Bolivia Encounter - 9 Days

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Bolivia. Your adventure begins in La Paz – the world’s tallest capital city. When you arrive, you’ll be met at the airport by a local representative and transferred to your hotel. At around 3650 m, La Paz feels like the top of the world and competes with Tibet for the title of highest capital in the world. If you arrive early, maybe wander through one of the many local markets or visit the Presidential Palace (Palacio Quemado). Tonight, join your local leader and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, maybe find a local restaurant for dinner and toast to the trip ahead.

After breakfast, set off on a walking tour through La Paz. See the San Francisco Church, the historic Plaza Murillo and Calle Jaen, where interesting museums are clustered together. Then, discover traditional Bolivian crafts and medicinal herbs at the Witches’ Market (Mercado de las Brujas) before riding the teleferico (cable car) over the city. Stop at the famous Killi Killi viewpoint, then head to Moon Valley – a geological site where erosion has formed a large collection of sandstone monoliths, shaped over thousands of years. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city at your own pace. Maybe unwind on a nearby beach or explore the Sopocachi Neighborhood and find a bohemian-style bistro for dinner.

Today’s adventure begins with a scenic journey across the Andean plateaus to the high-altitude frontier town of Uyuni, perched at the edge of the altiplano stretching toward Argentina and Chile. Along the way, stop to stretch your legs and maybe grab some lunch. When you arrive in Uyuni this afternoon, the rest of the day is free. Maybe relax in your hotel or find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations!

This morning, visit the Train Cemetery on the deserted outskirts of Uyuni. The town was once a distribution hub for trains carrying minerals on their way to Pacific Ocean ports but in the 1940s the mining industry collapsed, and many trains were abandoned. Spend the morning walking through the old and rusting antique train carriages and steam engines before heading out into Uyuni’s Salt Flats. Explore the lake by 4WD, first visiting the small town of Colchani, where you'll see how the local farm processes salt from the Salar. Then, see the Salt Hotel – this hotel in the heart of the Salt Flats is built entirely from salt! After, discover the cacti and coral-like structures on the rocky island of Isla Inca Wasi before stopping for a picnic lunch in the middle of the salt flats. After, visit the iconic salt sculpture that rises from the endless white expanse – a striking tribute to Dakar Rally (a cross-county rally in all-terrain vehicles). Tonight, if the weather allows, maybe watch the sunset over the otherworldly landscape before heading back to your hotel for the evening.

Today, travel through the Andean Desert to Siloli Desert. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. Along the way, you’ll pass the active Ollague Volcano and small colourful lakes. Stop at San Cristobal de Lipez – a small village known for its relocated church (Iglesia San Cristobal Lipez), which was moved stone by stone when the original town was moved due to silver mining. Then, travel to Alota, known for its rock formations before continuing to Hedionda and the Canapa Lagoons – often home to a vibrant group of flamingos! Finish your day at the Siloli Desert, where you’ll see a vast expanse of volcanos and arid terrain. When you arrive, settle into your accommodation in the middle of the desert before heading out to dinner with your group.

This morning, visit Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) - a shallow salt lake in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. Then, continue your journey to the Sol de Manana Geysers. After spending some time soaking in the hot springs of Polques, travel across the Pampas de Dali Desert to Laguna Verde – a green lagoon at the foot of Licancabur Volcano. Continue to the Bolivian border post (Hito Cajon). Change vehicles and descend along the paved road to the Chile immigration post on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama – a town set on an arid high plateau in the Andres mountains and the gateway to the Atacama Desert (the driest non-polar desert on Earth!). After the immigration procedures, the rest of the night is free.

Travel to Atacama Desert’s most colourful and captivating landscape this morning – the Rainbow Valley, named after the vivid reds, greens, yellows and whites that paint the hills. From a scenic viewpoint, watch the valley’s natural colours come alive as the sun rises over Rainbow Canyon. Then, continue to Yerbas Buenas where you’ll learn about the region’s most important collection of petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings) that reveal the lives and beliefs of the area’s earliest inhabitants. This afternoon, travel across the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range) to the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) - a valley with small but sharp crested hills, created by the wind, which resembles the moon’s surface. Watch as the sun sets over the moon-like landscape, before heading back to your accommodation for the night.

Today is a free day. Maybe see the geothermal activity at El Tatio Geysers, explore the red rock formations and volcanic landscape at Piedras Rojas or walk through the ruins of the ancient fortress at Pukara de Quitor and learn about the pre-Hispanic Lickan Antay culture. Tonight, maybe join your group at a local restaurant for dinner and celebrate the last night of your trip with some local dishes like pastel de choclo (corn and meat casserole) or empanadas (savoury pastries filled with meat, cheese or seafood).

As there are no activities planned, your trip comes to an end today. If you’d like to spend more time here or pre book a departure transfer to Calama airport, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.