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Travel to Bolivia and experience the highlights of this breathtaking region

Explore the best of Bolivia on this adventure through lively cities, breathtaking scenery and colourful market towns. From the extreme elevation of bustling La Paz through the history of Potosi and on to the surreal salt flats of Salar de Uyuni, there's a diverse mix of adventures and activities that deliver excitement, intrigue and pleasure. Discover the highlights of this fascinating part of South America and be swept away by the colour and beauty flourishing in this corner of the earth.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
La Paz, Bolivia
Finish
La Paz, Bolivia
Destination
Bolivia
Style
Original
Code
GGSV
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

  • See the many different sides to Bolivia in La Paz and let the city’s weird and wacky Witches Market cast a spell over you

  • Choose to explore the extra-terrestrial landscapes of Valle de la Luna, a maze of canyons and colossal clay spires that feels like the surface of the Moon

  • Discover the heart of Bolivia in the elegant colonial architecture and immaculately landscaped gardens of historical Sucre

  • Delve into the steep streets and Spanish colonial architecture of Potosi, once one of the richest cities in the world

  • Empty, haunting and spectacular, the laws of earthly physics bend on the surreal Salar de Uyuni saltpan – experience it on a three-day 4WD adventure across the rocky Atacama Desert

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Health’ section of the trip notes for more important information on this.

  • You'll be spending a lot of time in a 4WD crossing some bumpy surfaces. This is the best way to see the sights in and around Uyuni, and is all part of the adventure.

  • In Bolivia (especially in Uyuni), sometimes things don't go to plan. For example, an attraction may be closed for the day with no notice or reason. Although this doesn't happen very often, please be prepared for the possibility.

  • Making your way across the Andean Desert and salt flats isn’t exactly luxurious. Temperatures in the area can be very cold, especially at night, so bring warm clothes with you. Meals are simple, toilet facilities are basic, showers can be cold and the multi-share accommodation is dormitory-style. This is all part of the adventure. Without a doubt, this amazing experience will be one of the highlights of your trip to South America.

Map of Bolivia Highlights including Bolivia
bolivia salar de uyuni team
bolivia salt flats
bolivia llama licks
bolivia salt lake pink flamingo
bolivia salt flats big shoes
bolivia la paz local couple

Itinerary
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This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 January 2018 to 31 December 2018. View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2019 - 31 December 2019

Kamisaki! Welcome to Bolivia. At around 3,600 metres, La Paz feels like the top of the world its far from it! Although Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia, La Paz is the centre of commerce, finance and industry. Despite the abundance of colonial architecture, La Paz's indigenous roots run deep, and the atmosphere in the market-filled streets is both modern and traditional. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm tonight. Please look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it will take place. We'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so ensure you bring these details. If you're going to be late, please inform hotel reception. After the meeting, maybe head out into the city, situated in the middle of a vast volcanic crater. Breathe the ‘thin’ air, marvel at the vistas of buildings clinging to the canyonsides, and explore the lively streets like Calle Jaen.

Notes: Altitude Sickness – This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Health’ section of the trip notes for more important information on this. Death Road Biking To Coroico – Please note that our leaders are not able to organize this activity for you due to safety concerns. Injuries are very common and there have been a number of fatal accidents.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • La Paz - Orientation Walk
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Today is free for you to explore the city and its surrounds. Perhaps hop on a local bus out to the extraordinary landscape of Moon Valley. This isn’t a valley, but a maze of canyons and colossal clay spires. These rugged oddities, caused by erosion, make for staggering views. La Paz is also renowned for its many markets, including the Mercado de Hechiceria or Witches’ Market. Take a cable car 13,000ft to the twin city of El Alto and browse through the weird and wonderful stalls that sell everything from potions to incantations made from herbs, seeds and unidentified bits and pieces to cure any ailment. If this is all too much for you, try the more conventional markets where you'll find ponchos, gloves, hats and many other products made of alpaca wool, leather and other traditional materials. If you want to discover more about the region’s fascinating history, maybe enjoy a half-day tour to the Tiwanaku ruins outside of La Paz. Another great optional activity is a full-day tour to the coffee and coca plantations of Coroico, situated in the rainforest below the city.

