5 DAY SALAR DE UYUNI SALT FLATS TRAVEL PACKAGE

Transfer to Copacabana and Tour:
Pick up from the lobby of your hotel. Transport to Copacabana (duration: 3 ½ hours – 4, altitude: 3,840m / 12,595ft).

At your arrival, you will start your tour by visiting the Basilica, a stark, white, Moorish-looking building decorated with Portuguese-style blue tiles and rounded domes. Inside is the Shrine de la Virgen de Copacabana — a statue carved in the 15th century believed to be responsible for countless miracles. Legend says that if she’s removed, Lake Titicaca will rise in rebellion and flood the town.

Next, you may walk the 12 Stations of the Cross (optional), which devout Catholics visit throughout the Easter season of Lent. It is a great walk (duration: 1 ½ hours) as it will help you understand the layout of the town and the position of nearby islands. The views of Lake Titicaca on the way up, and at the summit, are worth the uphill walking. It is worth noting that in contrast to the strong Catholic influences found in Copacabana, you’ll also find Yatiris (masters) performing spiritual cleansings called “challas” or coca leaf readings, all part of the Aymara culture.

Transfer to Sun Island:

After your tour of Copacabana, transfer by boat to the Port of Pilkokaina in the southern part of Sun Island on Lake Titicaca–legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire– where you will be welcomed by the Lodge staff. Here, you will enjoy a traditional lunch, in the open air, called Apthapi, before continuing on your tour.

After lunch, enjoy a smooth uphill walk with amazing views of the lake and a visit to the Inca ruins of Pilkokaina Palace along the way. The lodge is situated in the halfway up of the island and requires a smooth uphill walk with amazing views of the lake and a visit to the Inca ruins of Pilkokaina Palace along the way (duration: 45 minutes). From the lodge, behold an amazing sunset (duration: 8 hours approx.). Evening free.

Overnight on Sun Island.

Meals included: BLD At your hotel

Escalera del Inca and Transfer to Tiwanaku:
After enjoying breakfast, walk down to the Port of Yumani. Visit the Escalera del Inca, a stairway leading to the Inca Fountain, once believed to be a fountain of youth. Ceremonies dedicated to water and insemination of earth took place here. After a short trek with wonderful panoramic views of Lake Titicaca, 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, 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, and the Puma Punku ceremonial center. Visit the local museums and enjoy an impressive collection of objects and tools of ancient civilizations, in addition to monumental monoliths (duration: 1 ½ – 2 hours). Transfer to your hotel in La Paz (duration: 1 ½ hours).

Evening free.

Overnight in La Paz.

Meals included: B L

Pick up from the lobby of your hotel and transport WITH WITH DRIVER ONLY to the airport to take your flight La Paz – Uyuni (not included).

Full Day Uyuni Tour (Uyuni Salt Flats):
Morning pick-up from the Uyuni airport and departure to the amazing Uyuni Salt Flats, the world’s largest salt desert. On your way, visit the train cemetery and take beautiful pictures onboard old 19th and 20th century steam locomotives. Stop at the town of Colchani (20 min. from Uyuni) where you’ll learn the artisanal salt extraction process from locals. Along the way, see piles of extracted salt and the “ojos del salar” or mineralized water springs bursting out of the salt flat

The next stop is Incahuasi Island^1, 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 garden² of different countries and with the Dakar monument. Transfer to your hotel made of salt in Colchani to enjoy a delicious dinner.

Evening free.

Overnight at Luna Salada

Meals included: BLD At your hotel

Transfer WITH DRIVER ONLY to the airport. Take your flight Uyuni – La Paz (not included). Afterwards, take your international flight (booked on your own).

Meals included: B