| Day
1. Arrival in La Paz. Transfer to Hotel. |
Elevations
El Alto: 4,100m (13,450f)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Timing
Driving: 30 min
Meals
None |
Arriving in La Paz, what
impresses the most is the crisp clear sky of the highlands. In a normal
winter day it is possible to see over a distance of 200Km (120mi). The cold
and dry air feels good after so many hours of treated pressurized cabin
air.
The airport is located
in the city of “El Alto” the highest international airport
in the world from here you will be transferred to your hotel descending
approximately 30 Min. into La Paz city canyon. Do not stress much about
the altitude, our program has been designed to get you gradually acclimatized.
At the beginning we strongly sug
gest you to take it very easy, drink plenty of water and eat lightly (get
into out Acclimatization page for more information).
You will have the
rest of the day free. At early evening we will have a briefing meeting
and a welcome dinner.
|
| Day
2. Transport to Sajama National Park. Tomarapi Lodge |
Elevations
El Alto 4,100m (13,450f)
Tomarapi 4,260m (13,972f)
Timing
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
A pleasant drive traversing
the flat highlands will take us to Sajama National Park to enjoy a great
landscape in this microclimatic high-altitude valley dotted by thousands
of Alpacas, Vicuñas and Llamas, and surrounded by the highest volcanoes
in Bolivia. Despite its height this protected land host a bizarre forest
of Keñua trees, some of them subsist up to 5100m or higher, according
to some scientists being the highest forest in the planet. There we will
experiencing the hospitability of the local Aymara indigenous that own Tomarapi
lodge where we will spend the night. On the way we will visit the church
of Curahuara de Carangas, considered the “sixteenth chapter”
of the Bolivian Andes because of its magnificent mural paintings. |
| Day
3. Transport to Uyuni salt flats. Salt hotel from Tayka Eco-Lodges. |
Elevations
Uyuni 3,665m (12,021f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
After traversing a sandy
desert southern than Sajama, we will cross Coipasa; although smaller than
Uyuni this salt lake is really spectacular containing a huge volcano island
and a salty water lake in its center. Later we will enter to Uyuni salt
lake either by Llica town in the west of by Tauca in the north. Either way
we will be amazed of the size and expand of Uyuni salt lake, actually the
largest salt concentration in the planet. There we will stay in Tawa town
located in the northern shores; our hotel is built entirely with salt bricks.
|
| Day
4. Transport to Quemez. Stone hotel from Tayka Eco-Lodges |
Elevations
Quemez 3,701m (12,139f)
Timing
Driving: 7-8 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Today we will spend
almost all the day exploring and enjoying Uyuni salt lake. Along of the
way, we’ll enjoy the wild landscape that surrounds the salt lake with
its colored volcanoes. Once at the Uyuni Salt Flats, we will navigate over
the rock hard salt. In the midst of the Salar's blinding sea of white (take
sunglasses!) there exist several solid rock and earth islands each having
distinct flora and fauna. We reach “Fishback” island where we
will have lunch before heading south towards Quemez. There we will stay
in hotel made of rocks; very charming but a little cold inside. |
| Day
5. Transport to Ojo de Perdiz. Desert hotel from Tayca Eco-Lodges |
Elevations
Ojo de Perdiz 4,600m (15,088f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
This morning we will
enter the provinces of Lipez, an area that was baptized by the National
Geographic as “The Andean Tibet” and one of the most spectacular
places in the Andes. The color-washed volcanoes, deserts, lagoons, bizarre
formations of petrified lava, Geysers, fumaroles and the wildlife are complementary
to the landscape’s immensity and the intense blue sky. After crossing
Chiguana salt lake, we will start climbing towards “Eduardo Avaroa”
National Reserve of Andean Fauna, on our way we will cross and spectacular
high-altitude desert dotted by colorful lagoons and flanked by numerous
impressive volcanoes. We will stay in a Lodge located in the middle of a
desert called “Ojo de Perdiz”. |
| Day
6. Transport to Colorada & Verde lagoons, and to Quetena village. Basic
hostel |
Elevations
Road pass 4,900m (16,072f)
Lag.Verde 4,650m (15,252f)
Quetena 3,900m (12,792f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
On the way, we will
spend some time at the “Rock Ladies” (bizarre rock formations
that include the famous “stone tree”), and at shores of Colorada
Lagoon. Afterwards we will continue through colorful landscape making visits
to the “Sol de Mañana” (morning’s sun) Geysers,
the rocky monuments of “Dali Desert” and Laguna Verde (green
Lagoon). From this point we will change our route 180º and start heading
back north towards Quetena villate. There at the foot of Uturuncu volcano
(the only 6000er in the region) we will stay in a basic hostel. |
| Day
7. Transport to San Pablo. Basic hostel. |
Elevations
San Pablo 4,250m (13,940f)
Timing
Driving: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Back to the highlands
again but, this time we will not feel the altitude as on the first days
of the expedition. We are already acclimatized and can enjoy the return
to the high Andes. San Pablo is the capital of the province of Lipez but
do not expect too much. It is just a village of no more than 5 streets.
