Itinerary

Day 1

LA PAZ ARRIVAL / CITY TOUR

Pick up at the airport and transfer to hotel.
At 2 p.m., we meet in the hotel lobby for a guided tour of La Paz, city located at almost 4000 m.a.s.l.: Sagarnaga Street and its local handicraft market (one of the most famous of South America), the witches' street, San Pedro's food market, the historical center and the colonial neighborhood.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Day 2

LA PAZ / PANORAMIC TOUR – VALLEY OF THE MOON – ANDEAN MARKETS

Meeting in the hotel hall at 9 a.m. for a discovery, in private transportation, of the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located at the bottom of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the Jach´a Apacheta Mirador, on the edge of the precipice of the city of El Alto. Then we go to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park (closed on Mondays), on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de Espana” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking limestone formations.
In the afternoon our vehicle brings us back to the City Center and drops us off in the heart of the colorful and animated Andean market of La Paz. Return to the hotel on foot, accompanied by our guide.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Day 3

LA PAZ - COPACABANA

Departure from the hotel at 9 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (3 ½ hours).
Visit of the most interesting sites of the town: Horca del Inca, cathedral… We climb the Way of the Cross, ancient pilgrimage, for a beautiful sunset over the Lake (don't forget your headlamp for the descent).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel / lake view.

Day 4

COPACABANA – ISLA DEL SOL – LA PAZ

In the morning, a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) (2 to 3 hours depending on weather conditions). Visit of the Inca site of Chincana and of the Sacred Rock of the Incas, from where God Viracocha gave birth to his son Manco Capac, the first Inca. Short hike on the island to the village of Challapampa, where is located the museum of Marka Pampa. Our boat then takes us to the Fuente del Inca (Fountain of the Inca) and the site of Pilkokaina, in the South of the island. Return by boat to Copacabana in the afternoon, where our private vehicle awaits to take us back to La Paz (about 3½-hour).
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

Day 5

LA PAZ – UYUNI

Long north to south crossing of the altiplano to Uyuni, small town on the edge of the Salar (12 to 14-hour trip).
- Tuesdays and Fridays, departure from the hotel in our private vehicle at 10 a.m. Arrival in Oruro at around 2 p.m., then departure of the train Expreso del Sur for Uyuni at 3:30 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at 10:20 p.m. Pick up by our team upon arrival. Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.
- Wednesdays and Sundays, departure from the hotel in our private vehicle at 2 p.m. Arrival in Oruro around 6 p.m., then departure of the train Wara-Wara for Uyuni at 7 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at 2:20 a.m. the next day. Pick up by our team upon arrival. Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.
- Other days, departure of the night bus at 9 p.m. This bus is comfortable and direct to Uyuni. Arrival the next morning at around 7:30 a.m. Pick up by our team upon your arrival in Uyuni. Lunch open, dinner snack in the bus. Night in the bus.
Note 1: for your own comfort, we advise you to do this trip on the train
Note 2: Dining car on board

Day 6

4WD expedition from Uyuni to Uyuni.

UYUNI – SAN CRISTOBAL - VILLAMAR

We depart at 9:30 a.m. to visit the train cemetery on the outskirt of town. We then head south. On the way, we visit various villages, including the modern urbanization of Culpina K. We have lunch in San Cristobal where we can visit the beautiful colonial church if it is open. We then traverse Rio Grande, area home to numerous vicuñas and ñandus (of the ostrich family) and arrive in Villamar at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host in Villamar (basic comfort).

Day 7

VILLAMAR – LAGUNA VERDE – LAGUNA COLORADA

We head south for Laguna Colorada. This laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the light sensitive phytoplancton present in its water. We keep heading south for an excursion to the Sol de Manana Geysers (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.) a volcanic crater from which escape sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then stop for breakfast in Polques before skirting Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings). We reach the lagunas Blanca and Verde, at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) at the end of the afternoon. Curious phenomenon: when the wind picks up, the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color.
Return to Laguna Colorada at the end of the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in shelter (basic comfort).

