Itinerary
DAY 1) SANTA CRUZ
Arrival in Santa Cruz and transfer to your hotel.
Optional: In the afternoon city tour in Santa Cruz, to visit the the Ethnic-folkloric Museum; the main square; the Cathedral Museum; the Interpretation Centre of Santa Cruz; the handicrafts expo “Arte-campo” and the principal monuments of Santa Cruz.
Dinner and overnight at the Hotel (-/-/Dinner)
DAY 2) SANTA CRUZ / SUCRE
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Sucre, upon arrival transfer from the airport to your hotel. In the afternoon City Tour in Sucre, visiting The Recoleta and San Francisco Church, the House of Liberty where Simon Bolivar signed the Independence of Bolivia; the second oldest University of the continent, San Francisco Xavier and the local colorful market.
Overnight at Hotel (Breakfast/Lunch/-)
DAY 3) SUCRE
Day at leisure.
Optional: FD Visit to the native Tarabuco Market including lunch – ONLY SUNDAYS
Tarabuco becomes a most picturesque market well known for its wonderful Indian weavings. The natives still wear leather helmets similar to those used by the Spanish Conquerors. Lunch is included.
In the afternoon return to Sucre
Overnight at Hotel, (Breakfast/-/-)
DAY 4) SUCRE / POTOSI
Start an early overland journey to Potosi, the famous Colonial City and source of silver during colonial times. The rich mountain towers over the city - and according to legend- it has produced enough silver to build a solid silver bridge from Potosi to Madrid. Visit The Casa de la Moneda (Royal Mint), with its wooden machinery used to make the silver coins for Spain during the colony. Potosi, as well as Sucre, were declared by UNESCO “Historical and Cultural Legacy of Mankind".
Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/-)
DAY 5) POTOSI / HEDIONDA LAGOON
Overland journey from Potosi to Uyuni, where you have lunch. Afterwards continue your voyage through authentic villages, the Rock Valley as well as passing by overlook of the Ollague Volcano to Hedionda Lagoon, where your Hotel is located. At the lagoon, you have the opportunity to make close up pictures of the existing Flamencos.
Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 6) FD MAYOR LAGOON
On route to the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, you visit the Honda and Charcota Lagoons, the Siloli Desert and the Stone Tree. In the reserve visit Laguna Colorada, with an area of 60 km2, at an altitude of 4,278 mtrs. It is characterized by the red tone of its waters and it is inhabited by three species of flamingoes: tokoko -with red plumage-; chururu -with whitish plumage- and jututu, with pink plumage. The scenery is exceptionally beautiful and it is considered to be the most important flamingo watching site in the region. Also Vicuñas, Llamas and Vizcachas can be seen. Box lunch included. Continue to “Sol de Mañana” Geysers, with fumaroles and volcanic craters of spectacular formation, covering 1 Km2, featuring intense volcanic and fumaroles activity. The crater bottoms display boiling lava; the fumaroles emit spouts of mixed water and superheated steam reaching 80 to 100 mtrs height; this phenomena displays a landscape dating from the beginning of the earth. This geothermal field is located at an altitude of 4.900 mtrs. Continue to Green lagoon, which water surface has the appearance of a giant emerald. From this Lagoon there is an impressive view of Licancabur Volcano, at an altitude of 5,865 mtrs. The special brightness of the green waters in the afternoon is dazzling. The intensely green coloring is due to their high magnesium content.
Return to your hotel.
Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 7) UYUNI SALT LAKE
Today you visit the Uyuni Salt Lake and Isla Incahuasi. Uyuni is the largest salt flat on Earth, located on the Bolivian Andean Altiplano with over 10.000 square Km; the Bolivian Andes offer stunning sceneries which can be hardly matched. The sound of silence makes the heart beats faster and the surreal pentagons of crystalline salt, the pure sky, the cacti and sometimes even the flamingos, certainly makes you feel that there is no other place like this in the whole world.
Lunch close by Isla Incahuasi, an oasis with formations of algae and fossils. It is covered by thousands of giant columnar cacti, which can be more than a hundred years old, growing to a height of over 12 mtrs. The landscape against the background of the salt pans extending to the horizon makes it an ideal place for photography hunters.
Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 8) UYUNI SALT LAKE
Enjoy an excursion to the small village of Tahua, at the foot of Thunupa Volcano, the guardian of the salt lake. Small ponds located at its base are home to flocks of Andean flamingos wadding through the shallow water just in front of the small village of Coquesa. A checkerboard of stone wall pens decorates the slopes as herders walk with their llamas or plant quinoa in the fertile soil of the volcanic earth. Toward the crater of the daunting figure, layers of sediment are visible giving way to a spectacular array of colors with a vivid sky in the background. Climbing up the trails of the volcano also offer some of the most beautiful vistas of the salt flats the area has to offer.Stroll through the village and hike to the cave of the Coquesa Mummies. Behind a now locked door, the mummies from the Urus Chipayas civilization are tucked away in the darkness of a cave-like structure. Believed to have been killed together by poisonous gases leaking up from the underground, they have remained untouched for over 1,200 years; though some speculation as to how they died and whether or not they are in fact related still remains as archaeological research has yet to be conducted. Due to the dry air and their protected enclave, the bodies are remarkably preserved; with the colors of their clothes and even fingernails still visible.
