This exciting itinerary will take you through some of Bolivia’s most varied and incredible landscapes. The journey begins in La Paz, Bolivia’s administrative capital. You’ll enjoy a tour through the city highlights and rest for the night. Visit the colonial cities of Sucre and Potosi to later be filled with natural wonders, as you travel to the astonishing Uyuni Salt Flats, visit Eduardo Avaroa Natural Reserve, then cross over to Chile to traverse through the otherworldly Atacama Desert
Program Details
Duration: 12 days – 11 nights
Highlights: La Paz & El Alto Cityscapes, Sucre and Potosi colonial cities, High Andes Landscapes, Uyuni Salt Flats and Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, Atacama Desert
Price: Upon request
Included:
- Accommodation in double or single rooms
- English-speaking local guides (other languages are also available).
- Private services
- Meals as mentioned in the program
- Tickets and entrances fees
- Domestic flight tickets La Paz – Sucre
Not Included:
- Tips
- Alcoholic beverages
- Beverages during the meals
- Personal insurances
- Services not mentioned in the program
Day 1 – Welcome to La Paz
Pick-up from the airport and transfer to the hotel. Assistance with check-in and briefing with our guide. Today is for acclimatization because there is 50% less oxygen in the air than at sea level.
Meals: None
Accommodation: Hostal Naira or similar
Day 2 – La Paz city tour
Our half-day La Paz city tour is perfect for travelers looking for things to do in La Paz, the tour includes a visit to the Moon Valley just outside the city. La Paz city tour begins picking you up from your hotel and explore the central neighborhood in La Paz city. We pass through to the witches’ market, where you can see medicinal herbs and spices, as well as spiritual and superstitious artifacts. The tour also includes the San Francisco cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the city and a good meeting point for local people. Then you’ll see the main square of La Paz, Plaza Murillo, your guide will show you the most important government buildings around this square. Continue with the tour you’ll see the historical center of the La Paz city to later continue to the southern neighborhoods to visit Valle de la Luna, a fascinating geological anomaly called Moon Valley because of its bizarre, moon-like landscape. In addition, you’ll see an impressive view of the Andes Mountains of the Cordillera Real outside the city. Then we will get on the cable car and see the fascinating landscapes of La Paz city.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hostal Naira or similar
Day 3 – La Paz – Tiwanaku
Our tour will begin with a private pick-up from your hotel at 08:00. The hour-long ride to Tiwanaku will take you on a scenic journey through the High Plateau. We will head to the main attraction: The Tiwanaku ruins. At the archeological site, we will explore the culture’s main temples including the Pyramid of Akapana and Kalasasaya as well as the inspiring Gateways to the Sun and Moon. In addition to the traditional examples of Tiwanaku architecture, giant monoliths and figurative representations are scattered throughout the archeological complex. Huge stone blocks weighing as much as 45 tons each are placed with such precision that not a single gap between one to the next exists. The sculptures too are worthy of modern-day appreciation- intricate details of both the people and the gods can be seen on the spiritual figures the Tiwanaku revered.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hostal Naira or similar
Day 4 – La Paz – Sucre
Pick-up from the hotel and transfer to the airport. Local flight from La Paz to Sucre and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit the amazing city of Sucre, going to La Casa de la Libertad (closed on Mondays), where the declaration of independence was signed. Then, we will visit Asur Museum, which exhibits the artistic craftsmanship of the indigenous communities as works of local art.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel La Posada or similar
Day 5 – Sucre – Potosi
In the morning, we enjoy a little more of Sucre, moving away few kilometers from the city to Cal Orcko, the largest dinosaurs’ footprints sample in the world, with around 5000 footprints impressions of 332 species of dinosaurs that lived in the Cretaceous period 65 million years ago. In the afternoon, private transfer to Potosi (2.5 hours approx.), starting at 2,759 meters above sea level, to the highlands at 4,060 meters above sea level.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hostal Santa Monica
Day 6 – Potosi – Uyuni
In Potosi city, you visit the Sumaq Orcko mountain (Cerro Rico), which contained the larger silver mine in the world. Then, you´ll visit Casa de la Moneda. and to finalize the day you head to Uyuni, enjoying of fascinating landscapes in route.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel Jardines de Uyuni
Day 7 – Uyuni Salt Flats
Today you’ll visit the famed (and rusting) train cemetery, you then continue to the salt-harvesting village of Colchani to see how the locals produce salt. After this, we will reach the great Uyuni Salt Flats, visiting the bizarre Incahuasi Island that is covered in enormous cacti, and from where we get an amazing view of the flats.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Luna Salada or similar
Day 8 – Colored lagoons and deserts
You head south today and experience completely different landscapes of volcanoes, highland deserts, and colorful lagoons. Shortstop to see the famous Stone Tree, formed by years of wind erosion, and visit the great Red Lagoon.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Tayka del Desierto or similar
Day 9 – Green lagoon – San Pedro de Atacama
Today you visit the geysers of Sol de Mañana, the Green Lagoon that is at the feet of the Licancabur Volcano. From this point, you´ll go towards the Chilean border and cross it to San Pedro de Atacama.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: La Casa de Don Tomas or similar
Day 10 – Moon and death valleys
Today you´ll go to the Valley of the Moon and Valley of Death, two magical places where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the giant dunes and volcanoes.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: La Casa de Don Tomas or similar
Day 11 – Geysers del Tatio and Machuca community
You leave the hotel early to the Geysers del Tatio. You´ll arrive at the moment when the sun rises and the geysers are more active that indicate the high volcanic activity in the area. After this, you head to Machuca Village that just makes you go back in time with its 20 small houses and a tiny church.
Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: La Casa de don Tomas
Day 12 – San Pedro – Calama
Thank you for visiting the Andes! Today your journey comes to an end and after breakfast, we transfer you from San Pedro de Atacama to Calama airport.
