THE Bolivia I Didn't Know Existed! :)

While known for the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flats and mirror in the world..

Bolivia has more on its palette than just white!

Laguna Colorada or Red Lagoon

A splash of red and green lagoons..

Specks of wild pink flamingos..

Strokes of seven colors on a mountain..

Oh.. I just loved discovering them! :)

3 days in the wilderness in this ride..

On to our first stop at the train cemetery..

Nothing spectacular.. just a graveyard for trains abandoned by mining companies..

But this.. why did I walk too slow?!

A mama Llama just gave birth seconds before I arrived..

And this.. what you always see on postcards..

Harvested salt.. mounds.. hard as rocks..

We stepped on them but I promise they will be cleaned ;)

Dakar Rally.. husband had to explain to me what this was! :P

The off-road endurance race apparently went (or still goes?) through these salt flats..

No.. I could not find the Philippine flag here, and wish we brought one..

So guys, when it's your turn to visit this original and abandoned salt hotel..

Don't forget to bring your country's flag! ;)

If you're wondering.. this beautiful salt hotel was closed down due to waste disposal and sewage problems.. 

It was the only salt hotel ever built in the middle of the salt flats.. and sadly, there was no proper infrastructure to support it..

Just a kid playing on a truck.. and life.. of the Bolivianos in the area..

Behind the scenes: Lunch break with tour mates.. 

Roasted chickens were huge and good!

Walls, dining chairs, and tables.. made of salt blocks..

The only part of Bolivia I knew existed! ;)

The Salt Flats.. Our playground for the afternoon!

Click here for more: My Playground.. Salar de Uyuni

So they kept saying we were going to Incahuasi or Fish Island..

And I thought there would be water and fishes..

But no.. only giant Cacti!

Amazing how an island full of giant Cacti sprouted in the middle of the salt flats!

So why Fish Island? 

Because the island is shaped like a fish!! haha! :))

Remember those salt blocks made into walls and chairs?

Yes, this is where they came from..

They are really hard.. unlike the salt in our kitchen! ;)

Behind the scenes: Salt hotel accommodation for the night..

And room assignment..

Bed frame, and side table also made of salt blocks..

Had to be careful with our things because the salt blocks were rough!

Good morning!

From somewhere close to the border of Chile..

On to see the Ollague Volcano..

Behind the scenes: Our car broke down, lunch ended up being served by the roadside, and I was glad..

It took them more than an hour to fix the problem.. but it was at that moment I saw how the Bolivianos really cared for each other.. with all the approaching vehicles stopping and helping.. until we could go..

Finally met the wild pink Flamingos at the Laguna Canapa..

And by the Laguna Hedionda.. or should I say, in the middle of nowhere.. this fascinating Hotel!

Just when I thought I was the only one mesmerised.. 

This wild Vicuña also loved the Flamingos ;)

Already freezing..

But had to take this shot with their most photographed rock.. the Arbol de Piedra or Stone Tree.. 

Now as the French in our group exclaimed as we arrived.. "Magnifique!"

The gorgeous Laguna Colorada or Red Lagoon.. turns red every time the wind blows.. caused by the movement of the microorganisms in the water..

And like the other lakes we've just seen.. the white patches are Borax mineral deposits..

And the pink dots? Flamingos!

Last stop for the day.. 

Had to be careful not to fall into the boiling mud pools..

At the crater of a volcano.. Sol de Mañana..

Our home last night.. Where I learned what the Bolivianos meant by Economical Toilet..

No shower.. No electricity after 10 pm.. No water.. No flush.. and No breathing for me!

Just this hot spring..

..and I survived!

To see the Seven Colors Mountain..

Bid farewell to our fellows..

At the Laguna Verde or Green Lagoon.. which shares the same story as the Red Lagoon.. 

But just Green!

Climb a few rocks at the Valley of Rocks..

And savour the beauty of the Bolivian wilderness one last time..

I hope you enjoyed this adventure as much as I did! :)

Related Posts: My Playground.. Salar de Uyuni; Where I'd Stay in La Paz

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References:

Cost Per Person as of November 2014

10-Hour Overnight Bus from La Paz to Uyuni - Round Trip - Todo Turismo Bus - USD 80
3-Day Salt Flats Tour Inclusive of Food, Lodging, and English Speaking Guide - Red Planet Expedition - USD 180

Bring your own water and tissue paper! :)

Peru - Lima (Nazca Lines) and Cuzco (Machu Picchu) Itinerary

The things I do for love.. because I really find historical ruins boring.. but here we are.. 

Checking an item on my husband's bucket list.. at Machu Picchu, Peru!

I must admit though that when the wind blew the fog away and uncovered those ruined buildings.. I whispered to myself.. "Wow.."

It wasn't just the ruins. It was the whole scene with a backdrop of beautiful high mountains. 

Then I came to understand why a lot of people have this Inca site in their travel goals.

