THE HIGHLIGHTS OF BOLIVIA: FROM LAKE TITICACA TO THE SALT DESERT “SALAR DE UYUNI”
13 days / 12 nights Private tour for 2 persons |
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This 13-day tour of Bolivia is the ideal complement to a Southern Peru trip. The trip starts on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca in Puno and on the way to Copacabana in Bolivia we visit 2 interesting archaeological sites. We hike on Sun Island with magnificent views of Lake Titicaca, visit Tiwanaku, the most important archaeological site in the country, as well as the capital La Paz and the beautiful colonial cities of Sucre and Potosí. Finally we spend 3 days in the impressive huge salt desert "Salar de Uyuni" with the cactus island Incahuasi and visit several mountain lagoons, active geysers and bizarre rock formations in the "Desierto de Siloli" and the "Desierto de Salvador Dalí". The best season for this trip is May to October. |
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Day 1: Tomb Towers of Molloco - Aramumuro - Drive to Copacabana in Bolivia: Sunset on Cerro Calvario
We drive from Puno along the lake to the relatively unknown, but very well preserved tomb towers of Molloco, which are worth a visit. 1 hour later we reach Aramumuro, a huge mysterious structure carved into a boulder, similar to a door, built by the Tiwanaku culture. Here our local guide offers to perform a cleansing ritual before we continue to the nearby Bolivian border in Yunguyo/Kasani. After completing the border formalities, we continue our journey to Copacabana, which is only 15 minutes away. After settling in at the hotel, we will have the opportunity to hike up to Cerro Calvario (20 minutes), from where we will have a great view of the lake and a fantastic sunset.
Hotel La Cúpula |
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Day 2: Sun Island, hike on the island visiting Palacio de Pilkokaina and return to Copacabana - Virgen de la Candelaría Sanctuary
After breakfast we will take a motorboat to Isla del Sol (approx. 1:10 hrs.). During a 3 hour hike with magnificent views of the lake and the snow-capped peaks of Bolivia on the horizon, we will visit the Inca Palace Pilkokaina, then descend via the Inca Staircase and the Inca Fountain to the beach. In the village of Yumani we will have a traditional delicious local lunch (apthapi). After lunch we will go back by boat to Copacabana and visit the famous Sanctuary of the Virgen de la Candelaria; then we will return to the hotel.
Hotel La Cúpula |
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Day 3: Archaeological complex of Tiwanaku and La Paz
On a scenic route we drive in the morning from Copacabana to the famous ruins of Tiwanaku (World Heritage Site), the most important archaeological complex of Bolivia. Our tour begins with a chronological explanation of the Tiawanaku culture, we visit the two archaeological museums and then visit the excavation site: the semi-subterranean Akapana temple, monoliths, the Kalasasaya temple, the famous Sun Gate and Puma Punku. Afterwards, we will drive to the Bolivian capital of La Paz in about 2 hours, arriving at the hotel in the city center just before dusk.
Hotel Boutique El Consulado |
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Day 4: Moon Valley - City tour La Paz ( Plaza Murillo, Calle colonial Jaen/Calle de la brujas, San Francisco church, cable car tour )
After pick up from the hotel we will visit the Valle de la Luna in the southern part of the city. This lunar landscape with bizarre formations has been formed over thousands of years by natural erosion and climatic contrasts. On a circular route you can see pillar pyramids, stone towers, rock mushrooms, etc.. , a truly surrealistic landscape. Then we continue the visit in the city center in the Calle de las Brujas (Witch Street). This area dates back to colonial times, as the first indigenous neighborhoods of La Paz were located here. Here, among other things, medicinal plants, good luck charms and offerings to Andean deities are sold. We will also visit the Church of San Francisco, built in 1549, in the mestizo baroque style. We will have a short lunch break and then we walk to Plaza Murillo, where the Presidential Palace, the Parliament building and the Cathedral are located. Finally, a highlight of the city tour, namely a cable car tour through the whole city. This environmentally friendly transport system is here since 2014 and you enjoy during the ride with several changes great views of the city from above. Afterwards return to the hotel.
Hotel Boutique El Consulado |
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Day 5: Day trip to Sucre
Around 8:00 a.m. we leave for Sucre in a varied drive of about 9 hours. On the way we make several photo stops and a short lunch break. In the late afternoon we reach the beautiful colonial city of Sucre (World Heritage Site), constitutional capital and seat of the Supreme Court of Bolivia. We will stay in a beautiful colonial style hotel.
Hotel de Su Merced |
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Day 6: Excursion to Tarabuco for the famous Sunday market
60 km from Sucre, there is the small village of Tarabuco, famous for its Sunday market. You stroll through the narrow streets, passing many stalls. Since the market is held for the people of the region, who come here from the surrounding villages to buy the daily necessities for the week, you can still find here a very authentic athmosphere and get to see the traditional costumes of the local people. In the afternoon we return to Sucre.
