geovalue
Adventurer
Thanks for your comments, did not know that the tower was there in 1974 I thought it looked a little rusty. Nice to hear that your dog was taken care of. Of all the things I miss most about traveling is not having a dog!
To the Arctic Ocean via the Dalton Road
- Thread starter geovalue
- Start date
geovalue
Adventurer
Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley WOW
Visiting Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley on an overlanders budget calls for some smart ‘know how” There is so much advise on how to visit Machu Picchu that we felt overwhelmed with information, In the end we decided that trying to arrange everything and buy tickets from Cuzco was like driving in Cuzco, just too difficult!
So we headed for the Sacred Valley driving to a little village Ollantaytambo. We left our truck camper at the Ollantaytambo Lodge where we also camped. Here we purchased our train tickets to Aguas Calientes. It was easy, there were no line-ups and no questions asked just wanted to see our passports.
Vendor waiting for Tourists
We arrived at Aguas Calientes the following day and purchased our tickets for Machu Picchu in the town plaza easy, no line up and again no questions asked. We also managed to buy one of the “you will never get a ticket to climb Huayna Picchu as you need to book them months in advance.” The office still had several spots and we even had a choice of time.
We easily booked into a hostel when we arrived in fact some were quite empty.
Road Bus Goes from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
There was a huge storm as we arrived and there was no power at all in the village. We did however manage to convince the officials at the Machu Picchu museum to let us into the dark museum, as any good overlander will know we had flashlights, yes and toilet paper, knife and matches in our pockets
Overlander Does Museum in Dark
Machu Picchu was fantastic being sometimes “travel weary” having seen so much we wondered how we would react when seeing this famous place well we both we in awe it is truly a must see for anyone who loves to travel.
We have updated our blog with lots of photos and stories about Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and amazing Inca salt pans. Enjoy
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/machu-picchu-and-the-sacred-valley-wow/
TIPS FOR VISITING MACHU PICCHU BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE.
Getting to Aguas Calientes
There are no roads into Aguas Calientes so unless you hike the Inca trail, you will need to take the train from either Cuzco or from a village located in the Sacred Valley. Not all villages in the Sacred Valley offer train services for tourists. You can take a bus to one of the villages in the Sacred Valley if you do not have your own vehicle.
It is cheaper to go by train from a village in the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes than from Cuzco.
We drove to Ollantaytambo where we parked our truck at Ollantaytambo Lodge, which also permits camping. It is safe and secure and they gave us a key to a room for a hot shower. People there are extremely helpful and pleasant. Currently there is a cute puppy there who loves to chew so do not leave anything on the ground. Water is also available for filling water tanks. It was very quiet.
Purchasing Tickets for Train
We took a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. We purchased tickets the same day we arrived in Ollantaytambo. There are several types of trains so the prices depend on the service you take. The trains were fairly full. It was a 2 hour trip to Aquas Calientes. It is a pretty trip if you sit on the side overlooking the valley and river below. Seats are assigned so ask for seats that overlook the river and valley. You are served snack and drinks on the train.
We only purchased a one-way ticket as we did not know how long we would be in Aguas Calientes. You need to show your passport to purchase the train tickets.
Accommodation in Aguas Calientes
We had not booked a hotel in Aguas Calientes but there were many available places to stay.
We had not purchased tickets for Machu Picchu and it is easy to purchase them at the iPeru tourist office in the main plaza in Aguas Calientes. There was no line up. Despite being told we would not get one of the 400 tickets sold daily to hike the Huayna Picchu as they are always sold out, they still had tickets available for either the 0800am or 1000am group.
Bus tickets to Machu Picchu Site
Then we purchased our bus tickets for the following morning, again no problems. Bus tickets are not assigned for a specific time, it is first come first served in the morning. We left at about 0630 and there were no line ups and so we boarded the first bus available. You can walk up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes but we recommend that unless you are really fit and can walk up fast to avoid the crowds it is best to go by bus. It is a steep long climb. Return bus tickets cost US$15.00. Save your energy for hiking around the ruins.
Buses leave at 05:30am to take tourists up to the ruins.
Hire a Guide
We hired a guide at the entrance gate to Machu Picchu. Logan and Brianna recommended we take a guide and Ernesto was fabulous giving us lots of information and answering all our questions. If you are going to go to so much trouble and expense of getting to Machu Picchu, you absolutely should hire a guide. They are well trained, knowledgeable and well worth the cost. They will be at the entrance to Machu Picchu at the ticket gate
Eating
If you are going to have one meal in Aguas Calientes make sure it is at The Tree House. They offer the most delicious gourmet local food; we have had in South America. I had trout in passion fruit sauce, Tom had sweet potato soup as starters and then we had alpaca as our main course. Highly recommended.
