After my day in Pulacayo and a day hanging out in my hotel room because everything was closed for the census, I was finally able to go on my tour! I switched from a three day to a two day tour because there were things I wanted to see in my next stop – and I wasn’t sure if they would be open every day during Holy Week/the week before Easter.
I think every tour company does more or less the same tour, with slight differences in food and hotel quality. I opted for a Spanish tour to save money and as I suspected ended up with Latin Americans and Europeans. The tour started in the train cemetery (it was a very train-y week).
We were then dragged to the town of Colchani to buy handicrafts. I sat in the shade. Then finally we got to the Salt Flats! Although I didn’t see any mining, the flats are so large that there is significant lithium mining in this region.
Our guide drove an SUV through standing water for what felt like hours. It was incredible. I remained skeptical that I would remain alive as the tour guide was filming and driving at the same time. At one point the man sitting in the front started steering.
I went during rainy season so there was a very cool reflection effect.
I stayed overnight in a salt hotel, and got a private room because my travel agency was too disorganized to set me up in a hotel with other people. No complaints. The second day of my tour I saw lagoons and hot springs. Unfortunately I did not see flamingos.
I drove along a Bolivian highway thanks to the encouragement of my fellow travelers, and got some really good Spotify playlists.
What an incredible gift.
Rebecca J 