Puno to Uyuni: Is the 4-Day City & Salar Tour Worth It? A Review

Alright, so you’re considering a trip from Puno, that town on the edge of Lake Titicaca, all the way to the Salar de Uyuni, that incredible salt flat in Bolivia? The four-day tour that throws in La Paz sounds intense, doesn’t it? Well, it is very much an undertaking, and the question is, is that lengthy altiplano haul seriously something you should put on your bucket list, or might your precious travel time be spent doing something different? Let’s find out!

First Impressions: What’s This Tour Actually About?

Basically, the ‘From Puno La Paz City Tour Salar De Uyuni 4 Days’ experience, well it looks amazing on paper. Think, a scenic hop from the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca, on through to the urban commotion that is La Paz, Bolivia and, topping it all off with an unbelievable excursion across the planet’s biggest salt flats. Often, this sounds pretty remarkable! But that’s a good chunk of ground to cover in such a short space of time, and there’s more than one factor that seriously could influence how well you appreciate this particular excursion. So really, keep your expectations realistic – you aren’t likely to be kicking back in absolute comfort all the way through!

First up, that start in Puno? Well, it’s pretty chill, the lake views are wonderful, but at an altitude of over 12,000 feet, very, very few people are exactly bursting with energy. The jump across to La Paz is an interesting one, mostly involving buses and border crossings. And, La Paz? It’s truly hectic. Get ready for crowds, hills that go on forever, and a totally different cultural feel than Puno. The highlight, of course, tends to be the Salar de Uyuni. Really, that place is as other-worldly as those pictures make it appear!

The La Paz Leg: City Exploration… or Just Survival?

La Paz… a city that is either going to wow you with its chaos, or overwhelm you just a bit. So this part of the tour, you know it’s all about the pace and what you decide to do with it. Those brightly colored cable cars are basically the coolest way to see that urban sprawl from above, seriously making transport into an opportunity to take in the sights. Now, any tour worth its salt – and I say that like your getting to the Salar pretty soon, right? – any tour is seriously going to take you to the Witches’ Market. Remember, this place, it is just fascinating, what with its potions and dried llama fetuses (seriously!). Don’t buy any candy from strangers or local shops. Now in this market I mean it’s as legit a cultural experience that you can expect to find. As I was saying though, a lot of people on that kind of rapid tour tend to only scrape the top of what La Paz really offers. Is there a city tour? yes! Did I hear any complaints? yes! One thing to remember too, if you don’t pay attention, La Paz won’t hold back, and you could possibly, seriously be at risk of getting swindled. Especially by vendors in the tourist spots. One tip, barter like your grandma is watching; she’d know what to do! As I was saying, and remember there are hills alright, watch your pocketbook and you should seriously be set.

Salar de Uyuni: The Salt Flats Experience. Worth it?

Now, this is truly what most folks show up for, right? The Salar de Uyuni is vast, is gleaming, is completely surreal. A lot of tour groups pack you into jeeps (that tend to be a little on the rough side, I am saying). Remember though, bring snacks. Anyway, as a matter of fact, those jeeps will bounce you across the salt for hours, and as I was saying to the horizon until, really, there’s very little to tell the earth apart from that sky. So take photographs, get your creative on with perspective shots (I mean everyone does!), and soak up that unusual emptiness. Really, most tours incorporate a stop at Incahuasi Island, which is a rocky outcrop littered in ginormous cacti. The place is cool but you have to keep walking around these cacti, it’s almost like finding which way is north! As a matter of fact, what I seriously enjoyed? Like that stillness, that sensation of pretty much being nowhere at all, under one seriously enormous sky.

Also, there are flamingos to visit, along with colored lagoons (Laguna Colorada), and bizarre rock formations. Most seriously worthwhile bits tend to depend upon the particular tour you grab, and sometimes the period in the rainy season which could leave areas flooded and pretty much unpassable. One tip, check your tires! These drivers are under-qualified. As a matter of fact, a serious amount of this part seriously is invested trekking around in rather bumpy conditions; the payoff seriously is that feeling of exploring possibly among the strangest terrains this earth offers. One question I seriously asked was this. “How long does this salt remain in the Uyuni flat?”. Another important consideration when going here would be making the effort of acquiring coca leaves before your trip to Bolivia, it’ll help you combat the harsh altitude as well.

