Assaulting the Andean summits in Bolivia

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  France – Santa Cruz - transfer to Sucre, 2,750 m

  Arrival in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, to take a connection to the white city of Sucre. Welcome at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, possibility of a walk around the hotel: Bolivar Park, Palace of Justice, central market. This will be an opportunity to meet the local Bolivian population. Day to acclimatize to the altitude. Night at the 3* hotel.

• day 2

  Sucre – Tarabuco – Sucre by private car

  

  ONLY ON SUNDAYS. Departure around 9:00 am by private car to the small village of Tarabuco, famous and very unique thanks to its traditional indigenous Sunday market. There, bartering still exists as a system of trade, practiced by its inhabitants in typical clothing, which makes it a one-of-a-kind place. Here, Quechua is spoken more than Spanish… Tarabuco is a traditional place for textiles, each of which tells a stage of family life, the community, and important events that took place during the year. Return to Sucre and free walk in the city center of the white city. Night at the 3* hotel.

• day 3

  Sucre city walking tour - Potosi

  Day dedicated to visiting the white city, also called the city of Sucre. Visit of La Recoleta, the Asur textile art museum, Plaza de Armas 25 de Mayo, and the terraces of the San Felipe de Neri convent. At the end of the afternoon, departure for Potosi by private car. 3-hour journey: you will be able to admire very beautiful landscapes thanks to an ascent from 2,750 m to 4,060 m. Check-in at the hotel. Night at 3* Hotel

• day 4

  Potosí - 4060 m

  In the morning, visit to the mining market, then access to the mine in the "Cerro Rico," where you will meet the Tio, the "devil," to whom the miners ask for protection to work without accidents. You will have the opportunity to talk with the miners who currently work in conditions similar to those at the end of the colonial period. In the afternoon, visit to the Santa Teresa convent, where you can observe the influence of the Catholic Church in European life during the colonial era. Then, you will visit the roof of the San Francisco church. From its tower, you will have a unique view of the city and its emblematic Cerro Rico. Night 3* Hotel

• day 5

  Potosí – Uyuni

  After breakfast, visit to the Casa de la Moneda, a very important place in the history of Humanity. It was there that the silver coins were minted, which were then sent to the old continent. In the different rooms, you will discover elements that can awaken our sensitivity to the work and life of the slaves, natives, and Spaniards of the time. Around 12:30 pm, departure by bus towards Uyuni. You will be able to admire the Cordillera de los Frailes, areas of llama breeding, and potato plantations. Magnificent mountain landscapes with various shapes and colors. Arrival in Uyuni and transfer to the hotel. Night at 3* Hotel

• day 6

  Uyuni – Salt Desert – Coquesa 3,600 m by private 4x4

  Departure around 10:30 am in a private 4x4 jeep. Visit to the train cemetery, a place where steam engines that transported minerals from the mines around Uyuni to the Pacific ports are found. Next, you will visit the village of Colchani, where the population works with table salt and makes artisanal works out of salt. Immediately after, entry to the Salar de Uyuni (12,000 km² in area), visit to the salt eyes, the salt hotel, and finally, arrival at Inca Huasi Island. Walk up to the island's viewpoint, a strategic vantage point over the giant cacti, more than 1,000 years old. Unforgettable and unique view of the salt desert. In the afternoon, you will continue the journey to the Aymara village of Coquesa. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 7

  Coquesa – ascent to the Thunupa volcano viewpoint – San Juan by private 4x4

  

  Early in the morning, departure to observe the dawn at the salt desert. The 4x4 will pick you up at 6:00 am from the hostel to reach the salt desert and enjoy an incredible view of the dawn. Return to the hostel for breakfast. At 8:30 am, departure by 4x4 to the access point for the Coquesa Mummies, at the foot of the Thunupa volcano. Visit the mummies and climb up to the volcano viewpoint. A good part of the ascent is done by 4x4. After the box lunch at the viewpoint, descend to the village of Coquesa to head back to the salt desert to take photos, then exit through the south of this magical place to finally reach the Aymara village of San Juan. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 8

  San Juan – Laguna Colorada - 4,300 m - Eduardo Abaroa Park by private 4x4

  

  After breakfast, departure towards the far south of the Altiplano, a region producing quinoa, the Andean superfood. Then, you will cross the Chiguana desert and visit the chain of lagoons, making a stop in particular at the height of the Cañapa and Hedionda lagoons, where you can observe a large population of pink flamingos, vicuñas, and some predators such as the Andean fox. After the meal, you will discover the Silala desert and the emblematic stone tree. Finally, you will enter the Eduardo Abaroa reserve, with a visit to the viewpoint of the Laguna Colorada. Overnight at the hotel.

