South America travel tips for Australians

[karen blancfield]

Thanks for the suggestions @kpc, however I’m keen to see some of the tourist stuff (museums) in Cusco on the first day, if up to it.

Then I’ll just go with the bi-modal bus/train to get out to MP (yes via Ollantaytambo)

Plus, saves moving accom as Rainbow Mtn trip needs to be done from Cusco.

As for the Bolivia bit, what is this bus thing you talk about? I’ll be flying!
CUZ-LPB direct with AV
LPB-UYU with OB (Boliviana)
and then after the tour UYU-LPB-VVI with OB.

Thanks for the suggestions @kpc, however I’m keen to see some of the tourist stuff (museums) in Cusco on the first day, if up to it.

Then I’ll just go with the bi-modal bus/train to get out to MP (yes via Ollantaytambo)

Plus, saves moving accom as Rainbow Mtn trip needs to be done from Cusco.

As for the Bolivia bit, what is this bus thing you talk about? I’ll be flying!
CUZ-LPB direct with AV
LPB-UYU with OB (Boliviana)
and then after the tour UYU-LPB-VVI with OB.

We’ve just had 3 weeks in Chile including a week at Novotel Puerto Montt, floor to ceiling windows overlooking the sea. Excellent location. There’s a fantastic fish market there and also handicrafts so it’s a good place to eat fresh fish and browse the markets. Uber was a good way to get to Puerto Varas which we loved. We did a good tour from there to the volcano, well worth it. Happy to help with details if that would be of interest.

 

[kpc]

When we went to Uyuni in late Feb, there was only a 3 weekly flight from Lpb to Uyuni, and on the day that our 3 day tour started, the flight only arrived in Uyuni an hour prior. OB are not known for their punctuality, and if we arrived late for the start of our tour, we would not be able to reschedule it as we had a tight schedule.....So the overnight bus was the most reliable and safe way to arrive in Uyuni on time for our tour.

Btw, there is some interesting things to see in Ollantaytambo as well.

 

[kpc]

I was just reading this travel article in the SMH:

My fellow train passenger collapsed in front of me. I couldn’t stop laughing

The world’s second-highest train journey takes passengers up where the air is thin. It affects everyone differently, but my reaction is somewhat unusual – and mortifying.

www.smh.com.au

"But the laughter finally died when I hit Bolivia’s La Paz (3640 metres) where I suffered altitude sickness so severely, I ended up in bed for a week"

If you have never been to high altitudes before, you need to take precautions like acclimatisation with stepwise accent and consider taking Diamox after speaking with your Dr. You can't predict who gets severe altitude sickness and it can strike the youngest and fittest person! It will certainly ruin your trip!

 

[karen blancfield]

I was just reading this travel article in the SMH:

My fellow train passenger collapsed in front of me. I couldn’t stop laughing

The world’s second-highest train journey takes passengers up where the air is thin. It affects everyone differently, but my reaction is somewhat unusual – and mortifying.

www.smh.com.au

"But the laughter finally died when I hit Bolivia’s La Paz (3640 metres) where I suffered altitude sickness so severely, I ended up in bed for a week"

If you have never been to high altitudes before, you need to take precautions like acclimatisation with stepwise accent and consider taking Diamox after speaking with your Dr. You can't predict who gets severe altitude sickness and it can strike the youngest and fittest person! It will certainly ruin your trip!

I certainly experienced it in Cusco.. it was truly awful for a full two days.

 

[SYD]

I certainly experienced it in Cusco.. it was truly awful for a full two days.

It’s pretty hard to avoid it starting from sea level. It’s typical to fly LIM-CUZ and yes, there’s a hit if staying local. MP (Aguas Calientes) is actually a lot lower lower altitude, so you could try and get there same day or just suck it up and enjoy Cuzco.

Years ago, we flew LIM-CUZ. Took the altitude hit and a day later went out to MP via train for the day. The next day getting the train to Copacabana (Lake Titicaca) and then a bus across the border to La Paz (which was a bit weird at the time). By which time we were heading towards 4000m before dropping down to downtown La Paz at 3500m. Well before then, we had zero altitude affects.

Coincidently, this just appeared on the SMH (and probably Age). Sorry, no doubt pay walled.

My fellow train passenger collapsed in front of me. I couldn’t stop laughing

The world’s second-highest train journey takes passengers up where the air is thin. It affects everyone differently, but my reaction is somewhat unusual – and mortifying.

www.smh.com.au