1 - Arrival – El Alto Airport (4100m/13.451ft) – La Paz (3663m/12.018ft)
We pick you up at the El Alto airport, the highest commercial airport in the world, and depending on your time of arrival there might be time for a tour of the city and dinner after you get installed at the hotel. Hotel. Distance: 14km/9mi. Transport: 00h30

2 -La Paz City Tour – Valle de la Luna (3315m/10.876ft)
At 08h00 we meet to go on a private tour of the city. We’ll visit a few museums as well as the church and convent San Francisco. After lunch we descend to the southern part of La Paz to visit the Valle de la Luna; mistakenly called a valley the Valle de la Luna is made up of strange rock formations that give it its lunar landscape. We return to the centre in the late-afternoon and the evening is free to explore La Paz by night. Hotel. Distance: 60km/37mi. Transport: 2h00. Visit: 6h00. B

3 - La Paz - Sajama National Park (4255m/13.960ft) - Tomarapi
We leave La Paz early to reach the Sajama National Park. The Sajama National Park which was Bolivia’s first protected area lies at the foot of the extinct stratovolcano Sajama, the highest summit in Bolivia with its 6542m/21.463ft. It was declared a national park in order to protect the endangered Queñua forests which constitute the highest forests in the word. On our way we visit the Chulpas which are burial chambers from the pre-Colombian era and we arrive in the National Park in time for lunch. After lunch we start with a swim in the thermal springs before visiting the geysers. On the way back to Tomarapi we pass the Laguna Huaña Khota where we can observe plenty different bird species. Inn. Distance: 320km/199mi. Transport: 3h30. Visit: 3h00. B/D

4 - Sajama – Tahua (3707m/12.162ft)
We have a long day ahead of us. After breakfast we head towards the small village Tahua which lies north of the Salar de Uyuni. First we reach the small picturesque village Sabaya, from where we cross the Salar de Coïpasa (also known as the mirror of the earth) and after passing the checkpoint at the small garrison village Llica we enter the Uyuni salt flat. Mid-afternoon we reach Tahua from where we have a wonderful view of the magnificent salt flat – the biggest in the world. Depending on our time of arrival we can visit the Coquësa mummies or go for a walk in and around Tahua. Hotel. Distance: 595km/370mi. Transport: 6h00. Visit: 2h00. B/L/D

5 – Tahua – Salar de Uyuni (3653m/11.985ft) - Tahua
Today we spend the day on the salt flat. The Salar de Uyuni is the biggest salt flat in the world with acreage of 10582km²/4,085 square miles and it contains a reserve of 9 million tonne of Lithium and other minerals. We head towards the “island” Incahuasi, also known as the fisherman’s island. This geological formation which is a leftover of petrified limestone offers a multiple of Tiwanakota and Inca archaeological sites. From the highest point on the island we have an amazing 360° view of the Salar de Uyuni. We relax and have lunch on the island and afterwards we visit the small salt exploitation cooperation of Colchani where salt is still extracted and processed without machines. In the late afternoon we return to Tahua. Hotel. Distance: 340km/211mi. Transport: 4h30. Visit: 3h00. B/L/D

6 - Tahua - San Pedro de Quemez (3723m/12.215ft)
After breakfast, around 10h00, we leave for the small village San Pedro de Quemez, situated at the doors of the south Lipez. We cross the Salar de Uyuni in direction southwest and we arrive at San Pedro de Quemez by mid-afternoon. We discover the active volcanoes Iruputuncu and Ollaguë, the caves of Cueva Galaxia with their astonishing rock formations sculptured by nature over years, and also the pre-Columbian sites showing the customs and rites of the people of this part of the Andes. Hotel. Distance: 195km/121mi. Transport: 2h30. Visit: 3h00. B/L/D

7 - San Pedro de Quemez - Ojo del Perdiz (4217m/13.835ft)
Our trip continues in southern direction. After breakfast we head towards Ojo del Perdiz, a small village at the heart of the grand landscapes of the Siloli desert. We cross the Salar de Chiguana where we visit the Arbol de Piedra “the stone tree”, before reaching Ojo del Perdiz by mid-afternoon. Hotel. Distance: 150km/93mi. Transport: 2h00. Visit: 1h30. B/L/D

