BOLIVIA TRAVEL ADVENTURE THROUGH UYUNI SALT FLATS SOUTH AMERICA

Transfer to Copacabana and Tour:
Today your Bolivia travel adventure continues with a trip to Copacabana on Lake Titicaca (duration: 3.5–4 hours, altitude: 3,840 m / 12,595 ft).

At your arrival, you will visit 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, believed to be responsible for countless miracles. It is said that if she’s removed, Lake Titicaca will rise in rebellion and flood the town.

Next, walk through the 12 Stations of the Cross (optional), as devout Catholics do during the Easter season (duration: 1.5 hours). The uphill walk will help you understand the layout of the town and the position of the nearby islands. In addition, the views of Lake Titicaca on the way up, and at the summit, are worth the exercise.

It is worth noting that in contrast to the strong Catholic influences found in Copacabana, remarkably you will also find Yatiris (Aymara masters) performing spiritual cleanings called “challas” or 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 visit the Inca ruins of Pilkokaina Palace along the way (duration: 1 hour). From the lodge, behold an amazing sunset.

Evening free

Overnight on Sun Island: La Estancia (basic lodge)

Meals included: BLD

Escalera del Inca and Transfer to Tiwanaku:
After breakfast, begin your walk down to the Port of Yumani and visit the Escalera del Inca, a stairway leading to the Inca Fountain. It was once believed to be a fountain of youth, and a place where ceremonies took place. After a short trek with wonderful panoramic views of Lake Titicaca, take the 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, visit the Spiritual and Political Centre of the Tiwanaku Culture, which includes beautiful monumental stone buildings that survive in the protected archaeological zones. See 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). Transfer to your hotel in La Paz (duration: 1.5 hours).

Evening free

Overnight in La Paz

Meals included: BL

Pick up in the hotel lobby and transfer (with driver only, no guide’s assistance) to the airport to take your flight La Paz – Uyuni (not included).

Full Day Uyuni Salt Flats:
Morning pick-up from the Uyuni airport and departure to the town of Uyuni on route to the amazing Uyuni Salt Flats, the world’s largest salt desert.

On your way, visit the cemetery of trains and take playful pictures on board rusty 19th- and 20th-century steam locomotives. Next, visit the town of Colchani (20 minutes from Uyuni) and see how local artisans extract and treat salt for consumption. In addition, spot piles of extracted salt and “ojos del salar” or mineralized water springs bursting out of the salt flats.

Your next stop is Incahuasi Island, located in the middle of the salar. You’ll marvel at this oasis with a unique and isolated ecosystem where giant cacti thrive (up to 10 meter or 32 feet high). Afterward, enjoy a unique picnic experience surrounded by nothing but a salt desert. Take advantage of the extraordinary flatness of the place to play with proportion and perspective in your photographs.

After lunch, travel 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. Transfer to your hotel in Colchani.

Evening free (You can request your Travel Advisor to add a Stargazing Night Tour – not included in the price)

Overnight at Colchani (hotel made of salt)

Meals included: BLD

Transfer to Potosí:
Morning transfer to the city of Potosí (duration: 3.5 hours – altitude: 3,900 m / 12795 ft). You can visit the Pulacayo mining town along the way, with interesting historical value, including the train famously robbed by “Wild West” icons Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, who spent their last days in Bolivia.

Half Day City Tour of Potosí:
After lunch, 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 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.).

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.

Finally, transfer to Hacienda Museum Cayara (duration: 30–45 min approx.).

Evening free

Overnight at Hacienda Cayara

Meals included: BLD

You will enjoy a delicious breakfast with natural produce collected and elaborated in the same hacienda. Before departure, you can walk briefly around the different facilities of this wonderful place, including its museum, colonial living rooms and bedrooms, as well as its legendary chapel.

Private Cooperative Mines Tour in Cerro Rico:
The first stop this morning is the miner’s market, “Calvario”, where you can buy coca leaves and cigarettes for the miners you’ll 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 “Ch’alla” 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 local museum are opened 365 days a year.

Transfer to Sucre.
On your way, visit the Antonio José de Sucre hanging bridge, also known as Puente Arce, which hangs over the Pilcomayo River. Your journey will also take you by a fairy tale pink castle known as La Glorieta, on the outskirts of Sucre (duration: 2.5 hours approx). Transfer to your hotel (altitude: 2,810 m / 9217 ft.).

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

Evening free

Overnight in Sucre

Meals included: BL

Today you’ll see the most interesting aspects of this beautiful white City of Sucre. First, you’ll visit the Mirador de La Recoleta, and the ASUR Textile Museum. Then, you will stop by to contemplate the beautiful facades of the San Lázaro Church and the iconic whitewashed Santo Domingo church. Afterward, you’ll visit the city’s cemetery, Parque Bolívar, as well as Sucre’s main historic monuments. After lunch, the tour continues to the Casa de la Libertad Museum, the exteriors of the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Museo del Tesoro, and a visit to the San Francisco Church and the San Felipe de Neri Convent Museum (duration: 6 hours approx). 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.

Airport Transfer:
After your tour, you will say goodbye to your guide and be transferred to the airport to take your flight to La Paz and then your international flight (flights not included).

Meals included: BL