Highlights
- Try an Andean cooking class in La Paz and learn about local cuisine
- Drive (or bike!) the infamous Camino de la Muerte
- Discover abandoned trains on the desolate salt flats of Uyuni
- Swim in a hot spring and drive through the vast Dalí Desert
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in La Paz | La Paz |
| Day 2 | La Paz city tour | La Paz |
| Day 3 | Yungas cloud forest | Coroico |
| Day 4 | Tocaña community coca and culture tour | La Paz |
| Day 5 | Salar de Uyuni; Volcán Tunupa | Uyuni |
| Day 6 | Laguna Colorada | Mallcu |
| Day 7 | Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa; hot spring | La Paz |
| Day 8 | Free Day | La Paz |
| Day 9 | Departure |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome to La Paz!
Welcome to La Paz! Situated at 11,942-feet above sea level, Bolivia's capital is considered to be the world's highest. Upon arrival, you will be picked up from the airport and transferred to your hotel. Settle in and acclimate to the thinner air.
Day 2: La Paz City Tour
Today travel across the city in style in La Paz's impressive aerial cable car network, Mi Teleférico. Built in 2014 and consisting of three lines, Mi Teleférico is not only the world's highest urban cable car network but also the longest. Admire city views from on high before visiting lively markets and wandering back streets. Sample local cuisine and participate in an Andean cooking class, fusing traditional Andean foods with western elements.
Day 3: Yungas Cloud Forest
Head out of La Paz through the Bolivian Yungas (from the Quechua word, yunka — a warm area on the slopes of the Andes) on one of Bolivia's most popular attractions: El Camino de la Muerte (Death Road, also commonly referred to as the North Yungas Road). You'll have the choice of a thrilling bike ride along this part of the route or taking a careful drive down. Head northeast from La Paz to climb over the Cordillera Real and descend the eastern slopes of the Andes and into the humid climate of the cloud covered and forested mountainside. Stop along the way in Yolosa for lunch and to visit a local coffee farm before continuing on to Coroico for the evening.
Day 4: Tocaña Community Coca & Culture Tour
Visit the coca-growing community of Afro-Bolivianos in Tocaña. The coca leaf is one of the Yungas region's most important crops and is integral to Bolivian culture. Interact with the cocaleros (coca farmers) and their families and learn about local culture — music, food, and nature. Return to La Paz in mid-afternoon.
Day 5: Salar de Uyuni
Start the day bright and early and drive to El Alto International Airport for a 45-minute flight southwest to Uyuni. Drive straight to Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) where you'll discover the famed (and rusting) train cemetery. Continue on to the salt-harvesting village of Colchani and the surreal Isla Incahuasi (Incahuasi Island). Isla Incahuasi is covered with enormous cacti and surrounded by a sea of salt, making for a surreal landscape. After lunch, drive through the Bolivian altiplano (plateau) to the serene, dormant, and very large Volcán Tunupa (Tunupa Volcano) to hike a short distance. Return across the flats in time for sunset and an evening of incredible star-gazing.
Day 6: Laguna Colorada
Travel through the Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa (Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve). After breakfast, make your way south towards your accommodation in Mallcu. Along the way, you will pass through otherworldly landscapes of geological formations and different colored lakes, most notably Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon). There will be plenty of opportunities to stop and explore the area and take photos of the view and local wildlife, before stopping for lunch. Depending on the time of year and weather conditions, you'll have a chance to see the hundreds of flamingos that inhabit the region. Upon arrival in Mallcu in a region with virtually no light pollution, enjoy the incredible expanse of the starry night sky.
Day 7: Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa
Enjoy your early morning breakfast and optional dip in a local hot spring, a common feature of the reserve. Return north through the lunar landscape of the southern altiplano, traveling through the Desierto Salvador Dalí (Dalí Desert), passing scenery resembling the surrealist paintings of the artist. If time allows, there will be an opportunity to stretch your legs and go on a short hike to explore the area. Reach Uyuni by mid-afternoon and check in for your evening flight back to La Paz.
Day 8: Free Day in La Paz
Spend the day as you choose: wander local markets shopping for artisanal wares, climb the nearby Huayna Potosí Mountain or go on a hiking tour of Palca Canyon.
Day 9: Departure
Depending on your departure details, you will be transferred to the airport accordingly. Adios!
Map