8 - Ojo del Perdiz - Laguna Colorada - Laguna Verde (4400m/14.436ft) – Quetena Grande (4216m/13.832ft)
We still continue in southern direction now towards the lagunas. After crossing the Siloli desert we discover the different lakes that decorate our journey; Seca, Cañapa, Hedionda, Honda and Khara before we arrive at the famous Laguna Colorada in the Avaroa National Park in the beginning of the afternoon. The lake gets a reddish colour from the alga and therefore the name; the coloured lake! After lunch we continue towards the Laguna Verde passing by the geysers of Sol de Mañana before arriving at the small shelter Queteña, not far from the volcano Llicancahur and the Lagunas Blanca and Verde. The Laguna Verde gets its name because of its turquoise colour which it gets from a high concentration of lead carbonate, arsenic and calcium. Please refrain from bathing!! We continue to Quetena Grande where we spend the night. Hotel. Distance: 260km/162mi. Transport: 5h00. Visit: 3h30. B/L/D

9 - Quetena Grande – Villamar (3951m/12.963ft)
After our stay in the south we head north in direction of Villamar, a small village not far from Villa Alota, which is this regions mining village. We cross the Mallku canyon and the Valle de las Rocas (valley of rocks) before arriving at Villamar in the afternoon. Hotel. Distance: 120km/75mi. Transport: 2h30. Visit: 1h30. B/L/D

10 - Villamar - Tupiza (3165m/10.384ft)
From Villamar we head towards Tupiza via San Vicente. This little village is famous because it’s where Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid where killed. They robbed the Aramayo Company’s salary mule train and subsequently tried to hide in the house of a miner!! Their host obviously gave them up to the Bolivian army and after a shootout they were both killed. We arrive in Tupiza in the early evening. Hotel. Distance: 285km/177mi. Transport: 6h00. Visit: 2h30. B/L

11 - Tupiza
We leave for a hike in the surroundings of Tupiza in the footsteps of Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid. During our trek we can admire cactus and Queñua forest and the spectacular mountains. Before arriving at Huaca Huañusca we cross the small villages San Miguel and Salo and we follow the route of the famous bandits. After lunch we return to Tupiza by the same way. Hotel. B/L

12 - Tupiza – Uyuni (3665m/12.024ft)
After breakfast we leave the South Chichas to drive up to the Uyuni via Atocha. We follow the Cordillera de Chichas and we arrive in Uyuni by mid-afternoon. After we get installed at the hotel we visit the locomotive cemetary and the rest of the day is free to discover Uyuni. Hotel. Distance: 293km/182mi. Transport: 5h00. Visit: 1h00. B/L

13 - Uyuni – Potosi (4000m/13.123ft)
On our 6 hour trip from Uyuni to Potosi we cross the impressive volcanic plateau Los Frailes a vast 8.500km2/3.281mi2 ignimbrite plateau on the western edge of the Eastern Cordillera. Potosi is at once a fascinating and sad place where thousands of slaves lost their lives to the mines under the spanish exploitation. The spanish still have a saying "vale un Potosi" meaning "it’s worth a Potosi" for something very valuable. Hotel. Distance: 219km/136mi. Transport: 5h00. Visit: 1h30. B/L

14 - Potosi
In the XVIth and XVIIth century Potosi was the biggest town in the world taking into consideration the miner population, and is still the 2nd most beautiful town after Sucre. After breakfast we visit the mines of the Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) and we meet again after lunch to visit the famous Casa de la Moneda and the city and the evening is free to explore Potosi by night. Hotel. B

15 - Potosi – Sucre (2790m/9.153ft)
Not too late nor too early we leave Potosi and head towards Sucre the constitutional capital of Bolivia, also called the white city. We pass by the small villages Betanzos and Miraflores before arriving in Sucre. After lunch we visit the town and the evening is free. Hotel. Distance: 180km/112mi. Transport: 2h00. Visit: 1h00. B