Day 8

LAGUNA COLORADA – “ROUTE OF THE JEWELS” - SAN JUAN

We head north through the magnificent landscapes of the Siloli desert and its famous “Arbol de Piedra” (Stone Tree) where we may be able to spot some viscachas. We then skirt the Chilean border following the “Route of the Jewels”: lagunas Honda, Ch'arkota, Hedionda and Canapa, a sanctuary to 3 different types of flamingoes. We stop at the viewpoint of volcano Ollague. This active volcano hosts the world's highest sulfur mine.
The track then drops from around 4200 meters above sea level to 3600. We cross the small Salar de Chiguana at the foot of volcano Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) before arriving in the village of San Juan where are located the spectacular mummies of the “Lipez Lords” (1200 A.D.).
Cold lunch. All included. Hotel.

Day 9

SAN JUAN – SALAR – UYUNI

In the morning, departure for the world's largest salt desert: the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.).
The atmosphere is special: the horizon seems to not have any limits and the immensity is overwhelming. We head north to the island of Incahuasi. This island of volcanic origin is covered with stromatolites (fossilized bacteria representing the first traces of life on earth) and giant cacti. In the afternoon, we head east towards Uyuni. On the way we visit the Salt Hotels (Closed since November 2001) and ultimately, the salt exploitation of Colchani.
Cold lunch. Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel.

Day 10

UYUNI – PULACAYO - POTOSI

We depart at 8:30 a.m. for Potosí (5 to 6 hours on a dirt road). We traverse the Cordillera Frailes before reaching the Imperial city in the afternoon. Along the way, we stop in Pulacayo, which was during the 19th century the second most important silver mine on the continent. Today, it is an almost abandoned village, where we find, nonetheless, a museum telling of its past glory. End of the day open (visit of the Santa Teresa Convent recommended).
Lunch included. Dinner open. Hotel.

Day 11

POTOSI / VISIT - SUCRE

We dedicate this day to the discovery of Potosi, nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
At 9 a.m., we meet in the hotel lobby to visit the mines of Cerro Rico where we see miners at work. In the afternoon, we visit the Casa de la Moneda (closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays), where the Spanish minted the coins for the crown until the 19th century.
At 4 p.m., we leave for Sucre in our private vehicle. We leave the high plateau to descend in the valleys of Chuquisaca. We pass the Rio Pilcomayo by the Sucre Bridge, and its interesting architecture (further South, this río separates Argentina from Paraguay) before arriving in Sucre, at the end of the day (3-hour trip on a paved road).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Day 12

SUCRE / CITY TOUR

We meet in the hotel hall at 9 a.m. for a guided visit of the colonial city registered as a World Heritage city by UNESCO. Among others: ethnographic textile museum (ASUR), Casa de la Libertad (closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays), Recoleta convent, cathedral and San Felipe Nery monastery…
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Day 13

SUCRE – LA PAZ
Private transfer from the hotel to the airport 2 hours before take off. Flight Sucre – La Paz (50-minute flight, see time table). Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Day 14

LA PAZ – PAMPALARAMA - LA PAZ
Departure from the hotel at 9 a.m., in a private vehicle, for the community of Chacaltaya located 12 miles away from La Paz at an altitude of 4300 m.a.s.l. A beautiful hike taking you from viewpoints to lagunas, at the base of Charquini and Willamankilisani; a perfect opportunity to observe the Andean fauna. Other activities are possible: trekking, fishing, participation in the daily activities of an Aymara community, observing animals...
Return in La Paz in the late afternoon.
Lunch in Pampalarama. Dinner open. Hotel.

Day 15

DEPARTURE
Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight.
Meals open.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Local guide in La Paz, Sucre, Potosi and Lake Titicaca

Exclusions -

Open meals mentioned, (from 4 to 10 $US per person/meal)