curiouser2709

Hi all
I am a new traveller to South America and currently in Peru where I have plans to head down to La Paz. Hoping for some advice as to how best to maximise my time here and end up in Santiago!
From my reading around I definitely want to spend time in sucre and of course uyuni for the salt flats. From there I'm a bit stuck. I think I have two options:
1. Head to San Pedro de atacama and then either bus or fly to Santiago
2. Head to Mendoza (but what could I see en route?) and then bus to Santiago
I don't plan on spending much time in Santiago so as well as the above, I also wonder whether I should either get to Santiago with a couple of days to spare, or get there with say 5-6 days to then see places either north or south of the city.
Any advice very welcome! I am a solo female traveller interested in local cuisine and drink (hence why I thought Mendoza would be good), as well as walking. More of a country or beach person than city.
Thanks in advance,
Alice

curiouser2709

Oh sorry I should have said, from La Paz I have 3 weeks before my flight out of Santiago!

crellston

I wouldn't bother with. Mendoza. From Uyuni we went to Tupiza ( easy to arrange Salar yours from there. You could make your way down into Salta and then cross to San Pedro de Atacama. The scenery around Salta is amongst the most beautiful in South America. Alternatively, it is easy to get from Uyuni direct to SPdeA.

From SPdeA you would need to get to Calama and then either fly to Santaigo or, as we did, get the bus to Iquique. A long journey with a LOT of desert!

Some more info an photos on our blog.

http://blog.travelpod.com/travel-blo...ai/6/tpod.html

curiouser2709

Hi there, thanks very much for your reply. Why do you say not bother with Mendoza? Would you see any of Argentina at all or just straight to Chile? And would you recommend getting to Santiago with time to spare around the city or get there just before I leave?
Thanks
Alice