Bolivia Highlights Adventure 14D/13N

Airport Transfer

La Paz Half-Day Walking City Tour (B)
Today, we will take the famous "Mi Teleférico" cable car up to El Alto, one of La Paz' suburbs. El Alto is located at a dizzying 13,615ft (4,000m) above sea level and is one of the highest cities in the world! Then, we will “trek” our way down to the center of La Paz. We will visit the streets like locals during the 4-hour descent through markets, neighborhoods, plazas, and alleyways. To top it off, we will take a micro or local bus to the heart of the market area. Here, we will be able to shop around and go to different markets, including the famous Witch’s Market. Time at leisure to have lunch and explore the city on our own.

Full-Day Excursion to Huayna Potosi (B/L)
At 07:30 hrs, you will be picked-up from the hotel in order to start a 2-hour drive to the Zongo valley, passing through El Alto and onto the Altiplano where we will see the Andean landscape and mountain ranges. Once there, we will pass along llama pasture and the Zongo dam where there is a hydroelectric plant that supplies electricity to La Paz. From here, we will be walking towards the majestic figure of Huayna Potosi Mountain, standing at 6088 m. Some distance after the dam we will hike up the trail to the Huayna Potosi refuge where we will rest to savor the views and meet with our return transport back to La Paz.

Full Day Excursion to Tiwanaku (B)
Tiwanaku is a 1 ½-hour drive from La Paz, throughout which the highlands are passed and the Aymaran way of life can be seen. Today's adventure will take you back through El Alto, en route to Tiwanaku archeological and UNESCO World Heritage site. We will explore the culture's main temples, some of them still under excavation, including the Pyramid of Akapana, Kalasasaya and Puma Punku, and 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 are worthy of modern day appreciation, intricate details of both the people and the gods can be seen on the spiritual deities the Tiwanaku revered.

Half-Day Cable Car Tour (B)
After breakfast, we will explore the city via the new cable car system. Since its opening in 2017, the “Mi Teleférico” transit system boasts a network of 10 lines that criss-cross the city. This tour will take us on six different lines, from the adjacent city of El Alto to La Paz's bohemian neighborhood of Sopocachi with modern buildings, bustling squares, and public parks. The tour will end with a stroll along colonial Jaen Street with its colonial buildings, small museums, and plenty of history.

Transfer to Copacabana (B/L)
Today, you will be picked-up from your accommodation at around 06:30 - 07:00 hrs and you will depart by tourist bus to Copacabana. At around 09:45 hrs we will arrive at the Tiquina strait, from where we will take a small ferry to cross it (about 20min.) After this, we will go back to the bus and continue to Copacabana arriving around noon. Upon arrival, our local guide will join us and take us to our hotel to leave the luggage. After lunch, we will have a stroll of town and visit the local church with its dark virgin. If you dare, we will hike to El Calvario (about 30min. but with a lot of stairs!), from where we will be able to enjoy a beautiful view of the Titicaca Lake.

Transfer to the Sun Island (B/L)
At 10:00 hrs, we will take a ferry to the Sun Island (1 ½ hrs.). Upon arrival, our guide will join us to walk around the sun temple Pilkokaina and the coast of Yumani. You will have the free afternoon to explore the island on our own. You can take a public boat to the northern end of the Island (30min. approx.) and hike about 3 hours back down to the south alongside spectacular views. You can also visit the Gold Museum, located in the northern part of the Island. It’s a tiny, but fascinating museum filled with recovered artifacts. Finally, you can also visit the Fountain of Youth, believed to keep you young forever, it has 3 streams of water pouring out each with their own nickname. NOTE: Cost of the boat + entrances are not included.

Transfer back to La Paz (B)
At 09:00 hrs, we will hike down back to the port to take the ferry back to Copacabana. Once we arrive, we will have some free time to have lunch on our own. At 13:30 hrs, we will take the tourist bus back to La Paz.

Transfer to Uyuni (B/D)
Today you will have a day at leisure to get some rest and explore the city on your own. At 20:00 hrs, you will be picked-up from the hotel and transferred to the bus station where you will catch your overnight bus to Uyuni. During your overnight trip, you will have a light dinner. NOTE: Check-out is at hrs. 12:00 but you can leave your luggage at reception.

Uyuni Salt Flats (L/D)
At around 07:00 hrs you will be picked-up from the bus station and have time at leisure to enjoy your breakfast. The trip will begin at 10:30 hrs. We will first visit the Train cemetery (very old locomotives from the Carbon era), and the town of Colchani, where we will see the manual processing of salt, handicrafts and salt museum. Then, we will enter the Uyuni salt flats (12,000 km2) and will see the “Montones de sal” and how locals extract the salt. We will visit Playa Blanca hotel and the Incahuasi Island with its giant cacti that is located in the middle of the salt flats. We will have lunch there, enjoying an amazing view. Then, we will continue our trip to the town of San Juan or Atulcha (3,700 masl). You will overnight at a small salt hostel.

Salar de Chiguana, Eduardo Avaroa Andean Flora and Fauna Reserve, and Laguna Colorada (B/L/D)
Today we will depart at 08:30 hrs. We will visit Salar de Chiguana, viewpoint of the Ollague Volcano (active), to later continue the tour and visit the Andean lagoons of Cañapa, Chiarcota, and Hedionda, located at an average altitude of 4,300masl. Here, we can see flamingos, vicuñas or other Andean fauna. We will then pass through the Siloli desert and visit the Stone Tree, formed due to the erosion. In the afternoon, we will visit Laguna Colorada (4,300masl) where we can see more wild animals. We will continue to Huayllajara, where our small hostel is located at an average altitude of 4,300masl. Please consider that the temperature is very low at night (even -20 °C), therefore it is recommended to bring a sleeping bag.

Sol de Mañana geysers, Polques, Green Lagoon and transfer to La Paz (B/L)
Today, we will depart at 05:00 hrs to visit the active geysers of Sol de Mañana, which are located at an altitude of 4,900masl. We will see the fumaroles or boiling lava at a temperature of 90° C. Then, we will continue to the thermal waters of Polques, where we can take a hot bath. We will pass through the Dalí desert until we reach the Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. After this, we will return to the Uyuni town (approx. 7 hours) without many stops except at noon for lunch and a visit to the rock valley in Villamar. We will be arriving in Uyuni around 17:00 hrs, where you will have time at leisure to eat and visit the town. In the evening, you will be transferred to the bus station to take the overnight bus back to La Paz at 20:00 hrs. During your overnight trip, you will have a light dinner.

Airport Transfer and Free Day in La Paz
You will arrive from Uyuni around 05:30 hrs and you will be transferred to the hotel (early check in is guaranteed). Today, you will have the day at leisure to explore the city on your own and rest from your amazing journey before.

Airport Transfer
At the scheduled time, you will be transferred to the airport to continue with your journey. Hope to see you soon! NOTE: Check-out is at hrs. 12:00. If you need to stay longer at the hotel, there will be an additional price.