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Uyuni – Villazon – La Quiaca bus. Crossing the Bolivia/Argentina border
Most buses to Villazon leave at 10 PM or very early in the morning at 6 AM. The trip takes 6 hours, and the 10 PM bus arrives around 5:30 AM in Villazon. Who wants to be woken up at 4 AM to cross the border? Not us! Who wants to get up at 5 AM, walk among stray dogs to catch a 6 AM bus? Definitely not us! We had to go around the bus terminal in Uyuni asking each bus company what time they leave, and we finally find a company called Quechisla. They have buses leaving every day at 8 AM and 10 AM to Villazon. The…
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Back to Uyuni in 2024, One-Day Tour of the Flooded Salt Desert (Bolivia)
Our visit to the Uyuni Salt Flat (Salar de Uyuni) when it was completely flooded remains one of the most extraordinary experiences of our first round-the-world trip. We timed our visit to return exactly mid-January. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal We took the bus between Copacabana and Uyuni (prices and tips here). The travelers we met on Isla del Sol told us they hadn’t seen “a single drop of water” two weeks earlier, which worries me a bit. We arrive at 6 a.m. and indeed, the whole town is completely dry. This time, we arrive at the new bus terminal (https://maps.app.goo.gl/RN8wEtvGYPGvp9rd9), farther from the…
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Copacabana – Uyuni Bus (2024 Fares)
From Copacabana, there are very few comfortable options to get to Uyuni. All buses stop in La Paz. We opted for the company Titicaca. On-site rates are higher than online, so feel free to buy online. We first need to take a bus at 1:45 PM to La Paz. On the way, there’s a unique crossing. The bus crosses on a somewhat worrying boat (which takes forever to cross). Tourists must take a small boat they pay for themselves (2Bs/person). Then you’ll arrive in La Paz around 6 PM, where you have to wait several hours before getting a bus to Uyuni (9:30 PM). We waited several hours in a…
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Yumani, Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca (Bolivia)
In South America, Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Lake Titicaca (and Yumani specifically) are my favorite places. Lake Titicaca is the most extraordinary place on Earth, in my opinion. I thought I’d never go back, but in 2024, we finally made it back! Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Bus from Cusco to Copacabana We chose Transzela (which leaves at 10:30 PM). Online reviews aren’t the most flattering, but we have no complaints. There’s Uber in Cusco, so to get to the bus terminal, we just called an Uber (15 soles). At the bus terminal, you have to pay 1.5 soles per person (terminal fee) and 1…
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Cusco to Copacabana Bus (2024 Prices)
Several buses connect Cusco to Copacabana. I was torn between the different companies. The most luxurious one is Peru Tour, reserved for fragile tourists like me, as they even pump oxygen into the bus (for those suffering from altitude sickness like me). They stop for 3 hours in Puno and offer a tour of the floating islands of Puno during that time. For tourists in a hurry, it can be a good option, but it’s pricey (minimum $50). Since I’ve already visited Puno, I’ll gladly skip that stop. We chose Transzela (departure at 10:30 PM) 90 soles per person. Online reviews aren’t the most flattering, but we have no complaints…
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Ollantaytambo (Peru): Paradise Exists
Last time, Ollantaytambo impressed me more than Machu Picchu, so this time I decide to stay for a week. We get dropped off there during a tour of the Sacred Valley. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal JB spots a hotel a three-minute walk from the village market and main square (Hostel Apu Qhawarina, Booking link), and we go for the most spacious room to spend a week. The internet isn’t super stable but is enough to work, and the hot water isn’t scorching but is warm enough for a long, pleasant shower. Payment is cash only, though, and since we hadn’t taken out enough…
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[Travel Diary] Chinchero, Moray, Maras (Peru)
I’m happy that last time we didn’t visit the entire Sacred Valley; there are still quite a few famous places we can visit this time, so it’s a bit of a change. From Cusco, we take a one-day guided tour to Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo, and Pisac. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal I remember last time when I saw Ollantaytambo, I was extremely jealous of the people who could spend the night there, and I saw tourists from the guided tour finish their tour at Ollantaytambo and this time, I’ll do the same. The tour will go from Cusco to Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Ollantaytambo,…
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Lima and Cusco (Peru): ringing in the new year
After our road trip across the United States, we need to pick our next destination. It’s tough because from what we remember, there isn’t necessarily high-speed internet or hot showers in small towns in South America. We still take the gamble and go to Peru to see for ourselves. And in the end, high-speed internet has made it to the mountains, and hot water too. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal Lima Don’t ask me what Lima looks like because I only saw the park across from my hotel and the beach from a taxi. We absolutely did NOTHING in Lima. The Las Vegas –…
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My Current Favorites [January 2024]: Handmade Quilted Bag, Vest, and Duvet
Being someone who easily feels cold, I’m drawn to anything quilted. It’s soft, warm, and often handmade. Remember, I had a mini weekend bag from Nobodinoz in organic cotton. I loved it and took it everywhere Koh Phangan, until one day I left it to dry on a metal table and it got ruined by rust stains that are impossible to remove. I wanted to replace it with the same one, but it was no longer for sale. I came across an upgraded version at Capitaine Gaufrette : handmade, with even more pockets and more details (and can we talk about those gold piping details?) ? The fabric is also organic…
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Prepaid 4G SIM/eSIM in Bolivia: How much does it cost? Where to buy?
Buying an eSIM for Bolivia If you have an eSIM-compatible phone and want to get one for Bolivia, you can go through Holafly (read our article on the topic). See eSIM offers for Bolivia. Don’t hesitate to use the promo code NOMADBENTO Holafly offers unlimited internet plans ranging from €29 to €79 depending on the length of your stay. The rates are more expensive than buying a local SIM card, but that’s the price of convenience. Buying a SIM card at the airport I entered Bolivia overland from Peru, so I didn’t get to see the offers at the airport. If you have any info, feel free to share it in the…
