Day 1

We were collected by minibus from our hostel at 8am, driven to meet the rest of our group (16 in total + 3 drivers/guides in 3 4x4´s) then driven to the Chilean border to be stamped out of Chile.

We then drove to the Bolivian border through the mountains (about an hour) once at the Bolivian border we were 14,435 feet above sea level and it was cold! We got off the minibus to have our passports stamped and we all put our jumpers on! We then had breakfast supplied by the tour operator (would you believe it was cheese and ham rolls!!!!) We were starving so tucked in even though we had vowed not to eat anymore cheese and ham rolls for the whole trip!)

We were then put into groups of 6 (Us 5 and a 42yr old Dutch lady called Yvonne) the 4x4 was comfortable but a little wrecked! We drove to buy our park entrance tickets and then to our first stop which was Laguna Blanca.

(Laguna Blanca is a lake in the Sur Lípez Province, Potosí Department, Bolivia. At an elevation of 4350 m, its surface area is 10.9 km⊃2;. The lake is 5.6 km long and 3.5 km wide. The characteristic white colour of the water, that gave the lake its name, is caused by the high amount of minerals. Only a narrow corridor separates Laguna Blanca from the smaller Laguna Verde)

It was beautiful, completely clear water. (There was a rather strange Belgium lady in our group that decided to get into the lake - we had been told to stay away from the water due to the high sulpher in it!)

We then drove to Laguna Verde right beside Laguna Blanca.

(Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) is a salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia, in the Potosí Department, Sur Lípez Province, on the Chilean border at the foot of the volcano Licancabur. Its colour is caused by sediments, containing copper minerals. It is elevated some 4,300 m (14,000 ft) above sea level)

At Laguna Verde we built a tower with stones which is some sort of offering. (Joe was in his element!) We all then had to make a wish! The other jeeps were preparing to leave when we noticed our driver with his overalls on under jeep! (great start an hour into the trip!) So we spent a bit longer here than we were supposed to, it was nice, we chatted to the group and Joe built another stone tower! Jeep fixed we all headed off again.

It is so hard to describe the amazing scenery we saw this day but once i get chance to upload pics you can see for yourselves!

We stopped at a place called Daly Desert named that because Salvador Daly had painted the landscape (need to do some research on this!) It was difficult for us to find any info from our driver as he didn´t speak a word of English and our Spanish is very limited!

We then drove to some thermal water pools (We decided not to get in as we only had 30 mins and the pool is 40´c and getting out was going to be freezing! We sat taking in the scenery instead! (Here the crazy Belguim lady decided to get in the lake instead of the thermal pools - amusing to watch!)

We then drove for quite a while to Sol de Manana Geysers - intermittent springs coming up at a 194´f -and fumaroles ,cracks with emerging volcanic lava! It absolutly stank of rotten eggs due to the high sulpher but it was amazing to see (i didn´t get too close as you could see the lava bubbling and spitting

(Sol de Mañana is a geothermal field in Sur Lípez Province in the Potosi Department of south-western Bolivia. It extends over 10 km⊃2;, between 4800m and 5000m height. This area is characterized by intense volcanic activity and the sulphur springs field. There are several holes, the best known emits pressurized steam, visible in the morning up to 50 meters high.

After the geysers we were driven to our hostel for the night (We were told it would be very basic and freezing cold, it turned out to be not too cold and not too basic although no showers!) Here we had lunch (Hot dog sausages, mash and salad). The weather had taken a bad turn so we waited a while then drove out to Laguna Colorada - here there are 30,000 different species of flamingos

(Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) is a shallow salt lake in the southwest of the altiplano of Bolivia. The lake contains borax islands, whose white color contrasts nicely with the reddish color of its waters, which is caused by red sediments and pigmentation of some algae)

We then headed back to the hostel had dinner and headed to bed ready for an early start tomorrow.