Adventures in a Surreal Land
Bolivia!
Overview
The great salt desert of the Salar de Uyuni, vast Lake Titicaca, the red-roofed colonial towns of Sucre and Potosí, the bowler-hatted Aymara in the markets of La Paz—Bolivia is a world of surprise and delight. In this land of mesmerizing beauty and fascinating indigenous cultures, we spend nights on serene Isla del Sol in the middle of Lake Titicaca, meet the artisan-weavers of Tarabuco, and explore the lunar landscapes of the Salar de Uyuni, the Earth's largest salt flat, where the sky and horizon merge into a dreamscape of fluorescent lakes, spiky cacti, geysers, and jagged rock formations—at night here, the glow of moonlight is reflected in the salt and it's easy to think you're on another planet. Our lodgings include a historic hacienda and a unique “salt” hotel in the desert.
Arrive: La Paz, Bolivia
Depart: La Paz, Bolivia
Highlights
- Discover the treasures of Tiwanaku, a pre-Inca masterpiece and World Heritage Site
- Hike to Inca temples on the mystical Isla del Sol in sacred Lake Titicaca
- Explore the dreamscapes of the Salar de Uyuni, overnight in a “salt” hotel
- Meet the artisan-weavers of Tarabuco, enjoy lunch on a family farm near Sucre
Itinerary
In the highest capital in the world, La Paz, at 11,893 feet, we ride the cable car up to a panoramic viewpoint over the city, then descend for a walk around the Casco Viejo (Old Town), where we can visit the unique curandera stalls of the “witches' market.” Traditional Aymara culture is well represented here, seen in the iconic bowler hats, long skirts, and multi-colored shawls of Aymara women. The next day finds us at UNESCO-listed Tiwanaku, the monumental ruin of a pre-Inca culture built at 13,000 feet on the southern shores of Lake Titicaca.
After we explore the cobbled streets of Sucre (9,500'), known as the “White City” for its whitewashed colonial walls, we are welcomed at a family farm for lunch. Our day in the mountain village of Tarabuco, home to the Yampara culture, includes a private lunch with local weavers. Weavings are one of Bolivia's most significant cultural products and the traditions of the Tarabuquenos are strong. In Potosí (13,315'), epicenter of Spanish rule in Bolivia, we'll explore the colonial heritage and spend our nights in a family-owned 16th century hacienda in a countryside setting.
The Salar de Uyuni (11,800') is the largest salt flat in the world. A remarkable hotel—whose walls are made of salt blocks—is our base for exploring this surreal world of multi-colored lakes, shimmering hot springs, bizarre stone formations, snow-capped volcanoes, and panoramic vistas.
On vast Lake Titicaca, we boat to the legendary Isla del Sol, the Incas' “birthplace of the sun,” for hikes to mystical Inca sites and walks through the isolated villages of this island lost in time, with overnights in a welcoming ecolodge. Bolivia has a renowned food scene, and our Farewell Dinner in La Paz is at Gustu, the capital's acclaimed restaurant. Depart on Day 14.
Accommodations
Scroll through our signature accommodations for this trip below. Although it is highly unlikely, we may make substitutions when necessary.
What the Trip is Like
This trip is rated Level 3, Moderate, according to our trip grading system. It features sightseeing with day walks and some long drives, and we enjoy hotel and lodge accommodations throughout the trip. Day 11 is a particularly long day of travel as we fly from the Salar to Uyuni to La Paz, drive to Copacabana on Lake Titicaca, and ferry out to Isla del Sol in Lake Titicaca.
Most of the trip takes place at considerable altitudes, ranging from 12,000-13,315 feet in La Paz to 13,315 feet at Potosi and 12,000 feet in the Salar de Uyuni. Even just a walk up a flight of steps can make you feel a bit breathless. Appropriate time for rest and acclimatization is included in the itinerary, but for your own enjoyment of the trip, we recommend you make a special effort to be in good physical condition. A brisk 30- to 45-minute walk every other day over moderately steep terrain can do wonders for your conditioning. Also be sure to drink plenty of water when you're at altitude, even if you don't feel thirsty.
We are in the high Andes. The days can be brilliantly sunny but nights are always cold at these altitudes. From June through October, you can expect pleasant weather with lots of sunny days and very little rain. In this high altitude realm, daytime temperatures range from a low of around 40°F to a high of 66°F in La Paz, Sucre, and the Salar de Uyuni desert. At times it can be even colder at night, especially in the desert, when it occasionally drops into the teens. Be sure to bring enough warm layers for these nights.
