Bolivia Highlights

Reiseverlauf 2027

1. Tag 1

   La Paz

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   Hola! Welcome to Bolivia. Sitting in a deep canyon 3600 m above sea level, you’ll feel on top of the world in La Paz. Your trip begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. After, maybe head out for a walk with your local leader and group. While Sucre is the official capital, La Paz is bigger and has a lot happening! Perhaps visit the weird and wacky Witches Market, grab a drink in the bohemian streets of Calle Jaen or take to the sky in an urban cable car – make sure your camera is charged because the views of the surrounding peaks are pretty special.
   It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we'll be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you’re going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. Death Road Biking to Coroico – Please note that our leaders are not able to organise this activity for you due to safety concerns. Injuries are very common and there have been a number of fatal accidents.
2. Tag 2

   La Paz

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   Leave La Paz this morning and travel by private vehicle to Uyuni – the gateway to Bolivia’s acclaimed salt flats. You’ll arrive in the late afternoon, so be sure to have a podcast and snacks ready. Uyuni feels a bit like you've reached the end of the road, which is true in a way. This remote town sits on the edge of the high altiplano – a wilderness extending hundreds of kilometres towards the border with Argentina and Chile. After checking into your hotel, the evening is yours to relax. Although basic, the rooms are clean and comfortable – and it may be the last time you’ll have a hot shower for a few days!
   Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours.
3. Tag 3

   Uyuni

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   Uyuni is the starting point of your 4WD adventure to Salar de Uyuni in the Andean Desert. This morning, you’ll stop by the eerie Train Cemetery where abandoned locomotives rust in the sun. Continue to Colchani – a town that produces salt the old-fashioned way, before heading into the salt flats. With endless skies that meet endless white plains, it's a hypnotic sight! Then, pop into an intriguing salt hotel and drive to an island of cacti that rises like a jagged reef in the desert. Known as Isla Inca Wasi, or Fish Island, this fossil-strewn outcrop was once the top of an ancient volcano – you’ll have the chance to go on an optional hike here. Continue south to your homestay-style accommodation in a small village and refuel with an included dinner.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 10 hours. 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, so it’s important to pack warm clothing and base layers. Depending on group size you may be joined by other Intrepid and/or non-Intrepid travellers during the 4WD excursion. 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, and this may include omitting the Inca Wasi visit from today.
4. Tag 4

   Uyuni

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   After breakfast, hit the road through the incredible wilderness of the Andean Desert. Pass by Chiguana Salt Lake, the active Ollague Volcano and other small lakes of various colours – perhaps with a streak of pink if flamingos are nearby! Continue to the Siloli Desert – known for its seven-coloured mountain and Arbol de Piedra (Stone Tree) rock formation. You’ll also visit an Andean wildlife reserve (Reserva de Eduardo Avaroa) and hike around the Laguna Colorada (Red Lake) – keep an eye out for llamas, vicunas and foxes along the way. After a big day, head to your accommodation in a local community (either Huayllajara or Polques) for a well-earned rest and an included dinner.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 11 hours. Despite all the delights, this trip can be tough going. There will be long travel days in 4WDs on dusty washboard tracks, freezing temperatures, basic toilet facilities and multi-share accommodation. However, this amazing journey will undoubtedly be one of the main highlights of your trip.
5. Tag 5

   Salar de Uyuni

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   Rise early to try to catch the sunrise over the surrounding geysers. These bubbling fumaroles are especially active in the morning thanks to the cold air. There may also be an opportunity to visit a hot spring for an optional morning dip. After, drive through more barren landscapes – some of which are frequently compared to Salvador Dali’s paintings – to the strikingly green Laguna Verde, Valle de Rocas (Rock Valley) and the San Cristobal mining town. You’ll return to Uyuni around 5 pm to spend the night at your leisure. After a few days in the desert, you may want to check out a local restaurant with your group for an optional dinner and drinks.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 13 hours.
6. Tag 6

   Uyuni

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   This morning, say goodbye to Uyuni and board a local bus for a scenic ride to the city of Potosi in Bolivia's southern highlands. Potosi has a turbulent past, centred mostly around its mining successes and failures. Once the leading supplier of silver to colonial-era Spain, it briefly claimed to be one of the wealthiest cities in the world. Explore the architectural remnants of this period on an orientation walk with your leader, followed by free time for the rest of the day. Perhaps visit the National Mint Museum or the Santa Teresa Convent Museum to see the art and treasures within the convent’s original walls.
   Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours. Visiting the Potosi Mines can be a thrilling yet dangerous experience. We've 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 miners’ market, a minerals distillery, and 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 with claustrophobia. Your group leader is strictly prohibited from recommending or assisting travellers to book other mine tours.
7. Tag 7

   Potosi

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   After a free morning in Potosi, take a local bus to the temperate valley city of Sucre, Bolivia's official capital. Sucre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991 and has retained much of its colonial heritage in its churches, museums and mansions. Most of the colonial buildings have been whitewashed, hence the city's nickname, the 'White City'. When you arrive, the rest of the afternoon is yours to relax or find your bearings. Tonight, maybe see if your group wants to grab dinner – Sucre is known for mondongo (pork ribs) and saltenas (Bolivian empanadas).
   Your travel time today will be approximately 4 hours.
8. Tag 8

   Sucre

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   Spend the day exploring Bolivia’s capital. After an orientation walk with your leader, compare shoe sizes with a dinosaur at Cal Orcko – home to 68-million-year-old footprints and the world’s largest collection (over 12,000!) of dinosaur footprints. Then, you might like to visit the Museo de la Recoleta – a 400-year-old convent with a fascinating collection of sculptures and paintings and great city views. Or maybe head to the Plaza 25 de Mayo to mingle with Sucre's affluent residents and wander the ornate interior of the Senora de la Merced.
9. Tag 9

   Sucre

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   Today, set off for a hike along the ancient Pre-Incan path known as the Chataquila trek. This (mostly downhill) trek is relatively easy and offers stunning views of the Andes. You have free time for the rest of the afternoon. There are plenty of optional activities in and around town, so what you get up to is up to you! Bolivian dance show or textile museum, anyone?
   Your hike today is 4.5 km and will take approximately 3 hours.
10. Tag 10

    Sucre to La Paz

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    Depending on flight time and availability, you’ll fly back to La Paz in the morning or afternoon. When you arrive, maybe visit the Coca Museum to learn about the history and significance of the coca plant in South American cultures – or just kick back at your hotel.
    Your flight time today will be approximately 1 hour. Depending on availability, the flight may be via Santa Cruz de la Sierra or Cochabamba, with a flight time of 3 to 4 hours.
11. Tag 11

    La Paz

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    Your Bolivian adventure comes to an end after breakfast. With no activities planned, you’re free to leave anytime. With so much to see and do, you might want to spend an extra day or two in the city – just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time.