We depart from the hotel at 9 a.m. in a private vehicle. We cross the altiplano until we reach the entrance of Sajama national park (about 4h) via the small village of Curahuara de Carangas and its well-adorned colonial church (the frescoes are perfectly preserved). On the way, we stop by chullpas (carangas sepultures) empty today after their systematic pillaging.
We enter the park by a dirt road that takes us to the village of Tomarapi. The wildlife is abundant and varied: alpacas, vicuñas and ñandus (a close cousin of the ostrich) if we are lucky.
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Tomarapi’s new “Albergue” (comfort of a 2-star hotel).

We leave the Albergue of Tomarapi to follow the base of volcano Sajama towards the North. Around noon, we reach Laguna Huaña Khota where flamingoes mix with the local ducks and wild geese.
A two-hour walk takes us to the Hot Springs, at the base of the volcano, for a relaxing bath.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging at Doña Teodora’s near the Hot Springs (basic comfort).

In the morning, we head 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 then take the direction of the South to 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).
After traveling 4 to 5 hours accompanied by the strong sensation of being alone in this world, we reach the border village of Pisiga at the end of the day. We spend the night in the small village of Colchane on the Chilean side of the border.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

Direction to the North through bofedals inhabited by the llamas of the Isluga Park. We pass the colonial villages of Isluga (el. 3980 m.a.s.l.) and of Enquelga (el. 3850 m.a.s.l.). A narrow dirt road that seem to play hide and seek with the frontier takes us to the Salar de Surire, which received its name from the ostriches that inhabit it (suri in aymara). There, we can spot three varieties of flamingoes, as well as numerous llamas, alpacas and vicuñas (2h30 from Colchane). Lunch break near the Hot Springs. We follow the road, guided by volcano Guallatiri and its sulfuric vapors, across the vicuña Natural Preserve, before arriving, at the end of the day, in the village of Parinacota (about 2h30 from Surire).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).

In the morning, we take a short hike in Lauca National Park. An abundant, very particular fauna inhabits the lunar landscape of the lagunas Cota-Cotani: viscachas, vicuñas, ibises, ducks and wild geese…
Return to Bolivia and to La Paz at the end of the day.
Cold lunch. Dinner open. Hotel ***.