Bolivia is a jewel…
Located at the heart of South America, and still difficult to access even today, Bolivia has preserved its culture and strong traditions. It is also an inestimable natural treasure. From the Amazonian Basin to the highest summits of the Andes, the whole range of ecosystems is represented.
We discover Amboro National Park and its immeasurable wealth, the immense and deserted Altiplano, and Lake Titicaca and its legends, before finishing the expedition in the Amazonian Pampa. The fauna that we meet along our peregrinations is exotic: toucans, Howling monkeys, capihuaras, ñandus, vicuñas, marabous, tapacarés…
On our way, we also visit the important Bolivian Colonial historical sites: the imperial cities of Sucre and Potosí, witnesses of a sumptuous past.
What a beautiful place Bolivia is !!

Airport pick up (flight ? at ?) and transfer to the Hotel..
Once settled in the hotel, we leave for the Güembé Park, 15 minutes away from Santa Cruz. This beautiful park of 35 acres where we find tropical forest and lagunas with crystalline water, hosts the World’s largest butterfly aviary as well as a collection of Orchids. Short guided visit of the premises (aviary, butterfly reproduction laboratory, Orchid Temple, Termite Castle…) then rest of the day open. Options to bathe or to hike on nearby trails. A real Paradise!
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure at 8:30 a.m. for the Forest of Amboro Park, where we can observe a few species of giant ferns found nowhere else in the world (Dicksonia Sellowiana and Alsophila Incana) as well as many wild orchids varieties.
Excursion on foot to the Volcano Shelter / animal spotting. Option of a swim in the waterfalls near the refuge.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Night in the Volcano shelter (12 people max).

Transfer by vehicle To Bermejo
Return to Santa Cruz at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. Dinner open. Hotel.

Private transfer from the hotel to the airport 2 hours before take off. Flight Santa Cruz – Sucre (time depending on the days of travel). Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. End of day open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

9 a.m. departure by private 4WD for the village of Chataquila (el. 3726 m.a.s.l.) and its charming chapel sheltering the Virgin of the same name (1-hour drive). Then descent on foot by the beautiful Inca trail to Chaunaca (6 km / about 1 ½-hour hike – no guide). We return to our vehicle to reach the heart of Maragua crater.  We take our lunch in a cave near a waterfall. On the way back to Sucre an unforgettable bath awaits us in the middle of the cordillera, followed by a stop at the Mirador de Maragua from where we can contemplate the crater in full and at the Mirador de Sucre from where we view the whole city. Arrival in Sucre towards 5 p.m.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel.

We meet in the hotel hall at 9 a.m. for a guided visit of the colonial city registered as a World Heritage city by UNESCO. Amongst others: ethnographic textile museum (ASUR), Casa de la Libertad (closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays), Recoleta convent, cathedral and San Felipe Nery monastery…
Departure from the hotel at 4 p.m. with our private vehicle. We cross the peculiar Río Pilcomayo Bridge (further south, this river separates Argentina and Paraguay). We then leave the Chuquisaca Valleys for the high plateau of Potosí (el. 4100 m.a.s.l.) where we arrive at the end of the day (3-hour; paved road).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

We dedicate this day to the discovery of Potosi, nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
At 9 a.m., we meet in the hotel lobby to visit the mines of Cerro Rico where we can meet miners in their environment. In the afternoon, we visit the Casa de la Moneda (closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays), where the Spanish minted the coins for the crown until the 19th century.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Private 4WD expedition from Potosi to Uyuni / Spanish-speaking driverDeparture from the hotel at 9 a.m. in a private 4WD. We cross the Frailes Mountain range to reach the village of Uyuni, a small town lost on the shores of the Salar (5 to 6-hour drive on a dirt track). On the way, we stop in Pulacayo, small town that was the second largest silver mine of the continent, during the 19th century. Today, it is practically a ghost town, where we can nonetheless visit a museum telling of its glorious past. Arrival in Uyuni at the end of the day.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel.

4WD expedition from Uyuni to Uyuni.
We depart at 9:30 a.m. to visit the train cemetery on the outskirt of town. We then head south. On the way, we visit various villages, including the modern urbanization of Culpina K. We have lunch in San Cristobal where we can visit the beautiful colonial church if it is open. We then cross Rio Grande, area home to numerous vicuñas and ñandus (of the ostrich family) and arrive in Villamar at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host in Villamar (basic comfort).

