The must-sees of Bolivia: we will have (almost) seen it all!

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 1

  Santa Cruz - Sucre

  

  You take your Santa Cruz - Sucre flight and arrive in the White City, the constitutional capital of the country. A driver will pick you up at the airport. You have the afternoon free to discover the city, its colonial past, its European architecture, and its colorful markets. Sucre is a welcoming and sunny city, where it is pleasant to stroll through the streets and on the terraces, or to enter one of the city's magnificent churches or museums. You spend the night at the Su Merced hotel. Included: domestic flight, arrival transfer, room & breakfast.

• day 2

  Sugar

  

  Our driver picks us up at the hotel at 08:00 to go to Tarabuco in a private vehicle. After about 1h30 on the road (70 km), we arrive in this small traditional village, renowned throughout the country for its weekly market, one of the most famous craft markets on the continent. A colorful and lively market to which the sound of the charango (a small Andean guitar) gives a festive atmosphere. Buyers and sellers come from all over the region in traditional clothing: they wear leather helmets identical to those of the Spanish conquistadors and clothes with lively patterns and bright colors. We then get back in our vehicle to reach Candelaria, 20 km further south (1h on a dirt road). This charming village, located in the heart of "Tarabuco" country—a culture renowned for its textiles—retains all its authenticity and most of its inhabitants speak only Quechua. We share lunch with a family of weavers and visit the small museum accompanied by a weaver, who also opens the doors of her workshop to us. We return to Sucre at the end of the afternoon. You spend the night at the Su Merced hotel. Included: French-speaking guide, lunch, private transport, room & breakfast.

• day 3

  Sugar

  

  We dedicate this day to the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, white Sucre is known for its tranquility, its beautiful colonial architecture, and its many churches. We meet our guide at 9 a.m. in the hotel lobby and set off to discover the city center and its most famous monuments. We start with the Convent of La Recoleta, a lovely white stone building with four patios, founded by the Franciscan order in 1601 and now transformed into a museum. We learn more about the culture of the region and the country in the ethnographic textile museum (ASUR), then visit the Casa de la Libertad. Now a history museum, this is where the independence treaty was signed in 1825. To end the day, we visit the San Felipe Nery monastery, from whose terrace we enjoy a breathtaking view of the city. IMPORTANT: Weekly closure of museums: Convent of La Recoleta, ASUR, and San Felipe Nery monastery - Sunday, Casa de la Libertad - Monday. You spend the night at the Su Merced hotel. Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, room & breakfast.

• day 4

  Sucre - Potosi

  

  We meet Céline, a French woman who has been living in Bolivia for over 10 years. She shares with us her daily life as well as her love for her adopted city, its culture, and its history. We start with a traditional cooking class. We are taken to the city market to buy peanuts, vegetables, meats, and other spices to prepare the famous Bolivian Sopa de Mani. We wander through stalls filled with all kinds of fruits and vegetables. We chat with the caseritas and have a small juice. We then take our places in the kitchen to slice the onions, cook the meat over low heat, blend the peanuts, sauté the vegetables... The secret of the Sopa lies in the noodles, which are toasted before being cooked, and in the llajwa sauce, a spicy sauce that accompanies absolutely all Andean dishes. We leave Sucre (2810 m alt.) in a private vehicle to reach Potosí (3900 m alt.), located 160 km away. We cross the Pilcomayo River via the Sucre bridge, whose architecture is somewhat anachronistic. Further south, this river separates Argentina and Paraguay. We leave the Chuquisaca valleys and gain altitude to climb up to the plateaus of Potosí, where we arrive after about 3 hours of driving. Spanish-speaking driver. The driver is not a guide. Night at the Santa Monica hotel *** Included: French-speaking guide, lunch, private transport, room & breakfast.

• day 5

  Potosi

  

  As in Eduardo Galeano's story, "The Open Veins of Latin America," we are immersed in the reality of this city stripped of its wealth. We interact with the miners and slip into the tunnels of the Cerro Rico mines. Note: The mine visit is possible every day, but the miners do not work on Sundays and activity is reduced on Saturdays and Mondays. Marlène welcomes us and will give us an immersion into her past as a silver mine worker in Potosi, a former source of wealth for the European continent. We have lunch with her relatives, for a true dive into the daily life of these workers from the depths of Cerro Rico, the main mine of Potosi. Overnight at the Santa Monica Hotel *** Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), room & breakfast.

