Bolivia Travel Ideas

Itinerary:

Bolivia has the world's highest city, the world's largest salt flat, the world's highest navigable lake and the world's most dangerous road. It's impossible to be bored or sometimes even relax in Bolivia whose people held onto their native Indian and Incan roots and still live off the land on subsistence farms. You'll come to love the women's bell-shaped skirts, shiny black plaits and babies slung casually over their backs in colorful blankets. You'll also come to love the men's intricately woven jackets and bright pointy hats, but not their habit of chewing coca leaves constantly to boost stamina and reduce hunger. Our Best of Bolivia adventure gives you, naturally, the very best of the best of Bolivia!

Day 1. Arrive Santa Cruz

Your are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. You then enjoy and afternoon City tour.

Located on the eastern tropical plains, Santa Cruz is well known for its mixture of colonial and modern architecture. Unusual species of animals and exotic birds can be seen at the local zoo.

Day 2. Santa Cruz - Samaipata ruins - Santa Cruz

Full Day Visit to the Samaipata ruins.
Only an hour and a half hour drive from Santa Cruz, you reach the ruins of Samaipata, where you can see mysterious carvings on the giant rocks representing a snake and many other enigmatic figures. These ruins have generated countless archaeological debates, and inspired Erick Von Daenicken in his extraterrestrial theories. UNESCO also declared the Samaipata ruins:"The Historical and Cultural Legacy of Mankind" B

Day 3. Santa Cruz - Sucre

You are transferred to the airport for your domestic flight to Sucre. After checking in to your Sucre hotel you begin your afternoon city tour.

Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia, is a living expression of both colonial and modern times. The Cathedral, churches and cloisters of La Recoleta, San Felipe and Guadalupe, the House of Liberty, where Simon Bolivar signed the Declaration of Independence all play testament to Bolivia's rich colonial past. B

Day 4. Sucre - (Tarabuco's Market)

Full day visit to Tarabuco's Market (SUNDAYS ONLY). Other days than Sunday will be a day at leisure.

On Sunday Tarabuco becomes a kaleidoscope of colors, Indian costumes and the bustling local market. The natives in Tarabuco still use a leather helmets similar to that worn by the Conquistadores. We then continue to the Candelaria Hacienda and enjoy lunch and the dance of "Pujllay" the most authentic of Bolivian dances. Return to Sucre late afternoon. B

Day 5. Sucre - Potosi

A quick 3 hours drive on paved road from Sucre, you reach Potosi, the famous Colonial City and main source of silver during the Spanish colonial times. The now mined mountain towers over the city and according to legend has produced enough silver to build a solid silver bridge from Potosi to Madrid Spain!

The Cathedral, the church of San Francisco and The Casa de la Moneda (Royal Mint), with its wooden machinery used to make the silver coins for Spain are all attractions visited on your city tour. (NOTE: The Mint is closed on Mondays). If arriving into Potosi on a Monday we visit the fascinating Santa Teresa Convent which was founded in 1685 and is still home to a small community of Carmelite nuns. The excellent guided tour (Spanish & English) explains how girls of fifteen from wealthy families entered the convent, getting their last glimpse of parents and loved ones at the door.

Entry was a privilege, paid for with a sizeable dowry; a good portion of these offerings are on display in the form of religious artwork.

B

Day 6. Uyuni

Early in the morning depart to Uyuni passing through some of the most remote and beautiful areas of Bolivia. We arrive later afternoon and after checking into the hotel you have an opportunity to wander through the streets of this border like town.

Day 7. Salt Flats Tour (Colchini)

One of the greatest "natural wonders", the Uyuni salt flats are the biggest salts lakes in the world.
12, 000 km² of salt at an elevation of 12, 000 ft, create a truly unforgettable experience as the flats reflect the sapphire-blue Altiplano sky. Depart Uyuni and continue to Colchani to witness local salt production.

Colchani is a village on the shores of Uyuni Salt Flat where locals still extract salt in a traditional way. We then enter this gigantic white salt lake itself, driving to the village of Coquesa set on the footsteps of Thunupa Volcano. BLD

Journey by road in a private vehicle back to Sucre. Lunch included. BL

Day 8. Salt Flats - La Paz

You are transferred by good road from the remoteness of the Salt Flats to the hustle and bustle of Bolivia's largest city.

