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Traveling to La Paz for this February’s Carnaval and checking around to see what else to do during your trip? One of the most striking geological wonders of Bolivia is the Uyuni Salt Flats, located 11,995 feet above sea level in the Bolivian High Plateau (Altiplano). This is the largest desert of salt in the world, with 10 billion tons of salt and 50-70% of the world’s lithium reserves concentrated in a brine brine lake under the salt crust. The inimitable landscape of Uyuni features white salt bordered by red mountains, dotted with red and green lakes, pink flamingos and curly-tailed viscachas, surreal geological formations, noisy geysers and soothing hotsprings, pink flamingos. Pirwa Travel offers full day and 3 day tours of the unrivaled Salt Flats depart by 4×4 from the town of Uyuni.

What is There to See?

Colchani Town

The traditional and rustic methods of artisanal salt extraction can be seen in the one-street town of Colchani, whose inhabitants form a cooperative of the only workers permitted to collect salt in Uyuni. There’s a plethora of salt-based artisan products on view and for sale here as well.

The Salt Hotels

The first building erected in the center of Uyuni was the Salt Hotel, which is no longer operational due to the hygienic difficulties of building a hotel in the middle of a desert. Now, it acts as a sort of museum where visitors can marvel at its construction made completely of salt from walls to beds. It and other buildings like it show how locals can cope with scared traditional building materials. Now, Salt Hotels have popped up throughout Uyuni, although in more sustainable locations than the center of the Salt Flats.

Fish Island

When in Uyuni, the various “islands” are not islands in the traditional sense but rather the peaks of ancient volcanoes which were submerged when this area became a giant prehistoric lake, Lake Minchin. These unusual and fragile structures resemble coral and boast deposits of fossils and algae as well as giant cacti reaching 39ft. Colonies of the small rabbit-like viscachas call these home.

The Lagoons

Uyuni has a variety of stunning and distinct lagoons, from Stinking Lagoon, named for the smell that the sulfur and algae in its water produce, to Cañapa, Chiarcota, Honda, Colored (above, center), and Radadita Lagoons. All of these are part of an area which in November becomes a breeding ground for different types of flamingos, most notably the rare James’s Flamingo, as well as other birds. Another good site for flamingo and bird-watching is Red Lagoon (above, at right), located in the Eduardo Abaroa National Park. Other Lagoons, such as the Green Lagoon, are simply famous for their beauty, with a green lake mirroring Licancabur Volcano, at whose base it lies.

Siloli Desert & the Tree Stone

Although it’s found only an hour from the colored lakes, Siloli Desert is considered part of the Atacama, the world’s driest desert. It boasts extraordinary rock formations such as the Tree Stone, which have been eroded over time.

Morning Sun Geysers

The Sol de la Mañana, or Morning Sun, Geysers are actually fumaroles which noisily explode through surface holes and mud pools every few seconds. Nearby Hot Springs can help you relax when you’re looking for a less noisy and more soothing display!

The Train Cemetery

Near the end of the 1800s a railroad was built outside the town of Uyuni, which for a while served as a distribution hub for minerals en route to the Pacific ports. Despite the Bolivian president’s enthusiastic support of the railway, it was frequently sabotaged by the indigenous Aymara. When mining collapsed in the mid-1900s, the trains were abandoned.

We wrote earlier about the special character and whimsy of Carnaval in La Paz, Bolivia, and thought we’d follow that up with a rundown on who you’re likely to see there…..

(The Prankster)

The Pepino is the principal character of La Paz’s Carnaval, a mestizo fusion of the Spanish harlequin and the Andean Kusillo. In his multicolored costumed adorned with jangling bells, a mask, streamers and whistles, he plays pranks on the crowd, whom sprays with water, colored flour and confetti, hits with his “mother-in-law killer” club of cloth-covered sponge, inviting participants to dance. A Pepino costume is unearthed each year in the General Cementery of La Paz to initiate Carnaval. During his short but mischievous life the Pepino must marry, and he’ll be buried anew to bring Carnaval to a close.

(The Merry Womanizer)

The woman-chasing Ch’uta arose in the 18^th and 19^th century, wearing a mask with a rosy face, blue eyes, and laugh all meant to imitate the Spanish lord. Changes to the Ch’uta’s outfit over time has left him with a vest reminiscent of a matador’s coat, pants with openings on both sides as well as bells and ribbons, the lluch’u ccapand ch’uspa. Today brightly colored beards are also the norm.

The Ch’uta Cholero is a recent variant of the traditional Ch’uta character that never fails to animate the crowd, dancing to the rhythm of the music in a lolling dance simulating a euphoric or drunken state and accompanied by two women- the one he left in the country and the one he found in the city; sometimes he might invite a couple to join him, but he is always well-accompanied.

