TIPS Bolivia Salt Flat

Salar de Uyuni is the world´s largest salt flat and the most famous tourist site in Bolivia.

Some tips that you have to consider if you decide to visit it:

- If you go from La Paz city by bus you will arrive in Uyuni between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM, it depends on the departure time in La Paz (approximate travel time is around 9 hours by bus)

- Don´t worry if you couldn´t book a tour before you will have the chance to get it directly in Uyuni.

- Private Tours Vs Group Tours, which is the best? In my case I prefer to take Group Tours because I like making new friends specially if they come from another country I don´t usually take private tours because it´s expensive but if you are able to pay one you will get some advantages for example you can organize the tour according to your interest and expectancy. On the transportation you will go more comfortable than in a group tour because from my point of view most of the vehicles are designed for Bolivian population probably shorter than you, and considering that most of the time you will stay on the jeep (most common type of transportation used for the tours) that´s a good idea otherwise you will have to share your space with some other people. On the contrary if you decide to take a group tour, you will have the chance to make new friends specially if you travel by yourself. I ran into tourists who met each other in Uyuni and now they are really best friends. The downside is the travel agency decides what kind of accommodation you will get, so please keep in mind these suggestions:

• make sure that the travel agency give you a receipt after you got an all-inclusive tour or paid for specific services such as private rooms, entrances fees, etc.
• If you take a group tour, which are cheaper, it’s probably that you have to pay an extra charge for the shower service (10 or 15 bolivianos) even some accommodations aren´t in a position to offer hot water, so be mentally prepared.

-I would recommend taking your perspective pictures before sunset around 4:30 PM and 5:00 PM, this way you will avoid having shades on your pictures like in this one.

-if taking photographs is one of your motivations, take with you a yoga or camping mat or else you will get wet at the moment of taking a perspective picture because you will have to lie down on the salt ground to take it.

-The most amazing places (mirror effect) are covered by rain water so don´t forget your flip flops or sport sandals this way you will avoid having your shoes covered by salt and also the vehicle will keep clean. Maybe you think you can walk barefooted, try it and you will get some pain auch!

-To take care of your eyes bring with you some sunglasses, and to protect your skin sunscreen and lip moisturizer (salt could dry your skin)

- if you forget some accessories for a perspective picture no worries in Colchani you will have an opportunity to buy some handicrafts and toys like the famous dinosaur or a cute alpaca for your creative pictures.

-Always bring in your backpack or handbag toilet paper roll and please be patient with some hygienic services. (rate 1 to 5 bolivianos)

-I would suggest taking cash money with you because most of the services won´t accept credit cards.

6 bolivianos

In Uyuni you will find different tours (full day, 2 day and 3 day tours) all depends on your interests and priorities sometimes people don´t have much time for those ones I suggest the full day tour, you won´t miss  the Train Cemetery, Colchani Town, Flag of various nations or the Slat Flats; however if you want to explore and see more, why not? take the 3 day tour, it includes others places to visit like Colored Lagoons, geysers and one of the best areas to relax and appreciate the nature with the company of flamingos and llamas “Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve”. So make sure the entrance is included in your tour otherwise, you will have to pay around 150 bolivianos if you are a foreigner. To finish the 3rd day get your bathing suit, you might as well want to jump in the andean hot springs in the middle of the nowhere. 

TIPS Full day Tour "Copacabana - Lago Titicaca, Bolivia"

Copacabana is located just on the shore of the highest navigating lake in the world at an altitude of over 3800 meters above sea level. I invite you to visit one of the most spiritual and energetic places in Bolivia. The origin of the Inca culture. 

There are two ways to visit it, one of them is by Peru border (Kasani) and the other one from La Paz city in Bolivia. If you go from La Paz, these are some tips I can share with you:

-You can buy a tour at the bus station, in the tourist zone of the city (Sagarnaga and Linares streets) right in the Witches Market or directly in Copacabana. The tours often include a tour guide, transportation, lunch and some entrance fees.

-I would suggest taking cash money with you because most of the services won´t accept credit cards.

-When buying the tour, ask the travel agent if the bus is going to pick you up from your hotel as well as if they are going through the bus station in which case you should prepare to pay a bus station fee. (Bs 2.50) you can ask if this fee is included in you tour so that you don´t get confused when going through this situation.

-The trip from La Paz to Copacabana is around 4 hours, most transportation companies do the pick ups between 7:00 am and 8:00 am, it always depends on the day  you get the tour for example: high seasons, holidays, weekends or strike days (which are likely to happen).

