12-DAY INTENSE BOLIVIA TOUR PACKAGE

Tour of Copacabana:

Pick up in the hotel lobby to travel to Copacabana (duration: 3.5–4 hours, altitude: 3,840 m / 12,595 ft).

At your arrival, you will start with the Basilica, a stark, white, Moorish-looking building decorated with Portuguese-style blue tiles and rounded domes. The treasure inside is the Shrine of ”Virgen de Copacabana”—a statue carved in the 15th century, which is said to be responsible for countless miracles. It’s also said that if she’s removed, Lake Titicaca will rise in rebellion and flood the town.

It is worth noting that in contrast to the strong Catholic influences found in Copacabana, you will also find Yatiris (Aymara masters) performing spiritual cleanings called “challas” and coca leaf readings.

Transfer to Sun Island:

After your tour, you will take a boat to the Port of Pilkokaina on the southern part of Sun Island—legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire—where you will enjoy a traditional lunch in the open air called Apthapi. After lunch, set on a smooth uphill walk with amazing views of the lake and a visit to the Inca ruins of Pilkokaina Palace along the way. From the lodge, behold an amazing sunset (tour duration: 8 hours approx.)

Evening free.

Overnight on Sun Island: La Estancia (basic lodge).

Meals included: B L D

Escalera del Inca and Transfer to Tiwanaku:

After enjoying breakfast, you will walk down to the Port of Yumani and visit the Escalera del Inca—a stairway leading to the Inca Fountain, once believed to be a fountain of youth, and a place where ceremonies dedicated to water and insemination of earth took place. After a short trek with wonderful panoramic views of Lake Titicaca, you will take a boat back to Copacabana (duration: 1 hour) to then be transferred to Tiwanaku (duration: 3–4 hours).

Half-Day Tiwanaku Ruins and Transfer to La Paz:

After lunch in Tiwanaku, you will visit the Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture, which includes beautiful monumental stone buildings that survive in the protected archaeological zones. You will visit the Kalasasaya Temple (Sun), the legendary Sun Gate, the Semi-subterranean temple (Earth), the Akapana Pyramid, the Puma Punku ceremonial center, as well as the museums where you will enjoy an impressive collection of artifacts and tools of ancient civilizations in addition to monumental monoliths (duration: 1.5–2 hours). Finally, transfer to your hotel in La Paz (duration: 1.5 hours).

Evening free

Overnight in La Paz

Meals included: B L

Our driver will take you to the airport for your flight from La Paz to Uyuni (flight not included).

Villamar Village:

Pick up from the Uyuni Airport and transfer to Villamar Village. Along the way, you will visit the cemetery of trains, where you can make playful and even artistic pictures on board the remains of 19th- and 20th-century steam locomotives. You will also visit the colonial church of San Cristóbal and the rustic villages of Culpina K and Alota. Finally, you will visit the beautiful Valley of the Rocks and the Lost Italy, famous for the interesting rock patterns formed by wind erosion, which is perfect for rock climbers (tour duration: 8 hours, altitude: 4,100 m / 13,448 ft). Finally, transfer to your lodge.

Evening free

Overnight in Villamar:  Jardines de Mallku Cueva (basic lodge)

Meals included: B L D

After breakfast, you will visit the Red Lagoon (also known as Colorada lagoon), home to the famous James Flamingos, unique in its species, and other local fauna. The lagoon itself is very special as it sometimes turns a deep red color because of the combination of reddish sediment in its surface, and the pigmentation of a certain type of seaweed at its bottom. After, you will visit the Sol de Mañana Geysers, an area with much volcanic activity, full of boiling mud lakes and sulfur steam pools.

Continue on to Polkes, where you can enjoy its natural hot springs, and you will pass through the Dalí’s Desert, an extremely arid area with landscapes very similar to Salvador Dalí’s surreal vast desert paintings. Afterward, you will visit the white and green lagoon with its impressive emerald color and towering Llicancabur Volcano as a backdrop.

