Jujuy to Tupiza

Saturday 19th Febuary

I arrived into San Salvador de Jujuy about 19:30 after getting dropped off from the excursion I had taken from Salta that morning. Was handy getting dropped off from the tour as it saved me the hassel of getting a seperate bus from Salta to Jujuy.

Checked into HI Club Hostel in Jujuy .. for 2 nights (45Arg$ per night)

Really not much to do here in Jujuy ... I took a walk around the town on Saturday night and had dinner but it ended up pouring rain later that evening. Seemed to be a good crowd about town but I think theres alot more to do in Salta. Jujuy seems like a much smaller town. Got chatting to some other backpackers at the hostel that evening but other than that .. a fairly relaxing evening. Think I needed it after my week in Salta!

Sunday 20th Febuary

On Sunday, I took a walk around the town, and went down to the bus station. There were spaces available on the bus that night ... at 02:00 heading to the Argentinian border town of La Quiaca so I decided to get myself a ticket. I had already booked in to stay in the hostel on Sunday night too but I figured theres not gonna be much to do in Jujuy on Monday and the hostel seemed pretty quiet so no point hanging around.

After getting my bus ticket I spent Sunday afternoon walking around some of the markets and Jujuy centre taking photos, and later went in to the centre for dinner.

Poured rain again Sunday evening and didnt stop all evening! I think the further north I´m travelling the wetter its getting ... rainy season!! Got a taxi around 01:00 to the bus station and after some delay with the bus, by 02:45 I was on my way to the Argentinian border town of La Quiaca.

Arrived to La Quiaca early on Monday morning (21st Febuary)... about 07:30. Didnt hang around La Quiaca .. took a short walk to the Argentinian border for immigration and then crossed the bridge into Villazon, Bolivia. A fairly easy border crossing compared to some of the crossings I´ve had to do between Argentina and Chile.Its hard to believe its over 5,000 km from here to Ushuaia in Southern Argentina where I was last November.

Some pictures from Villazon, Bolivia:

Once across the border, I made my way to the bus station to catch the next bus to Tupiza where I hoped to get accommodation for the night. I got a local bus heading to Tupiza (15 Bolivianos). I also met some Israeli backpackers who I had met in Salta who were also travelling on the same bus. Was great to meet some familiar faces travelling the same way.

Only a short bus journey to Tupiza  ... I had no accomodation booked in Tupiza so I went to the HI Valle Hermosa Hostel with the Israeli guys. They had plenty of rooms available. I took a walk around town and tried another place (which seemed a bit nicer) but they were booked out so I went back to the HI Hostel and checked in ... I was only planning in spending one night here anyway.

 I took a walk around Tupiza centre and also got my first taste of Bolivian Internet connection in Tupiza .. my God its slow!

Some photos of the streets of Tupiza:

I made some enquiries back at the hostel about going on the 4 day jeep tour to the Uyuni Salt Falts tomorrow morning but it was so difficult to get exact information (in hindsight I dont know why I was in such a rush to do the tour straight away as Tupiza is a nice town and I could have easily spent another night here). I met up with a Danish girl Anne who also wanted to the tour next day. Another girl in the hostel (Limor from Israel) was also interested in doing the tour ... so later myself, Anne and Limor booked ourselves onto the tour leaving next morning (Tupiza Tours). There was already a Canadian girl booked to do the tour .. so there will be 4 of us in total ... 

Tupiza seems to be full of pizza restuarants ... I had pizza for lunch and then later that evening more pizza for dinner evening with some other backpackers I met in the hostel, Heidi (from Canada) and Kasia and Pawel (from Poland):

 

Later that night, I had a shower (as I figured it could be my last one in 4 days) and packed my backpack for an early start in the morning. Looking forward to the 4 day jeep tour to Uyuni.

Salta

Salta, Argentina was a bit like Iquique, Chile  ... Great hostel and great people. Absolutely loved this place!

Had considered staying for 2 nights and ended up staying for 5.