Client Testimonials
"An absolutely perfect itinerary to see the Bolivian Altiplano."
Amy J.
Denver, CO
"This was probably the best-planned and well thought out trip that I have taken with Wilderness travel. Absolutely beyond my expectations."
Carole M.
Versailles, KY
"This trip was a truly wonderful experience! I learned so much and gained a much better understanding of this little-known country—its geography and culture and people. I love the fact that the trip itinerary covered so much of Bolivia's geography—north to south and cities as well as countryside and wild areas."
Cheryl A.
Truckee, CA
"An extraordinary trip! We learned so much about the Tiwanaku civilization, the Inca pilgrimage, colonial times, the salt flats, and more modern Bolivia. And, it is an endlessly fascinating place."
Diane P.
Okatie, SC
"I loved the trip! It was by far my favorite of all of the Wilderness Travel trips I've taken. The topography of Bolivia is beyond comprehension. The lodging was terrific, food was wonderful, and great local guides!"
Joan B.
Highlands, NJ
"This was an outstanding adventure. I learned so much about Bolivia —its people, history, current events, cities, towns, and fabulous copuntryside."
Joe L.
Baltimore, MD
"A wonderful diverse cultural experience."
Julia D.
San Carlos, CA
"Fantastic trip not just for the landscapes, scenery, and wildlife, but as a way to learn so much about the history, culture, and practices of Bolivians. I thought the trip was perfectly organized to give us the most information about the country and to see as much as possible in the Andean region and Lake Titicaca. I would not change a thing about the organization of the trip. Every day was wonderful."
Pamela S.
Culver City, CA
"Words are still failing to capture the awe I experienced on this trip. While Bolivia has vast and diverse regions not touched on by this trip, the design covers Bolivian history, anthropology, ethnography, culture, and huge geographic range. This trip's arc was extraordinary, including the days from Sucre to Potosi. Extending the trip beyond that to explore Bolivia's southwestern regions of salt, sand, and dirt always surrounded by peaks, with all the spectacular natural scenes, was amazing. And closing the trip by going to the other northwestern corner and spending two days on Lake Titicaca was magnificent, for content and range of experience."
Paul M.
Washington, DC
"We loved Bolivia and and by the end of this trip felt enriched by all we saw and experienced. Little things, like eating the breakfast soup the miners ate, gave us a real feeling for the life of the average Boliviano."
Paulette N.
Fort Collins, CO
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Book your trip today
Our Area Specialists know every detail about our tours. They will be happy to answer any questions and help you choose the journey that’s right for you. Contact us to learn more or book your trip today!
Itinerary
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Trip Levels
With more than 200 different adventures to choose from, we want to help you find the trip that’s right for you. Our Trip Level system ranks each trip in two ways: a number rating from 1 to 6 according to the activity, and general travel rigors. 1 is the easiest and 6+ the most difficult—see descriptions below for explanations of each number. A plus (+) sign means the trip is a bit more strenuous than other trips of that level. The detailed explanation of each trip—below the bar with the number rating—is perhaps more important, specifying activities, altitudes, hiking, and travel conditions. The Detailed Itinerary, available by download or mail, gives further information. Our Area Managers can also answer questions and guide you to the trip that best suits your interests.
Level 1 – Easiest
Non-camping journeys, optional walks, little elevation gain or loss.
Level 2 – Easy to Moderate
Hotel nights and/or safari-style camping, hikes of two to four hours on some days. Other physical activities are sometimes included, such as optional sea kayaking.
Level 3 – Moderate
Half- to full-day hikes (3-6 hours) over rolling countryside on most days, occasional steep trails. Many of our hotel-based walking tours are in this category, as are our snorkeling adventures.
- Tuscany & the Cinque Terre
- Argentina: Hikes and Estancias of Patagonia
- Palau Snorkeling & Sea Kayaking
- Some trips with minimal hiking but rugged travel conditions or long drives, such as Tribal Ghana, Togo & Benin, are Trip Level 3.
Level 4 – Moderate to Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-6 hours), mountainous terrain, significant elevation gains and losses (hiking up or down as much as 3,000 feet) on many days. Altitudes no greater than about 10,000 feet.
Level 5 – Strenuous
Full-day hikes (4-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Trips with hiking at average altitudes of 10,000 to 12,000 feet are in this category.
Level 6 – Very Strenuous
Full-day hikes (5-8 hours), mountainous, steep terrain (hiking up or down as much as 3,500 feet) on many days. Most hikes take place at altitudes above 10,000 feet, with some days ascending as high as 18,000 feet.