• day 6

  Potosi - Uyuni

  

  We meet our guide in the hotel lobby. As we stroll through the city center of Potosí, we will discover the architectural richness of the many historic buildings that earned it this designation (the city is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site). The colonial city is recognizable for its "Andean baroque" architecture, including indigenous influences, and thanks to the Cerro Rico, which can be seen from kilometers away! We walk the streets of Potosí, also known as the "Imperial City," before entering the Santa Teresa convent, which today houses one of the most important museums of religious art in Latin America. IMPORTANT: The Santa Teresa convent is closed on Tuesdays and Friday afternoons. Departure from the hotel in a private vehicle. We cross the entire Frailes mountain range to reach Uyuni, a small town lost on the edge of the salt flat (3/4 h drive). On the way, stop at Pulacayo, which in the 17th and 18th centuries was the second most important silver mine on the continent. Today, it is a practically abandoned village, where a museum has nevertheless been set up to retrace its former splendor. Arrival in Colchani at the end of the afternoon. Spanish-speaking driver. The driver is not a guide. You spend the night at the Tambo Aymara hotel. Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, private transport, room & breakfast.

• day 7

  Uyuni - Villamar

  

  Departure from the hotel at 09:30 in a private 4x4 for a visit to the train cemetery, on the outskirts of the city. We then head south. On the way, visit several villages, including the model urbanization of Culpina K. Lunch break in San Cristobal where, if it is open, we can visit the rich colonial church. Then, crossing of Rio Grande, an area of vicuñas and ñandus (cousins of the ostrich), and arrival in Villamar at the end of the day. Overnight at Las Piedritas* inn (basic comfort). Included: dinner (excluding drinks), lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, room & breakfast.

• day 8

  Villamar - Siloli Desert

  

  Heading south to reach the Laguna Colorada. Its intense brick-red coloration comes from the presence of phytoplankton that reacts to sunlight. Then, excursion to the Sol de Mañana geysers (4850 m alt.), a volcanic crater with emissions of sulfur vapors and heavy waters. We stop at the Polques hot springs before skirting the Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (so named because the landscapes recall one of the master's paintings). We arrive late in the morning at the Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde, at the foot of the Juriques and Licancabur volcanoes (5960 m alt.), to witness a curious phenomenon: the wind rises and the Laguna Verde then takes on a spectacular emerald green hue. Return to the Laguna Colorada in the afternoon. The track continues through the superb landscapes of the Siloli Desert and its famous "stone tree," where a few viscachas sometimes venture. Cold meal at noon. All inclusive. You spend the night at the Hotel del Desierto. (Availability for double-matrimonial room not guaranteed) Included: dinner (excluding drinks), entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, room & breakfast.

• day 9

  Siloli Desert - San Pedro de Quemez - San Juan

  

  We continue today our exploration of the landscapes of South Lipez… Heading north this morning: we follow the Chilean border along the "route of the jewels" which skirts the Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda, and Cañapa lagoons, sanctuaries for three varieties of pink flamingos. We stop at the viewpoint of the Ollagüe volcano (5868 m alt.). This volcano, still active, is home to one of the highest sulfur mines in the world. We then cross the small Chiguana salt flat, at the foot of the Tomasamil volcano (5900 m alt.). Our day ends after 170 km in the village of San Pedro de Quemez (3690 m alt.). You spend the night at the Hostal Piedra Andina inn. Included: dinner (excluding drinks), entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, room & breakfast.