Monday 14th Febuary

I always hate arriving into a new town late at night ... my bus from San Pedro which was scheduled to arrive into Salta at 22:00 eventually arrived at 00:30. I took a taxi to HI Backpackers Hostel, Salta and checked in for 2 nights ... 4 bed dorm ensuite (50 Arg$ per night).

 http://www.backpackerssalta.com/indexeng02.html 

 

At breakfast next morning I met a few backpackers ... Kenneth (from Belgium) and Claire and Anna (from England) and I hung out with them for the morning.

Later in the afternoon, I took a walk around town and climbed to the top of Cerro San Bernardo which had excellent views over the city of Salta. I met a local lady (Mirta) from Salta who showed me around. We got as cable car back down to the city park and took a walk back into town. (The more local people I meet, the more I realise how bad my Spanish is ... I really need to take some lessons!).

Back at the hostel that evening, I had to decide what tours to do around Salta .... so much to see and do! I booked myself onto a tour tomorrow to Cafayate (220 Arg$). Have heard so many people talking about Cafayate so I had to go and see it.

Spent the evening back at the hostel just relaxing and chatting to other backpackers. The hostel do free dinners in the evenings so myself Anna, Claire, Kenneth and a few others had dinner that night in the hostel.

Tuesday 15th Febuary

Early start for the Cafayate tour .....

Bus picked us up at 07:30 from the hostel. Everyone on the tour was staying at the hostel so it was a good way to meet other backpackers. Claire and Anna were on the tour too and some Columbian and Argentinian tourists. Great day out ... one of the best excursions Ive been on and the crowd that were on the tour were great. Met some really nice people. The route from Salta to Cafayate is amazing with stunning scenery.

Some pictures of the Cafayate excursion group:

Some photos of Cafayate and a visit to a local Bodega winery.

Some pictures of the scenery on route from Salta:

It was quite late getting back to the hostel that evening. I showered, changed and had some dinner. Later I took a cab downtown and went to a few music bars followed by a club, where I met up with Margarite, a dutch girl who I had met in Iquique, two weeks earlier .. small world!

Wednesday 16th - Friday 18th Febuary

I had originally planned to check out today but extended my stay in Salta for another 3 nights. I love backpackers hostel Salta ...  really feel at home here.

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were lazy days in Salta.

Met two really nice Irish girls (Vicky and Sam) from Dublin who were sharing my dorm in the hostel.

Wednesday night was BBQ night at the hostel for 25 Arg$ ... lovely salad and steak. Yummy. I´m really going to miss these Argentine steaks. We spent the night drinking at the bar in the hostel and watching a traditional music and dance show. Great craic .. and met loads of other backpackers.

Anna, Claire and Kenneth left the hostel tonight. Was sad to see them go .. and would have liked to have spent more time travelling with them. I met loads of other backpackers at the BBQ and a huge crowd of us all headed out afterwards (about 5 taxis took us all to a club). A very late night ....

Thursday and Friday were spent relaxing. Lashing rain in Salta during the afternoons though. Could not make up my mind what to do and where to go after Salta ... eventually decided to do another excursion on Saturday and head to San Salvador de Jujuy for two nights before heading further north to the Bolivian border.

Friday nights free dinner in the hostel was pizza .. yummy. There was a good crowd of backpackers out at the hostel bar drinking beer and wine .. so the craic was great.

There were a few people heading out to a club after, but I decided to hang out at the hostel bar with a few others and drink more wine. Bad decision!

Saturday 19th Febuary

Very early start ... 06:30. I shouldnt have drank so much white wine last night! Very sore head today!
Check out and tour bus picked me up at the hostel at 07:00 for day excursion ´Train to the clouds´ (280 Arg$). We don´t actually take a train as its the rainy season and the train only runs from April to October, but this excursion follows the same route. The tour goes from Salta to San Antonio de los Cobres, to Salinas Grandes to Pumamarca and back to Salta via San Salvador de Jujuy. I was checked into a hostel in SS de Jujuy for Saturday night so I brought my backpack so I could get dropped off in Jujuy as the tour made its wasy back to Salta.

Some pictures of San Antonia de los Cobres:

Salinas Grandes:

Streets of Pumamarca:

The tour finished about 18:00 in Pumamarca, and I got dropped off in Jujuy about 19:30.

Will miss Salta so much ... really had a great 6 days there ... great hostel and great people.