At the discovery of the desert expanses and the salt flats of Bolivia aboard 4×4 vehicles surrounded by Flamingos, Llamas and Vicunas. The large spaces of the Andean plateaus are the core of an adventure that will also take us to explore the Amboró National Park with its rich fauna consisting of the Spectacled Bear, the Jaguar, the Puma and various species of Monkeys; a visit to the colonial cities of Sucre and Potosi with its silver mines; to sail Lake Titicaca and to discover the pre-Inca culture in some archaeological sites. Particular attention is paid to the accommodations that have been carefully chosen taking into account the exclusivity and uniqueness of the facilities. This trip designed exclusively for our group is limited to a maximum of 15 people.
PROGRAM
24 August
Once we arrive at Santa Cruz de la Sierra we will start the visit of the city located in the eastern region of Bolivia, on the banks of Piraí River, in the tropical plains east of the Andes. We will visit the historic center that presents a mix of colonial and modern and has its heart in the pink brick Metropolitan Cathedral in Plaza 24 de Septiembre, one of the most beautiful squares in Bolivia.
Overnight at Hotel Marriott Santa Cruz de la Sierra*****.
25 August
In the morning we will leave for Amboró National Park, characterized by an immense wealth of flora and fauna that has more than 1,200 species of vertebrates, 840 of which are birds, making Amboró one of the richest regions in wild birds in the world. But it is also the habitat of the Ucumari or Spectacled Bear, the Jaguar, the Puma and several species of Monkeys and a great variety of mammals, reptiles and lizards. Our Ecolodge, Refugio Los Volcanes, is located at the southern end of Amboró National Park, just 2 and a half hours by car from Santa Cruz. The protected area of the lodge is located in the middle of an extraordinary landscape characterized by sandstone rocks several hundred meters high in the middle of a tropical rainforest.
In the afternoon the first excursion awaits us in the cloud forests of the park with fantastic views of the sandstone formations.
Overnight at Ecolodge Refugio Los Volcanes***.
26 August
After breakfast we will set off for a walk through the great landscapes of the park and for those who wish, a refreshing swim in a natural pool fed by a waterfall.
After lunch we will drive to Samaipata. On our left will be large tropical forests, on the right fruit plantations and small towns. The road winds through a narrow valley, slowly climbing until we reach Las Cuevas, where we will find a series of wonderful waterfalls. Towards the end of the afternoon, we will arrive in the small colonial town of Samaipata, idyllically located in the middle of quiet green hills. We have chosen a special hotel for you, located on a small hill on the outskirts of the town, ideal for a rest under the immensity of the starry sky.
Overnight at Hotel Boutique El Pueblito****.
27 August
In the morning we will visit the pre-Inca ruins of El Fuerte which was an important administrative and religious center of the pre-Columbian culture. The Incas later expanded it, as it constituted the eastern border of their empire. A walk around the complex will give us beautiful views of the largest carved sandstone rock in South America, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.
In the afternoon we will visit the small archaeological museum of Samaipata, where we will delve even further into the mysteries of the pre-Inca ruins. In the late afternoon we will return to Santa Cruz.
Overnight at Hotel Marriott Santa Cruz de la Sierra*****.
28 August
In the morning, transfer to the airport for the short flight to Sucre, the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Accommodation in our hotel built in colonial style and located in the historic center of the city. In the afternoon, walk through the historic center of the white city, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. From the La Recoleta viewpoint you can enjoy a beautiful view of the red roofs and white walls of the city.
Overnight at Hotel Boutique Mi Pueblo Samari*****.
29 August
After breakfast we will depart for Potosi, a colonial city located at an altitude of 4,000 meters. In the afternoon, we will discover the center where we can observe the glorious past of this town whose history is marked by the Cerro Rico de Potosi with its silver mines, which, in its heyday, made Potosi larger than Paris or London. One of the most important and interesting attractions of the city is the Casa de la Moneda museum.
In the late afternoon we will arrive at our hotel located in a secluded valley that occupies an old noble house.
Overnight at Hotel Museo Cayara***.
30 August
In the morning we will be able to visit the impressive and also disturbing silver mines of Cerro Rico, exploited for their precious metals since colonial times. Before arriving at the mine we will stop at the mining market, called Calvario, where we will buy what the miners bring to the mine (coca leaves, cigarettes, alcohol among other things, to offer to the Tio, a symbolic character who lives inside the mines and protects the miners). Before entering we will enjoy the panoramic view of the city and then inside we will be explained the customs of the miners, their work and the different minerals present in the mine. In the afternoon we will travel to Uyuni where we will arrive in the late afternoon.
Overnight at Hotel Boutique Andina***.
31 August
Today we plan an unforgettable journey through 12,000 km² of fantastic lunar landscapes, the dazzling white blanket of the Salar de Uyuni resembles an immense glacier.
We will enter the salt flats from Colchani, where we will visit a salt factory. Through the salt crust on board our 4x4s we will head towards Ch’jini, a place rarely visited by tourists despite its unparalleled beauty. We will climb to the cathedral, a mound about 40 meters high where the pukara or ruins of stacked stones are located: residences, silos and viewpoints suggest that it is a fort of an ancient civilization followed by the Tiwanacota. Later we will visit the Ch’jini cave, the beauty and fragility of these geological formations have forced the community to organize the visit in small groups of no more than 5 people.
This area represents a very intimate corner of the salt flat, of incomparable scenic beauty, but also of great spiritual strength emanating from the stone constructions, more than a thousand years old, which make us think of the way of life of the ancestral populations.
