TAILOR-MADE
SANTA CRUZ | SUCRE | POTOSÍ | LA PAZ | UYUNI | TAHUA
TUNI CONDORIRI | COPACABANA | MON & SUN ISLANDS
14D/13N | Santa Cruz / La Paz | All year round | 2023
Day 1: Santa Cruz
Private transfer from the International airport of Santa Cruz to your hotel. Departure to the small city of Cotoca,. Home of the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Cototoca, deemed “Patroness of Eastern Bolivia”. Cotoca is considered important for its traditional crafts and its restaurants that boast typical food. In fact, you will have the opportunity to discover clay handicrafts which are manipulated and transformed into pots and decorative pieces: a delight for the eyes!
Standard HOTEL: Cosmopolitano, Superior HOTEL: Cortez
Day 2: Santa Cruz – domestic flight to Sucre – SucreAfter breakfast, a transfer takes us back to the airport in order to board a flight to Sucre. Upon arrival, we make our way directly to Recoleta Lookout, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Visit Museum of Indigenous Textile Art. The ASUR Museum of Indigenous Art was created with the intention to organize and promote the confounding and graceful textiles of the Jalq’a and Tarabuco people. Visit the Convent of San Felipe Neri, enjoy a walk on top of these colossal structures for a finer view of the blissful white city.
Standard HOTEL: Villa Antigua, Superior HOTEL: Mi Pueblo Samary
Day 3: SucreAfter breakfast, departure to reach the Town of Maragua, which rests in the heart of the mountains that belong to the Cordillera de Frailes. A true geological gem, Maragua rises to an astronomical altitude of 5,438 meters above sea level and symbolizes the extension of the Eastern Cordillera of the Andes. This excursion will lead you a few meters from Maragua, where you will discover the Devil’s Cave, a place that houses an elegant waterfall. Afterwar admiring these falls, embark on a walk to enjoy this peaceful rural landscape to arrive at the town of Irupampa. On the way to Sucre, stop at the Mirador de Maragua. Return to your hotel.
Standard HOTEL: Villa Antigua, Superior HOTEL: Mi Pueblo Samary
Day 4: Sucre – PotosíAfter breakfast, Departure in a private vehicle to Potosí. Arrive in Potosí an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Depart towards the Cabanias community. On the way, stop at the Tarapaya Lagoon that rests on the hill of Tarapaya. The lagoon has an impressive perfect shape of 50 meters in diameter and is renowned for its interior hot springs and the high-temperature it emanates. Continue your journey to observe the “Chullperios” (tombs from the pre-Columbian era) and the ancient ceramics that are still to this day fully intact. Continue on to the Mondragon Hacienda. Return to your hotel.
Standard HOTEL: Santa Mónica, Superior HOTEL: Coloso de Potosí
Day 5: Potosí - UyuniAfter breakfast, visit the “Real Casa de Moneda” (Mint of Potosí) this institution was instrumental in the development and sustainability of the Spanish Crown. Enjoy the main plaza, Plaza 10 de Noviembre, where you can have a great view of the Cerro Rico, mountain situated at 4,800 m above sea level. Departure for Uyuni.
Standard HOTEL: Jardines de Uyuni, Superior HOTEL: Luna Salada or Palacio de Sal
Day 6: Uyuni – TahuaAfter breakfast, departure to Uyuni. The Salt Flats of Uyuni were once part of a prehistoric inland sea called Lake Minchin, which included most of southwestern Bolivia. Visit and observe the process of extraction and refinement of salt. Visit the Incahuasi Island (Home of the Inca in Quechua) the most important Island in the Salt Flats. Depart for Tahua, a village that rests on the coast of the Salt Flats.
Standard & Superior HOTEL: Tayka de Piedra
Day 7: Tahua – Tunupa Volcano - UyuniAfter breakfast, departure for the village of Coquesa, home to ancient ruins and sacred burial grounds that contained precious ceramic gold and copper artifacts which have been stolen by treasure hunters. Continue onto Tunupa, a dormant volcano situated at 5,321 meters above sea level. Hike the Tunupa volcano until you reach its highest possible viewpoint which is situated at 4, 700 meters above sea level. Ponder the vastness of the Salt Flats of Uyuni and the dreamy ambience that radiates through the entire atmosphere from this beautiful view. Private transportation back to Uyuni.
