Itinerary
- Day 1
Santa Cruz
You'll arrive in Santa Cruz and get transferred to your hotel. After settling in, an afternoon city tour takes you through the historic center where you'll see the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Cathedral Museum, and Prefectural Palace. The Art Museum and House of Culture come next, then you'll head to La Recova craft center and Art field to look at regional handicrafts, textiles, and ceramics made by local artisans.
Included Activities
- City tour of Santa Cruz
- Visit Basilica of San Lorenzo
- Visit Cathedral Museum
- Visit Prefectural Palace
- Visit Art Museum
- Visit House of Culture
- Visit La Recova craft center
- Visit Art field for regional handicrafts
Optional Activities
- Visit Zoological Park with animal kingdom of Latin America
Landmarks/POIs Basilica of San Lorenzo Cathedral Museum Prefectural Palace Art Museum House of Culture La Recova craft center Zoological Park - Day 2
Santa Cruz to Samaipata
Following breakfast, you'll drive toward Samaipata through valleys filled with tropical Amazon landscape. El Fuerte shows you pre-Inca ruins carved directly into living sandstone. Lunch is a typical grilled meal at El Pueblo Resort. Later in the afternoon, Amboró National Park offers a rainforest walk at 1,650 meters/5,413 feet where giant ferns fill the trails. From there you head back to Santa Cruz for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical grilled lunch at El Pueblo Resort)
Included Activities
- Visit Samaipata pre-Inca ruins of El Fuerte
- Walk through Ambor\u00f3 National Park rainforest
Landmarks/POIs El Fuerte Ambor\u00f3 National Park - Day 3
Santa Cruz to Sucre
After breakfast, you'll fly to Sucre, Bolivia's capital sitting at 2,700 meters/8,858 feet altitude. Your guide meets you at the terminal and takes you to Hotel Parador Santa María la Real, an eighteenth-century mansion that's been carefully restored. The afternoon is free so you can rest, adjust to the higher altitude, and wander around this colonial city known as the White City at your own pace.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Walk through the colonial city of Sucre to discover the White City
Landmarks/POIs Sucre Colonial City - Day 4
Sucre
A morning guided tour covers Sucre's main sites including the Cathedral, Casa de la Libertad, and Recoleta Monastery. You'll have lunch at El Huerto restaurant, known for serving the best Bolivian specialties in the city. In the afternoon, the Dinosaur Park on Sucre's outskirts shows recently discovered dinosaur footprints. After that, you return to your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (At the restaurant El Huerto, the best restaurant in the city for Bolivian specialties)
Included Activities
- Visit Sucre Cathedral
- Visit Casa de la Libertad
- Visit Recoleta Monastery
- Visit Dinosaur Park with dinosaur footprints
Landmarks/POIs Sucre Cathedral Casa de la Libertad Recoleta Monastery Dinosaur Park - Day 5
Sucre to Potos\u00ed to Cayara
You'll travel to Potosí, one of South America's most significant Spanish colonial cities at 3,970 meters/13,025 feet. After a short break and lunch, a tour of the historic center includes the Museum of the Mint, colonial streets, craft markets, and notable churches like San Lorenzo with mestizo baroque stone sculptures and San Francisco with remarkable ceilings. You'll also see the Tower of the Society of Jesus and Arch of Cobija before heading about 30 minutes to Hotel Museum Cayara. Following dinner, you explore the museum with its different rooms, colonial architecture, and original period furniture.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (In a typical restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Potos\u00ed historic center
- Visit Museum of the Mint
- Visit Church of San Lorenzo
- Visit Church of San Francisco
- Visit Tower of the Society of Jesus
- Visit Arch of Cobija
- Visit craft markets
- Visit Hotel Museum Cayara museum after dinner
Landmarks/POIs Museum of the Mint Church of San Lorenzo Church of San Francisco Tower of the Society of Jesus Arch of Cobija - Day 6
Potos\u00ed to Uyuni to Colchani
This morning you visit a mine in Cerro Rico to experience how miners work and their traditions, participating in a small ritual honoring the TIO, the mine's deity. Then you continue to Uyuni with a picnic lunch stop along the way. The train cemetery and indigenous village of Colchani come next before checking into Palacio de Sal Hotel, which is built entirely from salt blocks with furniture also made of salt. Dinner and overnight are at the hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic-lunch), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit mine in Cerro Rico (Silver Mountain)
- Participate in ritual for the TIO deity
- Visit train cemetery in Uyuni
