Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Salvador Dali Desert

After lunch we started our return journey to Uyuni - a 600km drive across the desert. Along the way we saw some more strange rock formations known as the `Salvador Dali Desert´ and others that were shaped like animals!

At 6pm we arrived back in Uyuni. After three days in a jeep we were dusty and exhausted, but extremely happy to have experienced the most amazing sights and wonders of the Salar De Uyuni.

The Salvador Dali Desert

Camel rock

A rock window

Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FALTS TOUR: Laguna Colorada & Salvador Dali Desert

From the Laguna Verde we drove to the border with Chile to drop off the couple who were continuing their travels into Chile. From the border we drove back to Laguna Colorada (but this time from the other side which from this angle looked very differnt) and here were enjoyed our last lunch together with the group, accompanied by many Llamas!

Laguna Colorada

Lunch by Laguna Colorada . . .

. . . with Llamas for company!

Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Thermal Baths & Laguna Verde

After the geysers we headed to the neary thermal baths were we were able to have hot bath whilst breafast was prepared. Out of our group of six, Celina was the only one to enjoy the hot baths, the other were too cold to undress! Even though it was freezing outside, after twenty minutes of soaking in the therapeutic waters Celina was well thawed after experiencing the coldest night ever!

After breakfast we headed to the Laguna Verde (Green Lake) which is only a few kilometers inside the Bolivia (on the Chile border) at 4,350 meters. The colour of the salt lake is caused by sediments containing copper minerals and the colour is exaggerated with strong winds.

Crowding at the thermal baths

Enjoying the first bath in 7 months!

The now peaceful thermal baths and its beautiful backdrop

Laguna Verde

Monday 9th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Sol De Manaña Geysers

This day we awoke at 4.30am in order to catch sunrise at the nearby "morning sun" geysers which are at the top of a volcanic crater 5,000 meters above sea level! The geysers were quite amazing but it stank of sulphur and in our half asleep state we manged to get splashed with the bubbling mud whilst taking the last picture!

Oliver pointing out the obvious geyser!

Sunday 8th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Laguna Colorada

Laguna Colorada (4,600 meters above sea level) covers an area of 60 km2. The rich red colouration is caused by the algae and plankton which thrive in the lake, the shoreline is edged with brilliant white deposits of sodium, magnesium, borax and gypsum and the lagoon is many flamingos, three species of which breed here. The lake changes colour throughout the day as the sun activates the plankton and algae causing the lagoon to glow brilliant red.

This lagoon was the last stop of the day and it was here that we spent in the night in very modest accommodation, i.e. dormitories and no showers, hot water or heating! Whilst we were waiting for dinner to be made we walked to the lookout to take these pictures. The relatively short walk to the lookout took one hour (there and back) and by the time we arrived back at the hostel we were feeling very sick and exhausted due to the incredible altitude.

The night spent by the lagoon was the coldest we have ever experienced! Even with all our clothes on, in sleeping bags with blankets, it was still cold! During winter, Laguna Colorada is the coldest place on earth after Siberia!

Laguna Colorada

Sunset at Laguna Colorada

Sunday 8th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Arbol De Piedra

We stopped here in the middle of the Siloli Desert (part of the National Reserve Eduardo Abaroa) to see this strange rock formation known as the `Stone Tree´ which was formed during the uprising of the Andes. There were also other strange rock formations but none of the others where as impressive or looked like a tree!

Arbol De Piedra

Other rock formations in the Siloli Desert

Sunday 8th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Montaña de 7 colores

Driving across the Siloli Desert we stopped to take these pictures of the seven coloured mountains along the border with Chile. We had seen these mountains when on the bus from Salta, Argentina over the Andes to Calama, Chile and to be honest the sight had been more impressive upclose from the other side, however, this was still an impressive sight.

Montaña de 7 colores

Sunday 8th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Laguna Hedionda

Laguna Hedioda(4200 meters above sea level) means `stinking lake´ due to its sulphurous stench. In spite of the stench the lake attracts many different types of Flaminoges (Chilean and Andean) as well as the endangered James Flamingoes.

Laguna Hedionda

Andean Flamingoes at Laguna Hedionda

Sunday 8th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Volcan Ollague

Volcan Ollague on the Chile-Bolovia border was the first stop of the second day. This was the same volcanoe we had seen from Ollague station when taking the slow the slow train to Uyuni. From this lookout we were able to get a great view of the volcanoe and we were able to walk over the surrounding dried red lava flow from an ancient explosion. We were also able to able to see the sulphur escaping from a vent on the left of the volcanoe.

Volcan Ollague

Saturday 7th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: Salt Hotel

At the end of our visit to the `Devils Cave´ it was approaching sunset so we headed to our accommodation for the night; a hotel made entirely of salt, even the beds, tables and chairs! Driving to our salt hotel we spotted the extremely rare Vicuñas whose fur is used to make the most expensive fabric in the world which is super light, super warm and finer than cashmere. We enjoyed a restful night at the Salt Hotel (it had been a long day at such high altitude) and the next morning we awoke at six in the morning to begin the second day of our tour.

The very rare Vicuñas

Our Salt Hotel

The dining table and chairs made of salt

Salt Beds

Cute Bolivian Children: Jorge & Fanny

Saturday 7th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: La Cueva De Diablo

This `Devils Cave´is just along from the `Galaxy Cave´ and is called so because it is believed that the cave was the dwelling place of the Devil as the legend tells of a young shepherdess who went wandering into the cave, never to return, who remains were never found. Actually the cave is a pre-colonisation burial site and today there are still some remains to be seen.

La Cueva Del Diablo

Saturday 7th October 2006: BOLIVIAN SALT FLATS TOUR: La Gruta De Las Galaxias

This attraction is new on the Bolivian Salt Flat Tour as it was only discovered a few years ago by two men who worked at the adjacent `Devils Cave´. The cave was once underwater (covered by the same lake that covered the Salar De Uyuni) and it is believed that the cave was preserved when a nearby volcanoe erupted and the lava was cooled as it flowed into the cold lake. Walking into the small cave we could see solidified coral and leaves and it was then we realised why they call this the `Galaxy Cave´ as being inside we definitely felt like we were on a different planet!

La Gruta De Las Galaxias

Ancient solidfied Coral