Trekking in the Condoriri Group (Cordillera Real, Bolivia) and Uyuni Salt Flats (ATC 15)

Descrizione del soggiorno

Alloggio

Programma del soggiorno

• giorno 1

  La Paz

  

  Welcome to the city of La Paz. Transfer to your hotel, and on the way we will give a quick briefing on this spectacular tour to Condoriri and the Uyuni Salt Flats.

• giorno 2

  La Paz - Kothia

  

  On this tour, you will be picked up at 08:00 from your hotel. We will drive for about 3 hours from the city of La Paz to Kothia Lagoon, located in the middle of the Cordillera Real. After lunch, we will have time to walk and explore our surroundings, and we should be ready to take pictures of this amazing scenery: snow peaks, colorful lagoons, and old glaciers. Later, we will set up our campsite at 4470 m (14,661 ft.). (B, L, D)

• giorno 3

  Kothia - Ajwani

  

  After breakfast, we start the hike with our team of donkeys and llamas. We cross two passes while enjoying views of Lake Titicaca, the Altiplano landscape, and the mountains of the Cordillera Real, so be ready to take pictures. A box lunch will be enjoyed on the way as we trek towards Laguna Ajwani at 4720 m (15,481). There, we set up camp for the night. (B, L, D) Trekking time: 6-7 hours

• giorno 4

  Laguna Ajwani - Laguna Jurikhota

  

  After breakfast, we start hiking toward our first pass of the day at an altitude of 4920 m (16,137 ft), and then we take our time reaching Laguna Jistaña (4660 m). On the way, we will eat our box lunch, and we will hike toward our second pass at 4900 m (16,137 ft). Then we trek down to Laguna Jurikhota, where we will camp for the night. (B, L, D) Trekking time: 6-7 hours

• giorno 5

  Laguna Jurikhota - Laguna Chiarkhota - La Paz

  

  On this day, we will hike around a beautiful glacier and two lagoons. After a few hours of hiking, we will reach Austria Peak at 5200 m (17,056 ft). From there, we will enjoy magnificent views and observe lagoons, glaciers, and more than 16 snow peaks, such as Condoriri, Huayna Potosi, Aguja Negra, Alpamayo, and Illampu. We will have lunch on our way up. In the afternoon, we will hike to Laguna Chiarkhota and then return to La Paz. (B, L) Trekking time: 8 hours

• giorno 6

  La Paz - Uyuni Salt Flat (Dry season: April-November)

  

  

  

  Transfer to El Alto International Airport to fly to Uyuni. The flight takes about 1 hour, and upon arrival, we will begin this tour by visiting the train cemetery on the outskirts of Uyuni, which displays many abandoned locomotives that are evidence of Bolivia's mining boom era. Then we move on to Colchani, where you can see how and where locals extract and refine salt, as well as visit the kiosks with salt handicrafts. The journey continues until we reach a place where you can observe the "Eyes of the Salt," which are holes caused by the emergence of water bubbles from underground rivers that come from the Tunupa Volcano and other mountains surrounding the salt flat. Once inside the salt flat, we will pass by what was the first hotel built with salt blocks, known as --Playa Blanca--, now converted into a small museum. The journey continues to Incahuasi Island, located in the center of the Uyuni Salt Flat, where you can admire giant cacti and a panoramic view of the entire salt flat and its surroundings. Transfer back to your accommodation. (B, L, D) Optional: (Additional cost) After dinner, you can have a stargazing experience, watching the usually starry night sky of the Uyuni Salt Flat. If the night is clear, we will see dark constellations as observed by ancient cultures that inhabited the region and learn about Aymara beliefs. OR DIFFERENTLY if you are coming during the (Wet season: December-March), the Uyuni Salt Flat is usually flooded, and crossing is forbidden due to travel safety. We will do our best to take you to specific locations along the salt flat margins where you can enjoy impressive water reflections and photograph sunsets and sunrises that make this place one of the best for nature, and walk some distance in shallow waters. At this time of the year, Uyuni is also spectacular for nature photography.

• giorno 7

  Uyuni - La Paz

  

  

  After breakfast, transfer to Uyuni’s airport to fly to the city of La Paz. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and enjoy a free afternoon. (B) Optional (additional cost): Early morning drive to photograph another sunrise (about 04:30 am). Uyuni is one of the best places in South America to enjoy incredible sunrises. Do not miss this last chance before you leave Uyuni. Return to your hotel for breakfast. Transfer to Uyuni’s airport to fly to the city of La Paz. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and enjoy a free afternoon.

• giorno 8

  La Paz

  

  Transfer to El Alto Airport. Prices include: guide (English-Spanish), entrance fees, shared transportation, accommodation (4 nights in a 5* hotel and 3 nights in a tent), sleeping mattress, walking sticks, porters (limited to 10 kilos per person), and meals as described in the itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner). Not included: airplane/bus tickets La Paz-Uyuni-La Paz, single supplement US$ 577.00, sleeping bag, flashlight, personal expenses, alcoholic drinks, sodas, travel insurance, medical insurance, and tips. Notes: Uyuni Salt Flat is 3656 m (11,995 ft.) above sea level. Average daytime temperature is 21°C (70°F). Nights between May and August could get as cold as -9 to 5°C (16 to 41°F). January to March is the rainy season.