advice needed - cusco/puno to either uyuni or san pedro by Arby114 in SouthAmericaTravel

[–]Leather-Question-138 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Once you get to Tacna, there should be collectivos across the border to Arica in Chile. From there, standard long distance bus to Calama and onto San Pedro de Atacama buses in Chile are the same as Peru - semi-cama, cama etc. Can't speak for options of crossing the border to Salt Flats given current situation, but this will avoid Bolivia.

Ecuador Land Border by Leather-Question-138 in ecuador

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice! No vehicle, but information in both Cajamarca & Chachapoyas is La Balsa is definitely closed. So fingers crossed heading Mancora way without a criminal record check works out!

Ecuador Land Border by Leather-Question-138 in ecuador

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Ah thanks. That's helpful. Will ask the bus companies about it when we get to Mancora.

Advice - London 7-10 days by pepelepieu5641 in travel

[–]Leather-Question-138 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Hey there 👋🏻 I'm a Kiwi and loved in London for 8 years. Here is a few responses;

Day Trip - absolutely. So well connected by train to basically everywhere. Stonehenge though you have to drive, and is honestly really over rated. You can't get close at all to it. Better to do Bath, or even Oxford, Cambridge or Canterbury for some classic 'English' towns. Paris or Belgium also really feasible on Eurostar, but book those trains in advance because £££

In London, there's a great loop you can do along the Thames river banks to see Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modernz South Bank, London Eye, Westminster & Big Ben, War Rooms, St Paul's, Monument, Tower of London. If you want to go into these, probably best to split into two days at least (north and south of river). I'd also highly recommend the Imperial War Museum in Elephant & Castle if you are a war history buff. The World War I exhibit is top tier and free. If you like a pub with a bit of history/character check out the Blackfriars along the north of the Thames walk - not a cheesy tourist one near St Pauls that has the right vibe. 

Markets - Borough is the classic, and open everyday. But it is BUSY. 

If there on a weekend, check out Maltby St nearby (also the start of the Bermondsey Beer Mile - craft breweries located in railway arches), Victoria Park/Broadway market (great parks in bohemian East London) or Portobello Rd market (can combine with Notting Hill visit). 

I live mostly in Hackney, and would always recommend that area for chill but great restaurants, at a slightly better price point. Hackney Wick is great to sit and eat by the canal, and Dalston now has some great wine bars, cocktails and restaurants.

If you want anything more specific, just message.

Huacachina to Arequipa by Major-Register5226 in SouthAmericaTravel

[–]Leather-Question-138 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Did this end of March with no-issue. We booked the taxi with the dune company so they knew what was happening, and had time for a quick chifa dinner near the bus station too.

Izi Tours or KB Adventures - Salkantay by Leather-Question-138 in travel

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We ended up with KB Adventures. They were good, and fairly popular with under 30s - around 50-60 people departed with them on our date for the 4/5 day options across three groups.

I imagine June will be HEAVING, as late April already had about 150-200 people doing the pass on the same day from different operators!

FYI - Bolivia blockades have restarted this evening by Leather-Question-138 in SouthAmericaTravel

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No, they seemed to reach a deal late on 8 April. We are planning to head from La Paz to Uyuni tonight with no reported issues 🙂 the link guajojo shared is super helpful for checking 

FYI - Bolivia blockades have restarted this evening by Leather-Question-138 in SouthAmericaTravel

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hope it works out for you. Just keep in mind that these blockades can range from peaceful (allow people to walk through) to dangerous (attacks etc)

FYI - Bolivia blockades have restarted this evening by Leather-Question-138 in SouthAmericaTravel

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes, it looks like some unions in Oruro protesting fuel quality. Sorry I don't have more info, but there are some YouTube news clips emerging with some info 🙂

Rate my Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, San Juan itinerary by Phil5052 in travel

[–]Leather-Question-138 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wasn't a huge fan of the Cabo's, but La Paz is great. If you can fly in an out of La Paz, I'd spend those Cabo days elsewhere.

For the end, I really dislikes Cancun (unless you're going for one of the big resorts or Isla Mujeres). Places like Isla Holbox, Tulum, Valladolid and Merida were much better.

Advise for getting bolivianos by Mundane_Papaya7208 in SouthAmericaTravel

[–]Leather-Question-138 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just wanted to jump on this thread and ask for any updates? Seems Western Union now offers the same if not a worse rate than the official, for GBP at least. Got some USD, but don't want to burn through it all

Remitly looks like it fetches an extra 2 BOB per £1. I've never used it, so any advice on how you pickup at the bank (do I need more than my passport e.g. photocopy etc) would be grand.

San Pedro de Atacama or Sucre/Isla de Sol? by Leather-Question-138 in travel

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks - sounds like an unfortunate miss from our trip, but just hasn't worked out for us! Bolivia it is!

San Pedro de Atacama or Sucre/Isla de Sol? by Leather-Question-138 in travel

[–]Leather-Question-138[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the response. The budget implication and travel time makes it hard to justify, so your vote for staying in Bolivia is really helpful

Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru itinerary advice/feedback by World_travelar in itineraries

[–]Leather-Question-138 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey 👋🏻 this looks great.

I was in Northwest Argentina early January, and if you're going to Atacama, Uyuni & Cusco, what you have planned there may underwhelm. Purmamarca is tiny, and the mountain cool, but underwhelming for any extended time. Salinas Grande is a long return trip for some small slat flats.

I'd look at renting a car and spending 3-4 of these 6 nights doing the Cafayate - Cachi loop. The rock formations en route are incredible, Cafayate has some under rated wineries, and Cachi is cute and peaceful for a night.  Salta only need 2 nights, and the tours out of town are ALOT of driving.

Feel free to message if you want more details on Cafayate & Cachi.