Finally, transfer to Hedionda Lagoon. Along the way, you will visit the iconic Árbol de piedra (stone tree) in the Siloli Desert, where you will find vicuñas and vizcachas. Then, transfer to your lodge (tour duration: 10 hours approx, altitude: 4,120 m / 13,515 ft).

Evening free

Overnight at Los Flamencos Ecolodge (basic lodge)

Meals included: B L D

Visit the minor lagoons (Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarcota) and transfer to the Ollague Volcano viewpoint along the way. Continue on to the Chiguana Salt Flats and then enter for the first time to the Uyuni Salt flats by Puerto Chubica.

Your next stop will be the amazing Uyuni Salt Flats, the world’s largest salt desert with an expanse of more than 12,000 km² (7,455 mi²). First, you will visit the town of Colchani (20 minutes from Uyuni), where you will learn the artisanal salt extraction process from the locals, and maybe even purchase salt from Uyuni. On this trip, you will also see piles of extracted salt and see up-close the ”ojos del salar” or mineralized water springs bursting out of the salt flat.

The next stop is Incahuasi Island, located in the middle of the Uyuni Salt Flat, where you can see the famous giant cacti that are up to 10 meters high and enjoy a short walk to the top of the island and admire wonderful panoramic views of the salt flats. Lunch will be served in the middle of the salt flat for an exclusive experience like no other. This is a perfect time to take advantage of the salt flat’s extraordinary flatness and play with proportion and perspective in your photographs (during the dry season: from mid-April to mid-November, subject to weather changes).

After lunch, transfer to the Tunupa Volcano to visit the Coqueza mummies found in that area and the Chiquini Caves. On the way back to Colchani, you will stop to visit the first hotel made of salt, Playa Blanca, where you can take photos in the flag garden of different countries and with the Dakar monument. Finally, transfer to your hotel in Colchani.

NOTES:

1. The Ramaditas lagoon is not visited because it is dry.
2. In the rainy season, the Flamencos lodge cannot be reached through Puerto Chubica, and the Chiguana Salt Flat is not visited. You enter through Uyuni, San Cristóbal, Villa Alota, and visit Los Cóndores Valley, the Ollague Volcano viewpoint, and the minor lagoons.
3. Incahuasi Island, Tunupa Volcano, and the Chiquini Caves may not most likely be visited during the rainy season (mid-December to mid-April, subject to weather changes).
4. We recommend our clients to bring their national flag in order to place it in the flag garden together with the other flags from all over the world!

Evening free

Overnight in Colchani (hotel made of salt)

Meals included: B L D

After breakfast, travel to Potosí (duration: 3.5 hours approx – altitude: 3,900 m / 12,795 ft). You can visit the Pulacayo mining town along the way, with interesting historical value, including the train famously robbed by “Wild West” personalities Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, who spent their last days in Bolivia.

City Tour of Potosí Half Day:

After lunch in Potosí, you will discover the colonial architecture of the highest city in the world, dating back to the time when it was larger than either London or Paris. Many churches and temples show native artwork, such as the church of San Lorenzo. You will also witness the beautiful front of the Torre de la Compañía de Jesus, a stone-built convent, as well as the Arco de Cobija, from where you can take great panoramic pictures of Cerro Rico. You will stop to visit La Casa de la Moneda or the National Mint of Potosi, and the museums of the Santa Teresa and San Francisco Convents, where you will also find native artwork (duration: 3–4 hours approx.). Finally, transfer to your hotel Hacienda Museum Cayara (45 minutes).

NOTE: we include entrance tickets to La Casa de la Moneda (subject to internal guiding schedules), and the museums of the Santa Teresa and San Francisco Convents. For the San Francisco Convent Museum, guided visits are only in Spanish at 8:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Casa de la Moneda closes Sunday afternoons and Mondays all day.

Evening free

Overnight at Hacienda Cayara Hotel

Meals included: B L D

You will enjoy a delicious breakfast with produce grown in the same hacienda. Before departure, enjoy a brief walk around the different facilities of this wonderful place, such as its museum, colonial living and bedrooms, as well as its legendary chapel.

