| 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. Visit of Tiwanaco. Transport to Patapatani. Camp. |
Elevations
El Alto 4,100m (13,450f)
Lake Titicaca 3,810m (12,497f)
Timing
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Traveling through this
land you will understand how important the shores of Lake Titicaca have
been in the origin of the Andean cultures. Surrounded by desert like hills
and snow caped mountains, lake Titicaca offered, and still offers, rich
lands and a mild climate. Tiwanaco used to be a port, an important ceremonial
center and a huge urban establishment. After an illustrative tour through
the ruins and museums, we will drive back to La Paz (El Alto) and from there
to the southern shores of the lake. On the way to our campsite, we will
be culturally transferred to the past as we go by Aymara villages where
Indians have been keeping their lifestyle for centuries. Our campsite will
be located on a beautiful beach on the shores of Patapatani peninsula, with
a great view of the peaks of “Cordillera Real”. |
| Day
3. Trek to Kala-Uta ruins. Boat to Pariti Island & Qwaya. Transp.to
La Paz. Hotel |
Elevations
Lake Titicaca 3,810m (12,497f)
La Paz: 3,650m (11,972ft)
Timing
Walking: 2-3 Hrs
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
Today we will start
trekking in the Bolivian Highlands. We will visit a small floating island
and the archeological sites of Khala Uta (house of stones). Later we will
take a motor boat. First, we will navigate along the peninsula’s shores
where reeds form a natural labyrinth that hosts many Andean bird species.
In the afternoon we will visit Pariti and its amazing pottery museum. Later
we will catch the afternoon side-winds to navigate offshore towards Puerto
Perez located at the southeastern shores of the lake. The mountains will
“grow” in front of us and will dominate the landscape. As the
glaciers of the mountains get “tanned” by the late afternoon
light. We will arrive to La Paz in the late afternoon. |
| Day
4. Transport to Colchani. Hotel Luna Salada |
Elevations
Lake Titicaca 3,810m (12,497f)
Colchani 3,665m (12,021f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
In order to make the
best of our time we have to have this extremely long day from la Paz to
Uyuni town. Today we will traverse most of the “Altiplano” (High
Plateau) passing by the city of Oruro that 15 years ago thrived on the area’s
tin mines, nowadays relies on its role as a center of commerce (read smuggling)
between Bolivia and Chile. Continuing our journey to the south, we enter
the seemingly never ending plains. It will be almost dark as we get to Uyuni
Town. We will leave a visit to the spectacular salt flats of Uyuni for the
end of the trip, in this way we make the best use of our time leaving the
best for the last. |
| Day
5. Transport to Mallku lava rock Canyons. Camp. |
Elevations
Mallku canyons 3,810m (12,497f)
Timing
Driving: 5-6 Hrs
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We will continue in
the same south direction and on similar unending plains. The road passes
by the world’s biggest silver mine: San Cristobal. It is said that
this mine is several times richer that the one in Potosi and among the richest
in the planet. After midday we will be at the Lava canons and set the campsite
into one of the most spectacular canyons in the area near to a warm water
spring. Later we will hike and explore this bizarre landscape. |
| Day
6. Transport to Cañapa. Climb of Tapaquilcha. Camp. |
Elevations
Cañapa 4,200m (13,776f)
Tapaquilcha 5758m (18886f)
Timing
Driving: 3-4 Hrs
Walking: 5-6 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. We will leave
the cook and driver putting up the campsite near an old mining campsite
while we climb a “small” volcano, “Tapaquilcha”.
An abandoned sulfur-mining road will save us a lot of time, allowing us
to drive from part of the way from our campsite. From this point we will
have an easy walk – still on the road - to the last col, from where
we will ascend on rough sandy terrain towards the main summit. The crest
is what remains of a volcanic explosion in the long-distant past. Later
we drop back down over the slopes to the car that will drive us back to
the campsite. |
| Day
7. Transport to Laguna Verde. Camp. |
Elevations
Road pass 4,900m (16,072f)
Lag.Verde 4,650m (15,252f)
Timing
Driving: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
We continue our drive
south, towards “Eduardo Avaroa” National Reserve of Andean Fauna.