Hotel de Su Merced |
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Day 7: Sucre City Tour (Church, Museum and Viewpoint La Recoleta, Mercado Central, Cathedral, Parque Cretácico, Parque Bolivar, Iglesia San Felipe de Nery)
Today we have the whole day to see the most important sights of Sucre. In the morning we will go to La Recoleta. We visit the 17th century church and the museum with many valuable paintings of that era and enjoy the beautiful view of the city from there. Afterwards we make a short detour to the central market and visit the cathedral, which was built from 1551 to 1712. The church consists of three naves and combines different architectural styles. The main gate as well as the gate facing the square are from the 17th century. Both are made of stone and decorated in baroque style. The tower, also in baroque style, consists of three parts and ends in the shape of a pyramid. Afterwards we drive to the so called Parque Cretácico, where you can see the huge footprints of dinosaurs on a rock wall. In the late afternoon we drive around the beautiful Parque Simon Bolívar. It was laid out during the 17th century and remodeled in the French style in the mid-18th century. The centerpiece is a small replica of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe of Paris. Just before dark, we climb to the roofs of the Iglesia San Felipe de Nery for a last view of the city and to enjoy the sunset.
El Hotel de Su Merced |
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Day 8: Drive to Potosí - City tour ( Casa de la Moneda, Cathedral, Convento y Museo Santa Teresa, Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús)
In the morning we leave early to arrive in Potosí (World Heritage Site) before noon. We visit the infamous Casa de la Moneda, founded to produce coins to facilitate trade during the colonial period. Housed in the old National Mint, the Casa de la Moneda has one of the largest collections of Bolivian artifacts in the country and is considered the best museum in Bolivia. Separate rooms also display archaeological finds and gems from around the country, as well as valuable works of art. In the afternoon we visit the last, but very worth seeing churches of the Spanish Baroque architecture of the trip, the Cathedral of Potosí, then the Convento y Museo Santa Teresa, a nunnery of the Carmelite order from the 17th century with beautiful courtyards and since 1976 one of the most important museums of sacred art in South America and finally the former Jesuit church, Iglesia de la Compañía de Jesús with impressive bell tower, on which you can climb.
Hotel Santa Mónica |
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Day 9: Visit to Cerro Rico mine and drive to Uyuni, visit to the railroad cemetery and continue to Colchani
In the morning we will visit the Cerro Rico de Potosí mine ( 15000 feet ), the largest and most exploited silver mine of the Spanish colonial empire, which formed the economic basis of Spain and other European and American nations, as well as the Republic of Bolivia itself. We will then drive to the town of Uyuni and visit the railroad cemetery nearby, where we will see steam trains from the 19th and 20th centuries. Afterwards, we will go to the small town of Colchani, where you will find the extraordinary hotel, built mainly of salt, where you will spend the night today.
Hotel de Sal Luna Salada |
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Day 10: Tour of the Salar de Uyuni ( Ojos de Sal - Incahuasi Island - Chantani Museum )
The next 3 days will be the highlight of the Bolivia trip, a trip through the famous salt lake of Uyuni. The Salar de Uyuni, with 10,582 square kilometers, is the largest salt desert in the world 12000 feet above sea level. On this enormous surface, the average altitude varies just 3 feet. This vast flat plain of pure white salt, surrounded by volcanoes and dotted with coral islands with hugh cacti, form one of the most unique and bizarre landscapes in the world. At the entrance of the salt lake we see small salt mounds, Ojos de sal and it continues to the island of Incahuasi, where you can see giant cacti, characterized by the fact that they grow only 1 cm per year. The tour around the island with magnificent views of the snow-white salar and the cactus landscape is unique. Afterwards we enjoy a typical lunch in the middle of the salt lake. In the afternoon we drive to the village of Chantani to visit the local museum, which has an interesting collection of ceramics and figurines of animals and people made of volcanic rock and salt. Afterwards we will return to Uyuni.
Hotel Jardines de Uyuni |
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Day 11: Mountain lagoons Cañapa, Hedionda, Honda and Chiarcota - Siloli Desert
Today we have a long day ahead of us with many nature highlights and therefore we leave already at 7:00 am. We will make stops at the mountain lakes Cañapa, Hedionda, Honda and Chiarcota, where we can see 3 different species of flamingos, among others. Then we will go to the Desierto de Siloli. This extremely dry desert is characterized by its bizarre rock formations (e.g. Árbol de Piedra and Paso del Inca ), which were created by the strong winds in the region. Shortly before sunset we will reach our cozy accommodation, where we will have a delicious dinner and relax from the long day tour.
Hotel Tayka del Desierto |
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Day 12: Geysers Sol de Mañana – Laguna Colorada - Desierto de Salvador Dalí, return to Uyuni
Early in the morning we set off to the geysers Sol de Mañana at an altitude of almost 16400 feet and enjoy this natural spectacle. Afterwards we stop at the Laguna Colorada, a breeding place for Andean flamingos, migratory birds, which stay in thousands in the mineral-rich water, which therefore has different colors. Afterwards we drive to the so called Desierto de Salvador Dalí. This dreamlike landscape was so named because it resembles works of the Catalan surrealist painter Salvador Dalí. After this last stop of the program, we will leisurely drive back to Uyuni, where you will spend the last night of this exciting trip.
Hotel Jardines de Uyuni |
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Day 13: Flight Uyuni - La Paz and return flight home
We will bring you to the airport of Uyuni, from where you will take a short flight to La Paz and finally in the afternoon or evening you will take the flight back to your home town. |
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PRICE IN USD PER PERSON: 2700,- TOTAL PRICE: 5.400,- |
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Included in the price
- 12 nights in double room in the selected 3*and 4*hotels with breakfast
- All sightseeing indicated in the tour description
- Private vehicle ( 4WD ) with experienced driver
- English speaking guide during the whole tour
- Entrance tickets to museums, excavation sites, boat trips, national parks, etc.
- Domestic flight Uyuni - La Paz
Not included in the price
- Lunch and dinner
- Tips, other private expenses
- Insurance
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