The hostel, the only accommodation in town, is again a very simple but clean
service. |
| Day
8. Transport to Tupiza. Hotel Mitru |
Elevations
Tupiza 2,950m (9,676f)
Timing
Driving: 7-8 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
TAs we get to “lower”
lands towards Tupiza we will have a different landscape the vegetation grows
up, the woods are not the typical cloud forests that lie at the eastern
side of the Andes, here is extremely dry and harsh. Tupiza is known because
it hosted, almost a hundred years ago, a couple of American villains: Butch
Cassidy and Sundance Kid. And in fact here we will feel being in the Wild
West while walking along the canyons and rocky formations around the valleys
of Tupiza. There are several natural “treasures” hidden into
these canyons that we will hike for several hours. As usual, we will be
at the best hotel in this sleepy town. |
| Day
9. Transport to Potosi. Hotel Santa Teresa |
Elevations
Potosi 3,880m (12,726f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
The road to Potosi is
very interesting; first we will drive along of Tupiza canyons and later
on rolling hills with strange vegetation typical of really dry deserts,
with its mountains changing colors at every turn. On our way we will pass
by Atocha mine and arrive to Potosi just in time to enjoy the sunset from
the roof of a colonial church. There we will stay in the charming Santa
Teresa hotel. |
| Day
10. Visit Silver mines. Hostal Santa Teresa |
Elevations
Potosi 3,880m (12,726f)
Timing
None
Meals
B,L |
No more driving, today
we will stay all day in Potosi to visit museums, the silver mines or just
walk its streets. We suggest a tour to the “Casa de la Moneda”;
one of the largest and finest museums in the continent, or Santa Teresa
museum. Although a tough cultural shock, we also suggest a visit to the
silver mines on the Cerro Rico mountain. We will be transported to XVII
century when walking the streets of this city with such a rich colonial
history. |
| Day
11. Transport to Sucre. City tour. Hostal su Merced |
Elevations
Sucre 2,790m (9,151f)
Timing
Driving: 3-4 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
Today we will head to
Sucre following a paved road through a windy plain and crop fields in warm-climate
valleys. On the way, we will visit Manquiri, an Indian ceremonial site converted
into Catholicism 500 years ago. Sucre is a pretty city from colonial times,
is the historical capital of Bolivia and the location of the supreme court
(the parliament and the government are located in La Paz). After checking
in the hotel, we will allow you to take a well-deserved rest and later take
you for a tour to the city and a short visit of “La Recoleta”
from where we will have the best views of the city. Accommodation will be
at “Hostal de su Merced”, a very charming hotel in a very old
colonial building. |
| Day
12. Transport to Cochabamba. Hotel |
Elevations
Cochabamba 2,570m (8,430f)
Timing
Driving: 7-8 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
The landscape along
of the road between Sucre and Cochabamba is predominantly green, but is
very varied. On the way we will pass by several interesting towns like:
the sleepy town of Aiquile (Bolivia’s capital of the Charango; a small
12-streng Andean guitar); Cliza, Mizque and Totora in the upper valleys
of Cochabamba. There we will stay in a charming hotel. |
| Day
13. Transport to La Paz. Hotel Nayra |
Elevations
Road pass 4,300m (14,104f)
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Driving 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
The road to La Paz climbs
abruptly up to the mountains, to then descend to the highlands towards La
Paz city. The northern Altiplano that we will traverse is the most fertile
part off the highlands and one of the most populated areas. Once in La Paz
we will check in the same hotel of the first day. |
| Day
14. Free day. Hotel. |
Elevations
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
None
Meals
B,D |
Free day in La Paz to
rest and do some shopping. Later at the evening, we will have a farewell
dinner and celebrate all together. |
| Day
15. Departure. Transfer to Airport. |
Elevations
El Alto 4,100m (13,450f)
Timing
Driving: 30 Min
Meals
B |
Transfer to airport. |
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This
expedition has been designed to include in one single trip the top destinations
in the Bolivian highlands and inter-valleys; traveling with a 4WD vehicle,
staying in charming hotels and following a non-commercial route off-the-bitten-path.
For years, we have been tailoring private trips for our demanding clientele.
Some of them – typically busy people with limited available time
– always asked us an itinerary that would include as many places
as possible in order to make the best use of their precious time during
their holidays and “kill with one single shot as many birds as possible”
as we say in Spanish.