BOLIVIA - Salt Lakes

As we came over the horizon the Salar de Uyuni
opened up before us. At altitude and with a bitter wind we photographed the amazing patterns in the salt flats. This area is now known to contain the world's richest deposit of lithium.

Lake Titicaca

A three hour boat ride from the Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca we arrived at peaceful Takile Island. Its about the same size as Rottnest Island but has no cars, no roads and no electricity. The steep slopes tested our fitness as we climbed the mountain paths to our homestay.

Here's our wonderful group with our homestay hosts.

SALT PONDS

As a saline stream tumbles down a steep gulley hundreds of salt ponds have provided salt to the local area since Inca times.

COLCA CANYON

Colca Canyon is one of the homes of the mighty condor which spiral upwards from their overnight resting places. In parts, Colca Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon.

AREQUIPA

Santa Catalina Convent was founded in 1580. It was a cloistered convent where the second daughter of wealthy families dedicated their lives to chastity, poverty and obedience through prayer and silence!

At Altitude

We travelled as high as 4900 meters where the air is thin and you need to move more slowly. A type of moss covered the volcanic landscape and alpacas roamed where there was water supply.

Ana Maria

Your tour is only as good as your guide. And we had the best! Ana Maria is a native born Peruvian with an intimate knowledge of her country and its culture. She organised events for us that would be available to very few tourists including a sacred ceremony including local medicine men for good weather - and it worked!