Epic Bolivia tour from Altiplano to Amazon

Santa Cruz

Day 1: A day of leisure In Santa Cruz

Welcome to Santa Cruz! In the morning a private driver will pick you up at the airport and take you to your hotel. Once at the hotel you will have breakfast. 

You will have free time to get acquainted with Santa Cruz, then end your first day with a night at the Armonia Hotel.

Santa Cruz - Refugio Volcanes

Day 2: View of the Inca, Amazon and the Andes

In the morning you will have breakfast then depart from your hotel to experience the Inca fortress of Samaipata.

You will witness the beautiful area between the Amazon and the Andes, as well as, the remains of the most isolated Inca fortress of the empire, built to control the invasion of the Guaranis Indians.

Later, you will return to your bungalow where you'll enjoy a delicious dinner and spend the night. 

Amboro - Samaipata

Day 3: Explore Amboro park forest

In the morning, you will have breakfast and then you will depart for Amboro Park's Forest. At the forest, you'll observe a few species of giant ferns only found in Bolivia (ex. Dicksonia Sellowiana and Alsophila Incana), as well as, many wild orchids species.

Soon after, you will take a adventurous hike before you return to Samaipata. To conclude your day, you will spend the night at the Refugio De Los Volcanes where dinner will also be served.

Sucre

Day 4: A panoramic view of Amboro Park

Start your morning enjoying a delicious tropical breakfast before heading out on the heights of the shelter to enjoy a panoramic view of the Amboro Park. With a little luck, you will have the opportunity to observe the typical bird species of the region!

Next, you will head back to the shelter to enjoy a deserved swim in the natural pools nearby. After enjoying the natural pools and a good lunch, you’ll transfer by car to Bermejo.

In the later afternoon, you’ll head back to Santa Cruz where you'll have sometime to relax, have dinner and get some much needed rest. 

Sucre

Day 5: The white city of Sucre

You'll start your morning with breakfast followed by a transfer to the airport.

Today, you will spend the day in the beautiful “white city” of Sucre. Your guide will pick you up from your hotel to show you the most famous buildings and museums of the city! You will start with the Convento de la Recoleta, the monastery of the Franciscan order build in 1601. Next, you will then learn about the culture of the region, the country and more at the Museum of Indigenous Art (ASUR).

You will end the day with s visit to the Monastery of San Felipe Nery, enjoying a beautiful view over the city from its terrace. Conclude the day returning back the Su Merced Hotel, where a delicious dinner will be waiting for you. 

Sucre - Maragua - Sucre

Day 6: The many craters of Sucre

After breakfast at your hotel, you’ll depart on a four-wheel drive to the Chataquila Village, view its charming church sheltering the Virgin of the same name. Next, you will walk down by the beautiful Inca Trail to Chaunaca followed by a drive to arrive at the Maragua Crater, where you'll have lunch near a gorgeous waterfall.

On the way back to Sucre, you will stop at the Maragua viewpoint from where you can see the crater and at the Mirador of Sucre from where you can view the entire city. Then arrive in Sucre around six thirty for a quick lunch. You will end the night at the Su Merced hotel and have dinner.

Sucre - Potosi

Day 7: The history of casa de La Moneda

Today you will departure from the hotel in a private vehicle. You will cross the Sucre bridge with its anachronical design, over the Río Pilcomayo and then leave the Chuquisaca Valley to climb to the Potosí plateau where you will arrive three hours later.

Your guide will pick you up at two pm to visit the Casa de la Moneda, one of the most important historical buildings of the city - one of those which owed the city to be listed as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Until the 19th century, the coins of the Spanish crown were minted here. This beautiful colonial house is now an important historical museum. Finally, you will arrive the Hotel Tukes La Casa Real to spend the night and have dinner.

Potosi - Pulacayo - Uyuni

Day 8: The mines of Rich Hill

After another sumptuous breakfast at your hotel, you will get to know the mines of the “Rich Hill”. Your guide will pick you up at nine at the hotel lobby and you will go to the Cerro Rico to visit the mine and see the miners at work. You will leave Potosí in a private car and cross the Cordillera de los Frailes to reach Uyuni, a small town on the shores of the Uyuni salt flat.

On the way, you will stop in Pulacayo, a village that sheltered the second largest silver mine in South America in the seventh and eighteenth century. You will arrive in Uyuni at the end of the day. You will end the night at the Samay Wasi hotel where dinner will be served.

Uyuni - Coquesa

Day 9: The many landscapes and lagoons of Sur Lipez

In the morning after breakfast you will begin your journey across the Sur Lipez area, an elevated region of colorful landscapes and lagoons, rock formations and volcanoes. You will start the day at nine thirty with the visit of the train cemetery on the outskirts of Uyuni. You will then ride south and take different stops on the road and visit villages, in particular, the model urbanization of Culpina K.

You will have lunch in the village of San Cristobal, where you can visit a beautiful colonial church. You will then cross the region of Rio Grande to reach the village of Villamar at the end of the afternoon. You will end the evening at Las Piedritas hostel where dinner will be waiting for you.

San Pedro De Quemez

Day 10: The highlights of Sur Lipez

On your second day in the Sur Lipez region you will discover the most famous highlights of the region.

You will start the day at the Laguna Colorada and visit the geysers Sol de Mañana, a volcanic crater with sulphur springs and boiling mud. Your next stop will be the Polques thermal springs where you will be surrounded by a beautiful landscape.