Notes: This trip is part of a combination trip. As such, some of your fellow travellers may have started their trip in Lima, 15 days ago on Peru and Bolivia Uncovered (GGSUC).
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • La Paz - Food with Altitude - Urban Adventure - USD57
  • La Paz - To 3,600 Metres, and Beyond - Urban Adventures - USD41
  • La Paz - Coca Museum - BOB8
  • La Paz - Visit to the 'Witches Market' - Free
  • La Paz City Tour & Moon Valley - USD40
  • La Paz - Tiwanaku Archeological site (Shared service) - USD30
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning at approximately 8am we will travel to Uyuni by private transport (approximately 9 hours), with stops along the way to stretch legs and enjoy the scenery. Arriving in Uyuni feels a bit like you've reached the end of the road, which in many ways is true. This remote small town sits on the edge of the high altiplano, a wilderness that extends for hundreds of kilometres towards the border with Argentina and Chile. So it's hardly surprising that the town has a bit of a wild west feel about it. Uyuni is best known for its proximity to the Bolivian salt flats known locally as the Salar de Uyuni. The town was once a distribution hub for trains carrying minerals on their way to Pacific Ocean ports. In the 1940s, the mining industry collapsed and many trains were abandoned. Tonight you’ll stay at a hotel in Uyuni Town. The hotel is basic, however it’s clean, comfortable and has hot water (make the most of this as you may not have a hot shower for the next couple of days).
Accommodation
  • Basic Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Uyuni - Orientation Walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
The area is notorious for being extremely cold, so it’s important to pack warm clothing and base layers.

Uyuni is the starting point of your three-day 4WD excursion into Salar de Uyuni and the Andean desert. This morning we will stop by the Train Cemetery three kilometres outside of Uyuni Town, connected to it by the old train tracks, and see where families of geriatric locomotives rust slowly in the sun. The remainder of the day is spent mostly on the salt lake itself. Spanning over 12,000 square kilometres, and heaving with around ten billion tonnes of salt, Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest saltpan. Pass salt-mines and visit Inkawasi – a rocky, cactus and coral-like structure covered island erupting from the monotonous salt crust like a hallucination. Spend time walking around admiring the unusual yet beautiful landscapes. The massive salt plains of Bolivia are an incredible sight and offer plenty of opportunities for bizarre, perspective-defying photos. Endless blue skies meet endless white salt on what was once a prehistoric lake. Make the most of your time here, taking as many photos as possible in this incredible place, as the following day you’ll leave the salt flats for the Andean Desert. At the end of the day, drive to your basic accommodation on the salt plains.
We will arrive at the Salt Flats accommodation at approximately 6:30pm. After settling in to the rooms, we will enjoy an included dinner.

Accommodation
  • Dormitory (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
December to March departures:
Please be aware that from December to March, there’s a risk of the salt lake being flooded. If this is the case, the itinerary will be adapted to accommodate this.

Accommodation:
Our accommodation tonight is very basic. Toilet facilities are basic, showers can be cold and the multi-share accommodation is dormitory-style.

Today begins with an early wake up call in prepartion to leave at approximately 7am. It'll be spent driving through the spectacular landscape of the Andean (Atacama) Siloli Desert, which is sprinkled with volcanoes and lakes, including the active Volcanoe Ollague and Laguna's Canapa, Hedionda and Honda. Along the way keep your eyes peeled whilst passing Quinoa fields and plenty of Andean fauna including Andean Vicuñas - one of two south American camelids, Llamas, Andean fox, Vizcachas - similar to Rabbits. Continuing on we will stop at Árbol de Piedra, a rock formation known as the Stone tree.
One of the highlights of today is the visit to Laguna Colorada (red lake), a rich red lake vividly coloured by algae and rich minerals. One of the strangest sights in such arid and inhospitable land is the abundant wildlife, It's truly a photographers paradise. Look out for llamas, flamingos, vicuñas, and foxes.
During this drive you’ll reach an altitude of approximately 4,800 metres above sea level, so it’s important to revisit the notes on altitude sickness (please see the ‘Is This Trip Right For You?’ and ‘Health’ sections of the trip notes). Tonight's accommodation in the desert is located at 4230mts above sea level.
Accommodation
  • Dormitory (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Salt flats - Visit to 'Fish Island/Inca Wasi'
  • Salt flats - Altiplano tour including Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
Special Information
Accommodation:
Accommodation in the desert is very basic. Shower facilities if any can be unreliable and cold, as the pipes often freeze in the winter months. Electricity is generated by solar panels and generators, so there won’t be enough power to charge electronic devices. The Desert is at high altitude and can experience extremely cold weather, particularly at night.