16 - Sucre
A day filled with music and culture is waiting for us. We will visit some of the museums (Asur and Musef) as well as the Cathedral and after lunch we visit the Casa de la Libertad and the cultural centre Massis where we have the opportunity to assist in the rehearsals of folkloric music. In the evening we have planned a show-dinner for you! Hotel. B/D

17 – Sucre – Aiquile (2396m/7.861ft)
The morning is free and after breakfast we head towards Aiquile, a nice small village which was devastated by an earthquake in 1998. The population is mainly Quechua and the village is known to make the best charangos in the country. Hotel. Distance: 149km/93mi. Transport: 3h00. Visit: 1h00. B/D

18 - Aiquile - Samaipata (1799m/5.902ft)
From Aiquile we head towards Samaipata. El Fuente de Samaipata is a pre-Columbian archaeological site situated in the department of Santa Cruz. It is famous for its huge rock tabular laid out with channels and basins dug directly in the rocks and the carvings of pumas and also for the seating area and the niches that have been carved the same way. The site was declared as a World Heritage site in 1998 and it is believed to have been constructed by pre-inca populations for religious and ceremonial purposes. Hotel. Distance: 329km/204mi. Transport: 5h30. Visit: 2h00. B/L

19 - Samaipata - Santa Cruz (416m/1.365ft)
We head towards Santa Cruz, a city situated in the Amazonian basin at an altitude of 416m/1.365ft. The average annual temperature is 25°C/77°F which corresponds to a tropical climate. Although it is generally warm the city is also sometimes hit by cold winds called the Surazos. We visit the town, the Noël Kempff Mercado museum and the municipal Zoo. Hotel. Distance: 151km/94mi. Transport: 1h30. Visit: 4h00. B

20 -Santa Cruz - San Javier – Concepcion - San Ignacio
We stay in low altitude for the next couple of days. In the morning we first pass the villages Cotoca, Pailas and Pailons and we arrive in San Javier in time for lunch. We visit the music school, the instrument ateliers and the baroque style church which has been classified a World Heritage site. After lunch we continue our trip via Conception where we can admire the impressive Orchid fields and luxurious vegetation. We arrive at San Ignacio de Velasco the biggest Jesuit community in the area and also a bustling commercial centre, by early evening. Hotel. Distance: 476km/296mi. Transport: 1h15. Visit: 6h00. B

21 - San Ignacio - San Miguel – San Raphael - Santa Ana – Concepcion
In the morning we visit some of the remotest missions, where the traditions are still very much present. We go to San Miguel and San Raphael where we can enjoy the art of the Chiquitanos through the different decorations, sculptures and paintings. We continue to the church of Santa Ana which has conserved the spirit of the missionaries and was the last mission in Chiquitania. After lunch we continue to Conception. Hotel. Distance: 321km/199mi. Transport: 1h00. Visit: 6h00. B

22– Concepcion - Santa Cruz
In Conception we visit the church, a pearl from the XVIIIth century, and in order to gain a better understanding of the history of the missions we have the opportunity to visit a mission museum where we can see the different renovations that the Chiquitania Indians have undertaken. After this extraordinary visit we return to Santa Cruz by way of the oldest Jesuit Mission (1691), the San Xavier Mission. On the way we visit the Mennonites community and we arrive in Santa Cruz around 19h00. Hotel. Distance: 298km. Transport: 0h50. Visit: 6h00. B/L

23 - Santa Cruz - Cochabamba (2558m/8.392ft)
Early in the morning after breakfast we leave for Cochabamba via Montero and Buena Vista. We drive parrallel with the Amboro and Carrasco National parks before arriving in the culinary capital of Bolivia by mid-afternoon. We visit the town upon arrival and the El Cristo de la Concordia, which with its 33m/108ft is higher than both Rio de Janeiro and Lisbon. For the more courageous we can take the stairs that are inside this impressive statue to the top from where we have a wonderful view of the city. The evening is free to explore Cochabamba. Hotel. Distance: 473km/294mi. Transport: 7h00. Visit: 3h00. B/L

