Bolivia's highlights: from salt flats to Lake Titicaca
The very best of Bolivia is yours to uncover and marvel at on this seven-day highlights itinerary filled with wonder. From the heights of La Paz, journey to the sacred Lake Titicaca, exploring its islands and rich traditions. Then, venture to the surreal Uyuni Salt Flats, where endless white landscapes and stunning lagoons await. This trip encapsulates a perfect blend of culture, nature, and adventure - strap on your boots and enjoy the ride!
Services
Included:
- Six nights accommodation in double rooms in three or four-star hotels
- Six breakfasts, five lunches, two dinners
- Night bus La Paz - Uyuni
- Domestic flight Uyuni - La Paz
- Airport transfers as per the itinerary
- Activities & admission fees to sites as per the itinerary
- English-speaking guide on excursions
- English-speaking driver-guide in Uyuni
- Snacks for overnight bus on day four
Excluded:
- International flights
- Travel insurance
- Visa fees
- Any meals & drinks not mentioned in the itinerary
- Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
- Personal expenses
- Tips & gratuities
- Bank transfer fees
Optional:
- Domestic flight in lieu of night bus (La Paz - Uyuni)
Itinerary at a Glance
La Paz
Welcome to Bolivia!
La Paz
The colors of La Paz
La Paz - Copacabana - Yumani
Journey to Lake Titicaca
Yumani - Copacabana - La Paz
The Inca secrets of Lake Titicaca
Uyuni - Colchani
Welcome to Uyuni
Colchani - TIWANAKU - La Paz
The mysteries of Tiwanaku
La Paz
Goodbye, Bolivia
Detailed Itinerary
La Paz
Day 1: Welcome to Bolivia!
Your driver will pick you up at El Alto International Airport for a transfer to your hotel. From there, head out for a guided tour of the city's historical center!
This half-day tour will take you to the Plaza Mayor de San Francisco (the main square of La Paz) and up Sagarnaga Street, where it is hard to resist the temptation of buying local handicrafts. Stop at the Witches Market, where local paceños stock up on all the necessary artifacts for their ceremonial offerings to Pachamama (Mother Earth): coca leaves and other medicinal plants, miniature figurines made of sugar, and llama fetuses. Finally, make your way up Los Andes Street, where folkloric dances take pride of place; there, you'll get to admire a multitude of colorful costumes and masks worn by cholitas.
La Paz
Day 2: The colors of La Paz
Spend a day exploring the contrasts of La Paz: away from the hustle and bustle, begin with a tour of the otherworldly Valley of the Moon - a labyrinth of canyons and rocky spires. Then, head up towards the city center in search of scenic viewpoints, offering panoramas of the K'illi K'illi, La Paz itself, and mount Illimani.
Next up is an unforgettable cable car ride, taking you across the city's distinctive districts. Stop to enjoy the lively and colorful murals of the general cemetery, where death is celebrated through song, dance and offerings. All along the way, you'll catch glimpses of the Huayna Potosi and Mururata mountains.
Stop for lunch, savoring grilled meats and spicy soups, before strolling the city center's lively markets to end your tour on a high note.
La Paz - Copacabana - Yumani
Day 3: Journey to Lake Titicaca
Today, make your journey to the shores of the largest navigable lake in the world! Leave La Paz by private transport to reach Copacabana, then travel for 155km before taking a ferry to cross the Strait of Tiquina.
Board a small lancha boat bound for the Isla de la Luna, located at the heart of Lake Titicaca. There, you'll find the ruins of Iñaq Uyu palace and meet the small number of families who inhabit the island, as you help bring them food supplies.
Doña Esperanza will be waiting for you with a warm smile, welcoming you into her home and sharing her way of life on the island. Discover her plantations and learn about the medicinal herbs she grows, bringing their strong aromas and healing powers to the island.
Share an apthapi meal with Esperanza and her neighbors, before heading towards Sun Island and the Inca site of Pillkukayna. Finally, you'll stop in Yumani village for an overnight stay.
Yumani - Copacabana - La Paz
Day 4: The Inca secrets of Lake Titicaca
Today, after a hearty breakfast, journey to Challapampa, the northernmost town on Isla del Sol (Sun Island). Admire its pre-Inca terraces, built for farming, and the unique panoramas of the Cordillera Real mountain range.
You'll also have a chance today to visit the archaeological marvel of Chinkana where, according to Inca mythology, the god Viracocha gave birth to the first Inca rulers.
Your boat will then take you back to Copacabana, followed by a private transfer to La Paz. Back in the city, you'll head straight for the bus station to board a night bus to the south of Bolivia, home to Uyuni's epic salt flats!
Uyuni - Colchani
Day 5: Welcome to Uyuni
After arriving in Uyuni by bus, you'll be picked up for a private transfer, stopping first for breakfast. Then, it's time to discover the world's largest salt desert, as you take a Jeep excursion to the iconic Salar de Uyuni!
A half-hour ride will first take you to the village of Colchani to learn about salt exploitation and visit the salt hotel (closed since 2001). Then, ride for 73km across the salt desert, towards the island of Incahuasi. Lost in the middle of the salt flat, it offers incredible views of the desert and the volcanoes that surround it. Of volcanic origin, it's covered with stromatolites and giant cacti.
In the afternoon, return to Colchani and enjoy an incredible sunset over the salt sea from your hotel.
Colchani - TIWANAKU - La Paz
Day 6: The mysteries of Tiwanaku
A private driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport in Uyuni, for a domestic flight back to La Paz. From there, transfer to your hotel in the city for check-in.
After some time to relax, leave your hotel for a 90-minute private transfer to the archaeological site of Tiwanaku. Take a guided tour of the pre-Columbian vestiges, considered among the most important of the continent. The ruins of Tiwanaku are a symbol of pre-Inca civilization, which remains very mysterious to this day.
You'll also visit Puma Punku and admire the famous Puerta del Sol. Then, return to La Paz in the afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day in the city.
La Paz
Day 7: Goodbye, Bolivia
On your last day in Bolivia, take the time you have left to enjoy a final glimpse of La Paz, before transferring to the international airport for your return flight home. Have a safe trip!