-At approximately 10:30 am the bus will make  a stop at Tiquina strait which divides two towns San Pablo and San Pedro, that´s when everybody has to get off the bus so that the bus can cross to the other side on a ferry to continue the trip to Copacabana, so please, you and the others passengers have to do the same but on a boat. (you can´t cross the strait on the bus it is a safety rule) keep in mind that your bus may leave without you when it is ready to continue on the other side for that reason don´t take your time.

Afterwards some advice: 

• You can leave your stuff but be extremely careful with expensive or valuable things such as cellphones, cameras, money, jewelry or personal documents.
• Take your passport with you because on the other side (San Pedro) there are some migration police officers and they will probably ask for it.
• Pay attention to your bus details like vehicle’s color or name (travel agency and transportation company could be different) a good idea is to have a picture.
• There are toilet facilities in both sides of the strait (San Pablo and San Pedro) the first one is cleaner than the second one that´s why it could be full so don´t waste your time waiting on the line, remember your bus may leave you, go for the second one (San Pedro) this is located on the right side from the Inca statue and if you have some problems to find it just ask local people (toilet facility fee is Bs 1) 
• When you get off the bus go directly to buy the boat service ticket (Bs 2) because sometimes when there are just a few people, the boat drivers wait for the boat to be crowded which  can make you delay to get back to your bus.
•  All the buses usually wait for the passengers at the main square located behind the market. (San Pedro Town)
• If you end up missing your bus, calm down and go directly to the main square in San Pedro take, a taxi to Copacabana is faster than a minivan (From Tiquina strait to Copacabana is around 40 minutes). When you arrive in Copacabana, ask local people for the bus company by using the name and photography of the bus that you took in Tiquina strait.

-In Copacabana you will have a variaty of activities to do such as visiting the main cathedral, wandering in the local market or reaching the top of the Calvary, place to take amazing pictures and to appreciate the sunset. Also you can decide to visit the famous Sun Island, if you want to go there, just buy a ticket, the main office is located near a big anchor monument on the shore anyways if you go through "6 de agosto" street you will find a lot of sales agents offering the tickets, the price varies from 30 to 35 bolivianos (round trip).

-The trip takes around 1 hour and if you get easily dizzy, I have some recommendations for you

• Don´t eat like a horse but like a bird.
• If you don´t want to feel the boat waving, choose a sit in the middle of the boat.
• Don´t check your phone or else you may feel sick, instead look at the horizon 
• Try not to bend your head down

-When you finally reach the Sun Island, you have to get an extra entrance fee which isn´t included in the boat service (10 bolivianos for foreigners). Normally in all inclusive tours it includes the entrance fees.

-Once in the island; enjoy the moment, close your eyes and get the energy from Pachamama (Mother Earth). However, consider this advice:

• Remember you have a limited time to go back to the boat, it is usually 1 1/2 hour, anyways you can ask the boat driver about the departure time.
• If you plan to sleep in the Sun Island you have to consider the weight of your luggage and where the accommodation you booked is located because to get there you must climb most of the time, that could be hard specially because of the altitude sickness. Ask your tour guide or the boat driver which is the most convenient point to get off (Pilkokaina or Yumani pier) they may help you.

Yumani Town

Pilkokaina Temple

Before returning from Copacabana to La Paz, remember you will go across Tiquina Strait again (around 7:30 pm).

 So consider this last advice:

• Take with you enough local cash currency (they only accept bolivianos and sometimes soles) in order to buy the boat ticket which costs 2 bolivianos, remember unfurtunately none of the services will accept credit cards.
• If you couldn’t get anything to eat in Copacabana, in Tiquina (San Pablo Town) there are sandwiches, fried chicken, beverages and so on.
• Don´t forget to remember your bus details, take a picture and keep in mind the transportation company´s name.
• Sometimes the checkpoint soldiers  won´t ask you  to get off the bus to cross the streit like in the morning, by night the boat services are reduced so when there are just a few people it is hard to use the services because the boats need to get at least 15 people to go across (to be profitable). Therefore, just follow the crowd if most people get off  the bus so do you. If they don't, neither do you.
• Different from the morning it's crucial that you go straight to buy your ticket and take the boat, in case you get off the bus. 
• Once on the other side, you should wait for your bus at the main square, all buses stop there to continue the trip to La Paz. If you must, there are toilet facilities there (it is open up to 8 :00 pm or so).

Finally, from San Pablo Town to La Paz is 2 more hours and depending on the transportation you took whether It's touristic or public one, you will arrive at the Departmental Bus Station or at Cemetery Square between 10:00 pm and 10:30 pm. Take a taxi (I always recommend the ones showing the company´s name and phone number on the rooftop). you will get your hotel safe and sound.