24 - Cochabamba - Torotoro (2676m/8.779ft)
From Cochabamba we head towards Torotoro to visit the Torotoro National Park. We visit the Casa de Piedra known as "pachamama wasi" and the more than 2500 dinosaur footprints including the Velociraptor. We also visit the El Vergel, known as Waca Seng´a (Cow’s Nose) which is a waterfall of tepid water that emerges in the middle of the Toro Toro canyon, the tortoise cemetery with tortoise fossils dating back 500million years, the Batea Q´ocha rock paintings and the Llamachaqui ruins. Hotel. Distance: 120km/75mi. Transport: 2h00. Visit: 6h00. B/L/D

25 -Torotoro – Tarata (2700m/8.858ft) – Sipe Sipe (2685m/8.809ft)
After our visit of the Torotoro National Park we continue to Tarata a small village with traditional architecture that is also the birth town of Manuel Mariano Melgarejo dictator and president from 1864 to 1871. We discover the main square and the church and convent Franciscain de San José. We will also visit the villages around Huayculli known for their pottery and the village Villa Rivero mainly known for its textiles. Late in the afternoon we head towards Sipe Sipe and the evening is free. Hotel. Distance: 110km/68mi. Transport: 3h00. Visit: 6h00. B/L/D

26 – Sipe Sipe - La Paz (3663m/12.018ft)
A couple of kilometres north of Sipe Sipe is the Inca site Inca Raqay in the Serrania de Tarhuani. The ruins are not very impressive but the panorama over the Cochabamba valley is terrific. Every year the winter solstice (Inti Raymi) is celebrated here on the night of the 21st of June. We can also visit the caves which according to legend connected Inca Raqay with Cusco in Peru. After lunch we leave for La Paz where we arrive in the early evening. Hotel. Distance: 385km/239mi. Transport: 6h30. Visit: 2h00. B

27 – La Paz - Tiwanaku (3845m/12.615ft) – Copacabana (3949m/12.956ft)
After breakfast we start with a visit to Tiwanaku the site of a pre-inca civilisation that dominated half of the south-central Andes between the Vth and the Xlth century. After lunch we follow the Lake Titicaca to the Tiquina strait which we cross by boat and continue to Copacabana. We enjoy a relaxing day visiting the town and enjoying the atmosphere. Hotel. Distance: 223km/138mi. Transport: 5h30. Visit: 4h00. B/L

28 - Copacabana – Isla de la Luna (3900m/12.795ft) – Isla del Sol (4000m/13.123ft)
After breakfast we walk to the port where a boat is waiting to bring us to the Isla del Sol. On our way we visit Isla de la Luna and then we continue to the north of the Isla del Sol. From here we can either go for a small trek and visit the different archaeological sites and the museum or take the boat to the south of the island and visit the Inca stairs and fountain. Hotel. Transport: 00h45 (boat). Visit: 3h. B/L/D

29 - Isla del Sol – Copacabana – La Paz
After we’ve walked down the Inca stairs we visit the site Pilkokaina and then we return to Copacabana from where we continue to La Paz and the afternoon is free to profit from the last hours in the Bolivian capital. Hotel. Distance: 161km/100mi. Transport: 3h. B

30 - La Paz Departure
Transfer from your hotel to the airport. It is recommended to be at the airport 3h00 before departure for international flights. End of our services.

Options

• Trek: If you are interested in trekking please see our trek programs here
  
• Mountaineering: If you are interested in mountaineering please see our andinism programs here
  
• Other options: After the 29th day you also have the possibility to continue your trip to Peru (Cusco and the Machu Picchu and/or the floating island Uros and the neighbouring islands Amantani and Taquile), Chile (San Pedro de Atacama and Arica and the Pacific Ocean) or Argentina (Salta).
  
  
  

  If you have special wishes for a tour that you do not find on these pages i.e. birding, wine tours, mountain biking and adventure sports, archaeological tours etc. please do not hesitate to contact us directly for more information.