there will be ATMs i can use, but how widely used are dollars? I dont really want to be carrying around big amounts of cash but travellers cheques are a pain to get changed i think!

I really appreciate all your advice.. it's making me feel a lot less nervous!!!

[kathryn77]

No worries! I can't believe you've been travelling over a year now and not putting on photos and blogs on the site!

Anyway, here goes...

Didn't go to Salta from Bolivia, but I'm pretty sure you can, crossing at LaQuica? You might want to post that as another question, as I'm really not sure.

I did go from Salta to Iguazu Falls though - a very long journey which I tried to break up by stopping in Resistencia, but I found it a bit of a tumbleweed town (but it was a Sunday...) so I just got an onward ticket after I wandered round (but you could have gone straight to Iguazu from Salta). Yep, you can then go from Iguazu straight to BA, which is a 23 hour bus journey. But you could always hop into Uruguay, and then take the boat over to BA from Colonia del Sacramento? (Uruguay was really nice! Sorry - I keep adding places to your itinerary!) Whether you include Uruguay or not - this definitely makes more sense than going back on yourself.

As for whether you'll need a coat - just wait until you're in SA, as it will be much cheaper than Oz! Then you can judge for yourself how cold you are. This time of year, you may find it OK in Santiago and up Chile, but you'll definitely need the thermals for the salt flat trip (you'll probably be able to get alpaca wool garments in SPdA anyway - even though I said it's expensive, it'll be cheaper than Oz, and you'll be wearing the clothes the locals wear for warmth, and they know what they're doing! I only had a fleece, I had no room for a coat, but I just bulked up on the alpaca numbers!

I had $100 with me all the time for 'emergencies', as you can use it anywhere, but I never. I found it easier to just draw money from the ATM's in the local currency once I knew how much a bed cost for the night and how long I wanted to stay in that country - as then I made a judgement on how much I thought I'd need - I did OK with that theory. That way you can haggle better (you can even haggle for bus tickets in some places!) I never used travellers cheques at all - I couldn't be doing with the hassle. If you have too much and aren't going back to that country, you could always trade with travellers going the opposite way!

It's getting closer!!! (Don't be nervous, you'll LOVE it!)