What to take when visiting the actual ruins
1. There is storage at the entrance to the ruins for bags etc.
2. The only toilets are at the entrance so you will need to exit and enter again if you need the toilets.
3. Take a good camera. Remember to have fully charged batteries and an empty card
4. Good walking shoes, there is lots of climbing of steep steps and trails
5. Drinking water
6. Sunscreen and hat. The sun is fierce at this altitude.
7. Sunglasses
8. Put on mosquito repellent before you head up
9. A jacket it can be chilly at certain times of the year and a poncho in case it rains and it does cloud over a lot due to the height. These can be left in storage if not needed once you arrive at the ruins and would be easy to retrieve should the weather change.
10. Your passport must be shown to entry the ruins.
11. You can re-enter the ruins as many times as you want during the day. Therefore, it is possible to eat at the little cafeteria at the entrance and then head back after lunch.
12. Go early as busloads of tourists on a day trip to Machu Picchu start arriving after 9am, thousands of them and soon you are competing for space. Before then you will almost have Machu Picchu to yourself, well worth getting up early. The buses start leaving for the ruins at 0530 we left at 0630 and it was excellent.
Safe travels all
Visiting Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley on an overlanders budget calls for some smart ‘know how” There is so much advise on how to visit Machu Picchu that we felt overwhelmed with information, In the end we decided that trying to arrange everything and buy tickets from Cuzco was like driving in Cuzco, just too difficult!
So we headed for the Sacred Valley driving to a little village Ollantaytambo. We left our truck camper at the Ollantaytambo Lodge where we also camped. Here we purchased our train tickets to Aguas Calientes. It was easy, there were no line-ups and no questions asked just wanted to see our passports.
Vendor waiting for Tourists
We arrived at Aguas Calientes the following day and purchased our tickets for Machu Picchu in the town plaza easy, no line up and again no questions asked. We also managed to buy one of the “you will never get a ticket to climb Huayna Picchu as you need to book them months in advance.” The office still had several spots and we even had a choice of time.
We easily booked into a hostel when we arrived in fact some were quite empty.
Road Bus Goes from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu
There was a huge storm as we arrived and there was no power at all in the village. We did however manage to convince the officials at the Machu Picchu museum to let us into the dark museum, as any good overlander will know we had flashlights, yes and toilet paper, knife and matches in our pockets
Overlander Does Museum in Dark
Machu Picchu was fantastic being sometimes “travel weary” having seen so much we wondered how we would react when seeing this famous place well we both we in awe it is truly a must see for anyone who loves to travel.
We have updated our blog with lots of photos and stories about Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and amazing Inca salt pans. Enjoy
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/machu-picchu-and-the-sacred-valley-wow/
TIPS FOR VISITING MACHU PICCHU BASED ON OUR EXPERIENCE.
Getting to Aguas Calientes
There are no roads into Aguas Calientes so unless you hike the Inca trail, you will need to take the train from either Cuzco or from a village located in the Sacred Valley. Not all villages in the Sacred Valley offer train services for tourists. You can take a bus to one of the villages in the Sacred Valley if you do not have your own vehicle.
It is cheaper to go by train from a village in the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes than from Cuzco.
We drove to Ollantaytambo where we parked our truck at Ollantaytambo Lodge, which also permits camping. It is safe and secure and they gave us a key to a room for a hot shower. People there are extremely helpful and pleasant. Currently there is a cute puppy there who loves to chew so do not leave anything on the ground. Water is also available for filling water tanks. It was very quiet.
Purchasing Tickets for Train
We took a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes. We purchased tickets the same day we arrived in Ollantaytambo. There are several types of trains so the prices depend on the service you take. The trains were fairly full. It was a 2 hour trip to Aquas Calientes. It is a pretty trip if you sit on the side overlooking the valley and river below. Seats are assigned so ask for seats that overlook the river and valley. You are served snack and drinks on the train.
We only purchased a one-way ticket as we did not know how long we would be in Aguas Calientes. You need to show your passport to purchase the train tickets.
Accommodation in Aguas Calientes
We had not booked a hotel in Aguas Calientes but there were many available places to stay.
