Explore Bolivia: La Paz & Great Uyuni Salt Flats
7 days/6 nights
Overview
Perfect for travelers who want to experience the best of the Bolivian highlands, this weeklong itinerary combines adventure tours and treks with the urban comforts of La Paz. Begin your trip with a complete tour of La Paz and its main archeological complex (an Unesco World Heritage site); continue with colorful “the Moon Valley” before being transported to the breathtaking Uyuni Salt Flats. You'll be able to enjoy remote sites like the Tunupa Volcano, Incahuasi Island, hot springs and colored lagoons filled with flamingoes before heading back to La Paz to sample more Andean cuisine and stroll through markets filled with art and textiles.
Memorable Moments
- Enjoy an overview tour of La Paz including its historic center and the famous Witches’ market;
- Discover Tiwanaku archaeological complex, listed as a World Heritage Site in 2000 by UNESCO;
- Visit the colorful Moon Valley, a breathtaking maze of canyons and giant spires created by the erosion of winds and rain;
- Tour Coquesa Town and its famous mummies dated from the 700 b.c;
- Trek to Tunupa Volcano and enjoy some great panoramic views of the majestic Salt Flat;
- Discover colored lagoons and hot springs in Bolivia’s highlands;
- Explore Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve, the most important Andean reserve of Bolivia and home to erupting volcanoes, hot springs, geysers, lakes, fumaroles, mountains and windswept deserts;
- Escape the city and discover “The Sun Island” while visiting the island’s archaeological marvels from the Inca civilization.
Itinerary at a glance
Day 1 – La Paz – Arrival Day
Day 2 – La Paz – Complete City Tour & Tiwanaku Temple
Day 3 – Flight to Uyuni – Expedition in 4x4 truck to Tunupa Volcano & Incahuasi island
Day 4 – Uyuni Salt Flats – Honda, Cañapa and Hedionda Lagoons
Day 5 – Uyuni Salt Flats – Red & Green Lagoons, Geysers and Hot Springs
Day 6 – La Paz – Sun Island & Chañi Floating Islands
Day 7 – La Paz – Departure
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Full Itinerary
Welcome to Bolivia! Our representative will greet you at El Alto International Airport and transfer you to your hotel. Once you check in and get settled, you can share a cup of coca tea with your guide and go over your itinerary, ask questions and learn a bit more about Bolivia.
Accommodation: Casa Grande Hotel, La Paz.
Today, head to Tiwanaku archaeological complex, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Visit impressive architectural structures such as palaces, gateways, pyramids, semi-subterranean temples, as well as giant monoliths and figurative representations. Following lunch, visit the Moon Valley: a maze of canyons and giant spires composed of clay and sandstone, created by the erosion of strong winds and rains. Its varied pallet creates an impressive optical illusion of the eroded hillsides. Finally, return to La Paz and visit its Historic Center where you will visit the celebrated Witches´ Market, San Francisco Church, Murrillo Square, Executive Palace, Legislative Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral and other landmarks of La Paz.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Casa Grande Hotel, La Paz.
Early in the morning, fly to Uyuni city. Upon arrival at the airport, our guide will meet you and you will head to Colchani in a 4×4 truck. On your way to the village, you will visit the train cemetery (old steam locomotives that were used to transport minerals), the Salt mounds (first stage in processing the salt), “Eyes of water” (groundwater that flows to the surface), the town of Coquesa, where you will visit its famous mummies (dated from the 700b.c. and which preserve almost intact part of the skin, hair and fingernails). Then you will do an easy trek towards the viewpoint of the Tunupa volcano, where you will observe the flamingos in the wetlands. During the dry season lunch takes place in the center of the salt flats. Then, visit the Salt Museum made completely of salt and explore the Incahuasi Island from where you will have a stunning panoramic view of the entire salt flat.
Arrival at Colchani to check in at your hotel made entirely of salt.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Luna Salada
Early in the morning, fly to Uyuni city. Upon arrival at the airport, our guide will meet you and you will head to Colchani in a 4×4 truck. On your way to the village, you will visit the train cemetery (old steam locomotives that were used to transport minerals), the Salt mounds (first stage in processing the salt), “Eyes of water” (groundwater that flows to the surface), the town of Coquesa, where you will visit its famous mummies (dated from the 700b.c. and which preserve almost intact part of the skin, hair and fingernails). Then you will do an easy trek towards the viewpoint of the Tunupa volcano, where you will observe the flamingos in the wetlands. During the dry season lunch takes place in the center of the salt flats. Then, visit the Salt Museum made completely of salt and explore the Incahuasi Island from where you will have a stunning panoramic view of the entire salt flat.
Arrival at Colchani to check in at your hotel made entirely of salt.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Luna Salada
Important note:
Please note that during the Rainy Season it is not possible to visit Incahuasi Island and Town of Coquesa (mummies and Tunupa volcano).
