A view of the colorful mineral lakes from Chacaltaya
On the recommendation of a British couple I flew back to La Paz from Rurrenabaque with, I booked a day tour to Chacaltaya to see the world’s highest ski lift. Unfortunately, there’s been no skiing at Chacaltaya for the past five years since the glacier melted, but the views from 5,400 meters is still impressive.
A tarantula that we saw on a night hike, sitting on some motacu.
I haven’t been able to update the blog for the past several weeks due to the lack of reliable Internet in Bolivia, or rather the expense of reliable Internet when it is available. But I’m finally on my way to Argentina and I’m excited to update everyone about my time in Bolivia!
In late April I spent four days at the Mashaquipe Ecolodge in Madidi National Park, just outside Rurrenabaque. While it was nearly three times the cost of some of the budget jungle tours, I felt that the expense was justified mainly due to the ethics and responsibility of the tour company, but also the small group sizes (just four per guide!) and the better quality of service all around.
The start of sunset over Lake Titicaca viewed from Cerro Calvario
Thankfully, the disputes causing the road blocks between La Paz and Copacabana were resolved shortly after my arrival in La Paz and I was able to plan a trip to Lake Titicaca via Copacabana and Isla del Sol. I spent an incredible three days hiking around the lake and getting to know some of the magnificent street dogs in the area. Honestly, some of the dogs I met there were the best travel companions I’ve had so far!
A plate of ceviche in Trujillo
Peru was the first country on my RTW and it made for an excellent start. I spent 24 days in the country and visited five major sites (Lima, Trujillo, Huaraz, Cusco and surroundings, Arequipa and surroundings). My average daily budget was US$50, although I definitely splurged during my time in Cusco on some of the nicer restaurants (Uchu is highly recommended!) and did a bit of shopping.
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The full bus schedule from Arequipa to Tacna, Peru. Current as of April 2013
Due to a blockade between Copacabana, Bolivia and La Paz, I changed my planned route from going through Puno to Bolivia to going through northern Chile from Arequipa. It turned out to be a very straightforward and actually enjoyable border crossing (at least with a US passport). Northern Chile was not initially on my itinerary, but I’m glad I got to see at least a small slice of the beautiful desert beaches before heading back to the Andes.
The first step was to take a bus from Arequipa down to Tacna. I chose to go with Flores based on some recommendations from other travelers and the modest price of 25 soles, but there are many other companies that run the same route. The full schedule is posted on the left. I had no trouble getting a ticket for the 6:15 bus on a Friday morning about 15 minutes in advance.
A Yank without a Chain 