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| Marti
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| Countries traveled: | 51 |
| US States Traveled: | 31 | |
| Essential item: | Hand Sanitizer |
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Place
South America
Bolivia
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Style Adventurous | Budget $ Dirt Cheap |
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The Gem of South America
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Overall Rating (5 awesome - 1 terrible): 5 |
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| | | GENERAL | Program/company I traveled with:
As part of a 5-month backpacking trek through South & Central Americas. | | | | HIGHLIGHTS | Major Activity:
Local Dives, Street Stalls, Local Markets, Local Interaction, Trekking | One thing you cannot miss:
Downhill Madness from La Paz to Corico & The 3 day 4-wheel drive across the Altiplano. | One thing you should avoid:
the train/bus from Uyuni to La Paz - worst trip I ever experienced. | Suggested visiting time:
3 weeks. It originally was not on our tentative schedule and then it became the highlight of our So | | | | ACTIVITIES | Next time:
3-day 4-wheel drive across the Altiplano. We picked up the tour in Chili - San Pedro de Atacama. It goes both directions, but take it from Chili to bolivia if you can. The tour also takes you across the Salt Flats - 250sqkm of salt. Its a white sea. The first night's accomodation is really rough...no running water, no electricity, it's freezing up at 5000m high and no heat. All well worth it for those who can take the adventure. DOWNHILL MADNESS bike ride from Quito to Corico (book in LaPaz on Calle Sagamaya). It goes from 4200m to 3500m on a windy, muddy, road that reasembles a cliff edge more then a road. There are buses that fall over the edge frequently. I didn't last long before I threw my bike on the back of the truck, but wow it was amazing...and scary. People do die on it. We stayed an extra night in CORICO where you end up. It was well worth it for local interactions. Lovely coca leaf farm town. COPACABANA - this town sits on the edge of LAKE TITICACA. It's a hippie hang-out place with great rest/bars. I really do not recommend the tours to the Sun & Moon Inca Islands. Very very boring. La Paz was amazing. See my travel rec. | | | | ACCOMODATION | Hotels/hostels/accom:
Corico (60 Bol) - Hostel Kory. What a view from the patio. We drank beers and looked back across the mountain we had just come down on Downhill Madness.
Copacabana (60 bol) - Hostel Colonial. Besides being on the top floor it was a good place to stay. Great garden to hang out in. If you are not on a budget try La Cupula (Calle Michel Perez 1-3) | Part of town to stay:
Go to Corico. | | | | FOOD | Retaurant/local dives/markets:
La Cupula (Calle Michel Perez 1-3). We had a great meal there. | | | | NIGHTLIFE | At night:
Corico - Bamboos - Trendy (relatively) mexican and good drinks.
Copacabana - There are tons of bars/resturants. All sorts of backpacker/hippie places. too many to choose from. | | | | GETTING AROUND | Local transport:
Bus from place to place. I don't think there is another option. | My Route:
We came across from Chili - San Pedro de Atacama via the 3-day 4-wheel drive tour. Then we went via train/bus from Uyuni to La Paz (awful), then via bus everywhere else including over the boarder to Peru. (Tip - watch the boarder crossing into Peru as it is sometimes closed due to peasant riots...I'm not joking.) | | | | SAFETY | Safety Tips:
yes, but watch for pick-pockets. |
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Three essentials for India:
GET YOUR VISA ORGANIZED AHEAD OF TIME. The Embassy wait can be brutal!
A-Z of Adventure Travel Insurance from World Nomads as you will probably get "Delhi Belly."
Hostelworld was a great help for finding cheap, but decent accommodation in India!
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