Enchanting Bolivia

La Paz is the pulse of Bolivia and sits at an elevation of almost 12,000 feet. It claims the distinction of being one of the highest of the world’s cities. The extreme altitude here can be tough on visitors. The group will combat this by taking it easy and acclimating slowly. Your guide will meet you at your hotel in La Paz and give you an overview of the city and the activities of the week ahead. You’ll have your first evening free to explore the area just around your hotel before enjoying a nice dinner with the group.

The group will kick off the first full day in Bolivia with a bird’s-eye view of La Paz. You’ll board cable cars on the city’s teleferico, what La Paz residents use to get around the city high above the traffic. They also provide an unparalleled view of the city skyline and surrounding Andes Mountains. 

After your tour of La Paz from above, the group will head back down to street level to explore the capital city a little closer. Your guide will take you to Calle Jaen, a colonial part of La Paz with a rich history stretching back to the 18th century. You’ll spend the rest of the afternoon exploring the city’s colorful markets and snacking at its many cafes.

The group will head back to the airport this morning to board a small plane. Your destination today will be Uyuni, home of the world-famous Bolivian salt flats. A guide will lead the group on a thorough tour of the salt flats which have the appearance of stretching on into infinity. The group will stay in Uyuni for the night and enjoy dinner together in a local hotel.

You will board a bus this morning to travel three hours north to Potosi. This city has a rich history and served as one of the most important cities during the colonization of South America. Once the group arrives, you’ll have the day to explore Potosi at your leisure. There are many important colonial sites here: you might opt to visit Convento Museo Santa Teresa, Cathedral de la Ciudad de Potosi or Torre de la Compania de Jesus.

Another short bus trip will deliver the group to Sucre today. Sucre (Spanish for “sugar”) is nicknamed the “White City” because all of its buildings share the same exterior whitewashed walls and red-orange clay shingle rooftops. Your day will start in Plaza 25 de Mayo, the city center with a central fountain. There are shops, restaurants, cafes, galleries, and significant buildings lining all sides of the plaza. After a morning of exploring the surrounding area and a quick lunch, the group will tour the Casa de Libertad, a museum preserving the history of the country during the period from colonization to independence. After your visit to the museum, you’ll also tour Castillo de la Glorieta and spend the rest of the afternoon in Parque Bolivar before boarding an overnight bus headed for Lake Titicaca.

The group will spend the day today at Lake Titicaca, where your guide will accompany you on a boat tour before leading a hike up to the Inca Observatory, which offers an unparalleled view of the lake and Incan ruins to explore. After a full day at the lake, the group will take another bus for the overnight journey to Juliaca, Peru.

You’ll be up early this morning to catch a commuter flight from Juliaca to Lima, Peru. The group will have time for one last hearty South American-style breakfast before departure. Your guide will get you to the airport in plenty of time to make your connecting flight in Lima.