Return to your hotel.
Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 9) UYUNI / LA PAZ.
Transfer to Uyuni airport for your flight to La Paz. Upon arrival city tour in La Paz. The City of La Paz and its surroundings can transport you to a mysterious past where any corner, any street, is a hidden treasure where adventure begins; a living history which treasures the pre-Hispanic times with all their traditions and magic rites on its streets. The indigenous, colonial and modern areas, Indian Market, Witch Doctor's Market & breathtaking panoramas are all framed by the majestic "Illimani" mountain. Visit the Moon Valley, a clay formation resembling the face of the Moon and take a ride in the 21st century cable car, which offers you a unique bird view of the city of La Paz concluding this experience.
Overnight at the Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 10) LA PAZ / HUATAJATA-LAKE TITICACA
The morning is at leisure. In the early afternoon transfer to Huatajata at the shores of Lake Titicaca. On arrival, visit the Andean Roots Eco Village: The Altiplano Museum; Handicrafts village, the Mud Igloos and the mortuary towers of the Urus Chipayas. Meet the Limachi family, builders of the RA II and Tigris for epic expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy our elegant vicuñas, llamas, alpacas and the mythical Suri.
Audiovisual and night experience of "The Mystic World of the Kallawayas", natural healers of Bolivia. They believe that you first have to heal the soul in order to heal your body. Tata Benjo, -our Kallawaya- will bless visitors and answer questions by casting his sacred coca leaves.
By night, visit the Native Observatory Alajpacha. Learn from the Aymaras Cosmovision and watch the southern constellations.
Overnight at the Hotel. (Breakfast/-/Dinner)
DAY 11) HUATAJATA / SUN ISLAND
Verland journey to Copacabana- including Tiquina Straite crossing. Once in Copacabana, visit the shrine and the Dark Indian Virgin. Hydrofoil cruise to Moon Island, visit the Sun Virgins Temple “Iñak Uyu”. Continue to Sun Island, to visit the Pilcocaina Sun Temple. Enjoy a llama trek to the hotel and lunch upon arrival. The afternoon is at leisure to explore the surroundings.
Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner)
DAY 12) SUN ISLAND / LA PAZ
The morning is at leisure. Around noon visit the Inca “Grand Stairs” and the Sacred Fountain; taste the water believed to give eternal youth and happiness. Lunch at the Uma Kollu archaeological Restaurant; Visit the small handicraft market. Hydrofoil cruise to the picturesque Cocotoni Bay. From there overland drive back to La Paz and the rest of the day at leisure:
Overnight at Hotel. (Breakfast/Lunch/-)
DAY 13) LA PAZ
Day at leisure
Optional: HD Tour to the archaeological site of Tiwanaku including box lunch
Tiwanaku culture (1.580 BC-1.000 AD), the magnificent ruins of Bolivia and one of the oldest civilizations in the Americas. The Sun Gate, the Temple of Kalasasaya and the Pyramid of Akapana are the sample of a glorious past. Tiwanaku culture was an agrarian based economy with an estimated population of 115.000 inhabitants. The state controlled agriculture produced the surplus wealth to support the urban centre and administrative system. They were outstanding in agriculture, hydraulic, architecture & medicine, as well as in social organization. Due to an economic crisis caused by a long dry season, Tiwanaku collapsed around 1.000 AD.
Overnight at the Hotel. (Breakfast/-/-)
DAY 14) LA PAZ AIRPORT
Transfer to the airport for your continuous flight. (Breakfast/-/-)
END OF OUR SERVICES
Included services:
• This is only a quote proposal, not a confirmed reservation.
• Itinerary with accommodation, transfers, excursions and guide assistance as indicated
• English speaking guides
• Private services
• Meals according to program : B: Breakfast / L: Lunch / BX: Box Lunch / D: Dinner
• Entrance fees (included based on current values, subject to change)
Excluded services:
• Flights and airport taxes as well as other surcharges for flights
• Optional excursions
• Tips of any kinds (restaurants, hotels, guides, drivers, etc.)
• Personal expenses
IMPORTANT:
-Titicaca Lake Package is shared with other passengers.
- We kindly ask our guests staying overnight at at the Lodge on Sun Island, to take only a small bag with personal effects they will need for the overnight. The rest of the luggage will be kept in our deposit in the lower part of the Island.
- Please note that we always book the best available hotels at “Uyuni Salt Flats” and the REA -National Reserve Eduardo Avaroa-, but hotels in the REA are rustic and with a basic service, due to the far-off location with the supply & distribution centers, including electricity. At the Salt Lake hotels are unique, but sometimes they also have small limitations for the same reasons.
- During raining season, usually from December to March, the Salt Flats, as well as the Red & Green Lagoon can become flooded any moment and it won’t be possible to visit some attractions, such as Incawasi and some others, in order to preserve passenger’s safety. On the other hand, we warn our visitors that roads at the Salt Lake are not paved and during raining season, the journeys can take much longer.