There's higher chance for raining in mid/late October. That's more beautiful for photos if you'd like to see the mirror effect on the Salar.
I agree going to Pantanal and Chaco will be better if you'd been to Iquitos. I like Trinidad, it's quiet and small, not like Iquitos but you may like to see something different. Pantanal and Chaco have more wildlife, less tourists, and people are very friendly in Chaco.
We came back from Bolivia 1 month ago. We did a 4d3n tour from Tupiza, just showed up the day before and booked one with Tupiza Tours. The major tour agencies seem to be booking and filling up jeeps up to the night before, so you do not have to book ahead of time. It was a great trip, a very comfortable jeep with only 4 tourists in it (Uyuni based jeeps squeeze in 6), an experienced and safe driver, one cook for 2 jeeps providing 3 great meals a day (including lots of vegetables!). All jeeps from Tupiza (in our case about 8) stick more or less together, and together bring a car mechanic (needed..driving over rough terrain). Prices from Tupiza seem to be a bit higher than from Uyuni but are worth it (better quality, drivers,food, less crowded , 1 extra day ). We paid 1250 Bolivianos/person excluding another 250 Bv entry fees.
Other places we enjoyed; Tarija, Valle de los Condores, Sajama, Isla del Sol.
Transportation; many long distance busses only travel at night, however micros and trufis (shared taxis) travel more frequently at all times of the day for roughly the same price.
We came back from Bolivia 1 month ago. We did a 4d3n tour from Tupiza, just showed up the day before and booked one with Tupiza Tours. The major tour agencies seem to be booking and filling up jeeps up to the night before, so you do not have to book ahead of time. It was a great trip, a very comfortable jeep with only 4 tourists in it (Uyuni based jeeps squeeze in 6), an experienced and safe driver, one cook for 2 jeeps providing 3 great meals a day (including lots of vegetables!). All jeeps from Tupiza (in our case about 8) stick more or less together, and together bring a car mechanic (needed..driving over rough terrain). Prices from Tupiza seem to be a bit higher than from Uyuni but are worth it (better quality, drivers,food, less crowded , 1 extra day ). We paid 1250 Bolivianos/person excluding another 250 Bv entry fees.
Other places we enjoyed; Tarija, Valle de los Condores, Sajama, Isla del Sol.
Transportation; many long distance busses only travel at night, however micros and trufis (shared taxis) travel more frequently at all times of the day for roughly the same price.
Thanks! I've pretty much decided to do the Tupiza tour instead of Uyuni. It ends in Uyuni doesn't it? Was hoping to check out the train cemetery too. If your Tupiza tour ended in Uyuni, was it difficult to get a ticket out of there? I've read that you need to buy the tickets leaving Uyuni ahead of time since everyone is usually trying to leave at once.
And, how did you get to Tupiza? I'm wondering if it would be better to break up the long trip by stopping in a couple cities/towns along the way, instead of a long night bus, etc.?
The standard tour from Tupiza ends in Uyuni (customized ones can end elsewhere but are harder to organize) and does include the train cemetary. For us it was it bit hard to leave Uyuni, but that was due to the strikes in Potosi at that time. Normally there are long distance night buses to places like La Paz (the people who used this booked their tickets in the afternoon for the same day). There are also frequent buses and micros during the day to Potosi (think around a 3 hour ride) for which it is very easy to buy last minute tickets.
We arrived to Tupiza from Tarija (had intended to travel from Sucre to Potosi to Tupiza, but changed plans because of strikes with roadblocks in the Potosi region). We did not take any night buses (heard they can be quite comfortable). Some internal flights are relatively cheap; Santa Cruz to Tarija was US$60 booked the day before and saved us a very long bus ride
The standard tour from Tupiza ends in Uyuni (customized ones can end elsewhere but are harder to organize) and does include the train cemetary. For us it was it bit hard to leave Uyuni, but that was due to the strikes in Potosi at that time. Normally there are long distance night buses to places like La Paz (the people who used this booked their tickets in the afternoon for the same day). There are also frequent buses and micros during the day to Potosi (think around a 3 hour ride) for which it is very easy to buy last minute tickets.
We arrived to Tupiza from Tarija (had intended to travel from Sucre to Potosi to Tupiza, but changed plans because of strikes with roadblocks in the Potosi region). We did not take any night buses (heard they can be quite comfortable). Some internal flights are relatively cheap; Santa Cruz to Tarija was US$60 booked the day before and saved us a very long bus ride
Oh cool. Great info! I'm leaving Texas this coming Tuesday afternoon. arrive La Paz early morning Wed. Planning on just hanging out in La Paz for a few days hopefully getting acclimated. If you think of anything else, or suggestions... please let me know. Thanks!
Altitude might be an issue.You might be Ok. If not , consider going 'downhill' (Coroico and Chulamani are relatively nearby at around 2000m). Coca leaves help.
In La Paz, the new Mi Teleferico (gondola system) is amazing and worth checking out (we did all 3 lines and thoroughly enjoyed it, 3Bv one way); http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/apr/09/largest-urban-cable-car-la-paz-bolivia.
Let me know if you have any other questions, will be happy to assist
Excellent. Sounds similar to the extensive cable car system in Medellin.
I started taking ginkgo biloba because it's supposed to help with altitude, and drinking loads of water.
Skip--Will be in Bolivia from Oct 7 to 23--might run into you somewhere. Not sure where I'm going yet. Thinking of doing the two day bike ride and three day boat ride from La paz to rurre with Gravity Assisted--if they ever answer my email!
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