Highlights

Uyuni Salt Flats, Siloli Desert, Islands of Lake Titicaca, La Paz,

Physical Rating:

Moderate
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This Trip is Rated: Moderate

Our moderate trips require an average level of fitness. Itineraries may include walks or short hikes of up to two to three hours with little elevation gain, sustained walking at higher altitudes, and/or other similar level physical activities. Many activities are optional.

How We Rate Our Trips

Easy: Our easy tours generally require fairly little exertion. Each day will involve walking, sightseeing and general travel-related activities such as getting in/out of vans, planes, boats, and zodiacs.

Moderate: Our moderate trips require an average level of fitness. Itineraries may include walks or short hikes of up to two to three hours with little elevation gain, sustained walking at higher altitudes, and/or other similar level physical activities. Many activities are optional.

Difficult: Our difficult trips may involve hiking over uneven terrain, with some hikes including significant elevation gain or loss and at higher elevations (up to 12,000 ft). Itineraries may include three to six hour hikes and other activities such as horseback riding, mountain bicycling, rafting and kayaking, which require no previous experience. On many trips, passengers may elect to skip a day's activity, depending on logistics.

Most Difficult: Our most difficult expeditions are for the adventurer who is in good physical condition. Itineraries may involve multi-day hiking and trekking excursions over steep, rugged terrain and/or where altitude may exceed 14,000 feet. Many trips include camping in remote areas and/or high altitude sites in varying temperature and weather conditions. Trips may also involve many days of demanding Class IV-V rapids, longer sea kayaking trips, horseback riding, and/or mountain bicycling. Training for the physical demands of these tours is highly encouraged. 

Experience Bolivia

Explore Bolivia’s most stunning scenery and fascinating history on this classic itinerary. Begin in La Paz, where you will have time to experience the city and acclimatize to life at 12,000 feet. Next, we navigate the famous Lake Titicaca by boat and stay overnight on one of its most beautiful and historically significant islands – Isla Del Sol. You round out the trip with several days spent traveling through the dramatic and rugged landscapes of the Uyuni Salt Flats and the Siloli D... READ MORE >>
Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE LA PAZ
DAY 2: LA PAZ TOUR
DAY 3: LA PAZ - COPACABANA – ISLA DEL SOL
DAY 4; ISLA DEL SOL – ISLA DE LA LUNA - COPACABANA – LA PAZ
DAY 5: LA PAZ – UYUNI – SALT FLATS
DAY 6: TAHUA – SILOLI DESERT
DAY 7: SILOLI DESERT – COLCHANI
DAY 8: UYUNI – LA PAZ
DAY 9: LA PAZ – HOME
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Itinerary
DAY 1: ARRIVE LA PAZ
Upon arrival into La Paz, you are met and transfer to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to relax and acclimate. (B)

DAY 2: LA PAZ TOUR
Today we explore the city of La Paz. Stops include picturesque and traditional sites, such as Jaen Street, the Museum of Precious Metals, San Francisco Church, the witch’s market, and Plaza Murillo lined with prominent government buildings and the La Paz Cathedral. The tour continues towards the bohemian neighborhood called Sopocachi, home to the hub of the gondola system called MI Teleférico.  Travel like the locals and enjoy incredible views of the city from your cable car. The day wraps up with a visit to the Valley of the Moon, which isn’t actually a valley at all, but ab eroded maze of canyons and pinnacles that gives this place its name. Tonight, venture out on your own and check out the city’s burgeoning food scene.  (B,L)

DAY 3: LA PAZ - COPACABANA – ISLA DEL SOL
After breakfast, your guide picks you up at your hotel for the three-hour ride to Copacabana, a beautiful town on the shores of Lake Titicaca. From here, we depart on a one-hour boat ride to Isla Del Sol on the southern part of the lake. We land near the Pilkokaina Inca ruins and begin our 1.5-hour hike to tonight’s lodging. While we walk slowly, taking time to enjoy the views and the fresh air, our bags are transferred via donkey to our comfortable ecolodge perched on the hill. In the late afternoon, venture out to a scenic point on the island that provides a perfect view of the Cordillera Real and the sun setting over gorgeous Lake Titicaca. End the evening with a cozy dinner at the ecolodge. (B, L, D)

DAY 4; ISLA DEL SOL – ISLA DE LA LUNA - COPACABANA – LA PAZ
Early risers are treated with the sun rising over the Cordillera Real and Lake Titicaca!  After breakfast, descend from your ecolodge down to the village of Yumani. Along the way, you pass the “The Garden of the Incas” and visit the spring of Eternal Youth, where the Incas performed baptisms. If water conditions allow, our boat takes us to Isla De La Luna where you can explore Incan ruins and hike to another great viewpoint on the island’s ridge. Your guide can prepare a traditional apate lunch with many small dishes before descending into another small village. Here we catch our boat back to Copacabana where our car is waiting for the return journey to La Paz.  Overnight in the capital city. (B,L)