Standard HOTEL: Jardines de Uyuni, Superior HOTEL: Luna Salada or Palacio de Sal
Day 8: Uyuni – domestic flight to La Paz – La PazAfter breakfast, a transfer takes us back to the airport in order to board a flight to La Paz. Upon arrival, we make our way directly to visit a selection of beautiful viewpoints and lookouts of the city will allow you to observe these infamous landscapes of the serene and chaotic city of La Paz from different elevations and regions. Departure to Jach’a Apacheta (Great Belvidere in Aymara), Killi Killi (named after a native bird), Plaza Murillo and Cathedral of La Paz.
Standard HOTEL: Ritz hotel, Superior HOTEL: Stannum
Day 9: La Paz – Tuni CondoririAfter breakfast, Departure to the Condoriri National Park, the heart of the Cordillera Real that demonstrates its colossal and sharp mountain peaks that were shaped during different glacial periods. This Park is home to one of the most beautiful mountains near the La Paz, the Tuni Condoriri. Arrival at Tuni Laguna then continue hike to the Chiarkota Lagoon (4670m above sea level) which can be reached after 3 hours of walking. Free time to enjoy the spectacular beauty of the landscape and to get carried away with photography. Return to the village of Tuni. Accommodation in the community ecolodge
Standard & Superior Albergue Tuni (comfort simple)
Day 10: Tuni Condoriri - CopacabanaAfter breakfast, depart to Copacabana passing by the Tiquina Strait. The Tiquina strait is a body of water of the Lake Titicaca between two masses of land that is crossed by boat. Arrive in Copacabana. The city is called Kota Kawana in Aymara, which means view of the lake) considered the most important catholic sanctuary in the country. Visit the Copacabana Cathedral. The church was built in 16919 and offers visitors an example of rare Moorish architecture. Inside the cathedral, visitors can observe the historical Virgen Morena (Brown Virgin).
Standard HOTEL: La Cúpula, Superior HOTEL: Rosario del Lago
Day 11: Copacabana – Moon & Sun IslandAfter breakfast, departure to Moon Island (Koati Island) on private motorboat on the blue waters of Lake Titicaca. Visit the ruins of the ancient Inca temple Iñak Uyu, also referred to as the Palace of the Virgins of the Sun, tell the story of a place occupied only by women of the noble caste of the Incas who were dedicated to different artisanal and ceremonial tasks. Depart on boat towards Island of the Sun.
Standard: Small Family Hostal Jacha Inti, Superior HOTEL: Wiñay Inti Lodge
Day 12: Sun Island – Copacabana – La PazAfter breakfast, visit to the Pilkokaina (place where the bird rests) an archaeological site that was once an Incan palace where the Inca would reside. Visit the Sacred Source of Three Waters: This fountain is considered proof of the advanced level of understanding of hydraulics that the Incan civilization possessed. Enjoy an Apthapi, a traditional Aymara ceremony for a collective meal, on the bay Lake Titicaca. Return to Copacabana and La Paz.
Standard HOTEL: Ritz hotel, Superior HOTEL: Stannum
Day 13: La Paz – Coroico – La PazAfter breakfast, departure in the morning to Coroico, based in Nor Yungas, which is about 3 hours from the city of La Paz. Along the journey, one can appreciate the diversity and multifaceted ecosystems that are in between 5000 and 1750 meters above sea level. Arrival in Coroico and subsequent trip towards a coffee cooperative and its facilities of production. Bolivia is internationally recognized as harvesting, producing, and brewing world-class coffee due to effect the altitude has on the harvest. Visit to the coffee processing plant. Return to La Paz.
Standard HOTEL: Ritz hotel, Superior HOTEL: Stannum
Day 14: La PazBreakfast at the hotel. At time indicated, transfer to airport for your flight. Baggage check and passenger boarding.
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