12 DAY INTENSE BOLIVIA TOUR PACKAGE

Transfer to Copacabana and Tour:
Pick up from the lobby of your hotel. Transport to Copacabana (duration: 3 ½ – 4 hours, 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. The treasure inside is the Shrine de la 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.

Next, you may walk the 12 Stations of the Cross (optional), which devout Catholics visit throughout the Easter season. This walk (duration: 1 ½ hours) 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 (Aymara masters) performing spiritual cleansings called “challas” and coca leaf readings.

Transfer to Sun Island:

After your tour, you willl take a boat to the Port of Pilkokaina on the southern part of Sun Island, legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire. The La Estancia Eco-Lodge staff will be there to greet you and help you with your belongings. The lodge is situated at the top of the island and requires a smooth uphill walk with amazing views of the lake. Visit the Inca ruins of Pilkokaina Palace along the way (duration: 1- 1 ½ hours). From the lodge, behold an amazing sunset.

Evening free.

Overnight on Sun Island.

Meals included: B LD

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, 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 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: BL

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

Villamar Village:
Early morning pick-up WITH TRANSFER PERSON from the Uyuni airport and departure en route to Villamar Village.  You’ll stop to visit the train cemetery, where you can take playful and even artistic pictures on board the remains of 19th and 20th century steam locomotives. You’ll also visit the colonial church of San Cristobal and the rustic villages of Culpina K and Alota along the way. Your last visit of the day will be the beautiful Valley of the Rocks, famous for its interesting rock patterns formed by wind erosion. It is a favorite place for rock climbers.

Arrive at Villamar where you will check in at Jardines de Mallku Cueva Hotel (17:00).

Evening free.

Overnight in Villmar:  Jardines de Mallku Cueva (basic lodge).

Meals included: BL 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. Afterwards, 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. Arrival to your lodge (duration: 10 hours approx, altitude: 4120 meters / 13515 feet).

Evening free.

Overnight at Flamencos (basic lodge).

Meals included: BLD

Pick-up from the lobby of your hotel and visit the minor lagoons (Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarcota) and transfer tothe Ollague Volcano viewpoint along the way. Continue on to the Chiguana Salt Flats, the “Condor Valley” (rock valley) and then the Puerto Chubica.

Uyuni Salt Flats Full Day:
Your next stop will bel the amazing Uyuni Salt Flats (duration: 4 hours), the world’s largest salt desert with an expanse of more than 12,000 square km (7,455 sq mi). You will visit Incahuasi Island located in the middle of the Uyuni salt flats. It is an oasis with a unique and isolated ecosystem where giant cacti thrive (up to 10m. or 32ft. high).  Afterwards, you will enjoy a unique picnic experience, as lunch will be served in the middle of the Salar. This is a perfect time to take advantage of this territory’s’ extraordinary flatness and play with proportion and perspective in your photographs.

After lunch, you will travel to the base of the Tunupa Volcano to visit the Chantani Museum, where you can appreciate the mummies found there. 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.

NOTE:  Incahuasi Island, Tunupa Volcano, and Chantani Museum will not be visited during rainy season. Tunupa Volcano and Chantani Museum can be replaced for Chiquini Caves, only in dry season.

Then, you will visit the town of Colchani (20 min. from Uyuni) where you’ll learn the artisanal salt extraction process from local artisans, and maybe even purchase salt from Uyuni. Transfer to your hotel in Colchani (20 min. from Uyuni).

Evening free.

Overnight in Luna Salada (hotel made of salt).

Meals included: BLD

Pick up from the lobby of your hotel and transfer to Potosí (duration: 3 ½ hours approx – altitude: 3,900m). 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 Potosí Half Day:
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 Compañia 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 08:30am, 09:30am an 11:00am. Casa de la Moneda closes Sunday afternoons and Mondays all day.

Transfer to Hacienda Museum Cayara (duration: 30 – 45min approx.).

Evening free.

Overnight in Hacienda Cayara Hotel.

Meals included: BLD At your hotel

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 bed rooms as well as its legendary chapel.

Private Cooperative Mines Tour in Cerro Rico:
Pick up from the lobby of your hotel. Departure to 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). Afterwards, 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 (duration: 2 ½ hours approx). Transfer to your hotel (altitude: 2,810m).

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

Evening free.

Overnight in Sucre.

Meals included: B L

Pick up from the lobbyof your hotel. Visit the Mirador de La Recoleta, the ASUR Textile Museum, the fronts of the San Lázaro Church and the iconic white-washed Santo Domingo church, the city’s cemetery, Parque Bolivar 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 (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.

Transfer WITH TRANSFER PERSON to the airport to take your flight Sucre – Santa Cruz (Amaszonas Z8-229 departing at 18:50 and arriving at 19:30). Pick up from the airport WITH TRANSFER PERSON and transfer to your hotel in Santa Cruz (altitude: 416m).

Evening free.

Overnight in Santa Cruz

Meals included: BL

Pick up from the lobby of your hotel and transfer to the countryside town of Samaipata, located 120 Kms from the city of Santa Cruz, offering beautiful landscapes. You will stop at the 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: 4 hours). Return to your hotel in Santa Cruz.

Evening free.

Overnight in Santa Cruz

Meals included: BL

Pick up from the lobby of your hotel. Discover two wonderfully ornate Jesuit Mission towns declared Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.  San Javier is the oldest mission in the region, located 230 kms from Santa Cruz. Concepción is another mission, located 45 kms 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: BL

Pick up from the lobby of your hotel to 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).

Transfer WITH TRANSFER PERSON to the airport in Santa Cruz to take your international flight (booked on your own).

Meals included: BL