We came to leave Uyuni to head down to Potosi the morning after we got back from our tour. Heard some rumours that there may be a road block or two as the miners were on strike, but figured that as the bus was going and a load of locals were on it, it would be fine. About 5 hours into the journey we come to a halt at a road block. Loads of other buses and cars there so not too worried. Then the miners decide a little indimidation was in order and started sett...

A short bus ride to Oruro, a small ex mining town that had seen better days and certainly doesn't see many tourists, and onto the train for the 7hr ride across the altiplano to Uyuni. The next morning, Juan our guide, our cook and her daughter, were busy loading our ancient looking Toyota Landcruiser for our 3 day jaunt across the Salar & Eduardo Avaroa National Park. Our group consisted of 3 American guys and the most annoying French girl we have ever had ...

Arrived to a cold and crazy La Paz via a snowy Alto city which is 500m above La Paz. La Paz is at the northern end of the Altiplano in a valley 3,500m above sea level. As a general rule we don't like cities, but La Paz is certainly an exception. After checking into Loki hostel we took a walk around the city and immediately came across our first Bolivian demonstration. We dodged the fire crackers and headed for our first of many Saltenas (sweet pastry filled wit...

Back in Quito for our final night in Ecuador. Davy and Guus turned up at 9 that evening and we went to meet Enrique in a bar. Oh dear. Several bars and dollars later, we find ourselves in the worst nightclub in Quito. But that didnt put us off and we partied until 5am. Unfortunately we had to be out of our room by midday, so we didnt get much time to sleep. The afternoon dragged, so we were happy to board our flight at 9pm for Lima. Got our connection to La Paz, ...

We travelled 6hrs from Cuenca to Riobamba through part of the avenue of volcanoes, truly spectacular scenery. However, the highlight was seeing Chimborazo volcano looming large. On to another bus for the 2hr hop to Banos, only it wasn't. We were turfed off the bus, dumped into a collectivo and abandoned half way up the volcano. A huge landslide had swept away the road, which to our disgust meant we had to don the packpacks and actually do some trekking across fi...