And because it was also his birthday, I sent him flying over the Nazca Lines to celebrate! ;)

I'll tell you more about our experiences next time..

For now, just sharing with you how we got there :)

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Flight - Miami to Lima - Jetblue Airways

Day 1 - Lima

Land Transfer - Airport to Hotel - Hotel Transfer

Hotel - Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco - 1 Night

Plaza Mayor or Plaza de Armas, Lima

Day 2 - Lima to Nazca Lines

Land Transfer - Lima to Nazca Lines - Great Nazca Tours

Hostel - c/o Great Nazca Tours

El Parque del Amor or Love Park, Miraflores, Lima

Day 3 - Nazca Lines to Lima

Flight Tour over the Nazca Lines - Great Nazca Tours

Land Transfer - Nazca Lines to Lima - Great Nazca Tours

Hotel - Tierra Viva Miraflores Larco - 1 Night

Killer Whale, Nazca Lines

Day 4 - Lima to Cuzco

Land Transfer - Lima Hotel to Airport - Taxi

Flight - Lima to Cuzco - StarPeru

Land Transfer - Cuzco Airport to Hotel - Hotel Transfer

Hotel - Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas - 1 Night

Sleep well and drink lots of water to help avoid altitude sickness in Cuzco ;)

Plaza de Armas at dusk, Cuzco

Day 5 - Cuzco to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu)

Land Transfer - Hotel to Train Station - Hotel Transfer

Train - Cuzco to Aguas Calientes - PeruRail

Hotel - Tierra Viva Machu Picchu - 1 Night

Bring Insect Repellant.. We left with a lot of bites from sand flies!

Plaza de Armas, Aguas Calientes

Day 6 - Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu) to Cuzco

Land Transfer - Aguas Calientes Town to Machu Picchu Site - Shuttle Bus 

Buy your bus ticket at the ticket booth the night before to avoid queueing in the morning.

Entrance Ticket to Machu Picchu - Machu Picchu Website 

Only the Spanish version of the site works when booking. (as of writing)
Book your entrance ticket in advance as there is a limited number of visitors allowed on the site per day.

Train - Aguas Calientes to Cuzco - PeruRail

Land Transfer - Train Station to Hotel - Hotel Transfer

Hotel - Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas - 2 Nights

Machu Picchu

Day 7 - Cuzco

Hotel - Tierra Viva Cusco San Blas - 2 Nights

Plaza de Armas, Cuzco

Day 8 - Cuzco to Lima

Flight - Cuzco to Lima - StarPeru

Flight - Lima to Sao Paulo - LAN Airlines

A Baby Alpaca on the Streets of Cuzco ;)

I hope this is helpful guys!! :) 

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A year ago, we went to the Floating Islands of Uros in Lake Titicaca, Puno, Peru via Copacabana, Bolivia. 
You may want to add this in your itinerary as per below.

Day 8 - Cuzco to Puno (Lake Titicaca)

Flight - Cuzco to Puno (Juliaca Airport) / or Bus

Tour - Check with the hotel or online

Our tour came from Copacabana, Bolivia via Late Bolivia Tours

Hotel - Casona Plaza Hotel c/o Late Bolivia Tours - 1 Night

Totora Reed Boat and the Man-Made Uros Islands of Lake Titicaca, Puno

Day 9 - Puno (Lake Titicaca) to Lima

Flight - Puno (Juliaca) to Lima

Floating Islands of Uros, Lake Titicaca, Puno

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References:

Our Budget for 8 Days Per Person with shared rooms - September 2015
(EXCLUDING INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS to and from Lima)

Domestic Flights - USD 220
(Lima to Cuzco to Lima)
Trains - USD 157
(Cuzco to Machu Picchu to Cuzco - Expedition 33/34)
Shuttle Buses - USD 24
(Town to Machu Picchu Site to Town)
Hotel Transfers and Taxis - USD 39
Accommodations - USD 350
Food - USD 180
Activities - USD 290
(Nazca Lines Flight Tour - USD 250 / Machu Picchu Entrance - USD 40)
Total Per Person = USD 1,260

Where I'd Stay in La Paz, Bolivia.. Again

We stayed in different hotels in La Paz for a few days before we went to Lake Titicaca and after we came back from the Uyuni Salt Flats..

And because I have a weakness for accommodations..

I just want to share this lovely place that's an attraction on its own..

An old colonial house converted into Casa de Piedra Boutique Hotel..

In the centre of La Paz..

With a restaurant in a courtyard..

A bar in a cavern..

Reception at the second floor which felt like a chapel..

Wooden corridors and art painted walls..

Overlooking the courtyard..

An outdoor corridor leading to our room..

A room with a loft for hanging out.. Not ours but similar..

They were actually cleaning and we peeked..

Smaller rooms..

A fireplace lounge..

And internet! haha :P

We only stayed for a night..

But Casa de Piedra made it to my list of favourites! :)

Related Posts: My Playground.. Salar de Uyuni; THE Bolivia I Didn't Know Existed