- Visit indigenous village of Colchani
Landmarks/POIs Cerro Rico (Silver Mountain) Train Cemetery Colchani - Day 7
Salar de Uyuni (Salt Lake)
After breakfast, you enter the Salt Lake and the white desert spreads out before you. Salt pyramids, salt eyes, and the original salt hotel (now a local museum) are on your route. A typical community lunch called ajtapi, an Aymara word for picnic, is served here. Later you visit Sajchilla island with ancient cacti in this relatively unexplored area. From there you travel to Coquesa at the base of Thunupa volcano and settle into Tambo Coquesa Lodge. The sunset comes with a welcome cocktail made from coca leaves, then dinner and overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Typical community lunch called ajtapi), Dinner
Included Activities
- Explore the Salt Lake (Salar de Uyuni) white desert
- Visit first salt hotel now a local museum
- Visit island of Sajchilla with ancient cacti
- Watch sunset at Thunupa volcano viewpoint
Landmarks/POIs Salar de Uyuni Sajchilla Island Thunupa Volcano - Day 8
Incahuasi to Laguna Hedionda
Breakfast happens at 8:00 am before you head south through beautiful landscapes back to the Salar. Incahuasi island, completely surrounded by salt and rising steeply with giant cacti over 10 meters/33 feet high, shows Casa del Inca in Quechua. You continue to San Juan for views of the active Ollague volcano and local communities. Laguna Cañapa and Laguna Hedionda follow. After checking into Los Flamencos Echohotel and taking a short break, you walk along the lagoon shores where three species of flamingos feed just meters away. Then dinner and overnight at the lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit island of Incahuasi with giant cacti
- Visit San Juan with view of active Ollague volcano
- Visit local communities
- Visit Laguna Ca\u00f1apa
- Visit Laguna Hedionda
- Walk along Laguna Hedionda shores to observe flamingos
Landmarks/POIs Incahuasi Island Ollague Volcano Laguna Ca\u00f1apa Laguna Hedionda - Day 9
Eduardo Abaroa Reserve to Uyuni
You depart before dawn toward Eduardo Abaroa Reserve National Park. Throughout the day you visit Laguna Honda, Charcota, Siloli Desert, Stone Tree, Laguna Colorada with geysers and hot springs, Dalí Desert, and Laguna Verde. On the return to Uyuni, the Valley of the Rocks and authentic villages including Villa Alota, Culpina K, and the mining town of San Cristóbal with its church are included. By evening you arrive in Uyuni, check in, have dinner, and settle for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Eduardo Abaroa Reserve National Park
- Visit Laguna Honda
- Visit Charcota
- Visit Siloli Desert
- Visit Stone Tree
- Visit Laguna Colorada with geysers and hot springs
- Visit Dal\u00ed Desert
- Visit Laguna Verde
- Visit Valley of the Rocks
- Visit Villa Alota
- Visit Culpina K
- Visit San Crist\u00f3bal mining town and church
Landmarks/POIs Eduardo Abaroa Reserve National Park Laguna Honda Charcota Siloli Desert Stone Tree Laguna Colorada Dal\u00ed Desert Laguna Verde Valley of the Rocks Villa Alota Culpina K San Crist\u00f3bal - Day 10
Uyuni to La Paz
After breakfast, you head to Uyuni airport for a short flight to La Paz. Your guide meets you upon arrival and takes you downtown to check in at Hotel Europa or similar. At 3,600 meters/11,811 feet above sea level, La Paz is one of the world's highest cities and Bolivia's largest. The free time afterward lets you explore the historic center, visit handicraft streets, or try the teleférico, a cable car system that's helped with the city's traffic problems.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Walk through the historic center of La Paz
- Visit handicraft streets
- Experience the telef\u00e9rico cable car system
Landmarks/POIs La Paz Historic Center - Day 11
La Paz
A guided tour takes you through La Paz's colonial district and Indian markets. The Valley of the Moon features beautiful limestone geological formations close to the city. You'll experience the modern cable car system and see the city from colored gondolas in a unique way. After lunch, your afternoon is free for whatever activities interest you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided visit of colonial district
- Visit Indian markets
- Visit Valley of the Moon
- Cable car tour of La Paz
Landmarks/POIs La Paz Colonial District Valley of the Moon - Day 12
La Paz to Lake Titicaca to Copacabana
You travel toward Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. Stopping at Huatajata, a small town on the lake's shores, you visit a local museum showing altiplano life and habits. A small cruise takes you to Isla del Sol and Copacabana, crossing the Strait of Tiquina at the lake's narrowest point where it divides into two sections. You visit the islands of the sun and moon, then continue to Copacabana to see the city and its Catholic Church, home to La Mamita, a sixteenth-century wooden statue of the Virgin of Copacabana. After lunch, you return to Huatajata and transfer back to your La Paz hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Huatajata local museum