• day 9

  Laguna Colorada – Laguna Verde – Uyuni by private 4x4 - La Paz by plane

  At 6:30 am, departure from the refuge towards the Sol de Mañana geysers at 4,850 m, a volcanic crater that emits sulfur vapors and boiling mud. Next, you will pass by the Polques thermal baths, the Dali desert, and the green lagoon at the foot of the Licancabur volcano, a natural border with Chile. You will leave the Eduardo Abaroa reserve, pass through the small village of Villa Mar, discover the Valley of the Rocks, and in the distance, you will see the most important open-pit mine in Bolivia, San Cristobal. In the late afternoon, arrival in Uyuni. Transfer to the airport to take the flight to La Paz. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Night 3* Hotel

• day 10

  La Paz – Tiahuanaco – La Paz

  

  Departure at 7:30 am towards the archaeological site of Tiahuanaco, a place of great cultural importance of pre-Inca origin, where you will visit the museum and the pre-Columbian archaeological site. View of the Gate of the Sun, discovery of the Monoliths, semi-subterranean temple of Calasasaya, etc. Return to La Paz at the end of the afternoon Overnight at a 3* hotel.

• day 11

  La Paz – Copacabana – Isla del Sol by tourist bus and private boat

  Departure from the hotel early in the morning by tourist bus towards Copacabana. Arrival around 12:00 pm, our team will be waiting for you so that you can have lunch. Around 1:30 pm, you will board a private boat heading to the north of the Island of the Sun. Visit of Chincana, the sacred rock, and the sacrificial table. Finally, you will walk to the village of Challapampa. View of the sunset from the surroundings of the village. Night at the 3* hotel.

• day 12

  Isla del Sol: Challapampa – Yumani

  

  Departure from Challapampa for a hike along the ridge of the island to the village of Yumani, in the south of the island (about 3h00). Visit to the Fuente del Inca and the Inca steps. You can watch the sunset from the southern ridge of the island, in the Aymara village of Yumani. Overnight at a 3* hotel.

• day 13

  Isla del Sol – Yampupata - Copacabana – La Paz

  Early departure from Yumani by private boat to Yampupata to begin a hike along Lake Titicaca (about 3 hours). You will pass through the villages of Sicuani, Titicachi, Chañi, and Alto Kusijata. Arrival in Copacabana, visit of the Basilica and its Morena Virgin, or India Virgin. Possibility to attend the car baptism ceremony, a syncretism of Catholic and pagan beliefs. Around 1:30 pm, you will take the bus towards La Paz. Arrival around 5:30 pm and transfer to the hotel. Night at the 3* hotel

• day 14

  La Paz walking city tour - 3660 m

  Breakfast and departure from the hostel at 9:00 am. Visit to the San Francisco church, the historic center, the Plaza de Armas, the Government Palace, the old quarter of the city, Jaen street, Camacho avenue, Rodriguez market, and the witches' market. Night at the 3* hotel.

• day 15

  La Paz – Huayna Potosi Base Camp - 4700 m

  Departure around 7:30 in the morning towards the small community of Mario Lloco, from where you will start the hike of approximately 5 hours to the Huayna Potosi base camp, where you will spend the night. During the journey, you will be able to enjoy very beautiful views of Huayna Potosi and its 6,088 meters of altitude. Night in a refuge.

• day 16

  Huayna Potosí Base Camp – Campo Alto Refuge - 5,130 m

  Breakfast before leaving for a trek of about 3 hours to the Campo Alto refuge, at an altitude of 5,130 meters. Free afternoon to rest before the next day's ascent, as well as to enjoy the unique setting of these isolated places. Night in the refuge.

• day 17

  Campo Alto Refuge – Huayna Potosi Summit - 6,088 m – La Paz

  

  Wake up at midnight to have breakfast and prepare the equipment. Departure at 1 a.m. towards the summit of Huayna Potosi, snack distributed before departure. Arrival at the summit between 6:00 and 8:00 a.m. You must be at the summit at this time in order not to take risks once the sun is in the sky. Return towards the Campo Alto refuge before the thaw begins due to the sun. Descent for about 4 hours to the refuge, then 1 hour to the base camp. Return to La Paz at the end of the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel. Free time at the end of the day to rest. Night at 3* Hotel

• day 18

  La Paz – Coroico

  

  Departure from La Paz by private transport. You will climb up to nearly 4,500 meters in altitude before starting the descent. Several stops are planned at spectacular points to allow you to take unforgettable photos. After 2 hours of descent, you will arrive at 1,200 meters, then you will climb again to 1,750 m, to the village of Coroico. Arrival at the hotel, rest while observing the impressive tropical landscape. Night at the 3* hotel.

• day 19

  Coroico – La Paz

  In the morning, walk through agricultural land used for the production of coca leaves, a traditional crop since the dawn of time. Lunch and return by private transport to La Paz. Night at the 3* hotel.

• day 20

  La Paz – Valley of the Moon – Cable Car – El Alto – La Paz

  

  Departure by public transport to the Valley of the Moon, a spectacular area sculpted by nature, with formations reminiscent of lunar landscapes. 2-hour walk. You will then reach the lowest area of the city, which is also the most westernized. There, you will take the modern cable car, the highest in the world, for the Irpavi – El Alto City route: 35 minutes to go from 3,250 to 4,100 meters in altitude. Walk through the city of El Alto and descent by public transport to La Paz, passing through popular neighborhoods perched on the slopes of the city. Night at the 3* hotel

• day 21

  La Paz out – place of origin – plane

  Depending on the time of your flight, transfer from the hotel to El Alto airport, to take the flight to your city of origin.