Tilcara & Salta

Well, for some reason the first post got deleted so here we go again....

After splitting up from my British buddies, I tried to get to Tilcara, which turned out to be more difficult than I thought. Tarija, the city I was told to go to, did not offer any buses going to Argentina before Thursday which would have meant that I needed to wait there 2 days. Obviously that hasn’t been an option so I left to Bermejo. From there I had the most spectacular border crossing experience I had so far. I just passed a river by boat and there were no control points anywhere to see which is why I got scared this might be illegal. 

Border crossing 

Luckily it turned out to be all legal so I could take a bus from Aqua Blanca to Salta and then to Tilcara. I arrived at 2am and there was no one but a homeless and dogs on the street. The hostel was already closed but they heard me knocking so after 20 minuets thinking what might be my other options they opened the door. In Tilcara Ingot to see the 14 colored mountain 

14 colored mountain 

For some reason I thought I might not need to put on sun screen that day

From Tilcara I went to Salta where I am enjoying a few relaxed days. 

View from Cerro Bernando

Cathedral de la Virgen del Milagro

Main plaza

Salta is a nice place to be and I am really enjoying my time over here.

Hear you soon

Hannes

La Paz and Rurrenabaque (Jungle)

Hi, 

So the last week I spend in them Amazonas and in La Paz riding down the most dangerous road in the world. 

La Paz is an interesting city. It is the highest city in the world which makes it difficult to move around big in case of altitude sickness you can just chew some coca leaves. The city is build in a way that if you walk down hill you will always end up in the city center. Besides some nice churches, a cable cart system instead of a metro, partying and the death road there is not much to do in La Paz. It is the connection to the Jungle and to lake Titicara though.  

View on La Paz and the cable carts

Church San Francisco

Cathedral Metropolitana

The Parliament (in La Paz even though La Paz is not the capital)

Death Road with all possible protection even though it would not have helped as getting of the road would mean to fall at last 100m deep

After La Paz we went to the Amazon. We got the advice to do it by taxi which has been a bad choice as we needed longer than the bus and paid about 5 times as much... the road to Rurrenabaque still is advantageous. From there we took a 3 hours boat ride to the Jungle. It has been different than I assumed it would be like. It’s hard to get to see animals meaning we got to see monkeys, two small snakes, caymans, a Tapir, frogs and some birds (insects not included). Nevertheless it has been a great but expensive experience but I am not sure if I would do it again if I had the choice. 

Termites build tunnels down trees as they try to avoid the sun light



One mini Cayman but saw the big ones as well

Well now I will travel alone once again as my British friends will go to Peru and I need to get to Buenos Aires. 

Was fun traveling with you guys:

Hear you soon!

Hannes

Salt Flats Bolivia

Hi,

So it hasn’t been long since the last entry but I still got to see amazing things during this time. The Salt Flats are definitely under the top 3 of this trip so far. Just see the pictures:

Sun rise at Salar de Uyuni 

Laguna Blanca

The group



Geysire El Tatio

Copa Del Mundo

Camel Rock

Relaxing at the hidden city

Laguna Negra

Anaconda Canyon

Our Jeep at Salar de Uyuni

Isla Del Inca

Train Cemetery 

Lagune Verde
Lagune Colorada

At the beginning I have been afraid of altitude sickness as we when up to 5000m but luckily I had no problem. Some of us ate coca leaves which are supposed to help but all in all everyone has been ok 👌 

So now I am in Bolivia, going to La Paz and then i need to figure out how to get back to Argentina. 

Hear you soon.

Hannes

San Pedro de Atacama and the Atacama Desert: the driest desert in the world

Buenos a todos,

This post is a bit late as I have been camping in the desert and therefore obviously had no connection at all.

So after being in Puerto Madryn, I changed my plans again to travel with my funny English friends I meet in El Calafate. They were in Santiago and planned going north to San Pedro de Atacama so I went all the way back to Santiago to celebrate Halloween with my brother Felipe and then:

Leaving by plane to see one of Southamerica‘s highlights: the Atacama desert. 

We have been renting a camper and discovered it on our own. This has been challenging as the so called camping places are nowhere to see. Also you need to return everyday to San Pedro as there is no other gas station anywhere. Roads are bad, no signs and some aren’t even on the map but taking this relaxed gives you the possibility to have an incomparable experience and getting to see more than others. 

I have never seen a place like the Atacama desert before. Best to describe it would be pictures:

Valley of Moon

Part 2

Moon rising (purple sky) after the sunset (Valley of Moon) 

Lagune Cejar (so salty that you float)

Lagune Tebinquinche (my personal highlight)

Salt everywhere

Flamencos at the national park

Alpacas

Sunset 

Geysire El Tatio

There is much more to see which is the reason I might return. But for now I will be leaving to Bolivia doing the salt flats. 

So next post will hopefully be on time again. 

Still alive

Hannes