We head south for Laguna Colorada. . This laguna owes its intense red-brick color to the presence in its water of millions of shellfish Artemia, well studied by scientists for their incredible adaptability in saline areas. We keep heading south for an excursion to the Sol de Mañana Geysers (el. 4850 m.a.s.l.) a volcanic crater from which escape sulfuric fumes and heavy water. We then stop for breakfast in Polques before skirting Laguna Salada and crossing the Dali Desert (named after the scenery reminiscent of one of his paintings). We reach the lagunas Blanca and Verde, at the foot of volcanoes Juriques and Licancabur (el. 5960 m.a.s.l.) at the end of the afternoon. Curious phenomenon: when the wind picks up, the waters of Laguna Verde change to a spectacular emerald color.
Return to Laguna Colorada at the end of the afternoon.

Cold lunch. All included. Night in shelter (basic comfort).

We head north through the magnificent landscapes of the Siloli desert and its famous “Arbol de Piedra” (Stone Tree) where we may be able to spot some viscachas. We then skirt the Chilean border following the “Route of the Jewels”: lagoons Ramaditas, Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda and Cañapa, a sanctuary to 3 different types of flamingoes. We stop at the viewpoint of volcano Ollague.  This active volcano hosts the world’s highest sulfur mine.
The track then drops from around 4200 meters above sea level to 3600. We cross the small Salar de Chiguana at the foot of volcano Tomasamil (el. 5900 m.a.s.l.) before arriving in the village of San Juan where are located the spectacular mummies of the “Lipez Lords” (1200 A.D.).

Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

A 2-hour trip from San Juan will take us to the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.). We stop on the touristy Island of Incahuasi, in the heart of the Salar (the Island is of volcanic origin and covered with stromatolites and with giant cacti)
We then cross the Salar all the way to its Eastern extremity. On the way we visit the Salt Hotels (Closed since November 2001) and the salt exploitation of Colchani.
Departure for Oruro by bus at 8 p.m. This comfortable bus is direct to La Paz. You have the option to take a shower for a small fee before departure. Arrival in La Paz at 7:30 a.m.
Reception and transfer to the hotel, available upon arrival.
Hotel.

Arrival in La Paz. Afternoon open to visit the highest capital city in the world.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” 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 Jach´a Apacheta Mirador, on the edge of the precipice of the city of El Alto. Then we go to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, 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 leads 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 limestone formations.
In the afternoon our vehicle brings us back to the City Center and drops us off in the heart of the colorful and animated Andean market of La Paz. Return to the hotel on foot, accompanied by our guide.

Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

Departure from the hotel at 8 a.m. in our private vehicle.  We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real to reach Copacabana (3 ½-hour drive).
A motorboat takes us to the Virgin of Lourdes fom where our trek on the village of Yampupata starts. A boat awaits us there to take us to the nearby Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun) (1-hour crossing). In the village of Cha´llapampa we visit the little museum of Marka Pampa before admiring the sunset over the Cordillera Real.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).
Note: During the following 2 days a boat will be at our disposal to transport the group as well as the gear during the walks.
Hiking time: 5h ; Elevation gain: +250m/-250m

In the morning, we climb to the ruins of Chincana (“the labyrinth” in Aymara) and the sacred rock of the Puma, from where God Viracocha created his son Manco Capac, the first Inca. A very nice hike following the crest takes us to the village of Yumani at the Southern point of the island. We then go down the 500 steps of a stone staircase to the pier of the “Fuente del Inca”. A short hop by boat takes us to temple Pilkokaina, built by the Inca Tupac Yupanqui for his pilgrimages on the Isla del Sol. Our boat then takes us back to Copacabana (1-hour crossing), where our vehicle awaits us to take us back to La Paz.
Cold lunch. Dinner open. Hotel.
Hiking time 3-4h ; Elevation gain: +450m / -450m

Pick up at the hotel for a private transfer to the airport (morning or evening depending on the day of the week). Flight La Paz – Rurrenabaque (1h). Pick up at the Rurrenabaque airport and transfer to the hotel
End of the day open in the capital of Beni.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel.

In the morning, we follow a local foot-path to search for the sicuri, the famous anaconda that can reach a length of up to 12 meters and live to be a hundred years. During this hike, we can also see some capihuaras (the biggest rodent in the world), tapirs (if we have a lot of chance) and discover medicinal plants, still in use by the local inhabitants.
In the afternoon, we leave for another canoe or motorboat excursion. Upon return to camp, we can safely bathe in the Yacuma River in company of the Bufeos (pink dolphins) populating the almost totality of all the waterways of the great Amazonian basin

Cold lunch. All included. Night at the Eco lodge.

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.