This, off-the-beaten-path, expedition, takes us from the discovery of the immense and deserted Altiplano to the incredibly luxuriant valleys of the Yungas.
We discover Sajama National Park, dominated by the imposing volcano of the same name culminating at 6542 meters of altitude and the highest point in Bolivia, then the fabulous Salar de Uyuni, world’s largest salt flat, before diving into the region of the Yungas. In this intermediary area where the Andes abruptly fall into the Amazon Basin, the vegetation is now tropical, mango trees replace the “Llareta” and the “Ñandus” transform themselves into Parrots!

Pick up at the airport (flight number and arrival time to be confirmed) and transfer to hotel.
At 2 p.m. we meet at the reception of the hotel for a guided tour of La Paz, city located at almost 4000 m.a.s.l.: Sagárnaga street and its local handicraft market (one of the most famous of South America), the witches’ street, San Pedro's food market, the historical center and the colonial neighborhood.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Meeting in the hotel hall at 9 a.m. for a discovery, in private transportation, of the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located at the bottom of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park (closed on Mondays), on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent takes us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return to the centre at lunchtime. Afternoon open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 9 a.m. in our private vehicle for the archaeological site of Tiwanaku (1h30). Guided tour of the pre-Colombian vestiges counting amongst the most important of the continent. After lunch we continue our route towards Viacha before entering further into the altiplano. In this region infrequently visited by tourists, we discover the real face of Bolivia...
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with host (Basic comfort).

The dirty track (overused by trucks loaded with smuggled goods) leads us to Charaña, a surrealistic border town. At its railway station (today abandoned) took place the famous meeting between the two dictators Pinochet (from Chile) and Banzer (from Bolivia) on February 8th 1975, and where Chile promised to give Bolivia access to the sea. As a consequence, both countries renewed their diplomatic relationships. Three years later, as the promise was never honored, Bolivia broke the diplomatic relations again.
From Charaña, we head south along the Chilean border, steering towards the majestic volcanoes Parinacota and Pomerape. The track is beautiful. We see viscachas, vicuñas, ibis, wild Andean goose and ducks, and even ñandus (a close cousin of the ostrich) if we are lucky.
We enter the Sajama Park at the Huañya Khota lagoon and then reach the natural hot springs, at the foot of the volcano Sajama (el. 6542 m.a.s.l.)
Cold lunch, all included. Night at Doña Teodora’s house, close to the hot springs (basic comfort).

In the morning, we take our 4WD vehicle to pay a visit to the geysers in our 4WD. This particularly active area offers a unique display of bubbling baths spread over hundreds of square meters. We can try cooking eggs in their slightly sulfuric water.
We continue south until we enter the country of Urus following sandy and treacherous dirt roads. After crossing Río Lauca, appear some polychromatic chullpas, the most beautiful of Bolivia (chullpas were tombs of the Aymara lords; pre-Inca time).
We reach the village of Sabaya at the end of the day, after a 4 to 5-hour drive and a strong sensation to be alone in the world the place is so remote.
Cold lunch. All included. Night in shelter (basic comfort).

We leave Sabaya following deserted roads and soon enter the Salar de Coipasa often difficult to cross due to the swampy and treacherous terrain.
We find ourselves at the heart of the wild altiplano, in the middle of an arid landscape, surrounded by volcanoes punctuating the nearby Chilean border...
After circumnavigating volcano Tunupa, we arrive at the village of Jirira, on the edge of the Salar de Uyuni (around 5-hour). After lunch, we follow a dirt road that takes us to the impressive pre-Inca site of Alcaya. There we will see the most preserved mummies of the area as well as a city perched high above the salar, which secrets have not been revealed yet...

In the morning we visit Coquesa, little village on the shores of the Salar, famous for its Chipayas mummies. Then we enter the Salar of Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l), the biggest salt desert in the world. The sensation is unique: the eyes cannot find the horizon anymore and the immensity of the scenery invites us to silence. We stop in the heart of the Salar on Incahuasi Island and on Isla del Pescado (Fish Island). Theses islands, both of volcanic origin, are covered with stromatolites (fossilized bacteria representing the first traces of life on earth) and giant cactuses. Beautiful walks on the Isla del Pescado. The viewpoints over the Salar are mind blowing and great views of volcano Tunupa. Return to Jirira at the end of the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Doña Lupe and Don Carlos’s (basic comfort).

Early departure for our long crossing of the Altiplano (8 to 10-hour journey). On the way we stop at the enormous meteorite crater of Tambo Tambillo. At around noon, we arrive in the village of Challapata, where the dirt road ends and the pavement starts. We follow this road to Oruro. On the way, we skirt the shores of lakes Poopo and Uru-Uru.
At around noon, we arrive in the village of Challapata, where the dirt road ends and the pavement starts.
Lunch on the way (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

Departure at 8:30 a.m. from our hotel in a private 4WD, direction la Cordillera Real. After passing the Cumbre a pass at 4750 m of altitude, the Andes, literally seem to drop below our feet. A few hundred kilometers lower as the crow flies and we are in the Amazonian basin! Welcome to this incredible intermediate region called the Yungas, named after an ancient pre-Incan tribe that used to live on its steep slopes.
We enter in the Unduavi Valley, by a winding and exposed dirt road. As we drive down the twisting road, the scenery becomes more lush, the air more humid and the wind warmer...
All of a sudden, perched on a promontory, appears the shadow of a medieval castle. This building, surely one of the most peculiar in Bolivia, was erected by Paraguayans prisoners, during the Chaco war (1932), to satisfy the whim of the Bolivian president. Lunch at the castle. Recommended hike to the river below.
We get back on the road at the beginning of the afternoon, and follow the river until we reach the village of Puente Villa. We set up camp away from the village, in a green tropical paradise, at only 1200 meters of altitude.
End of the afternoon open. Option to bathe in the river or in the swimming pool or to go for a stroll.
Lunch on the way. All included. Hotel / swimming pool.

Departure at 9 a.m., for a loop in a part of the Yungas unexplored by tourism. A succession of pristine primary forests, coca fields, coffee plantations and orchards punctuate our way. We first pass the village of Villa Aspiazu, paradise for mango lovers. We then head to the promontory of Yanacachi, charming village where the first colonial church of the Yungas was erected. Then we enter the valley of Unduavi, the most beautiful of the region. Once we leave behind the waterfall of «Bridal Veil», named like this because of the mist its water generates, the valley becomes more narrow and we begin our long ascent towards the Cordillera. At this point, we trade our sandals and bathing suit for warmer clothes.
Lunch on the road (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight number and time to be confirmed.