This morning we will be waking up nice and early in order to leave at 5am.
Apart from geysers and snow-capped volcanoes, the volcanic landscape also hosts some stunning natural hot springs. Our first stop is Sol de Mañana geysers (4926mts - our highest point in our trip).
Next we will decend to Polques and stop by the desert’s natural thermal baths for an optional soak, which we highly recommend. Continuing on we will drive through the Southern desert, making stops at Salvador Dali Valley, Laguna Verde and Volcano Licancabur.
Be prepared for a long day of driving, approximately 12 hours before arriving back at Uyuni Town)
Back in town wander around the streets of this outback settlement and just chill out before heading to Potosi tomorrow.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

In the morning take a local bus along a scenic road to Potosi (approximately 3-4 hours).
The highest city at 4060mts above sea level of its kind in the world, Potosi has had a turbulent past, centred mostly around its mining successes and failures. During the Spanish colonial days, the extensive mining of Potosi's silver rich Cerro Rico was said to have kept Spain running for 300 years. During this time, Potosi briefly celebrated life as one of the richest cities in the world. In the 1800s, the supply of silver declined, as did the market price, and the city started to suffer. Working conditions in the mines were appalling and huge numbers of indigenous people died. African slaves were brought in to replace them and it's said that as many as 8 million people died in the mines during the Spanish era. Perhaps visit the Santa Teresa Convent Museum to observe the art and treasures on display inside the convent’s original walls or the National Mint Museum.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Potosi - Orientation Walk
Optional Activities
  • Potosi - National Mint of Bolivia - BOB48
  • Potosi - Santa Teresa Convent Museum - BOB33
  • Potosi - Cerro Rico mine tour - BOB150
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Potosi Mine Tours:
Visiting the mines in Potosi can be a thrilling yet a dangerous experience. We at Intrepid have partnered with a local operator to offer travellers what we have assessed to be a safer and rewarding option for this visit. This tour involves visiting the miner’s market, a minerals distillery as well as entering the first 150-200 meters into the Grito de Piedra mine. We believe this experience offers a great understanding of the socio, cultural and economic importance of the mine to Potosi and the region while avoiding the risks associated with entering deeper sections of the mine. This activity is not for the faint hearted or those that suffer claustrophobia. Your Tour Leader is strictly prohibited from recommending or assisting travellers book other mine tours.

A journey by local bus along a well-maintained road takes you to Sucre (approximately 3-4 hours). Descending more than 1,000 metres to the temperate valleys of Chuquisaca, small rivers, cactus fields, fruit and vegetable plantations dominate the valley. Sucre is a pleasant city set in a valley surrounded by low mountains and has retained the flavour of its colonial heritage in its churches, museums and ancient mansions. Bolivia's official capital, Sucre was declared a Unesco World Heritage site in 1991. Most of the town's colonial buildings have been whitewashed, earning it the nickname the 'White City'. On arrival, you'll have plenty of free time to explore the city and get your bearings.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Take a few days to explore Bolivia’s capital. After an orientation walk, compare shoe sizes with a dinosaur at Cal Orcko, where 68 million-year-old footprints have been discovered. This is the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world, over 12,000 of them! Then, you might like to visit the Museo de la Recoleta, a 400-year-old convent on top of the hill that provides great views over the city and is home to a fascinating collection of sculptures and paintings. Or maybe head to the Plaza 25 de Mayo to rub shoulders with Sucre's affluent residents and investigate the extravagant interior of the Senora de la Merced.

