Bolivia 360º Tour

El Alto airport is the highest International airport in the world at 4,080 meters above sea level. 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. 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 include 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.

The 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 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. At the end of the tour you will be returned to your hotel.

From La Paz, we travel by private vehicle, journeying north through the highlands and parallel to the Andes Royal Range until we reach Copacabana, about a 3 ½ hour drive. 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 colorful 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 legendary Island of the Sun (1 hour). We head to Huacani to have an Aptapi (typical highland lunch). We then continue by boat to the ruins of Pilkokaina Inca Temple. Finally, we hike for an hour to La Estancia, with wonderful views of Lake Titicaca. Dinner is included tonight.

We recommend that you get up early to see the sunrise. This morning after breakfast, we hike down through Yumani visiting the Inca stairs and the Water of the Eternal Youth. We then head north by boat for 1 hour to visit Chincana ruins and the Sacred Rock. We continue by boat for an hour to the Island of the Moon. Here we visit the ruins of Iñak Uyu Inca temple, returning by boat to Copacabana (1 ½ hours). Lunch is included at a local restaurant. From Copacabana, you will be taken by private transport to La Paz (3 ½ hours).

You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport for your flight from La Paz to Sucre. On arrival into Sucre you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Sucre is the constitutional and official capital of Bolivia and it was here that independence was proclaimed in 1825. It is known as the “City of Four Names” as it is also called Charcas, La Plata and Chuquisaca. It is nicknamed “La Ciudad Blanca” (The White City) due to its many white-washed colonial style houses and structures. Founded in the 16th century by Spanish colonials, the city lies in southern central Bolivia at an elevation of 2,810 meters, giving it a cool, temperate year-round climate. The city preserves a wealth of colonial architecture and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Today there is an excursion to Jatun Yampara Indigenous Centre located 23 kilometers from Sucre. Here we visit some typical homes and observe the lifestyle and customs of the ancient Yampara culture. We will see the native houses, burial and ceremonial buildings and we will also go to a “chichería” (local bar) and taste “chicha”, a fermented drink usually made from maize. We continue to the Native Sanctuary and visit the small museums and the pottery and textile workshops. In the afternoon after lunch, we visit the small school in the community with time to talk with the children studying there. (Note: This visit is possible Monday to Friday only) At the end of the tour you will return to your hotel in Sucre.

This morning after an early breakfast we depart from Sucre for the 3-hour drive by private vehicle to Potosi. From the valley (2,759 meters above sea level), the road leads to the Pilcomayo River, past the old bridge of Puente Arce and then climbs up into the highlands at over 4,000 meters to reach the famous colonial mining town of Potosi.

This unique excursion gives visitors the opportunity to experience an unforgettable trip underground, to see the living and working conditions of the Bolivian miners (protective clothing and helmets are provided). Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) was famous for providing vast quantities of silver to the Spanish and resulted in Potosi becoming one of the largest cities of the New World. Even though the mines have been depleted of silver, they are still mined to this day. Conditions for the workers are very poor and many of the miner’s contract silicosis caused by lack of protective equipment resulting in constant inhalation of dust.

Today’s tour starts with a visit to the cemetery of old trains on the outskirts of Uyuni. Uyuni was an important transportation hub and in the late 19th century, rail lines were built by British engineers and the trains carried minerals to the Pacific Ocean ports. After the collapse of the mining industry in the 1940’s, many trains were abandoned outside Uyuni with the resulting Train Cemetery. The salt winds have led to the corrosion of the metal. We then set off across the Great Salt Flats to Colchani village, where we observe the methods of salt extraction and salt processing. We continue to Incahuasi Island (better known as Fish Island) – an oasis with a unique and isolated ecosystem that features algae and fossils. The area is covered with giant columnar cacti up to 10 meters high, some over 100 years old. Against the backdrop of the salt flats extending to the horizon, this landscape makes for spectacular photos. After a picnic lunch, we travel north to visit the pre- Colombian Pucara de Ayque fort and the nearby chullpares on the foothills of Thunupa volcano, before continuing to our hotel for the night, where dinner is included.

This morning after breakfast we begin our overland journey to Soniquera. On route, we visit Kañapa Lagoon, a saltwater lagoon surrounded by Caquena, Tapaquillcha and Kañapa volcanoes. We also visit Hedionda Lagoon with its strong smell of Sulphur, Chiarkota Lagoon (a freshwater lagoon where diverse fauna can be seen) and Honda Lagoon. Situated in the middle of a low concentration salt flat field, its light blue waters contrast with the earthy colors of the highlands. We have a picnic lunch and travel through the Siloli Desert, one of the driest deserts in the world, with its bizarre rock formations caused by wind erosion. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight.

We make an early departure this morning to explore the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve (REA). Covering an area of over 700,000 hectares, the reserve features salt pans, volcanoes, snow-capped peaks, thermal springs and geothermal geysers and is home to unique species of fauna that have adapted to the extreme conditions of the region. We visit Laguna Colorado (4,278 meters), declared a RAMSAR site due to the 30,000 Andean flamingos that nest here. Laguna Colorado is characterized by the red color of its water and it is the most important flamingo site in the region. You may also see vicuñas, llamas and vizcachas. We have a picnic lunch and continue to the Sol de Mañana geysers with their active fumaroles and volcanic craters. The crater bottoms display boiling lava and the fumaroles emit spouts of mixed water and superheated steam that reach heights of 80 to 100 meters. We visit “Laguna Verde”, a beautiful green lagoon at the foothills of the Licancahur volcano (5,865 meters), where flamingos are often seen, before continuing north to Uyuni. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Today you will be transferred at the appropriate time from the hotel to the airport for your flight from Uyuni to La Paz. On arrival, you will be transferred from the airport to your hotel. El Alto airport is the highest International airport in the world at 4,080 meters above sea level.

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 at 1:00 a.m. enjoying the breeze of the river while sailing on the Mamoré River.

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.

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.