Salar de Uyuni

The girls admiring the view
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From St Pedro in Chile we took a three day desert trek which moved through northern Chile and ended in the salt flats of southern Bolivia.

The first and second days were quite similar with us driving through the desert in a 4x4 stopping off at various lakes, coloured lagoons, flamingo reserves and volcanoes. The highlight had to be on the first day when we stopped off at a natural hot spring.

I now know why FIFA recently tried to ban matches at this altitude

On the salt flats
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The national part was absolutely freezing so initially it didn't seem like such a good idea to strip down to my swimming trunks and jump into a pool surrounded by ice. Luckily the water was roasting and was one of the most relaxing experiences ever, even though some strange guy from the tour stood by the side taking pictures!

Unfortunately after that things took a bit of a downturn! On the first night we had to stay in possibly the worst hostel ever - limited electricity, no showers, no hot water, no heat and worst of all beds made from stone! In the dead of night in the desert temperatures fall to well under minus 15 so as you can imagine my first night was mainly spent trembling and cursing the desert!

Luckily temperatures picked up the next day and we moved onto a hostel made completely from salt - salt walls, floors, beds, tables, the works! On arrival at the hostel some of the local children challenged us to a game of five aside. I now know why FIFA recently tried to ban matches at this altitude as after about five minutes no one could catch a breath and a few of us even began to turn purple. Obviously the kids ran rings around us much to the delight of the watching locals!

On our final day of the tour we finally got to witness what we had all signed up for - Salar de Uyuni, the worlds largest salt flat. Initially I couldn't understand what could be so great about miles and miles of salt, but when you see the sunrise on the flats, and stare out over the vast white space amid giant cactus on the isla de pescadores, you can't help but being impressed.

After the salt flats we headed into Uyuni, a small town where not much happens. Thankfully we managed to get a bus out and headed onto Potosi.