The city that touches the sky is an apt description of La Paz. Located high above sea level, the legislative capital of Bolivia sits in a bowl surrounded by the high altiplano. La Paz as it grows climbs the hills resulting in varying elevations from 3000 to 4100 m. Overlooking the city is towering triple-peaked Illimani, always snow covered and majestic. B

Day 9. La Paz - Tiwanacu - La Paz

Morning Half Day City Tour of La Paz and Moon Valley
La Paz is known as "the City of contrast" and it is a unique blend of cultures and races. Located within breathtaking panoramas the tour will include visits to the Indian Market, Witch Doctor's Market and the Moon Valley.

We then visit the ruins of Tiwanacu. During its height Tiwanacu was the largest city in the World and is considered to be "the Cradle of the American Civilizations".

The Sun Gate the Monoliths and the temples of Kalasasaya and Kontiki metal and ceramic art work are some of the fine examples of the advanced development achieved by this culture. Box Lunch on route. BL

Day 10. La Paz - Lake Titicaca

After breakfast you are transferred to Huatajata on the shore of Lake Titicaca by private vehicle. Just before arriving at the lakes shore you are presented with an amazing panoramic view of the lake with the white Andean peaks framing the lake in the background.

Visit the "Altiplano Museum" where a state of the art audio system presents an in depth recount of Bolivian indigenous and colonial history and Jacque Cousteaus search for Atlantis underneath Lake Titicaca. Also there may be an opportunity to meet members of the Limachi family, builders of the RA II and Tigris reed boats that undertook the epic expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Islands. B

Day 11. Lake Titicaca - La Paz

Board your vessel and begin your exploration of Lake Titicaca. You set foot on the Moon Island and visit the "Inak Uy" Sun Virgins temple where the most beautiful virgins of the Incas continually maintained the sacred fire dedicated to their Gods. This temple and it ruins is considered to be one of the most important on the Lake. You then continue onto the Sun Island. Visit the Inca Stairways and the Sacred Fountain believed to give eternal youth and Happiness. B

Day 12. Onward Travel

Transfer to the airport for your departing flight. B

Additional nights are available on request.

PRICES FROM:

Exchange rates differ from time to time. For the most up-to-date prices of this holiday idea please fill out our Latin America Travel Quote form.

NOTES:

Accommodation choices in part of Bolivia can be limited. We use the appropriate level of accommodation of best choice available. As such on certain nights your level of accommodation may not be the same as other nights. The Bolivian Salt Flats is a good example of this.

• Bolivia international departure tax $24 USD
• Local currency is Bolivianos
• Time Zone: GMT/UTC -4
• Dialing Code: 591
• Electricity: 220V, 60Hz
• Weights & measures: Metric

DEPARTURE:

Departs Thursdays

Hotels USED:

PRICE INCLUDES:

• All airport transfers listed in the itinerary
• Baggage handling at airports and at hotels
• All tours and excursions indicated in the itinerary
• All entrance fees needed to operate the tours and excursions
• All bus tickets or/and train tickets to operate the tours and excursions
• All meals indicated in the itinerary.
• Hotel accommodation and hotel service charge at hotels listed in the itinerary
• All meals as listed B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

NOT INCLUDED

• Visa fees (if required)
• Passport & Visa Costs
• Vaccination Costs
• Personal Spending Money
• Meals where not listed
• Drinks
• International Flights
• Travel Insurance
• Airport departure taxes
• Border taxes or fees

Package Departures

Please call us to inquire about departure dates

8 - Our Antarctic adventure begins. Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).
The flight takes a little under 2 hours. Upon arrival we will be able to tour around the area where the "Presidente Eduardo Frei M." Chilean Base and "Bellinghausen" Russian Base are located. We will gather at the beach on Fildes Bay for embarkation, by Zodiac boats, to M/V "Ocean Nova". BLD

9 - Our Antarctic adventure begins. Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).
The flight takes a little under 2 hours. Upon arrival we will be able to tour around the area where the "Presidente Eduardo Frei M." Chilean Base and "Bellinghausen" Russian Base are located. We will gather at the beach on Fildes Bay for embarkation, by Zodiac boats, to M/V "Ocean Nova". BLD

10 - Our Antarctic adventure begins. Flight from Punta Arenas to King George Island (South Shetland Islands).
The flight takes a little under 2 hours. Upon arrival we will be able to tour around the area where the "Presidente Eduardo Frei M." Chilean Base and "Bellinghausen" Russian Base are located. We will gather at the beach on Fildes Bay for embarkation, by Zodiac boats, to M/V "Ocean Nova". BLD