• day 10

  San Pedro de Quemez - Colchani - Uyuni - La Paz

  

  End of our journey today, we set out to discover the largest salt desert in the world! We will first visit the "Galaxy Cave," whose stalactites seem to be carved from lace. After two hours on the track, here we are on the Uyuni salt flat (3650 m alt.). We drive for about half an hour (34 km) across this immense white expanse to reach Incahuasi Island. This surprising volcanic island, lost in the heart of the salt flat, offers an unobstructed view of the salt desert and the surrounding volcanoes. It is covered with stromatolites and giant cacti (stromatolites are fossilized bacterial colonies, the first traces of life on Earth). In the afternoon, we continue crossing the salt flat: heading east for about an hour and a half (73 km) towards Uyuni, where we will spend the night on the edge of the salt flat. Before arriving, we stop to visit a salt operation and the unique salt hotel built on the surface of the salt flat (closed since 2001). Your driver will take you to the Uyuni bus terminal. We take a night bus towards La Paz. Reclining seats, a small snack, more comfortable than a plane and less CO2 emissions! Included: entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, lunch (excluding drinks), private transport, departure transfer, bus ticket.

• day 11

  La Paz

  

  Your driver will pick you up at the bus station. A breakfast will be waiting for you upon your arrival. We set off for a day of exploring La Paz. We walk through the streets of Sopocachi, heading towards the center, with a short "fresh fruit juice" break at the Sopocachi market and a "salteña" along the way. The salteña is the Bolivians' 11am snack, a small pastry filled with chicken or beef in its juice. The challenge: to eat it, without cutlery, without getting dirty... A mixed and contrasting city, La Paz is the perfect sample of an entire country. From the market district, full of colors and smells, you cross a few streets to find yourself in the heart of the historic district, now a business center. Two worlds that coexist 200 meters apart and whose only common point is the permanent and noisy chaos that characterizes them. We have a coca mate, or some leaves to chew on Sagarnaga. We cross the Mercado de Las Brujas, where we buy a miniature to please the Ekeko, the benevolent god of abundance. Tradition has it that you project all your hopes into the purchase of the coveted miniature object, which will then be ritualized. In the historic district, we take the calle Jaen, one of the last colonial streets in the city, with its cobblestones and colorful houses. We take the time to push open all the doors to discover small inner courtyards, galleries, the museum of musical instruments, and we meet Rosario. She tells us about culture, clothing fashion, traditions, and invites us to try on her many cholita skirts (7 layered, it seems), revealing all their secrets to us. We have lunch at one of the communal tables in the market, among the Paceños. The choice of dishes is rich, and the smells of grilled meat with Aji sauce mix with those of fried foods and other spicy soups. We go to El Alto by cable car, flying over houses as far as the eye can see, peeking above inner courtyards, terraces where traditional clothes and dance costumes are drying... On the cliffside, shamans are perched, leading offering ceremonies to Pachamama. Shall we venture to one of them to have our coca leaves read? We go back down through the general cemetery. Far from being scary or sad, this unique cemetery is lively, colored by large mural paintings and decorated by the families of the deceased. Here, death is celebrated: people sing, dance, and make offerings to honor their departed loved ones. This visit allows us to better understand Bolivian culture regarding its dead. We then pass through Calle de Los Andes, the street of carnival costume makers, shops, and tailors. You could watch for hours the meticulous work of the Diablada mask makers. Further down, towards the market, you find custom-made hats, all kinds of jewelry, and cholita skirts. For dinner, we will provide you with a list of restaurant suggestions, of all styles. In Bolivia, we are lucky to have varied and quality food, and you eat well. It's simple, here products from the Amazon, the Yungas (tropical fruits and vegetables), products from the Altiplano (potato, quinoa, llama), meat from Beni, and products from Lake Titicaca all come together. The meal can be accompanied by a good local wine from Tarija with a high-altitude grape variety. Night at hotel Naira***. Included: private transport, breakfast, entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, lunch (excluding drinks), buffet breakfast, room.