DAY 5: LA PAZ – UYUNI – SALT FLATS
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Uyuni. We immediately head to the village of Colchani where locals extract and process salt. Learn about the interesting aspects of the geological history of the Uyuni´s Salt Lake and the current natural processes of salt formation that has continued for thousands of years.  You will also observe the Ojos de Sal (or salt eyes), where ice cold healing water bubbles through the salt. This water originates from an underground river at the Tunupa Volcano. As we begin our crossing of the salt flats, we pass the first hotel made entirely from salt blocks, now converted into a small museum. We continue to Isla Incahuasi, where we enjoy lunch followed by a hike among the island’s huge cacti. This hike provides 360-degree views of the endless Uyuni Salt Lake from above. In the afternoon, we continue our crossing towards Tunupa Volcano, a unique location for an amazing sunset that colors up the landscape of the salt lake. Overnight in the village of Tahua.  (B,L,D)
 
*It is possible to arrange additional touring of the Salt Flats under the stars in the evening. This should be arranged directly with your guide and driver on the day in order to take into account weather conditions. Please contact us for more details.

DAY 6: TAHUA – SILOLI DESERT
Have a hearty breakfast before today’s adventure full of incredible Altiplano landscapes and wildlife. After we depart from our hotel, we cross another section of the Uyuni Salt Lake to observe the Ollagüe Volcano, which is currently mildly active. Along the way we can make a stop at another island in the flats called Isla Pescado. From here, we cross our last stretch of the salt flat and begin to ascend into the high desert with a stop for lunch along the way. We pass several stunning lagoons - Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarcota, Honda, and Ramaditas – where you may see three types of flamingos as well as wild troops of vicuna. We end in the late afternoon in the Siloli Desert. Spend the night at Tayka Del Desierto Hotel.  (B, L, D)
 
*It is possible to arrange a pre-sunrise tour of the Salt Flats.  This should be arranged directly with your guide and driver on the prior in order to take into account weather conditions. Please contact us for more details.

DAY 7: SILOLI DESERT – COLCHANI
After breakfast, set off to explore the natural attractions of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, where you’ll see the Arbol de Piedra, the eroded rock in the shape of a tree.  We also visit the spectacular Laguna Colorada where it is possible to observe thousands of flamingos feeding in the red water. The drive continues to the Sol de Mañana geysers and a pool of natural hot springs with safe bathing temperatures. Be sure to bring your suit! You are welcome to soak for a while with views over a flamingo-filled lagoon. Afterwards, continue to the Salvador Dali Rocks. Wind and water erosions have shaped these rocks into absurd forms in the middle of the Altiplano desert. Further on we will have spectacular views of the Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca at the base of the Licancabur Volcano. In the late afternoon, we return to Colchani where you will spend your final night in the region at a comfortable hotel. (B,L,D)

DAY 8: UYUNI – LA PAZ
This morning you are transferred to the airport for your return flight to La Paz. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure. (B)

DAY 9: LA PAZ – HOME
You are picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport for your international flight home, marking the end of Southern Explorations’ services. (B)

Maps

Experience Bolivia

Pricing
2-3 Travelers
$2,995
4 or more
$2,550
Domestic Airfare:
La Paz/Sucre – Uyuni/La Paz - $265

BOLIVIAN VISA 
All US Citizens are required to have a Tourist Visa to enter Bolivia.  The cost is $160. This visa can be obtained in advance or at the border crossing.
A visa is not required for Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and most European citizens if visiting for less than 90 days. Visas are required for citizens of some Asian and African countries and for those coming from countries with risk of Yellow Fever.  



Included in tour cost
  • All airport/hotel transfers
  • All hotel accommodations
  • All listed activities
  • English-speaking certified guides
  • Entrance fees for all scheduled tours, national parks & archaeological sites
  • Meals as indicated
  • Southern Explorations pre-departure services
Excluded from tour cost
  • Domestic airfare within South America
  • International airfare to and from Central & South America
  • Tips and gratuities
  • Medical & travel insurance (highly recommended)
  • Visa fee

Experience Bolivia

Trip Dates
We can offer this trip on any set of dates that work for you. Please contact us for more details.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019 to Tuesday, December 31, 2019
Available
Colchani
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
Isla Del Sol
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
La Paz
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
Siloli Desert
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
Tahua
Hotel upgrades are available, please contact us to discuss your options.
  • Tayka Del Sal
    3 Star
     Included Hotel (subject to availability) 

One Day