- Cruise on Lake Titicaca
- Cross Strait of Tiquina
- Visit island of the sun
- Visit island of the moon
- Visit Copacabana city
- Visit Copacabana Catholic Church
Landmarks/POIs Lake Titicaca Huatajata Isla del Sol Island of the Moon Copacabana Copacabana Catholic Church - Day 13
La Paz to Rurrenabaque
Following breakfast, you transfer to the airport for a flight to Rurrenabaque, a small town in northern Bolivia on the Beni River. Known locally as Rurre, it's become the main entry point for Madidi National Park and the Bolivian rainforest. Your hotel transfer includes time to relax, swim in the river or pool with fresh fruit juice. The afternoon is free for activities of your choice.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Optional Activities
- Visit a local ranch to see cattle working activities
- Horseback riding
Landmarks/POIs Rurrenabaque Beni River - Day 14
Rurrenabaque to Madidi Jungle Ecolodge
A motorboat departs from Rurrenabaque toward Madidi National Park, traveling up the Beni and Tuichi rivers for 3 hours with great chances to spot wildlife and see the impressive Amazon landscape including Bala Canyon. You arrive at Madidi Jungle Ecolodge around noon and check into traditional-style cabins. After lunch and relaxing in hammocks, a 3-hour guided hike along Tareche Trail shows bird species like macaws and parrots, plus animals such as white-lipped peccaries, brown capuchin monkeys, and red howler monkeys. You hike along Aguapolo riverbank and return via Wabu Trail. Following a break, dinner happens at the Ecolodge. An optional short night hike afterward lets you experience nocturnal wildlife including amphibians, tarantulas, and the jungle's symphony of sounds.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Motorboat journey on Beni and Tuichi rivers
- 3-hour guided hike along Tareche Trail
- Hike along Aguapolo riverbank
- Return hike via Wabu Trail
Optional Activities
- Short night hike to experience nocturnal wildlife
Landmarks/POIs Madidi National Park Beni River Tuichi River Bala Canyon Aguapolo River - Day 15
Madidi Jungle Ecolodge
After breakfast, a 3-hour hike along Biwa Trail often brings black spider monkey encounters. The natural Madidi scenic viewpoint provides panoramic rainforest canopy views. You return to the Ecolodge via Tareche Trail. Following lunch and hammock time, an afternoon 3-hour walk goes via Mapajo and Almendrillo Trails where the Giant Kapok Tree, Almendrillo Tree, and Strangler Fig Tree appear. Your guide explains diverse plant species used for medicinal purposes. The return uses Dati Trail. After a break, a traditional dinner of Dunucuabi, catfish wrapped in leaves, is followed by free lodge time.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Traditional dinner featuring Dunucuabi (catfish wrapped in leaves))
Included Activities
- 3-hour guided hike along Biwa Trail
- Visit natural Madidi scenic viewpoint
- Return via Tareche Trail
- 3-hour guided walk via Mapajo and Almendrillo Trails
- Learn about medicinal plants
Landmarks/POIs Biwa Trail Madidi Scenic Viewpoint Mapajo Trail Almendrillo Trail - Day 16
Madidi Jungle Ecolodge to Rurrenabaque to La Paz
Following breakfast, a boat trip upstream on the Tuichi River takes you to Serere Trail. You hike through jungle floodplain to Piranha lagoon for piranha fishing, then visit a large recently discovered salt lick to learn about animal behavior. The boat returns you to the lodge for lunch and free time before the 2-hour motorboat journey back to Rurrenabaque. You can optionally visit Caquiahuara to see red and green macaws and other parrot species. From Rurrenabaque, transfer to the airport for your flight back to La Paz where a car picks you up for hotel transfer.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Boat journey upstream on Tuichi River
- Hike via Serere Trail through jungle floodplain
- Piranha fishing at Piranha lagoon
- Visit recently-discovered salt lick
- Return motorboat journey to Rurrenabaque
Optional Activities
- Visit Caquiahuara to see red and green macaws and parrot species
Landmarks/POIs Tuichi River Serere Trail Piranha Lagoon Caquiahuara - Day 17
La Paz
This day belongs to you for private activities. Check out the artisan center or travel on one of the current cable car lines around the city. When it's time, you transfer to the airport for your return flight or move on to continue your adventure elsewhere in South America. Tour services conclude here.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Visit artisan center
- Travel on cable car lines