We had not purchased tickets for Machu Picchu and it is easy to purchase them at the iPeru tourist office in the main plaza in Aguas Calientes. There was no line up. Despite being told we would not get one of the 400 tickets sold daily to hike the Huayna Picchu as they are always sold out, they still had tickets available for either the 0800am or 1000am group.
Bus tickets to Machu Picchu Site
Then we purchased our bus tickets for the following morning, again no problems. Bus tickets are not assigned for a specific time, it is first come first served in the morning. We left at about 0630 and there were no line ups and so we boarded the first bus available. You can walk up to Machu Picchu from Aguas Calientes but we recommend that unless you are really fit and can walk up fast to avoid the crowds it is best to go by bus. It is a steep long climb. Return bus tickets cost US$15.00. Save your energy for hiking around the ruins.
Buses leave at 05:30am to take tourists up to the ruins.
Hire a Guide
We hired a guide at the entrance gate to Machu Picchu. Logan and Brianna recommended we take a guide and Ernesto was fabulous giving us lots of information and answering all our questions. If you are going to go to so much trouble and expense of getting to Machu Picchu, you absolutely should hire a guide. They are well trained, knowledgeable and well worth the cost. They will be at the entrance to Machu Picchu at the ticket gate
Eating
If you are going to have one meal in Aguas Calientes make sure it is at The Tree House. They offer the most delicious gourmet local food; we have had in South America. I had trout in passion fruit sauce, Tom had sweet potato soup as starters and then we had alpaca as our main course. Highly recommended.
What to take when visiting the actual ruins
1. There is storage at the entrance to the ruins for bags etc.
2. The only toilets are at the entrance so you will need to exit and enter again if you need the toilets.
3. Take a good camera. Remember to have fully charged batteries and an empty card
4. Good walking shoes, there is lots of climbing of steep steps and trails
5. Drinking water
6. Sunscreen and hat. The sun is fierce at this altitude.
7. Sunglasses
8. Put on mosquito repellent before you head up
9. A jacket it can be chilly at certain times of the year and a poncho in case it rains and it does cloud over a lot due to the height. These can be left in storage if not needed once you arrive at the ruins and would be easy to retrieve should the weather change.
10. Your passport must be shown to entry the ruins.
11. You can re-enter the ruins as many times as you want during the day. Therefore, it is possible to eat at the little cafeteria at the entrance and then head back after lunch.
12. Go early as busloads of tourists on a day trip to Machu Picchu start arriving after 9am, thousands of them and soon you are competing for space. Before then you will almost have Machu Picchu to yourself, well worth getting up early. The buses start leaving for the ruins at 0530 we left at 0630 and it was excellent.
Safe travels all
geovalue
Adventurer
What is a Dangerous Road?
All the roads from Cuzco leading to the jungle of Peru are “muddy, slow and dangerous,” and anyone planning to drive them should “think twice before deciding to travel overland” is the advice given in the Lonely Planet. We headed off aware of the warning and the threatening clouds on the horizon, as we really wanted to see the jungle. It had us discussing, “what is a dangerous road?” It may surprise to you know that we have had more scary roads to drive in Ecuador and Peru than we had in Africa. In Africa, the roads are difficult and require technical skill to navigate once one is off the beaten track. However, in Peru and Ecuador, the roads are not difficult, do not require much technical skill to drive but are so narrow that passing oncoming traffic is dangerous. What really make a road dangerous are not precipitous drops, mud or other technical challenges it is bad drivers that make it dangerous. Speeding around blind corners on roads not wide enough for passing vehicles, yes, it is poor drivers that are giving us grey hair in South America.
Is this a Dangerous Road?
Road to Jungle
Peru has been a fascinating country to visit and after Machu Picchu, we headed for the jungle off the beaten track that nearly had us beaten! Don’t these drivers have breaks?
We met up with Logan and Brianna in Sillustani and had a fun time with them. Sillustani is a Pre Inca funerary site with stone towers that the Colla people used to bury their nobility.
Sillustani Funerary Towers
Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest commercially navigable lake and one of the most intriguing aspects of the lake are the man made floating islands. These islands are made of reeds and have to be continuously maintained as the reeds rot.
Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca
We have updated our blog with lots of photos and stories and anyone with even a tiny urge to travel should definitely put PERU on your list of countries to explore
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/peru-jungle-funerary-towers-and-floating-islands/
All the roads from Cuzco leading to the jungle of Peru are “muddy, slow and dangerous,” and anyone planning to drive them should “think twice before deciding to travel overland” is the advice given in the Lonely Planet. We headed off aware of the warning and the threatening clouds on the horizon, as we really wanted to see the jungle. It had us discussing, “what is a dangerous road?” It may surprise to you know that we have had more scary roads to drive in Ecuador and Peru than we had in Africa. In Africa, the roads are difficult and require technical skill to navigate once one is off the beaten track. However, in Peru and Ecuador, the roads are not difficult, do not require much technical skill to drive but are so narrow that passing oncoming traffic is dangerous. What really make a road dangerous are not precipitous drops, mud or other technical challenges it is bad drivers that make it dangerous. Speeding around blind corners on roads not wide enough for passing vehicles, yes, it is poor drivers that are giving us grey hair in South America.
Is this a Dangerous Road?
Road to Jungle
Peru has been a fascinating country to visit and after Machu Picchu, we headed for the jungle off the beaten track that nearly had us beaten! Don’t these drivers have breaks?
We met up with Logan and Brianna in Sillustani and had a fun time with them. Sillustani is a Pre Inca funerary site with stone towers that the Colla people used to bury their nobility.
Sillustani Funerary Towers
Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest commercially navigable lake and one of the most intriguing aspects of the lake are the man made floating islands. These islands are made of reeds and have to be continuously maintained as the reeds rot.
Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca
We have updated our blog with lots of photos and stories and anyone with even a tiny urge to travel should definitely put PERU on your list of countries to explore
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/peru-jungle-funerary-towers-and-floating-islands/
geovalue
Adventurer
Bolivia and Cholitas Wrestling
We arrived in La Paz Bolivia and like every overlander passing through La Paz are camping at Oberland Hotel. There are several trucks here including 3 trucks with pop up campers. Made an appointment to have our truck serviced by Ernesto who also services every overland vehicle passing through La Paz Bolivia. He showed us his books of all the travelers passing through going back to 1982 a history of overlanders. We paged through and found all our friends who are ahead of us. Messages and photos what a magnificent book.
Getting Truck Washed at Ernesto It Took 3 Hours to Clean
While in La Paz they shut down the city. All roads leading into and out of La Paz were blocked with everything from logs, boulders, tires and other vehicles. So we had to stay in a hotel one night as we were held unable to travel
Before the Strike
During the Strike All was Quiet No Traffic
La Paz is a fascinating city and we loved the places to kiss marked on the tourist maps.
We have updated our blog with our highlight so far in Bolivia. Attending a cholitas wrestling match! that is Bolivian women wrestling. A must to see
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/bolivia-and-cholitas-wrestling-women/
We are off to visit Madidi National Park, except we have to fly there as there are road blocks on route. We will be away for a week.
Safe travels all
.
We arrived in La Paz Bolivia and like every overlander passing through La Paz are camping at Oberland Hotel. There are several trucks here including 3 trucks with pop up campers. Made an appointment to have our truck serviced by Ernesto who also services every overland vehicle passing through La Paz Bolivia. He showed us his books of all the travelers passing through going back to 1982 a history of overlanders. We paged through and found all our friends who are ahead of us. Messages and photos what a magnificent book.
Getting Truck Washed at Ernesto It Took 3 Hours to Clean
While in La Paz they shut down the city. All roads leading into and out of La Paz were blocked with everything from logs, boulders, tires and other vehicles. So we had to stay in a hotel one night as we were held unable to travel
Before the Strike
During the Strike All was Quiet No Traffic
La Paz is a fascinating city and we loved the places to kiss marked on the tourist maps.
We have updated our blog with our highlight so far in Bolivia. Attending a cholitas wrestling match! that is Bolivian women wrestling. A must to see
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/bolivia-and-cholitas-wrestling-women/
We are off to visit Madidi National Park, except we have to fly there as there are road blocks on route. We will be away for a week.
Safe travels all
.
geovalue
Adventurer
Bolivia Jungle Adventures and Misadventures
We wanted to visit the Bolivian jungle but needed to fly to Rurrenabaque as there are protests and road blocks leading out of La Paz, so did not want to be prevented from passing the road blocks.
Our trip became a series of adventures and misadventures and ended with us having to take a hairy 2 hour ride on the back of motorbikes out of the jungle and pampas. We went with the locals and learnt the local way of doing things when things go wrong. We learnt how to make sandladders using only palm leaves, logs and branches. We learnt how to lift a truck without using a jack, we learnt that it is possible to recovery a truck with no equipment, no winch, no diff lock, tires as smooth as a baby's bum, in searing heat and no water. We learnt the value of team and community work. What an experience.
