Visit the three main regions of Bolivia: the lowlands, the valleys and the highlands. And discover the stunning Salar de Uyuni, the biggest in the world.
Welcome to Santa Cruz! Upon arrival you’ll be greeted at the airport, where you’ll get a private transfer from Viru Viru International airport to your hotel. You’ll have the afternoon free to walk around the city or, if preferred, there are optional tours available.
Overnight in Santa Cruz
Today we’ll visit the emblematic Samaipata Ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Leaving Santa Cruz city, we’ll travel through the Amazonian plains and the last branches of the Andes mountain range. We’ll arrove at the Samaipata ruins, a majestic and mysterious pre-Inca fort, located in the top of a hill with a big ceremonial center carved in stone. After touring the ruins we’ll head to Samaipata town, where we’ll take a stroll and visit its local museum. At the end of the day, we’ll return to Santa Cruz.
Overnight in Santa Cruz
After breakfast you’ll get a transfer to the Santa Cruz airport to catch your flight to Sucre, colonial city recognized as a Cultural Heritage site by UNESCO). Upon arrival you’ll be greeted and transferred to your hotel. During the afternoon we’ll embark on a lovely tour of this colonial city. Among the different highlights we’ll visit are the Casa de la Libertad, where the Independence Act of Bolivia was signed in 1825; Bolivar Park, to see examples of the aristocratic tradition of Sucre, with small replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc of Triumph of Paris; the church and museum of La Recoleta, and the museum of Indian Textiles ASUR.
Overnight in Sucre
You’ll enjoy a free day in Sucre to enjoy the city. If preferred, you can choose one of the available optional activities.
Overnight in Sucre
From Sucre, we’ll take a bus and travel across different valleys, ascending through the highlands to the city of Potosi, a UNESCO Cultural and Natural Heritage site. During the afternoon we’ll wander its traditional colonial streets, and visit the churches of San Francisco and San Lorenzo (its façade). As part of our excursion we’ll also visit a silver mine in the famous Cerro Rico – once the richest of the world – where we’ll get to experience an unforgettable journey hundreds of meters underground to see the living and working conditions of the Bolivian miners (protective clothing and helmets are provided).
Overnight in Potosí
During the morning we’ll embark on a bus trip from Potosi to Uyuni, crossing branches of the Andes range and old mining centers and villages, surrounded by beautiful landscapes and indigenous communities. Upon arriving at Uyuni we’ll continue the trip south, first visiting the old trains cemetery, and then through the highlands across the villages of San Cristobal and Culpina K. We’ll go upward towards the valley of Alota (3 hours), crossing areas with amazing rock formations created by erosion. We’ll continue through high valleys until finally reaching the village of Villamar (1 hour), where we’ll spend the night.
Overnight in Villamar
A busy day ahead of us! We’ll leave Villamar in the early morning to enter the REA (National Reserve Eduardo Abaroa), traveling alongside Challviri lagoon, with its hot springs on the shores of Polques. We’ll cross the high desert of Pampas de Dali – with amazing views – and reach Laguna Verde (3 hours) in the foothills of the Licancabur Mountain. Then we’ll start our journey back towards Laguna Colorada, declared a RAMSAR site due to it being the nesting location of over 30,000 flamingos at 4,278 meters above sea level. The excursion continues up to geysers “Sol de Mañana" followed by the high deserts of Siloli, where we’ll get to see the famous Arbol de Piedra (Stone Tree) formation. We’ll continue through the lagoons of Ramaditas, Honda, Chiarkhota, Hedionda and Cañapa until finally arriving at the Village of San Juan.
Overnight in San Juan
We’ll travel north through the highlands passing the small villages of San Agustin and San Juan (2 hours). We’ll then enter the great Uyuni salt flats through Chuvica crossing to "Isla Incahuasi" (1 hour), a unique habitat with incomparable views of volcanic rocks and giant cactus. We’ll enjoy a special lunch served in the middle of the salt desert. Afterwards the journey takes us east to the village of Colchani (2 hours), where the locals produce salt. There, we’ll be rewarded with an amazing sunset view before staying overnight at the famed salt hotel.
Overnight in Colchani
In the morning you’ll get a transfer out to the airport for your flight to La Paz. After arriving you’ll be greeted and hop on a private transfer to Lake Titicaca, a journey filled with beautiful landscapes. We’ll head north through the highlands and parallel to the Andes Royal Range towards Copacabana (3 hour and a half), a lovely picturesque town on the shores of Lake Titicaca. There, we’ll visit the famous Virgen Morena and its church, followed by a stroll around town. Afterwards we’ll board a boat to the Island of the Sun (1 hour), arriving at Huacani port where we’ll enjoy a typical highlands lunch menu called “Aptapi”. After lunch we’ll travel by boat to Pilkokaina Ruins, in the southern part of the island. From here, we’ll embark on a nice hike for about 1 hour 15 min to the Ecolodge for the night.
Overnight in Sun Island
You’ll have a free day on the Island of the Sun to enjoy this breathtaking and peaceful place. If preferred, optional hikes are available.
Overnight in Sun Island
Don’t miss a magical sunrise this morning! After breakfast we’ll walk down the Inca Steps to the Island’s main port, Yumani. From there, we’ll take the boat to the Moon Island (30min), visit the “Iñak Uyu” ruins, an Inca temple also known as the Palace of the Virgins. We’ll then take a boat ride back to Copacabana (1 hour), from where we’ll board a shared bus to La Paz (3 ½ hours).
Overnight in La Paz
Today we’ll embark on a very interesting walking tour of the city. It will be a unique visit to the most popular neighborhoods and markets of La Paz, guided by a “lustrabota” or shoe shine who will provide us with different impressions of this exceptional city. We will meet our “lustra-guide” outside the old train terminal of La Paz. We will hop on aboard one of the many telefericos (cable car) lines this vibrant city has – the red line – and get off where our walking tour starts: the main cemetery. After a short visit of the place we’ll continue walking towards the “Fish Street Market”, the “Flower Market” and the “Uruguay Market”, where various types of foods and animals can be seen. The tour continues to Eloy Salmón Street, lined with shops and stalls selling the latest technology, and then to the “Cholitas Market” where local women are usually seen shopping for traditional skirts and textiles. The tour ends at the famous witches’ market on Linares and Sagarnaga Streets, where we’ll learn a little bit about Andean cosmovision.
You’ll enjoy a free afternoon to relax or continue discovering the city at your leisure. Optional tours are available.
Overnight in La Paz
You’ll be transferred from your hotel to El Alto Airport at the time of your departure flight.
REMARKS
* Accommodation in SGL/DBL.
NOT INCLUDED:
* Lunch or dinners not included in the program.
