This exceptional tour takes you through the Bolivian Altiplano from north to south, from Lake Titicaca to Laguna Verde, via Sucre and Potosi and ending with San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. It’s an explosion of colors and fabulous landscapes that unfold before you! You also meet lamas and local communities and you visit the most beautiful archaeological and colonial sites. It’s a trip that will stay with you forever.
Lake Titicaca
The journey begins from Puno in Peru, on the edge of Lake Titicaca before going to Copacabana, the Bolivian side of the lake. First of all, you go to the Island of the Moon aboard an aliscafo, a kind of local canoe, to visit the temple of Las Vírgenes del Sol Iñak Uyu. If you climb to the top of the ruins you can admire the Cordillera Real and the Nevado Illampu, which reaches an altitude of 6,368 m. It’s the 4th highest peak in the country. You sail on the lake and then disembark on the Island of the Sun, at the foot of the Sol Pilcocaina temple. Enjoy a whole day on the island to visit its every nook and cranny. Stroll through the small port of Japapi and Kuna Bay, along the lake, with a view of the entire lake. Also take the opportunity to taste the famous trout of Lake Titicaca!
After making the most of the highest freshwater reserve in Latin America, you head to the archaeological site of Tiwanaku. Tiwanaku means City of the Sun in the Aymara language. The Tiwanaku culture is said to be at the origin of the Huari civilization and that of the Incas. In addition to visiting the archaeological site we also recommend visiting the Convencional Museum which presents ceramic pieces, metals and textiles and the Lítico Museum which complete the visit.
Day in La Paz
A day in the city of Nuestra Señora de La Paz is enough to see the essential features of the city center. Walk through Murillo Square where the government palace and the cathedral are located. Stroll along Jaén street which has preserved its colonial architecture. Visit the pretty church of San Francisco. Wander in search of new flavors and smells in the Wizards’ Market before heading to Mercados & Tambos which is full of fruits and vegetables. You can also visit the Museo Etnografia y Folklore or the Precious Metals Museum. Be sure to go to the Kili Kili viewpoint to get an overview of the city. To reach the viewpoint we advise you to take a taxi and get there at sunset.
Stay in the “white city”
Sucre is so nicknamed by the color of its dazzling white colonial buildings. After lunch you leave to explore the city. You start by going to Plaza 25 de Mayo surrounded by sumptuous buildings, such as the Basílica menor de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. You can go to the Santa Barbara Hospital, a baroque building, to Bolivar Park where a small Eiffel Tower proudly stands. You can also visit the Casa de la Libertad and the Convento de San Felipe de Neri. It’s a route on the roofs of churches which offers you a 360º view of the city. If you find yourself in Sucre on a Sunday, go to the traditional market in the small village of Tarabuco. Continue your tour of the city via La Recoleta square and go to the ASUR textile museum which introduces you to the different ancestral weaving techniques of the Chuquisaca region.
For this second day in Sucre, you board a 4×4 towards the Los Frailes mountain range and the village of Punilla with the Chataquila chapel. You go hiking on part of the Inca Trail, it is mainly downhill to the Maragua crater. In the heart of the crater, after 45 minutes of walking, you arrive at the small village of Maragua. During this hike you enjoy the environment around you. You walk between geological formations of different colors, ocher and blue earth. You also get to know the Maragua and Irupampa communities dedicated to agriculture and the manufacturing of traditional fabrics.
Potosi
You leave Sucre and take the road that takes you to Potosi. On the way we recommend that you make a stop at Castillo de La Glorieta. Also take a detour to Cayara, an agricultural valley bordered by multicolored hills. When you arrive in the city we suggest you visit the miners’ market. This is the first step in your mining exploration. You will have the opportunity to enter a mine, in the bowels of the Cerro, for 40 minutes you will discover the activity of the miners, their working conditions and their traditions. This is not recommended for the most claustrophobic. Potosi is also well known for its colonial buildings and baroque churches. Tarija Street will capture your attention, it is the most beautiful in the city. You can take a tour of the roofs of the Convento de San Francisco. Climb up to the Company of Jesus viewpoint where a splendid view of Potosi unfolds before you.
On the way to Uyuni
You leave for the town of Uyuni, on the way take a small detour to the West via the small village of Colchani. On the road, you pass through breathtaking landscapes and small villages. You pass through the quinoa fields and you begin to see the salt that covers the riverbeds announcing the proximity of the Salar de Uyuni.
After a good night’s sleep you set off to explore the largest salt desert. You first pass through Ojos de Agua or Ojos del Salar before going to Incahuasi Island in the heart of the Salar at 3,761 m above sea level. Then go to the Coquesa village, where you find yourself on the slope of the Tunupa volcano. Before reaching your Tahua stopover, take a short detour to the small fortress of the Ayque village.
This time straight ahead, from north to south, head towards the hamlet of Aguaquisa to discover the Galaxias caves. Take advantage of your stopover in San Juan de Rosario to visit the small archaeological museum and explore the Hispanic Necropolis. After crossing the Salar de Chiguana you begin the route of jewels, a natural border with the Chile. It’s a string of lagoons, each one more beautiful in color than the other, that appears before you.
The road to the jewels
Your journey begins with a visit to the Sioli desert with the very famous Arbol de Piedra. Take the time to stop at Laguna Colorada located at 4,278m, you will be amazed by the pink color of its water. Another track takes you directly to the Sol de Mañana geysers at an altitude of 4,870 m. You can swim in the thermal waters of Polques on the edge of the Salar de Chalviri. You continue your crossing of the Salar de Dali and you arrive at the magnificent Laguna Verde at the foot of the Juriques and Licancabur volcanoes. After that you cross the Chilean border and reach San Pedro de Atacama.
San Pedro de Atacama
Stroll through the small colonial village of San Pedro de Atacama through its cobbled streets to discover local crafts. The village is an excellent base for exploring the region. It is the gateway to visiting the Atacama Desert and its geological wonders. If you have half a day or more, take the opportunity to go to the Cordillera de Sal with the Valley of the Moon and the Valley of Death.
You end your trip in Santiago which you can visit before taking your international flight.
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