You will then jump back on the jeeps and ride along the Laguna Salada and the Dali Desert. Short before midday, you will reach the Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde, from here you will drive ninety km back to the Laguna Colorada, where you will spend the night. Dinner will be served.

Desierto Del Siloli

Day 11: The lagoons and volcanos

Today you will head north to the Siloli Desert and its famous “Stone Tree”. You will then ride along the Chilean border on the scenic “Route of the Jewels”, which owes its name to all the lagoons along its way: Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda, Cañapa. These lagoons are home to three species of flamingoes.

You will stop at the view point of volcano Ollagüe. This volcano is still active and shelters one of the world’s highest open pit copper mines and then cross the small Salar de Chiguana located at the foot of volcano Tomasamil. After a 230 km ride, you will reach the village of San Juan, where you will spend the night. This small village is famous for its surprising mummies of the “Lipez Lords” and it's interesting small museum. You will end the night at La Cabaña de Sal hostel.

Uyuni - La Paz

Day 12: The many deserts of Incahuasi

Today is the day you must have been waiting for: You will drive across the world’s largest salt flat! After a two hour ride, you will reach the famous Salar de Uyuni. You will then ride half an hour on the salt desert to reach the Island of Incahuasi. In the afternoon, you will continue losing yourself in the white desert during an hour and a half more until arriving at the city of Uyuni.

Just before leaving the Salar, you will stop in the village of Colchani to visit its salt exploitation and salt hotel. A private driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport. You’ll take a flight to La Paz. A private driver will pick you up at the international airport of El Alto and drive you to your hotel in La Paz. You will have the rest of the day to spend as you wish.

La Paz

Day 13: Let's visit Copacabana

You won't stay long in La Paz this time, as you will depart from your hotel at nine by private transportation. You will follow the Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real until reaching Copacabana. There you’ll visit the most interesting sites of the town: the cathedral, the hill of the way of the Cross.

Then you will switch from car to motorboat and ride on the lake Titicaca to the Fuente del Inca on la Isla del Sol. From there you will hike to the village of Yumani which dominates the lake and offers breathtaking views. For the next two days you will be able to travel by boat and you will spend the night at the Puerta del Sol hotel where dinner will be served.

Copacabana - Yumani

Day 14: The ruins of Chincana and the labyrinth in Aymara

In the morning you will have breakfast. From Yumani, you will start the trek by following the crest of the island to the North where you will find the vestiges of the Inca ruins of Chincana, the labyrinth in Aymara (3 to 4-hour walk). Your boat will take you back to Copacabana after lunch.

Upon reaching Copacabana you will return to La Paz using private transportation (about 3½-hour). You will have the remainder of the day to discover more of La Paz. You will spend a night at the Naira Hotel.

Copacabana - La Paz

Day 15: Breakfast, then a flight to Rurrenabaque

After breakfast a private driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight from La Paz to Rurrenabaque. You will then spend the night at the Maya Hotel.

Rurrenabaque - Yacuma

Day 16: The wildlife of Santa Rosa

From Rurrenabaque ou will depart for a two and a half hour trip on a private four-wheel drive vehicle (depending on the track conditions) to the Bala camp near the Yucuma river, via the village of Santa Rosa.

In the afternoon, you will take a motorboat tour and observe many animals around the river. You will see different species of birds (toucans, parrots, tapacarés, kingfisher, herons and other wading birds…), freshwater turtles, caimans and monkeys (howling, whistling, chichilos). You’ll return to your camp at the end of the afternoon. After dinner, you will go for a night walk to observe the nocturnal wildlife. Finally, you’ll spend a night at the Lodge where dinner will be served.

Yacuma

Day 17: Let's see the capihuaras and piranhas

Today you will walk on the local tracks searching for the sicuri, the famous anaconda of up to twelve meters long and aged up to hundred years old. During this hike, you can also see some capihuaras (the biggest rodent in the world), tapirs (with a bit of luck) and some medicinal plants, still used by the local inhabitants.

During another canoe or motor boat tour in the afternoon you will fish piranhas. When you arrive at the camp, you can safely swim in the Yacuma River with the Bufeos (pink dolphins) present in the waterways of the great Amazon Basin. Then spend a night at the Lodge where dinner will be served.

Rurrenabaque - Madidi - Rurrenabaque

Day 18: The sealife

After breakfast you will return to Rurrenabaque by four wheel drive. You will stop at a lagoon along the way to try one last time to fish some piranhas or benton, small carnivorous fishes, prisoners of the small lagoons left after the rainy season.

Afterwards you’ll transfer to the airport for the return flight to La Paz in the afternoon. A private driver will pick you up at the international airport of El Alto and drive you to your hotel in La Paz. Then you will spend the night at the Naira hotel.

La Paz

Day 19: Many views of the capital

After breakfast your private driver will pick you up for a half-day tour to the best points of view over the city. From many parts of the city, you can admire the white summits of the Cordillera Real and the imposing Illimani, protector of the city. From the K’Illi K’Illi mirador and the Laykakota Park, you will enjoy a panoramic view over the capital. From the sky the panorama over the city and the mountains is unique and you can get an impression of the social gaps while flying over the different neighborhood.

You will then drive to the south, crossing the rich "Zona Sur" to get out of the city and enter the Moon Valley. Then you will spend a night at the Naira hotel.

La Paz

Day 20: It's time to head home!

Unfortunately the time to end this fantastic trip has come, it was over much too soon. After your last Bolivian breakfast, your private driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport for your international flight.

We hope to see you again soon!