Plan Your Trip
While most travelers to Bolivia set out to visit its famed Uyuni salt flats, only a minority ever ask, “What else is there is to do in Bolivia.” Few realize how “colorful” this country really is, though it offers a rich culture, contrasting landscapes, and unique wildlife. In fact, a tour of Bolivia is great for those who would like a taste of a “compressed version” of the continent.
You might be surprised to find out what this country has to offer, so let’s take a look.
On this “rooftop of the world” tour, you will visit the highest capital in the world: colorful La Paz. As the nation’s largely indigenous population has preserved its native languages and much of its traditional way of life, many of these cultural expressions are concentrated in the capital, making La Paz a fascinating and exciting destination that shouldn’t be missed. On a three-day city tour of vibrant La Paz, you will find this to be a captivating introduction to the country that has retained the most authentic indigenous character in all of Latin America. Wander through Witch’s Market, which though “spine-chilling,” is definitely an element of the nation’s culture. Also, make sure you try the coca tea and empanadas! Just make sure you get them before noon.
You’ll then proceed to world’s highest navigable lake: Lake Titicaca, where you can visit traditional Aymara villages on the lakeshore and on Sun Island. By the way, the traditional lodging here is great for immersing yourself in the culture of this sacred lake. The silence you “hear” at night, the moon reflecting on the water, and the mystery of the ruins that surround the lake all become intertwined, filling you with the humble joy of these “little” details.
After encountering this spectacular lake, enchanting colonial towns and bustling markets of the highlands, your Bolivian Amazon tour beings. Yes… you might not realize it, but the Amazon extends to cover part of Bolivia. As a matter of fact, more than half of that country is rainforest. You will spend three days deep in the rainforest – paddling your canoe through tropical rainforest rivers while sighting varieties of otherworldly birds, exotic mammals and lush plants.
During this tour, you’ll also discover the arid and inhospitable landscapes of the Salar de Uyuni salt flat, the expansive salt flat that covers an area the size of the island nation of Jamaica! Just imagine yourself in the middle of this vast white-and-blue land. The solitude you will feel will be different from that you would have felt in Titicaca. This is wonderful; a unique, real and moving experience of a phenomenon of nature that seems to have plopped down from nowhere.
While these are the “highlights” of Bolivia, we aren’t finished yet. At other points along the way, you’ll discover the whitewashed architecture of the city of Sucre, the silver mines of Potosi, fine wineries, specialty coffee and unique culinary experiences that will deepen your Bolivian experience even more.
For the thrill of exploring and the satisfaction of discovering this quintessentially Latin American country, we invite you to consider the Surtrek “All Points Bolivia” travel experience.
“We had an absolutely amazing trip! Surtrek coordinated a Galapagos Cruise on the Natural Paradise yacht and then a stay at the Napo Wildlife Center. Everything was beyond our expectations!! I highly recommend Surtrek.”
Upon your arrival at the airport or bus station in the Bolivian capital — La Paz — you will be welcomed by our guide, who will explain the program and itinerary prepared for you. Then the guide and driver will take you to you and the other travelers to your hotel. Once all of the passengers have checked in, we will have dinner there at the hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel Casa Grande, or comparable hotel
Very early, after the passengers have had breakfast, our guide and driver will pick up the passengers and drive to the city of Copacabana, a three-hour drive. Copacabana is situated on a peninsula of the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca. Before reaching Copacabana, we will cross the Strait of Tiquina on board local barges, which will also carry our vehicle over the water. Once in Copacabana, we will take a walk around the town to get a sense of the mysticism and deep religious sentiments still held by the population. After our tour of Copacabana, we will travel by boat to the south side of Sun Island, where we will have lunch. The excursion on this beautiful island will be guided by our staff, who will lead us to a panoramic viewing site where the passengers will also find their hotel (dinner included).
Accommodations: Hotel La Estancia, or comparable hotel
After getting up early, and once the passengers have had breakfast, our guide will lead us back to Copacabana. On the bank of the lake, our driver will be waiting to take us to La Paz. We will once again cross the Strait of Tiquina, and have lunch along the way. Finally, reaching the La Paz airport, we will fly to the Bolivian rainforest town of Rurrenabaque, the gateway for visits to Madidi National Park. Upon our arrival in Rurrenabaque, the local guide will direct you to your hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel La Isla de los Tucanes, or comparable hotel
After spending a restful night in Rurrenabaque, our guide will lead passengers to a port on the river to take our boat to the Chalalan Eco-lodge, in Bolivia’s Madidi National Park. This trip down the Beni and Tuichi rivers takes approximately 5 hours, during which time you can marvel at the incredible landscapes as we pass through the Bala Canyon and tropical rainforests while sighting varieties of exotic birds, mammals and plants. Disembarking at the port of Chalalan, we will hike for 25 minutes along the Jaguar Trail to reach the Chalalan Eco-lodge, where passengers will be welcomed with a delicious Amazonian lunch. In the afternoon, you will go on a thematic tour which will explain how natural resources are used by local people, and how these resources of the jungle are obtained. We will return to the lodge by paddle canoe, observing various species of birds and monkeys on the way. The tour culminates with a dinner and an evening stroll to appreciate the wildlife of the area.