Creature Comforts (or the Lack Of)

Basically, let’s keep it real: this tour isn’t precisely five-star treatment alright. As I was saying, a good amount of this is seriously off the beaten track, plus standards seriously vary when it comes to accommodation. This usually is pretty basic with possibly dorm-style sleeping arrangements. Really, hot water? Now, that’s basically luck more than something you can anticipate. You need to mentally get yourself prepared. Take a deep breath; there’s more than one time where that toilet paper might be a thing that’s rather scarce too. Also seriously bring that own sleeping bag sometimes (it will depend on a specific tour). One question to ask is, how clean are those sheets? Is that seriously what you desire to gamble with? Food? You are really going to be relying upon basic, local fare, right – expect plenty of quinoa and possibly very little fresh fruit or greens.

Here are three tips, I’ll tell you what. Number one: pack toilet paper, also seriously pack hand sanitizer and wet wipes. Like really seriously. Next one is prepare for some seriously cold evenings (layers, people, layers!). Last tip; that mindset seriously goes a surprisingly long way alright. So keep your expectations reasonably in check, and seriously go there geared up for some rough-and-ready situations, and you will seriously find it simpler to seriously appreciate what the tour does seriously well offer!

Things To Seriously Consider Ahead Of Seriously Booking

One moment I am going to tell you three essential pieces, seriously think about them ahead of that Uyuni tour alright? This altitude will affect seriously everyone in ways you may not anticipate, seriously factor in altitude medication and then those days adjusting well ahead. As a matter of fact, the second thing you should remember? Look at reviews – shop for a respected tour agency. Don’t precisely base things simply on that seriously cheapest possible rate, this might indicate skimping somewhere on security or reliability. Really the last essential thing to seriously plan for is Seriously allow time for serious delays alright. Bolivia is an incredibly gorgeous country but everything isn’t usually running with Swiss-watch precision. Unexpected roadblocks, possibly vehicle difficulties – they do occur, seriously ensure your itinerary is seriously flexible, especially if you seriously have connections or flights coming up as I was seriously saying straight after your trip!

The Final Verdict: Is the Tour Seriously Worth That Hype?

So here is the important question. Should that “From Puno La Paz City Tour Salar De Uyuni 4 Days” actually take a space inside your itinerary alright? The honest solution to your question? This varies on a little depending on your tastes alright. If you like really rushing around to get lots into those seriously limited timescales then the answer could seriously be yes! You’ll experience lots alright! You have seriously seen things that the majority only observe in pics alright! If the idea that discomfort that might mean cold and basic lodging and people seriously get you down really badly? That might not exactly be your perfect type of thing alright!

Is there a reason this seriously well known and liked? Certainly right! That Salar itself is seriously stunningly spectacular, plus La Paz brings pretty much such an amazing layer inside a combined bag. Not that organized properly with open eyes it can be something rather epic! I can tell you something as well. Would seriously I do the whole darned thing over again? I guess. What the Salar seriously showed me was worth the entire effort, even those icy mornings, plus all those bumpy rides and a lot of that questionable bathrooms. I mean there you go folks, just so you’re in the loop.

• Salar de Uyuni is Unforgettable: Those salt flats really are all of that alright!
• La Paz Provides Richness: Be prepared for mayhem but that culture’s intriguing right!
• Comforts Seriously Vary: Pack things as I stated earlier alright. It gets down right uncomfortable alright.
• Book With Care: Seriously choose that tour company with loads of that research right alright.
• Mindset Matters: Bring on a great approach also lots of that patience to the trip!

These factors that you now are seriously going to bear in mind, are you right for the 4 days and Uyuni experience that I touched on above? Let me be so sure!

I hope my advice seriously helps you make an advised judgement.

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