Not Going Anywhere Soon
Exhausted Tom Bringing Back Supplies to Make Sandladders
Vehicle Recovery Bolivian Style
Wondering If Now is the Time to Use Our SPOT Emergency Call
We have updated our blog with all our adventures and misadventures in the wonderful world of the Bolivia jungle and pampas
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/bolivia-jungle-adventures-and-misadventures/
Safe travels all and make sure you put "See Bolivia Pampas" on your bucket list
We wanted to visit the Bolivian jungle but needed to fly to Rurrenabaque as there are protests and road blocks leading out of La Paz, so did not want to be prevented from passing the road blocks.
Our trip became a series of adventures and misadventures and ended with us having to take a hairy 2 hour ride on the back of motorbikes out of the jungle and pampas. We went with the locals and learnt the local way of doing things when things go wrong. We learnt how to make sandladders using only palm leaves, logs and branches. We learnt how to lift a truck without using a jack, we learnt that it is possible to recovery a truck with no equipment, no winch, no diff lock, tires as smooth as a baby's bum, in searing heat and no water. We learnt the value of team and community work. What an experience.
Not Going Anywhere Soon
Exhausted Tom Bringing Back Supplies to Make Sandladders
Vehicle Recovery Bolivian Style
Wondering If Now is the Time to Use Our SPOT Emergency Call
We have updated our blog with all our adventures and misadventures in the wonderful world of the Bolivia jungle and pampas
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/bolivia-jungle-adventures-and-misadventures/
Safe travels all and make sure you put "See Bolivia Pampas" on your bucket list
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Never got to the Beni - Congratulations.
When you get back to your truck, and after you do Potosi and the mines, you might consider a trip to the Jesuit missions outside Santa Cruz de la Sierra. A seldom visited part of Bolivia.
Safe travels!
When you get back to your truck, and after you do Potosi and the mines, you might consider a trip to the Jesuit missions outside Santa Cruz de la Sierra. A seldom visited part of Bolivia.
Safe travels!
geovalue
Adventurer
Thanks for the comment Diplostrat. Yes Tom really wants to see the mines in Potosi as he worked in the South African gold mines and they were pretty grim 40 years ago so he is keen to see the difference in the conditions and of course being a geologist he just wants to see the mining as well. Not sure we will be able to get to Santa Cruz as we were only given a 30 day visa for Bolivia and are running out of time. We are hoping we can get it extended in Sucre, as we heard that is the best place to apply for extension. We also heard that the Jesuit Missions in North Argentina are worth seeing and we are heading for N Argentina after Bolivia.
Safe travels
Safe travels
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Hmmm - South African mines = high tech paradise.
Potosi mines = medieval job from hell.
And the mint is fascinating; my pet theory is that the mysterious deaths were sickle cell anemia with triggers at high altitude. (A sometimes too little known fact.)
Potosi and Sucre are two of the most interesting and different cities in Bolivia, connected by an amazing bridge. Santa Cruz has not charm (only dope), but the missions are amazing.
Enjoy!
Potosi mines = medieval job from hell.
And the mint is fascinating; my pet theory is that the mysterious deaths were sickle cell anemia with triggers at high altitude. (A sometimes too little known fact.)
Potosi and Sucre are two of the most interesting and different cities in Bolivia, connected by an amazing bridge. Santa Cruz has not charm (only dope), but the missions are amazing.
Enjoy!
geovalue
Adventurer
You got that right the Potosi are a medieval job from hell but S African mines are a high tech hell, it was bad and I dont suspect much better 40 years on.
geovalue
Adventurer
Galapagos Islands and more
We are currently in Uyuni a dusty town close to the world's largest salt flats. It is also the home to a train cemetery, locomotives abandoned when the mining collapsed.
We are heading off tomorrow to explore the salt flats Salar de Uyuni and will be returning to the town of Uyuni to wash the truck of any salt it may have collected. We actually had the truck sprayed underneath today with oil and other chemicals which helps protect the truck from the salt.
We have also posted our video of the worlds most famous islands the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. We loved it there and if you love the ocean you have to put these islands on your bucket list
Safe travels all
We are currently in Uyuni a dusty town close to the world's largest salt flats. It is also the home to a train cemetery, locomotives abandoned when the mining collapsed.