For something more active, why not opt to hike along the ancient Pre-Inca path known as the Chataquila trek. The trek is relatively easy being that it is mostly downhill. On the way down enjoy the stunning views of the Andes and the valleys. The price of this activity will change depending on how many of your travel companions want to take this option.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (2 nights)
Included Activities
  • Sucre - Orientation Walk
  • Sucre - Dinosaur Footprints
Optional Activities
  • Sucre - Chataquila Pre-Inca trek - BOB140
  • Sucre - Casa de la Libertad - BOB21
  • Sucre - Dinosaur footprints at Cal Orcko - BOB70
  • Sucre - Bolivian Dance Show - BOB100
  • Sucre - Museum of Textiles - BOB22
  • Sucre - Church of San Felipe Neri - BOB15
Meals Included
  • Breakfast (2)

Take a flight back to La Paz from Sucre airport today, which should only take around 30-40 minutes. Check-in time at the hotel isn't until 2pm. Depending on flight availability, we may arrive prior to check-in. In this case there is luggage storage available at the hotel. The rest of your day is free to relax or explore more of the city. Maybe head to the Mirador Killi Killi Lookout, located on top of a steep hill in the neighbourhood of Villa Pabon, and one of La Paz’s most impressive viewing points. Nearby is the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, which exhibits a wide collection of stunning works that takes you through Bolivian history. Perhaps visit the Coca Museum, which isn’t too far from your hotel in the Rosario district. If there’s time, you might like to take part in one of our Urban Adventure tours. When the sun sets and the temperature drops, gather together you travel buddies and join the locals in seeking warmth in a bar or restaurant, and celebrate the end of your Bolivian adventure.
Accommodation
  • Hotel (1 night)
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Departure Tax: Please note you will be required to pay an airport departure taxt today which is approximately BOB11.

Your exploration of Bolivia's highlights comes to an end this morning. As there are no more activities planned, you're free to book your departure flights when you like and you can leave the accommodation at any time.
Optional Activities
  • La Paz - To 3,600 Metres, and Beyond - Urban Adventures - USD41
  • La Paz - Food with Altitude - Urban Adventure - USD57
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Meals

10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Plane, 4X4, Local bus, Private Vehicle

Accommodation

Dormitory (2 nights), Hotel (9 nights)

Included activities

  • La Paz - Orientation Walk
  • Uyuni - Orientation Walk
  • Salt flats - Visit to 'Fish Island/Inca Wasi'
  • Salt flats - Altiplano tour including Laguna Colorada and Laguna Verde
  • Potosi - Orientation Walk
  • Sucre - Orientation Walk
  • Sucre - Dinosaur Footprints

Dates & availability

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Important notes

SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS:
A single supplement is available on this trip except for Day 4 & 5 at Salar de Uyuni and the desert where accommodation is multi-share

GROUP SIZE IN UYUNI:
The excursion to Uyuni salt lake is on shared basis and your group size may be larger than12 travellers.

BOLIVIAN VISA FOR U.S CITIZENS
Nationals from the United States need a visa to enter Bolivia and you we highly recommend you obtain this visa in advance from your nearest Bolivian consulate or Embassy. Not obtaining the visa in advance is likely to cause long delays at the border.
Please see the visa information on these trip notes for more information.

PASSPORT DETAILS REQUIRED
Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase Entrance fees to certain sites. Additionally on certain trips it's needed to book bus, train or flight tickets. Delays to provide this information may result in booking fees or changes to your itinerary.

On June 30th Peruvian authorities released a new list of regulations for visiting Machu Picchu, which came into effect from July 1st

The main points impacting our visits are:

1. Tickets are now only valid only for one entry, that means that passengers cannot leave the site and re-enter as we have in the past.
2. Once the passengers begin on a chosen circuit (there are 3 different ones) they cannot walk backwards and once they finish the circuit they must leave the site. They cannot explore afterwards.
3. The two allotted times to visit are 6am-12pm/ 12-4.30pm
4. It will be mandatory to have a guide (Machu Picchu guide, not our Leaders) to visit the site. However, this rule can’t be applied as there are not enough official guides to cover the large amount of people visiting so authorities are being flexible.

These new regulations are affecting how much time our passengers can spend in Machu Picchu, in the past, after a 1-2.5 hour tour passengers could stay longer to explore the site unguided, this is not possible anymore.

Our only alternative is to make passengers explore the upper part of Machu Picchu (Sun gate and Inka Bridge) before their guided tour starts (so about 2 hours before meeting the guide). Your Tour Leader will provide more information on what the group options are at the Welcome meeting.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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Reviews

Our Bolivia Highlights trips score an average of 4.52 out of 5 based on 147 reviews in the last year.

Bolivia Highlights, July 2018

roderick Stanley

Review submitted 01 Aug 2018

Bolivia Highlights, July 2018

Frances Stanley

Review submitted 31 Jul 2018

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