Bolivia: The Hidden Treasuries | Amazon River Cruise

From Puno, we make the 3-hour journey by private transport to Copacabana (Change of car and guide in Kasani, border Peru – Bolivia) with beautiful views of Lake Titicaca along the way Copacabana is a pleasant town on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Nestled between two hills at 3,880 meters above sea level, some believe that the name Copacabana is derived from the Aymara “kota kawana”, meaning “view of the lake”. The crystal-clear waters surrounded by white capped mountains provide an extraordinary setting.

Copacabana is famous for its large 16th century cathedral, a dazzling white Moorish-style cathedral with domes and colourful ceramic tiles that dominates the tiny town. The church houses the famous “Virgen Morena”. We stroll around the town and visit the church before taking a motorized boat to the Island of the Moon. Here we visit the ruins of Iñak Uyu Inca temple, later we depart to the legendary Island of the Sun. On arrival in Huacani we hike for around 45 minutes to the lodge, our accommodation for the night. A typical highland lunch (aptapi) and dinner are included today.

Overnight in Sun island
Meals: Lunch & Dinner

We recommend that you get up early to see the sunrise. This morning we take a boat trip north for 1 hour to visit Chincana ruins and the Sacred Rock. Chincana has been described as a ‘labyrinth of stone’ and is believed to have been used as a holy complex by Inca priests. We take a short 45-minute hike to Challapampa Bay and then continue by boat to Challa to visit the Cultural Museum there. After lunch, we return to the Ecolodge and the afternoon is free to enjoy the peace and beauty of this mystical place, with dinner included at the lodge.

Overnight in Sun island
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

This morning after breakfast we hike down through the village of Yumani to the Garden and Stairs of the Incas, and take a boat to return to Copacabana (1 ½ hours), to take the private car to La Paz (4 hours), travelling alongside the Andes Royal Range and through the spectacular highlands. La Paz has a spectacular setting in a deep bowl surrounded by snow-capped mountains of the Altiplano. It lies in the shadow of the towering 6,438m high Mt. Illimani, always snow covered and visible from many parts of the city. Lunch is included

The city (from the main square) is 3,636 meters above sea level but the neighboring city of El Alto where La Paz International Airport is located lies at over 4,000 meters. Some of the highlights of La Paz itself includes Plaza Murillo, San Francisco Church and the “Witches Market” where vendors sell dried llama fetuses and frogs, dried llama dung, herbs, remedies and other ingredients used in Aymara traditions and rituals. This afternoon’s city tour takes you through the street markets rich in handicrafts and weavings and to the Witches Market where locals buy supplies for ritual ceremonies like the Ch’alla and offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth). Next, we visit the colonial section of the city where you will see the San Francisco Church, Gold Museum and Murillo Square. You will also visit the “Mirador de Killi” viewpoint and the outdoor replica of Tiwanaku Temple. The tour then passes through the modern, affluent residential area of the city and heads out to visit the Valley of the Moon, where a clay mountain has been impressively shaped by erosion, resulting in a formation that resembles the face of the moon. There is the option to ride on the “Teleférico” cable car for great views of La Paz. At the end of the tour you will be returned to your hotel.

Overnight in La Paz
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your morning flight to Uyuni, with beautiful views of the city of La Paz as you ascend to El Alto. On arrival into Uyuni, you will be met and transferred to Uyuni village. Uyuni, founded in 1889 by Bolivian president Aniceto Arce, is still an important military base. It lies in south-western Bolivia, 3,670 meters above sea level and situated on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni, the largest salt flat in the world. The Salar de Uyuni covers over 10,000 square kilometers of the Bolivian Altiplano and is fringed by the mountains of the Andes. Beneath it lies the world’s largest lithium reserve estimated to be about 100 million tons and accounting for around 70% of the world’s lithium reserves. The salt in the salt flats is over 120 meters deep. The area is remote, arid and cold, stark, yet stunning, boasting extraordinary beauty and a silence that is captivating. From here you will start to explore the vast Salar de Uyuni, a unique natural wonder. You will first visit Colchani village, to observe the methods of salt extraction and salt processing.

The tour then continues to Incahuasi Island (better known as Fish Island) – an oasis with a unique and isolated ecosystem that is populated by giant columnar cacti up to 10 meters high, some over 100 years old. We continue north to see the mummies buried in caves near the village of Coquesa in the foothills of the Thunupa volcano. We then head west to Tahua to our hotel for the night, ready to enjoy a great sunset. Lunch and dinner are included today.

Overnight in Tahua.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Tahua Hotel

Today see us exploring further with a scenic drive and then a hike to the natural viewpoint of Chillima and the ruins of Pucara, where there are fantastic views of the Uyuni Salt Flats and the surroundings. We then descend back onto the Salt Flat (3 hours) before continuing southeast towards Colchani where we overnight in a salt hotel. Lunch and dinner are included today.

Overnight in Hotel Palacio de Sal.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Palacio de Sal

This morning after breakfast you will be transferred to Uyuni airport for your flight to La Paz. On arrival into La Paz, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in La Paz.
Meals: Breakfast

Transfer to the airport to take your flight to Trinidad. Arrival and Reception and transfer from the airport to Puerto Los Puentes on the river Mamoré. Presentation of the crew of the boat and internal tour of the boat by the Captain or guide.

It is specified that basically the main activity of the Flotel is the Navigation, to this activity are added different activities according to the duration of the tour or the preferences of the tourist.

Short sailing in a smaller boat in search of a good place to practice sport fishing: with chances to fish the ravenous red piranha and observe pink dolphins. At noon, we return to our main boat where we will start sailing north to find a good place to do sun and beach. Lunch enjoying the breeze of the river while sailing on the Mamoré River.
After lunch, enjoy some free time to digest the meal. Transfer to the beautiful beach where you can bathe and/or sunbathe on the famous deserted beaches of Beni.

After the dinner will be the activity of the “Lagarteada”, which is nothing more than the simulation of hunting the black caiman. It is basically taught how to find the lizard or caiman and explains the characteristics of the same (at no time is touched or annoyed to any type of animal).

Overnight at selected hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast, you will sail until you arrive at a place where the cavalcade takes place. The idea is to first teach, show how to ride horses and second to know about the characteristics of livestock in the eastern Bolivian, while riding in the middle of the open pampas of Beni. At the end of this activity, visit an indigenous community. Over here, learn the history of the ethnicity.

In the afternoon, you will look for a good place to relax and enjoy some beach and with the possibility of observing pink dolphins or freshwater dolphins.

Overnight: Amazon cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Navigate until finding a good path in which the interpretation of the forest, properties of plants and fruits will be made. The path of the trail is made in a stealthy way to increase the possibilities of finding and visualizing some species of fauna that can be found in the jungle. After lunch, you will start your return trip to Puerto Los Puentes where you will be waiting for the taxi to take you to the Airport of Trinidad to take your flight to La Paz.

Arrival and transfer to the Hotel.
Overnight: La Paz
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your onward flight. Ascending to El Alto, there will be beautiful evening views of La Paz and the city lights, for those with evening departures.

Meals: Breakfast