The sun was already nearing sundown when we finally got up beside him. The island of Poros cacti. Nowhere in Bolivia and Peru, we have not seen such a dense and vibrant cactus forest. Usually we’ll go all sorts of cactuses parasites, but here they all are healthy and cheerful – Noleggio Auto Roma not to admire.

At Loma Inka Huasi built campsite, where you can stay overnight for 25 Bs in the house, or 15 in a tent. Visitors a lot, including a jeep clearly with wild tourists. Parking is nice, but we want to spend the night on this island Pescado. Before him, another 20 kilometers – about an hour run. The western part of the desert is the wet and the rainy season there is not safe to meddle.

To the nearest village – tens of kilometers in the case of any trouble with the machine have to go under the scorching sun on the knee in Salt Lake more than a day. At the entrance to the Pescado soil becomes soft and should stay away from the coast, never turn off the all-wheel drive, do not stop, and drive up the coast to the west, where there is an excellent entry ends with parking next to a small cave. (S20o08.526 W67o48.579 h = 3676 m) We were lucky – today we are on the island alone.

He threw the jeep on the beach, through the fantastic cactus forest reached the summit of the island, (S20o08.705 W67o48.395 h = 3797), which rises 120 meters above the desert. Red sun lit cacti, sometimes in front of us ran armadillos. In the wild, they kept very little and what we saw them – a great success. After returning c walk around the island opened hood of the car, and I was scared. The entire engine, high-voltage wires, a battery covered by a thick layer of salt slurry. How does all this ehalo unclear. Trying to plant – works. Uh, and tenacious we caught a jeep. Just in case the battery is cleared from the layer of salt that he had not discharged by tomorrow morning. In the evening, tried to cook a delicious vegetable soup. For a whole hour waiting, until finally, cabbage is tender, but never came. The desert is situated at an altitude of 3,650 meters above sea level and the water is boiling at 80 degrees. As a result, all cooked very bad. The same applies to all kinds of instant oatmeal. If the manual says fill with boiling water and wait 5 minutes, then most likely have to wait 15. In this beautiful place is not scary. While the sun was setting over the horizon, I ran with a camera and photographed this sunset. Night was very comfortable and we slept relish.

With the fear put the key in the ignition – is working. Hurrah, let’s go further. Rain at night there was no water in the desert a little. To get started back to the island Loma Inka Huasi, then headed to the entrance of the village Alucha (Alucha) (S20o35.809 W67o36.198). We had to drive 60 kilometers. Approximately one third of the way was at the dry site, and we were able to move quickly, but as you approach the Congress the water level rose. The village is already visible a few miles, but the road to it is not clear. All tracks take away from the shore. As luck would have no one goes around and does not know where can go to the bank. The water level in some places reaches the half-wheel. Nervous to go, especially because this is where the most dangerous segment of our path. Suddenly, a few hundred meters to the shore seemed a white stripe of salt. There’s no water, and I decided that it was safer. Turned, and just drove on dry land, as it turned out that this is not the salt and dirt. The machine instantly stuck. (S20o34.181 W67o34.311) came out. Stuck his hand. It is easy on the shoulder came into the surrounding dirt. Perhaps there yourself to do that either is useless. Yet you look not just wheels, but the whole body under the water is gone. Here, finally, we saw movement on the road. Before it was only 900 meters. Here is a swamp everywhere, and a few kilometers from the coast road is laid on a stone causeway. By the end of the dam and had to go, but we made haste. It’s a shame. After all got where we were warned. We are simply out of ignorance of language not understood what we were told.

Trying to wave his hands to nothing lead. To us, no one paid attention and had to close the jeep and go on the road. Came out. All covered with salt, wet shoes waiting for an hour or two – no one. Sit in one place sadly, go fun. To start reached the shore of the dam. (S20o36.316 W67o35.008) There is a waiting ride to people from surrounding villages. Our appearance apprehended peacefully. They sat down in a swamp – it’s in our case. Go to the Aluchu there to help. A straight line, from our car to the village was only 4 kilometers, but the road got a lot more, and a few hours I had to go under the bright sun. Leaving the jeep we did not think that this is so long and not smeared sunblock. As a result, badly burned. In the village found the two cars. Both of them probably more than 50 years. One of the drivers agreed to help in an hour. Tried to find food. In Aluche stop organized tourists, but the group had not yet arrived, and could not eat. From food only every sneakers. I had to take them to 8 Bs. Freed from their main job, our rescuer left the main square and gave the command. From neighboring houses ran the local peasants, with the various boards, beams and kolobashkami and began to ship their car. The event worked out. Everyone knows their place. They say that the rope to haul the car is useless, you can only go on the boards, after raising its posted lags. When the rescue team reached the end of the dam, one of the men sat on the hood was carefully peered into the water in search of secure entrance, and a hundred meters from the jeep – has ordered the stop. All jumped in a puddle of hydrochloric and ran with the piece of wood to the jeep. Put the car on the boards, I pointed out the direction and at the first rapid transfer of the full drive by giving full throttle, told to go. On the first attempt I was on a solid surface.

For pulling machine laid to take US $ 50, or 400 Bs. After paying, standing knee-deep in water, the driver asked where we are. Russia? This is where? This is part of the U.S., there in Europe? Strangely enough, okay. Long live the Bolivian-Russian friendship! In addition to the money we lost 8 hours. Without incident after leaving the dry land, continued to travel to the lagoon side of Colorado. Roads here are many, but they are all slightly different from an ordinary single track through the mud. Difficult to navigate. One can only hope the local population. Around Villa Martin (S20o43.542 W67o40.217) road rested at the gate of the military unit. We humbly ask for directions at the guard, but he opened the gate and pointed the way in the middle of the base. The Russian idea that the roads, but there is some direction, brought here to their logical conclusion. On the occasional road signs indicate the geographic coordinates of towns. Apparently, it is assumed that without a GPS, do not go here. Overall we are very well chooses the direction of hundreds of forks, zaplutav only once at the entrances to the village of San Juan (San Juan) and accidentally drove into the village of Santiago. San Juan is the largest town in the county. Here you can even buy gasoline from under the counter at double the price, but the owner of the jeep is strongly recommended to do this, because petrol is very dirty and lots of water.