Review - Uyuni - Salar Tours

Castilla Tours
pros
- Jeep in good shape
- food better than expected (aside from 1 meal of raw chicken -- literally raw)
- scenery amazing (same with all companies)

cons
- lied about everything
-- promised 6 people plus driver - we had 7 plus driver plus cook
-- picked up 2 people who were doing a 4 day tour -- they basically redid their first day
-- people who paid to have everything included were asked to pay each time

-- surly cook, ignorant driver

Hotel Avenida
pros
-near train station
-excellent electric showers
-some comfortable beds

cons
-extremely unpleasant family running the hotel
--refused to hold baggage until train arrived
--refused to allow friends staying in hotel to hold my baggage
--saw two people back from salar trek who asked to pay to take a shower (they had stayed there previously) -- refused

--kept saying -- if I was in your country, could you leave a bag in a hotel - and refused to believe that yes -- it.s pretty common - in bolivia as well eh?

Minuteman Restaurant
-The most amazing food ever!
-The friendliest owners and staff ever!
-Best part of my experience in Uyuni!

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FYI, just got to Tupiza last night -- seems absolutely amazing!
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My impression is that it would be nicer to do the tour from Tupiza-Uyuni, but this would likely cost about twice as much.
Tours in Uyuni ranged from $60-$80 -- with seemingly no difference in service.