We will have lunch in the salt flat and then head towards the dominant and magical figure of the Thunupa volcano, at the foot of which is Tahua, where we will climb to the Thunupa viewpoint, a unique place with extraordinary views. On the way we will visit the Keñua forests or the tall Andean trees. On our return we will visit the Chantani Museum, with its exhibition of ceramics and extravagant stone shapes that resemble animals. Here we will find an example of a chullpar, with its silent mummies that refer to ancient burials of these lands.
Afterwards we will have the privilege of visiting Incahuasi Island and its tourist service center that has a climbing route to its summit, an extraordinary viewpoint that surprises with the number of giant cactus.
We will return to Colchani to spend the night in the best Salt Hotel, with comfortable salt rooms, with private bathroom, hot water and heating.
Overnight at Hotel Luna Salada****.
01 September
Leaving Colchani we will head towards Uyuni where we will visit the Train Cemetery and then continue to San Cristóbal and the Turquiri Lagoon, whose scenery dominated by birds and rock formations will surprise us. Leaving the embankment, we will head towards the Valley of the Rocks, where large rock formations dominate. We will then continue towards the Chulluncani lagoon, where we will observe the first flamingos. A short stop to observe the large Pastos Grandes lagoon in the distance and then enter the large desert scenery, the Cachi lagoon, of unparalleled scenic beauty. We will take the sulfur mine trail to climb in a 4×4 to a height where we can photograph this unique landscape. We will continue towards the Siloli Desert and Ojo de Perdiz where we will find the comfort of our hotel located in a spectacular area of the desert, with private bathrooms, hot water and heating.
Overnight at Hotel Tayka del Desierto***.
02 September
Today we will leave at dawn and have our first contact with the Andean flora and fauna in the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve when we visit the Árbol de Piedra, the stone tree. Later we will make a stop at the beautiful Laguna Colorada to observe its large population of flamingos. We will continue to Sol de Mañana where we can observe the activity of the Geysers, this will be the highest point of the trip, close to 5000 m.a.s.l. The desert and the salt mine of Chalviri is a setting of great landscape value that combines the white of the borax, the ochre of the desert and the blue of the water. In one of its corners, we can take a bath in the thermal waters of Polques. We can then admire the scenery offered by the desert Las Damas del Desierto, true masterpieces of rocks sculpted by the wind and the elements. And finally, we will see the Laguna Verde at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano, another pearl of the reserve.
We will have lunch in Polques where we will say goodbye to the last Lamas and Vicunas that have accompanied us since the beginning of our journey, and we will continue in search of the Suri or Andean Nandu that is quite elusive and not easy to see. From here we will return to Uyuni.
Overnight at Hotel Boutique Andina***.
03 September
After breakfast we will move to the Uyuni airport in time for the flight to La Paz. Upon arrival we will begin the tour of the city. In the first part of the morning we will see the cultural, historical and architectural riches of Nuestra Señora de La Paz. In the historic center we will visit the main square Pedro Domingo Murillo, with the Metropolitan Cathedral, the National Congress and the Government Palace, exterior view. We will cross the restored colonial street Jaen with its museums, exterior view, and go up to the Killi Killi viewpoint, where we will enjoy a panoramic view of the city with the imposing snow-capped mountain Illimani, 6438 m.a.s.l., in the background, the second highest mountain in Bolivia and the protective icon of La Paz. We will then head to the famous witches’ market, where we can find a great variety of natural remedies, local crafts and products to perform ancient ceremonies and rituals. We will also have the opportunity to stroll through the authentic and oldest food market, Rodriguez, in La Paz, where the infinite colors and smells transport our senses on a journey to the past.
After lunch in a typical restaurant we will move to the southern part of the city, until we reach the Valle de la Luna, a fantastic place that gives the sensation of being on the moon, its incredible formations are the product of erosion and resemble volcanic craters. We will explore the valley walking along its labyrinthine paths and then we will end the day with a special and unique experience. The Mi Teleférico cable car flies over the city and will allow us to appreciate its neighborhoods from above, going up to the nearby city of El Alto.
Overnight at Hotel Atix*****.
04 September
Today we will start the day early. We will embark at the Strait of Tiquina from where we will cross Lake Titicaca by motorboat, once we arrive at the other side of the lake we will disembark and on board a minivan we will continue our journey along the coast of the lake. We will enjoy beautiful panoramic views. Once we arrive in Copacabana we will take a short walk through the center. Afterwards we will leave with a motorboat specially rented for our group to Isla del Sol, where the Inca Empire was born, we will have a traditional picnic lunch called Ajthapi overlooking Lake Titicaca. After lunch we will visit the pre-Columbian ruins of the Pillkoqaima Palace, from where we will walk to our Ecolodge, along the way we will appreciate the Andes mountain range and other landscapes of Lake Titicaca.
Overnight at Ecolodge La Estancia***.
05 September
After breakfast we will begin the descent to the port, on the way we will visit the fountain of youth or the Inca fountain and the Yumani steps. After this visit we will go by boat to the northern part of the island where the Chinkana and the Sacred Rock are located, from here we will return on foot with an easy walk of about 3 hours. In case it is not possible to visit the northern part of the island, we will go to Isla de la Luna.
Overnight at Ecolodge La Estancia***.
06 September
After breakfast we will reach the port of Yumani where we will embark to return to Copacabana where we will arrive for lunch, from here we will return to La Paz.
Overnight at Hotel Atix*****.
07 September
Transfer to the airport in time for the flight home.
Included in the price:
– Double room/cabin accommodation with breakfast included.
– All meals except dinners in Santa Cruz and La Paz.
– All excursions included in the program.
– English speaking guide.
Not included:
– Dinners in Santa Cruz and La Paz.
– Flights
– Any unexpected additional costs due to delays and/or forced stops due to flight connections, including flight changes, hotels and additional meals.
PREZZO PER PERSONA Euro 4800,00
*Cambio 1 USD = 0,90 Euro.