Bolivia Highlights - 11 Day Tour

Day 1

Today you will arrive in La Paz, the largest city in Bolivia, but not the capital (Sucre is the capital). The city nestles in a valley just below the Bolivian plateau or Altiplano, surrounded by snowy peaks and dominated by the white mass of Illimani, the sacred mountain. The setting will take your breath away when viewed from the viewpoints above the city. Depending upon your arrival time you may have chance to take a city tour today or visit the ancient ruins of Tiwanaku.

Overnight in La Paz depending on your budget but we can recommend the Hotel Europa in the 5 star or the 3 star El Dorado for example.

Day 2 Fly to Sucre, the capital of Bolivia

A 45 minute flight will take you to the colonial city of Sucre and the actual capital of Bolivia. At 9200 feet above sea level Sucre has a nice spring-like climate all year round. Today will be yours to explore its colorful market and visit several colonial buildings, museums and churches while wandering the narrow streets of this pleasant town. 

Overnight in Sucre could be spent in the Parador Santa Maria la Real for some old fashioned colonial opulence and feel.

Days 3-4 Market and Hacienda Candelaria (B,L,D)

Sunday is market day in the village of Tarabuco, where farmers and weavers from the countryside join together in a festive atmosphere to trade foodstuffs, fine weavings, and exchange gossip with far away friends and relatives. After haggling with the local vendors you will be visiting the Hacienda Candelaria.

After the hacienda visit you will then drive to the Quechua village of Ch’illa Apacheta where the women are famous for their fine weavings. You will be able to visit several homes to talk with weavers before heading back to the hacienda and a picnic lunch along the way. You will then return to Sucre in the late afternoon. If there is time, or you have special interest you could visit the dinosaur footprints park. Overnight Sucre again.

Days 5-6 Potosi

It is a short 2 hour drive between Sucre and Potosi today. At around 13,000 feet above sea level, Potosi is the highest city of it’s size in the world. After the discovery of silver in Cerro Rico (Rich Hill), Potosi grew into the largest and most opulent city in the Americas. The city’s rich colonial architecture and tragic history as a colonial mining town has earned recognition from UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. If you wish it is possible to visit the mine and even go inside, this is not for the faint hearted, please speak to us before you decide to do this.

Overnight in Potosi in the Hotel Colonial would be a good choice.

Days 7-9 Salt Desert of Uyuni (2B,3L,2D)

Today you will start your circuit of the Salt Desert of Uyuni in 4 wheel drive trucks. From Potosi you travel through dry, extreme canyons and past adobe villages where time seems to stand still. You'll cross a pass of over 15,500 feet before arriving to your rustic accommodations in the wierd high desert town of Uyuni.

The town of Uyuni is located on the eastern edge of the Salar de Uyuni, which is the largest salt lake in the world.  The desert landscape, with its volcanoes in the background and bizarre rock formations, it is truly surreal.

The next morning you will continue your adventure by visiting the train cemetery, you are sure to get some great photos. Later on you will learn about the production of salt bricks in the village of Colchani, and watch graceful flamingos wading through briny water. You’ll also see an historic hotel actually built from salt, and then a visit to the Isla de Pescadores, a bizarre island surrounded by salt and studded with 20 foot tall cactus. After staying overnight in the salt desert the next day you'll visit the Tunupa Volcano for a spectacular view over this great expanse of salt.

After lunch, it’s back across the salt flat to the town of Uyuni where you’ll have time for a shower and a pleasant meal before boarding the night train to La Paz.

Day 10 La Paz (D)

The train will take you to Oruro (this service runs 4 times per week) and then you will have a transfer by bus to La Paz, arriving in La Paz fairly early in the day. The rest of the day is yours to explore the markets or take an optional tour of the Tiahuanaco ruins or the Valley of the Moon. This evening, enjoy your last night in Bolivia with a night out in the new town maybe.

Day 11 Return Home or onward travel.

We will take you to the airport for your flight home or you can combine this vacation with one to Peru. Peru and Bolivia are very easily combined via a visit to Lake Titicaca, please ask us for all the options.