Bolivia > By bus to Potosí

Bolivia - Hard to imagine that cacti grow 1 to 3 cm per year

When I open the curtains, I see ice on the windows. Still, with the extra blankets, I wasn’t really cold. After breakfast, the bus is waiting at eight o’clock for the trip to Potosí. It’s the regular service bus between Uyuni and Potosí, but since we completely fill it, it runs exclusively for us. The bus picks us up directly at the hotel and will also drop us off right in front of our hotel in Potosí. In front of the Uyuni hotel, the luggage is loaded onto the bus. We say goodbye to Iber, our guide for the past three days. He lives in Uyuni and came by especially to bid us farewell. It’s chilly on the bus this morning, especially by the cold window. The distance to Potosí is 205 kilometers, but we expect to arrive only around half past three. The road is rough, and the bus must wind its way up and down numerous mountain passes. The Baobab travel description calls this route a “spectacular journey.” The question, of course, is whether that refers to the scenery, the road, or the bus itself.

Bolivia - The Cathedral of Potosi

Since the bus is in good condition, the spectacular aspect clearly applies to the first two. Despite the jolting ride, the views of the surrounding landscape are magnificent. We stop a few times for baño breaks and twice for photo stops, taking short walks among the cacti. Around three o’clock, we arrive in Potosí. Compared to the quiet highlands of the past week, Potosí is a bustling city. The hotel is located near the central square. The room isn’t large, but it does have heating. In the afternoon, we explore Potosí on foot. We visit the cathedral, the market, and the many narrow, charming streets. Many women in traditional Bolivian clothing walk through the streets. In the evening, the whole group has dinner together in a small eatery where llama is the specialty. Llama meat can easily turn tough, but in this restaurant, it tastes delicious. After dinner, I check my email upstairs in an internet café above the restaurant. Finally, we sit in the hotel lobby chatting until about half past eleven.