Highlights
- Float down a jungle river on a traditional log raft
- Explore the native culture of sacred Lake Titicaca
- Stay in an indigenous community and learn about traditional handicrafts
- Catch glimpses of caimans, anacondas, pink river dolphins, and other wildlife
- Experience the Amazonian River basin
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in La Paz | La Paz |
| Day 2 | Discover La Paz on a City Tour | La Paz |
| Day 3 | Explore Lake Titicaca & Copacabana | Isla del Sol |
| Day 4 | Visit the Community of Santiago de Okola | Santiago de Okola |
| Day 5 | Hike in the Hamputuri Valley | La Paz |
| Day 6 | Canoe to Madidi National Park | Madidi National Park |
| Day 7 | Spot Birds in Madidi National Park | Madidi National Park |
| Day 8 | Go on a River Safari | Las Tortugas Eco-Lodge |
| Day 9 | Spot Wildlife on a Guided Excursion | La Paz |
| Day 10 | Depart Bolivia |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in La Paz
Welcome to Bolivia! Today you'll have your breath taken away (literally!) at 12,000 feet (3,658 meters) above sea level in La Paz. A colorful jumble of tradition and modernity where cholitas (Bolivian women in typical dress) travel in the world’s most modern urban gondola system, this one-of-a-kind city is a travelers' favorite. Spend the rest of the day settling in and adjusting to the altitude. Venture out to a restaurant in the evening to get your first taste of traditional Bolivian cuisine.
Day 2: Discover La Paz on a City Tour
Today you'll have time to explore the popular Witches' Market, where you can purchase medicinal herbs, and visit the San Francisco Cathedral, one of the oldest cathedrals in the city. You’ll see the main square, Plaza Murillo, continuing onward to the southern neighborhoods and a fascinating geological anomaly called Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) because of its bizarre, moon-like surface. You will also have a chance to participate in an Andean cooking class at a local culinary school. End the day with a cable car ride, taking in panoramic views of La Paz.
Day 3: Explore Lake Titicaca & Copacabana
Get an early start this morning, leaving La Paz to head toward sacred Lake Titicaca. On the way, you will pass through El Alto, the second-largest city in Bolivia. Then you will travel through the altiplano, or high plain, and eventually reach Lake Titicaca, where you'll enjoy incredible scenery and see small farms and fishing villages. Stop for a picnic lunch on your way to Copacabana, a small lakeside village with indigenous origins and important Incan ruins. Go for a stroll around town before you walk down to the beach to catch a ferry out to the island of Isla del Sol, your final destination today.
Day 4: Visit the Community of Santiago de Okola
In the morning, explore the island on a short but beautiful hike. Then you will board the ferry once again for a trip to the farming and fishing village of Santiago de Okola. This village operates a small, community-based agritourism project, and visitors are welcome to stay and learn. You will be welcomed by the community members, who will host you in their homes and show you their way of life. Go for a hike around the nearby mountain ridges after touring the community buildings and participating in a weaving workshop. In the evening, enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal and sit by an open bonfire under a magnificent star-filled sky.
Day 5: Hike in the Hamputuri Valley
Go for an early morning walk along the shore of Lake Titicaca before your departure. After breakfast with your host family, hit the road for the trip back to La Paz. In the afternoon, go for a guided hike in the Hamputuri Valley or go on a culinary tour of the city, sampling unique Andean ingredients and cooking styles. You might sample a sanduíche de chola (pork sandwich), cuñapé (cheesy bread), or if you're feeling especially adventurous, anticucho (a skewer of beef heart with potatoes).
Day 6: Canoe to Madidi National Park
Today you'll fly from the highlands of La Paz to the heart of Bolivia's Amazon Rainforest (make sure to get a window seat for the best views!). You will land in Rurrenabaque and meet your guide for a quick overview of the next part of the trip. Then you'll board a canoe and paddle along the Beni and Tuichi Rivers toward Madidi National Park, one of the most biologically diverse places in the world.
Around noon, you will reach the eco-lodge and meet your hosts, members of the Tacana indigenous group. Enjoy a delicious lunch with tropical fruit juices before venturing out into the rainforest for a guided hike. You'll learn about native uses for plants: here, they're used for everything from medicine to building materials. As the sun sets and you head back to the lodge, keep your eyes open for wildlife—you may spot a monkey or two. When you close your eyes tonight, you'll relax to the nighttime sounds of the surrounding rainforest.
Day 7: Spot Birds in Madidi National Park
You will get an early start this morning for your excursion to the Cliff of the Macaws, one of the best places in Madidi National Park to view macaws, parrots, and other colorful birds. From the hiking trail, beneath towering trees, you'll enjoy spectacular views of the Amazonian Basin and the rivers that flow through it.
Afterward, go on a rafting adventure down the Tuichi River. You'll help your guides to build a traditional log raft, then float downstream for a couple of hours toward the eco-lodge. In the late afternoon, relax in the colorful hammocks by the water's edge.
Day 8: Go on a River Safari
Get another early morning start today, returning to Rurrenabaque. From here, head to the town of Santa Rosa, situated in the grasslands of Beni Pampas, and look around for wildlife. You might spot sloths, anteaters, and exotic birds. From Santa Rosa, you will travel by boat down the Yacuma River to another eco-lodge. In the afternoon, after checking into the lodge, you'll go out on a river safari. Cruise through the forests that line the jungle waterways: they're home to hundreds of animal species. This is a wonderful opportunity to see caimans, capybaras, turtles, and the unique freshwater Amazonian pink river dolphin.
Day 9: Spot Wildlife on a Guided Excursion
Early risers will love this morning in the rainforest. Wake up at dawn and listen to the sounds of the jungle — howler monkeys and birds are the loudest, but you will hear other animals and birds, too, if you listen closely. Return to the lodge for breakfast and then head back to the Yacuma River for a short hike and another wildlife excursion. This time, you'll be on the lookout for anacondas, caimans, turtles, and capybaras. In the afternoon return to Rurrenabaque and catch a flight back to La Paz.
Day 10: Depart Bolivia
Thanks for visiting Bolivia! You'll head to the airport to catch a flight out today. Safe travels!
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