Fascinating Bolivia

Morning: Tour of Copacabana (3,840m/ 12,595ft): You will be picked up from the Copacabana Bus Terminal (We recommend Titicaca Express leaving Puno at 06:00 a.m. and arriving at 10:00am)

Upon arrival to Copacabana, you will visit the Basilica, an imposing white building with Arabic touches, decorated with Portuguese-style blue tiles, and topped with dazzling, multicolored domes. Inside is the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Copacabana — a statue carved in the 15th century that is said to be responsible for several miracles. Local legend says that if the statue were to be removed from the Basilica, Lake Titicaca would rise and flood the town in anger. You will also have the option to walk the 12 Stations of the Cross, a Catholic tradition in which every Easter, devotees imitate the path that Jesus walked on his last day in Jerusalem. You will have an hour and a half to explore the town at your own pace, taking in the beautiful architecture, nearby Lake Titicaca, and the breathtaking view from the top of Calvary Hill. You may also run into a Yatiri (shaman) in the street, known for doing spiritual cleanses called challas, reading fortunes with coca leaves, and carrying on the traditions of the native Aymara culture.

Afternoon: In the afternoon, you will take a boat to Pilkokaina- the legendary birthplace of the Inca Empire located on the southern part of Isla del Sol. Upon arrival, we will visit the ruins of the Incan Palace of Pilkokaina, the Stairway of the Inca, and the Inca Fountain, an important ceremonial and spiritual site thought by the Spanish to be the Fountain of Youth. We will then return to Copacabana (1 hour), hop on the bus, and head to your hotel in La Paz (4-5 hours). You should arrive in La Paz around 6:00 p.m.

Evening: Free.

Staying in La Paz: LP Columbus (2 stars), Rosario (3 stars), La Casona Boutique (3.5 stars), STANNUM (4 stars).
Includes Lunch.

Morning: Half-Day Tour of La Paz and Moon Valley (Optional, not included in the original price):

Today, we will visit some of the most popular places in La Paz. This includes the popular artisanal market located in Calle Sagarnaga, and the Witches Market (Mercado de las Brujas), where you can find medicinal herbs, home remedies, and other fascinating ingredients used in Aymara rituals. The tour will continue on to the Basilica of San Francisco (museum fee not included) and Murillo Plaza, where you can find the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace, the Government Palace, and the National Congress building. Afterward, you can visit Jaén Street, one of the last colonial-era roads left in historic downtown La Paz. Along its cobblestone walkway, you will find many museums, bars, restaurants, and shops selling all manner of different things. Next, we will take you to Plaza España where you can hop on the cablecar towards the southern end of the city and appreciate its beauty from the sky with breathtaking views of Obrajes, Calacoto, and La Florida, several of La Paz’s most beautiful neighborhoods. Finally, you will visit Moon Valley with its otherworldly rock formations, and you can also stop by the house of famed Bolivian potter, Mario Sarabia. This should take about 4 hours, and then back to your hotel.

Afternoon and Evening: You will be picked up from the hotel lobby by a chauffer and taken to the bus terminal. The overnight bus to Uyuni leaves at 21:00 and lasts approximately 10 hours.

Dinner and the next morning’s breakfast will be served on the bus.

Morning and Afternoon: Uyuni Salt Flats (Full Day): You will be picked up from the Uyuni bus station at 7:30, and taken to TIKA, a restaurant in Jardines de Uyuni Hotel, where you will have a brief rest until the tour starts at 10:00 a.m. Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat in the world with an area totaling more than 12,000 square km (7,455 sq mi). One of the many amazing sights in Uyuni is the train graveyard, a place full of abandoned locomotives from the 19th and 20th century. You will have time to explore, so don’t miss out on this great photo op! You will also visit the town of Colchani, where you’ll have a chance to witness an artisinal salt-processing plant. You will see how salt is collected, dried, and turned into the stuff you put on your table everyday. You can even buy some of this unique salt yourself! And don’t miss the ojos de sal, holes in the salt flat where water seeps out from underground springs, and the “salt mountains,” where salt is dried in the sun after its extraction.

The next stop will be Incahuasi Island (also known as Isla Pescado), located in the middle of the salt flats, famous for its giant cactus which can grow to over 10 meters (32 ft.) in height! Lunch will be served on the salt flat for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. You can also use the unique landscape of the salt plains to take fun photos, playing with proportion and perspective. Show them to your friends and they’ll be sure to get jealous!

Note: Incahuasi Island cannot be visited during the rainy season.

After lunch, you will head north to the slopes of Tunupa, a nearby volcano, to visit Pucara Ayque, a Pre-Colombian fort and the mummies within. You will also have a chance to watch the sunset over the plains before heading to the bus terminal to board the night bus back to La Paz. The bus will leave at 20:00 and arrive at 6:30 the following morning.

Meals: Breakfast (on the bus), Lunch, & Dinner (on bus)
NUMBER OF PASSENGERS: 01 – 12

COST PER PERSON (in US$):

CHAUFFER + GUIDE, WITH A 4X4 FOR UP TO 5 PPL IN UYUNI, ROOM AND PRIVATE BATHROOM

OPTIONAL (in USD):

NOTES:

(1) You are responsable for all of the fees and extra charges that your bank, or any intermediary bank, charges while abroad, or for payments or transfers made to businesses in other countries.

(2) Price includes hotel accommodations based on single / double / triple occupancy.

(3) In general, the boats in Lake Titicaca fit 1 to 3 people and do not have a bathroom. A private boat fits 4 or more people and has a bathroom. Each trip lasts about one hour.