We are heading off tomorrow to explore the salt flats Salar de Uyuni and will be returning to the town of Uyuni to wash the truck of any salt it may have collected. We actually had the truck sprayed underneath today with oil and other chemicals which helps protect the truck from the salt.
We have also posted our video of the worlds most famous islands the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador. We loved it there and if you love the ocean you have to put these islands on your bucket list
Safe travels all
geovalue
Adventurer
Potosi Silver Mine Visit
Potosi is a dusty struggling town, now its silver mine a tourist attraction. Tom was keen to visit the mine as he began his career as a mineral exploration geologist which involved many trips down mines. He was told that the mine tour would be conducted by ex miners and the mine would be an active mine. However the guides were not ex miners and despite being told once they were down the mine it was active, Tom knew immediately the mine they were in was not an active working mine and the miner who was working there for the show.
Going Down the Mine
Tourists Posing
He found it interesting however, but not that impressed!
We have moved on and are now actually in Argentina a long way from Alaska.
We have updated our blog on the Potosi Mines
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/tom-explores-potosi-mine-in-bolivia/
Safe travels all
Potosi is a dusty struggling town, now its silver mine a tourist attraction. Tom was keen to visit the mine as he began his career as a mineral exploration geologist which involved many trips down mines. He was told that the mine tour would be conducted by ex miners and the mine would be an active mine. However the guides were not ex miners and despite being told once they were down the mine it was active, Tom knew immediately the mine they were in was not an active working mine and the miner who was working there for the show.
Going Down the Mine
Tourists Posing
He found it interesting however, but not that impressed!
We have moved on and are now actually in Argentina a long way from Alaska.
We have updated our blog on the Potosi Mines
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/tom-explores-potosi-mine-in-bolivia/
Safe travels all
DiploStrat
Expedition Leader
Bummer!
I assure you that the mine I visited a few times was extremely active, but very small. While there were about thirty men below, it was too small to have mine carts.Enjoy Argentina!
geovalue
Adventurer
Bummer!
Enjoy Argentina!
Thanks and yes it was a bummer but I think things have probably changed since you were there. It is very touristy now
geovalue
Adventurer
The Worlds Largest Salt Pan Crowded with Land Cruisers
We must have seen at least 50 Land Cruisers parked at the island on the Salar de Uyuni. Talk about Land Cruiser heaven.
Land Cruiser Convention on Salar
We loved the Salar but were amazed to meet a German couple whose Mercedes truck had fallen through the salt crust and it had taken them 3 days and 13 men to recover the vehicle. He told us he was certain his truck was lost for ever.
Truck Safely back in Uyuni
We had been warned to make sure we stayed on the tracks while near the edge of the salt pan as the salt was soft in places. So we made sure we stuck to the tire tracks of all the Land Cruisers before us.
We also had our truck sprayed underneath with grease, oil and other Bolivian chemicals to protect it from the salt. There was quite a bit of water near the entrance.
Truck Carrying the Salt to Your Table
After the Salar we headed south across the worst roads we have experienced so far on this trip. Miles and miles of corrugation, we were really impressed with the Nissan it did great!
Miles and Miles of Corrugations
We are now in Argentina and heading toward Iguazu Falls. We have also updated our blog
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/final-adventures-in-bolivia-saltpans-and-more/
Cant really believe we have finally reached Argentina a long way from Alaska.
Safe travels all
We must have seen at least 50 Land Cruisers parked at the island on the Salar de Uyuni. Talk about Land Cruiser heaven.
Land Cruiser Convention on Salar
We loved the Salar but were amazed to meet a German couple whose Mercedes truck had fallen through the salt crust and it had taken them 3 days and 13 men to recover the vehicle. He told us he was certain his truck was lost for ever.
Truck Safely back in Uyuni
We had been warned to make sure we stayed on the tracks while near the edge of the salt pan as the salt was soft in places. So we made sure we stuck to the tire tracks of all the Land Cruisers before us.
We also had our truck sprayed underneath with grease, oil and other Bolivian chemicals to protect it from the salt. There was quite a bit of water near the entrance.
Truck Carrying the Salt to Your Table
After the Salar we headed south across the worst roads we have experienced so far on this trip. Miles and miles of corrugation, we were really impressed with the Nissan it did great!
Miles and Miles of Corrugations
We are now in Argentina and heading toward Iguazu Falls. We have also updated our blog
http://www.adventurouspirits.com/final-adventures-in-bolivia-saltpans-and-more/
Cant really believe we have finally reached Argentina a long way from Alaska.
Safe travels all