Wake up in the heart of the desert and visit the village of Colchani, where the processing of salt can be observed (drying, grinding and packaging of salt). In 4×4 trucks you will explore the Bolivian highland landscapes and stop at Ollague Volcano viewpoint. We include stops to admire three lakes, all set in stunning landscapes dominated by mountains in all directions whose peaks stab the sky at 5,000m (16,400ft) above sea level or higher. You will see vicuñas, a cousin to alpacas, and the shores of these glacial salt lakes lined with James’s Flamingos. Transfer to your hotel located in the salt flats.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Mallku Cueva
Start your day off with a visit to the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve where you will find unique rock formations that come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. The stand out among these different volcanic rock figures is the Arbol de Piedra, meaning ‘Stone Tree’. Then, we will visit lagoons of intense colors which are located in the middle of the highest deserts in the world and have majestic mountains and volcanoes as a background. Then we will stop at a place called “Termas de Polques” which has healthy mineral water at a perfect temperature and you relax and enjoy a magnificent view. Finally, visit the Green Lagoon where we can see its impressive emerald color and the Licancabur Volcano. Return to Uyuni and transfer to the airport to board the flight to La Paz city.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Casa Grande Hotel, La Paz.
Early in the morning, we will head to seaside town of Copacabana where we will walk to the port in order to board on a speed boat to “Isla del Sol”. This is a beautiful island teeming with archaeological marvels. Over 80 ruins can be found sprawled across the rugged 70 sq. km island – remnants of the Inca civilization that lived there in the 15th century AD – as well as approximately 800 indigenous families who live in small villages dispersed throughout the island. Hiking the rocky and hilly trails, you’ll pass by agricultural terraces, serene beaches (which are a little too cold to swim), grazing animals, tiny settlements, giant eucalyptus trees and cacti. Magnificent views of Cordillera Real’s snow-capped peaks will stop you in your tracks, as will sweeping panoramic views of Lake Titicaca. Then, we will return to Copacabana, with a short stop next to the “Chañi Floating Islands” (where we will appreciate the handwork of the famous Andean reeds). At the end of the afternoon, we will return to your hotel in La Paz.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Accommodation: Casa Grande Hotel, La Paz.
Today is totally free and at leisure. You can take advantage of any optional activities available or simply relax. We will transfer you to the airport to board your international flight.
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FAQ
The altitude at Bolivia, Uyuni is more than 3,500m (12,000 feet) above sea level and, believe it or not, during your trip you will climb even higher! For example, at Laguna Colorada, in the Eduardo Avaroa National Park, the altitude is 4,800m (15,700 feet).
The best time to go really depends on your preference of what you want to see. Some people prefer to go from May to November when the weather is mild, but the Bolivian salt flat plains will be dry.
The wet season is from January to April. The rain will make that beautiful mirror effect, an unbelievable image of infinity.
This is a trip for Travelers who have a high fitness level, expect a vigorous pace, are comfortable participating in up to eight hours of physical activity per day, and enjoy challenging themselves physically.
Most tours are at a very active pace, with full day tours and a demanding daily schedule of physical activities such as trekking. Walking/Hiking tours can be on difficult terrain (up to 14 miles on uneven terrain, city hills, or narrow trails along steep hillsides with no railings). Travelers may be in remote and rugged regions with challenging terrain, possibly at high altitudes with steep ascents/descents. Leisure time may be limited (sometimes only in the later evenings). You should also take into account your stamina when traveling long distances and/or with multiple flight changes.
Altitude sickness can strike anywhere from elevations of 2,400 meters (7,874 feet) and upwards, although the vast majority of people will suffer no discomfort at all at that altitude. Interestingly, there is no correlation at all between age, fitness levels or gender and the extent to which people are prone to suffering from altitude sickness.
Prior to your trip, we will provide you with packing tips and recommendations to avoid altitude sickness in Atacama Desert and Uyuni Salt Flats.
No, you will have very little to no signal and/or internet connection during your Salar de Uyuni trip. You will have wifi and cell phone signal at the hotel but it may be weak sporadically. Make the best out of this tour and take the opportunity to relax, unwind and forget about staying online for a while.
In Uyuni salt flats you will be in a very remote place with no restaurants, pharmacies or shops nearby. The tours are all-inclusive and they provide all the food you need (and the food is good, I must say), but you have to make sure to bring everything you may need with you (such as painkillers or other medicine you have to take ,etc).
If you have any dietary requirements or food intolerances (you are gluten-intolerant, vegetarian etc.) please tell us beforehand and discuss all these details with your coordinator in order to have everything you need by the time you arrive at these destinations.
Swimsuit, warm weather clothing, sunblock, hat and sunglasses. Warm jacket, trousers, sweater, fleece, windbreaker, gloves and hat. Binoculars for wildlife-watching and camera equipment for capturing your surroundings. Prior to your trip, we will provide you with packing tips and recommendations to avoid altitude sickness in both destinations, Atacama and Uyuni Salt Flats.
Bolivia requires proof of yellow fever vaccination. The vaccine is recommended for travel to Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, La Paz and Tarija departments. Talk to your physician about which vaccinations are recommended for you and which medicine and health-related items are most important for you. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.
After you sign up for a trip with us, you will receive several pre-trip mailings with specific information about your destination; packing suggestions, etc. You will be able to download our app and have your own password. You will have access to your itinerary, real-time flight alerts and relevant information to help you prepare for your trip.