• day 12

  La Paz - Copacabana - Yumani

  

  On the way to the largest navigable lake in the world (8,560 km² shared between Peru and Bolivia)! At an average altitude of 3,800 meters and surrounded by snow-capped mountain ranges, Lake Titicaca is known for its islands full of traditions and history. We leave La Paz by private transport to reach Copacabana, the main Bolivian municipality on the lake's shore. To get there, we follow the lake and the Cordillera Real for 155 km (about 3h30 by road) and, shortly before arriving, cross the Strait of Tiquina by ferry. We board a lancha heading to the Island of the Moon. We will take the opportunity to bring some supplies to this small isolated island, inhabited by about fifty families. Isla de la Luna is the second sacred island of the Incas, after Isla del Sol. There you can find the ruins of the Iñak Uyu palace, reserved for the Virgins of the Sun, the ñustas, chosen from the noblest families of the Empire. During their stay on this island, they received the education that would allow them to become future priestesses. Dona Esperanza welcomes us to her home, with her big smile, in the small houses she renovated with her husband. Originally from the shores of Lake Titicaca, on the "mainland", she moved to the Island of the Moon for her husband, who is from this 91-hectare island. She learned to live at the rhythm of the place, whose secrets she knows and will share with us. We will be able to discover her plantations and the different plants of the island, including muña, a medicinal herb, a kind of peppermint that grows between 3,000 and 4,000 m altitude and apparently relieves just about everything. At noon, we share an Apthapi with Esperanza and the village neighbors. It is a lunch where everyone contributes to the meal and we share our dishes. We will be able to share the fresh cheese and bread we bought when leaving La Paz. When the morning's fishing is good, Esperanza brings trout from the lake, accompanied by delicious vegetable fritters. Then we head to the Island of the Sun and the southern part. We disembark at the Inca site of Pilkokaina, a former Inca palace. We spend the night in the village of Yumani. You spend the night at the Ecolodge La Estancia hotel. Included: private transport, picnic basket, dinner (excluding drinks), entrance(s) to site(s) mentioned in the program, French-speaking guide, room & breakfast.

• day 13

  Yumani - Copacabana - Tuni

  

  The Island of the Sun is the largest on the lake. It is also the one that houses the most temples and sacred places. Finally, it is a place steeped in legends, still very present in the minds of its inhabitants. After walking the small paths between the temples, with views of the lake and the mountains, we return to Copacabana and the mainland. Departure from Copacabana by private transport. We follow the shores of Lake Titicaca and the Royal Cordillera to Tuni (4h). You spend the night at the Ecolodge Tuni refuge. Included: picnic basket, French-speaking guide, Spanish-speaking local guide, private transport, dinner (excluding drinks), room & breakfast.

• day 14

  Tuni

  

  We spend two days welcomed by the Quispe family. Jaime and Marisol host us at their home in Tuni, an Aymara hamlet at 4400 m altitude, inhabited by about ten families. Ancestral Aymara traditions are still very present here, and the Tuni community is committed to keeping them alive and sharing them. No staging, no costumes: the Quispe open their doors to us and let us live with them for a few days, in all simplicity, with the Pachamama at the center of beliefs and offerings. You spend the night in the Tuni eco-lodge inn. Included: all inclusive, local guide, room & breakfast, French-speaking guide.

• day 15

  Tuni - La Paz

  

  We let ourselves live to the rhythm of the Cordillera. We follow Vicky to the village school. Why not try an Aymara language class? The transmission of ancestral traditions also takes place through the teaching of this language, still spoken in the villages. We then volunteer as kitchen assistants with Denys and Marisol. The specialty here is Huatia, a dish cooked in an oven dug into the earth. One of the main foods is chuño, a dehydrated potato. On the Altiplano, the soil and climate only allow some communities to harvest potatoes once a year. As a preservation method, the Andean people use a dehydration process during the coldest months to extract the starch from the potatoes. The taste is... peculiar, but the method is ingenious and it would be wise to learn the technique. We take part in various tasks depending on the season and needs: making straw mattresses to be sold in the area, collecting animal droppings for fuel in the houses. Shearing the llamas is a real challenge, a bit physical, with the first challenge being to immobilize the animal. With the spun wool, we can learn weaving and making warm clothes, which are highly appreciated in the mountains. We hit the road towards La Paz. Overnight at the Naira*** hotel. Included: local guide, lunch, room & breakfast, French-speaking guide, private transport, buffet breakfast, room.

• day 16

  La Paz - El Alto Airport

  

  Your driver will pick you up at your hotel and take you to the airport. Included: departure transfer.