He appears on the Sunday of Temptation for the Ch’uta’s parade, on hand to help bury the Pepino.

(The Aymara Ancestor)

The Kusillo is the oldest of these characters- during the times of the Aymara he would pop up throughout Bolivian altiplano during the Anata Festival celebrating the beginning of the harvest season and the arrival of the rains. He wears a bi-color mask with prominent nose and 3 to 5 horns.

(the Women of La Paz!)

Prancing on the arms of the women-loving Ch’utas, participating in the Pepinos’ obligatory marriages, parading through the Plaza Murillo asking for their widows’ rights following the symbolic burial of the Pepino- without the wide-skirted, bowler-hatted Bolivian Chola, Carnaval is not complete!

Alongside these principal characters are others of pre-Columbian or colonial origin, as well as modern costumed heroes and personalities from national politics. Remember to check our earlier posts for tips on enjoying La Paz’s Carnaval- and because this is the largest festival of the year for La Paz, make your plans as soon as possible! At Pirwa La Paz Backpackers, we still have rooms available- all complete with comfy beds, hot water 24/7, internet + wifi, and a continental breakfast all at rock-bottom prices!

1.5 million people are expected to visit Peru during the final legs of the Dakar Rally, which began on Jan 1^st in Argentina’s Mar del Plata and will end in Lima’s main square, the Plaza de Armas. An estimated 500,000 spectators are expected to gather during the Peruvian part of the route.

The Course

Why all the excitement? The Dakar Rally (formerly the Paris to Dakar Rally) is an off-road endurance automobile race that has taken place annually since 1978 and is open to both professionals and amateurs. Each day riders tackle 500 to 560 miles of tough terrain replete with dunes, rocks, camel grass, and more. This year’s race will pass through Peru for the first time! Riders will race for over 9,000km through Argentina, Chile and Peru, crossing from the shores of the Atlantic to the Pacific in a period of 14 days.

After the grand start in Argentina, riders, drivers, and crews raced through dunes, canyons, and the formidable Andes before reaching Chile. In Chile the racers have been continuing along a route between the ocean and Andean Range, tackling the dunes of the Atacama Desert, the world’s driest. They’ll be in Peruvian territory between Jan 12th and 15th 2012.

1st Peruvian Stop: Arequipa

100 million spectators worldwide will turn their eyes on Arequipa this Thursday and the Dakar comes racing in! They will spend the night in Arequipa on Jan 12^th in a 9ha camp. In fact, camps have been implemented in the principle stops of the race- Nazca, Pisco, and Lima- meant to promote the regions’ gastronomy as well as culture through shows.

The course is kept secret for as long as possible so that the competitors cannot prepare for its challenges as happens in other off-road races. Thus, public spectator zones are generally announced a couple of days before on the race’s official page.

So far, we know Arequipa will have four observation points on January 12th and 13th to be able to watch the 400 vehicles and motorcycles pass: The first point is located on Kilometer 19 of the Uchumayo, the second in the town of San José an hour from the city of Arequipa, where you can watch the vehicles pass from midday Thursday 12^th. The third is located on Kilometer 18 of the Access Road to Matarani (in Islay Province two hours from the city of Arequipa) a privileged point from which people can watch the racers pass from 11:00am to 11:00pm. Finally the fourth point is in Tanaca, in Caravelí province, where one can see vehicles pass on Friday, January 13^th from 4pm on.

Spectators are advised to avoid dangerous zones such as curves and mechanic stops, and always stay behind the security barriers. Go early to find an ideal spot- an elevated site of some distance to the track are idea.

While You’re In Sunny Arequipa…

Not only does Pirwa Park Hostel Arequipa offer you comfortable and economical lodging during your stay (why yes, that is us to the left!), but our travel agency Pirwa Travel Service also operates a variety of excursions. Intrepid adventures can climb the three glacial peaks of Chachani Volcano or to the crater of sandy and iconic El Misti Volcano, or even downhill bike along its slopes! Are the volcanoes not extreme enough for you? Arequipa also boasts the worlds deepest canyons, Colca Canyon and Colca Canyon, where you can watch the massive condors soaring, trek along original Inca trails, soak in the hot springs, or even raft the forceful rapids which carved these geological wonders!

If you’re looking for a more tranquil adventure, watch the graceful grazing vicuña of the Cañahuas Plains, explore the Toro Muerto Petroglyphs, or visit the serene Santa Catalina Convent complex. Tour the famously distinct mestizo-baroque architecture of Arequipa, rendered in volcanic sillar rock, stopping to see the famous Ice Maiden mummy, an incredibly preserved adolescent Inca sacrifice. The Pirwa Travel Service team is anxious to show you all that Arequipa has to offer, with tours and excursions to suit every taste!