Accommodations: Chalalan Eco-lodge, or comparable hotel
Once the passengers have breakfast at the eco-lodge, we will go on a tour of the Tapacare Trail, where our guide will explain the characteristics of the rainforest ecosystem and its natural wealth. After returning to the lodge for lunch, we will continue with a visit to a breathtaking lookout point where you can appreciate Lake Chalalan and the vastness of the Madidi National Park. To finish the day, members of the indigenous Quechua-Tacana people will demonstrate some of their customs and rituals, accompanied by music and traditional drinks. Afterwards, you can enjoy a traditional dinner served buffet-style.
Accommodations: Chalalan Eco-lodge, or comparable hotel
We will get up early to see more wildlife as we conclude the program at Chalalan Eco-lodge. Travelers will have lunch before noon and then make their way back to Rurrenabaque. After three hours on the river, we will disembark and be driven to the airport for our flight back to La Paz. Once back at the La Paz airport, waiting for you will be your guide and driver, who will drive you to your capital city hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel Casa Grande, or comparable hotel
At the scheduled time, we will drive to the airport and board a flight to the expansive Uyuni salt flat. After landing, we will immediately proceed to the great Salar de Uyuni. The world’s largest salt deposit — covering more than 10,500 km2 (4,000 sq. miles) — it is roughly the same size as the island nation of Jamaica. We will also stop in the town of Colchani to visit artisanal salt processing plants, then piles of salt and the Ojos del Salar. From there we will head to Incahuasi Island, situated in the middle of the Salar and spectacularly populated by giant candelabra cactuses.
Accommodations: Hotel Luna Salada
You will be picked up from your hotel this morning to continue the adventure in the Salar de Uyuni. Today we will visit the mummies of Kaka, the Llama Museum and piles of salt, stopping for lunch at the Salt Hotel.
Accommodations: Hotel Luna Salada
Early in the morning, you will be driven to the city of Potosi, climbing up from the temperate valleys to reach the Bolivian highlands. After arriving and settling in at your hotel, we will immediately head out on a city tour: walking through the main square and then going to the “Royal Mint,” where indigenous people and black slaves used to mint coins with silver mined from the local hillside. We will then wander through the adjacent streets to discover and admire facades of the most outstanding buildings, such as the church of San Francisco and San Lorenzo, in addition to masterpieces of baroque art in the city. In the afternoon, we will visit the mining market and then stop at a mine in the bowels of Cerro Rico (“Rich Hill”) where miners still worship the devil Tio (“Uncle”) Oscar, the master of all the riches in the interior of the earth.
Accommodations: Hotel Hacienda Cayara
This morning we will begin our trip to the city of Sucre, which is the constitutional capital of Bolivia and a UNESCO-declared “World Heritage Site.” Reaching the city this afternoon, we will walk on the rooftop of the San Felipe Neri convent. From there, we will meander through the main square, around which you will discover the Cathedral and the Casa de la Libertad, where the document marking the country’s independence was signed. Later, we will visit the museum of the ASUR Foundation, which preserves the textile art of the indigenous Jalq’a and Tarabuco communities; and later visit the Recoleta lookout point, which allows for a great view over the city.
Accommodations: Parador Santa Maria La Real, or comparable hotel
Following breakfast at your hotel, you will be driven to the Sucre airport for your return flight to La Paz, where you will have the rest of the day free to explore the city.
Accommodations: Hotel Casa Grande, or comparable hotel
After breakfast, we will visit the “Valley of the Moon,” the product of erosion onto ancient sedimentary formations. Later, returning to town, we will take a La Paz city tour: walking around the main square where the government palace and the Plurinational Assembly of Bolivia are located. You will also visit the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore to see an interesting collection of indigenous masks, textiles and feather art. Continuing on to the popular Las Brujas (“Witches”) market, you can buy any and every magical remedy you need to cure ailments of the body and soul.
At the scheduled time, you will be driven to the Laz Paz airport for your flight back home.
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