Private Cooperative Mines Tour in Cerro Rico:

Pick up from the lobby of your hotel and departure to the miner’s market “Calvario”, where you can buy coca leaves and cigarettes for the miners you will meet today. Continue on to the Konty, Korimayu or Pailaviri silver mines to meet local miners and see the mines first-hand.  The mining of silver began in colonial times, and it continues today with little change in working conditions or mining methods. The miners’ rituals have not changed over time as well, and you will see them pray to Tata Ckajcha (the father of miners), and make the “Challa” to the ”Tío” (God of the mines, owner of the silver). Afterward, there will be a brief stop at the Cooperative Miners Silver Foundation and the local museum.

NOTE: the Silver Foundation and the local museum are opened 365 days a year.

Transfer to Sucre

On your way, you will visit the Antonio Jose de Sucre hanging bridge, also known as the Puente Arce, which hangs over the Pilcomayo river as well as the Castle of La Glorieta, a fairy-tale pink castle on the outskirts of Sucre. Then, transfer to your hotel (duration: 2.5 hours, altitude: 2,810 m / 9,217 ft).

NOTE: we include entrance tickets to La Glorieta Castle, which closes on Mondays all day.

Evening free

Overnight in Sucre

Meals included: B L

Today you will visit the Mirador de La Recoleta, the ASUR Textile Museum, the fronts of the San Lázaro Church and the iconic whitewashed Santo Domingo church, the city’s cemetery, Parque Bolívar, as well as the city’s main historic monuments. After lunch, visit the Casa de la Libertad museum, view the exteriors of the Metropolitana Cathedral and the Museo del Tesoro, and then visit the San Francisco Church and the San Felipe de Neri Convent Museum (tour duration: 6 hours). Return to your hotel.

NOTE: we include entrance tickets to the following museums: ASUR, Casa de la Libertad, Museo del Tesoro and San Felipe de Neri Convent Museum. ASUR closes Sundays all day. Casa de la Libertad closes on Sunday afternoons and Mondays all day. Museo del Tesoro closes on Saturday afternoons and Sundays all day. San Felipe de Neri Convent Museum is only available in the afternoons, for morning tours you will visit La Recoleta Museum. La Recoleta Museum closes on Saturday afternoons and Sundays all day.

After the tour, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight from Sucre to Santa Cruz. Then, pick up from the airport and drop off at your hotel in Santa Cruz (altitude: 416 m / 1,364 ft).

Evening free

Overnight in Santa Cruz

Meals included: B L

Travel to the countryside town of Samaipata, located 120 km (75 mi) from the city of Santa Cruz, offering beautiful landscapes. You will stop at Fuerte de Samaipata, a pre-Hispanic ceremonial fortress, among the largest in South America, and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. After lunch, visit the archaeological museum in the town of Samaipata and cave waterfalls in the area (duration: 10 hours). Return to your hotel in Santa Cruz.

Evening free

Overnight in Santa Cruz

Meals included: B L

Discover two wonderfully ornate Jesuit Mission towns, declared  as Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.  San Javier is the oldest mission in the region, located 230 km (143 mi) from Santa Cruz. Concepción is another mission located at 45 km (28 mi) from San Javier.

Departure to San Javier to visit the baroque-style missionary church, the sacred museum, and the stone of the apostles. After lunch, transfer to Concepción where you will also visit the town’s mission church, considered a jewel in the region, the museum, main square, and water dam (duration: 12 hours). Transfer back to your hotel in Santa Cruz.

Evening free

Overnight in Santa Cruz

Meals included: B L

Visit this natural paradise surrounded by exotic plants, tropical forests and wildlife, such as beautiful macaws, toucans, and peacocks. Some of the main attractions include the Butterfly Dome, Aviarium, Orchidarium, Anthill, Beekeeping, Termite Mounds, and Monkey Island. In addition, there are magnificent gardens, trails, pools, and even artificial lagoons, where you can do some kayaking (duration: 7 hours). Lunch is included in the same place. Return to your hotel.

Finally, transfer to the airport in Santa Cruz to take your international flight booked on your own.

Meals included: B L