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 and the rocky monuments of “Dali Desert”. At Laguna
Verde (green Lagoon) we will set up our campsite on the foot of Llicancabur
volcano. |
| Day
8. Climb of Llicancahur. Camp. |
Elevations
Llicancabur 5,940m (19,483f)
Lag.Verde 4,650m (15,252f)
Timing
Walking: 7-8 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
The climb of Llicancahur
is not technical but very demanding. The crater rim stands more than 1.200m
above our campsite and takes a lot of effort to get to. There is a small
lake inside the crater, despite the cold and altitude this lake is rarely
frozen, reminding us that we are still on an active volcano. The night will
be spent at the same campsite. |
| Day
9. Transport to Villa Mar. Basic Hostal. |
Elevations
Villa Mar 4,100m (13,161f)
Timing
Driving: 6-7 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Now we start our way
back north. After again more lakes and salt lakes we will get to Villa mar,
a charming village located near a swampy river bed and flanked by lava rocks.
Tonight’s hostel will be basic. |
| Day
10. Transport to Pescado island. Camp. |
Elevations
Pescado island 3,650m (11,716f)
Timing
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Walking: 1-2 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
After traversing the
low passes in between the volcanoes, we will continue over vast deserted
expanses heading north. 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 set up camp. During the afternoon we can walk up to
the island’s Summit or around the island in order to observe the sunset. |
| Day
11. Transport to Mina Susana-Acotango. Camp. |
Elevations
Mina Susana 4,900m (16,023f)
Timing
Driving: 8-10 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
After traversing Uyuni
salt flats we exit this salt expanse by the west though Llica town, then
head towards the north crossing a desert that amazes us with its features.
Coipasa is a smaller salt lake than Uyuni but still spectacular, it has
a huge volcano island in its center. More driving through sandy deserts
will take us to the boundaries of Sajama national Park, location of the
biggest volcanoes in Bolivia. Finally we will take a narrow valley and a
faint track to reach the campsite at the foot of Acotango. The place used
to host the workers of a sulfur mine. |
| Day
12. Climb of Acotango. Transport to Sajama National Park. Camp |
Elevations
Acotango 6056m (19863f)
Sajama 4,260m (13,972f)
Timing
Climbing: 8-10 Hrs
Driving: 2-3 Hrs
Meals
B,L,D |
Although not difficult
this is a long route so, an early start will be mandatory to climb all the
way to the summit and back to base camp in the day. We will start walking
over every time steeper terrain. Fortunately the ashes and the sands are
very compacted and the last meters on a 40-degree slope are not that hard.
The slope will take us on top of the ridge from where we can admire both
national parks at each country side: Sajama and Lauca. The summit has normally
a small ice or snow field. After taking lunch, if the wind allows us to
stay up there, we will return to Base camp, put down the camp and head to
Sajama National Park. |
| Day
13. Visit of Sajama national park. Transport to La Paz. Hotel. |
Elevations
Sajama BC 4,800m (15,408f)
La Paz 3,650m (11,972f)
Timing
Walking: 3-4 Hrs
Driving: 4-5 Hrs
Meals
B,L |
Today we will spend
all morning visiting this beautiful National park, first hiking to Sajama’s
base camp and have lunch in the highest ‘forest’ of the planet
overlooking the massive West face of the Volcano. The local species of trees
are called Keñuas (Polilepsis Tarapacana). Later we hike back to
the car and drive back to La Paz. |
| 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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The
Bolivian highland or “Altiplano” - as it is called in Spanish
-, is located in the central Andes. Due to its unique geography, the southern
Altiplano is one of the most extraordinary features in our planet, hosting
more volcanoes per square kilometer than anywhere else above sea level.
The volcanic activity, and later erosion action, has created unique places
like the Uyuni salt flats; a world's top destination; certainly one of
the wonders of nature you must not miss.