We will be visiting San Pedro de Atacama in early December.
Since we'll be staying there for a couple of days, we would like to make a tour to the Uyuni salt plains in Bolivia.
I've been looking around on the net, but so far I haven't been able to find a lot of information on these tours.
Do you have any information on tour operators doing these tours (quality/comfort/price/length etc)?
jo25
1
esterosdelibera
Previous report:
Posted: June-12-07
* The trip from San Pedro de Atacama to Uyuni takes 3 days and 2 nights.You have the choice of 4 Bolivian owned operators out of San Pedro and prices range from US$80 (Pamela Tours) to US$95 with the other 3. We went with Pamela Tours. They lived up to their promises. There are good reports also from other travellers on the route with us about Estrella. Essentially they all offer the same trip staying at the same places and even providing the same foodç. The difference is the driver who often takes his wife as cook making your battered 20 year old Landcruiser even more crowded. A fellow traveller told of a real maverick with too much machismo coupled with a totally dangerous vehicle.We had only 5 people in our group including our driver, the safe and cautious Octavio who was also a capable cook. He made us a quinoa and veg soup and fritters one night. Most other vehicles had 6-8 people on board. Expect to be very cold especially on the first night at Laguna Colorada at 4350 meters. Accommodation here is basic ie no running water, heating, electricity, flushing toilets etc. Also if you are not acclimatised to altitude or susceptible to its effects this place will find you out. A great trip though if you are prepared for moderate discomfort ie HABS (high altitude bogey syndrome), dust, cold, wind=dryskin, abraded bum from the car seat, sunburn, altitude sickness etc. It is called suffering for your bragging rights.Taking at least 4 litres of water per person is recommended.
Jorge Daniel Barchi.
Buenos Aires.
2
Greatgazzbo
Post 1 basically says it all. You can have 3 or 4 day tours, if you are heading into Bolivia afterwards, then get one that finishes in Uyuni in Bolivia. Take sunglasses and sunblock and a couple of pieces of fruit, some comfort snacks and a bottle of alcohol as food supplied is very basic. I suggest you hire a sleeping bag for US$5 from your tour agent. San Pedro has a number of tour agents and it is a bit lucky dip getting the perfect tour, but its all part of the adventure. The Uyuni salt plains tour was one of the highlights of our SA trip.
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