Tambo Quemado & Sajama

The crossing into Bolivia at Tambo Quemado was remarkably simple. We had heard stories of long delays and requests for bribes at various border crossings but we experienced no such problems. As usual in South America, though, it involved walking back and forth to 4 different offices--the national police, customs, vehicle control etc. At 15,500 feet, even this little walking was fatiguing.

Sajama is little more than a row of a few restaurants and a small bar that cater to travelers. Many of those travelers arrive by these trucks that serve as buses as well as freight and livestock carriers.

I'm sure that our transportation seemed no less odd to them. Here Karen, Esther, and Marcos get ready to saddle up. We had just eaten our first meal of llama meat in the small restaurant below.

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