Charms from Bolivia 10 days

Puno – Sun Island – La Paz – Sucre – Potosi – Uyuni Salt Flats

1. Titicaca Lake – Highest navigable Lake in the World!
2. La Paz – will take your breath away!
3. UNESCO World Heritage: Cities of Sucre & Potosí, Ruins of Tiwanaku
4. Uyuni Salt Falts: over 12.000 km2 pure salt! Largest Salt Flats in the World!

• Duration: 10 days
• Arrival: Daily
• Departure: Daily
• Destinations: Salta, Humamahuaca, Uyuni, San Pedro de Atacama, Moon Valley.

DAY	DESCRIPTION	MEALS	OVERNIGHT
Day 1	Puno / Copacabana / Sun Island	—	Copacabana
Day 2	La Chincana – Moon Island – Cable car ride – La Paz	(B) (L)	La Paz
Day 3	City Tour and Valley of the Moon (Half Day)	(B) (L)	La Paz
Day 4	La Paz – Sucre	(B)	Sucre
Day 5	Sucre City tour	(B)	Sucre
Day 6	Sucre – Potosi – City Tour	(B) (L)	Potosi
Day 7	Mine in Cerro Rico – Potosi – Uyuni	(L) (D)	Uyuni
Day 8	Salt Flats Uyuni	(L) (D)	Uyuni
Day 9	Colchani – Uyuni – La Paz – Tiwanaku	(B)	La Paz
Day 10	Flght to you nex Destination	(B)

Breakfast (B)

Lunch (L)

Dinner (D)

Day 01: Puno – Copacabana – Sun Island

Trip by private transport from Puno with a wonderful view of Lake Titicaca along the route (3 hours) until Copacabana (3 ½ hours), a pleasant town in the shores of Lake. Visit to its church and the famous “Virgen Morena”. Trip by boat crossing the Lake to the Island of the Sun (1 hour) until Huacani to have an Aptapi (typical lunch in the highlands), this trip continues by boat up till to the ruins of Pilkokaina Inca temple Finally hike to La Estancia with a wonderful view of Lake Titicaca (1 hour approximately).

Day 02: La Chincana – Moon Island – Cable car ride – La Paz

DON’T MISS A GREAT SUNRISE! Boat to La Chincana (1 hour), to see this great Inca ruins, continue in boat to the Moon Island, visit the Iñak Uyu ruins (1 ½ hours), boat to Copacabana (1 hours). Transportation to La Paz (3 ½ hours). with very nice views of the Andes Royal Range. Cable car (Teleférico) from El Alto city to La Paz one, the ride is a good choice to discover an excellent and beautiful view of La Paz. This trip is a must for everyone!

Day 03: City Tour and Valley of the Moon (Half Day)

A four hours city tour through La Paz, elected as one of the 7 wonder cities in the world. It is located in a valley at the foothills of the Andes Range, situated at 3,632m / 11942 ft. above sea level.

The tour goes through the street markets rich in handicrafts, weavings and witchcraft artefacts, followed by a visit to the colonial part of the city, San Francisco Church, Gold Museum, Murillo Square and the outdoor replica of Tiwanaku temple. Then descending to the more modern, southern part of La Paz to reach and visit the Valley of the Moon, where a clay mountain has been impressively shaped by erosion.

Day 04: La Paz – Sucre

Transfer to the airport for taking flight to Sucre. On arrival transfer to the hotel.

Day 05: City Tour (Half day)

Sucre is the capital of Bolivia; this charming colonial city lies at the head of the valley at 2700 meters high. It’s a very interesting tour which includes the visit of Casa de la Libertad, where the Act of Independence of Bolivia was signed in 1825; Bolivar Park, to see examples of the aristocratic tradition in Sucre with small replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the Arc of Triumph of Paris; the church and museum of La Recoleta, and the museum of Indian Textiles ASUR.

Day 06: Sucre – Potosi (by private car) – City Tour (Half day)

Early departure from Sucre by private transport, in a 3 hours trip by an amazing road starting in the valleys at 2,759 masl / 9.020 ft. reach Pilcomayo river and see Puente Arce (a pending bridge used in past), go up to the to the highlands at 4,060 masl /13.320 ft, and reach the famous colonial mining city of Potosi.

P.M. Visiting Potosí is a journey back in time through traditional colonial streets and the artisan market; the famous Mint House, San Francisco church and the front of San Lorenzo church that has one of the greatest examples of stone carvings of the baroque-mestizo style.

Day 07: Mine in Cerro Rico (Half day) – Potosi – Uyuni (Private car)

This unique excursion allows the visitors to experience an unforgettable trip hundreds of meters underground, to see the living and working conditions of the Bolivian miners (protective clothing and helmets are provided). The silver mine is in the famous Cerro Rico, once the richest of the world.

Later, an amazing trip starting in Potosí passing through great branches of the Andes range, with lots of colors, erosion and cactus, near the villages of Chaquilla and Tika Tika, and the famous Pulacayo tin mine. It ends in the village of Uyuni (3 to 4 hours), before a big train maintenance and workshop center, now growing a lot due to tourism of Uyuni salt flats and the region.

Day 08: Salt Flats Uyuni (Full day)

Departure from Uyuni to the great salt flats; visit on the way, the train cemetery where the remains of 19th and 20th century steam locomotives are. stop in Colchani as this is the best place to observe the methods of salt extraction; next to Incahuasi Island (known as Fish Island), this is an oasis with a unique and isolated ecosystem that is populated by giant cactus up to 10 meters high. Then, north to the mummies of Pukara de Ayque. Finally, at appropriate time go back to Uyuni village.

Day 09: Colchani – Uyuni – La Paz – Tiwanaku

Transfer from Colchani to Uyuni’s airport to take a flight back. On arrival to La Paz meeting at the airport to take a tour to Tiwanaku ruins, they are at 1½ hours drive from La Paz (72 km/45 miles), throughout which the highlands are passed and the Aymaran way of life can be seen. Tiwanaku dating back to 1580BC – 1200AC, was one of the most important pre-Inca civilizations and considered to be among the most developed at the time. The main constructions visited during this tour are: Kalasasaya temple and the Gate of the Sun constructed out of stone, Ponce and Fraile monoliths; the Akapana pyramid and the semi-underground temple. Two local museums to view pottery, stone work and learn about the culture are also included on this trip.

Day 10: Transfer to the airport

Pick-up from hotel and transfer to the airport. Ascending to El Alto, there will be a nice view of La Paz.

Included:

• Services and meals included as mentioned in the program
• English speaking guides
• Include all the entrances fee and contributions
• Accommodation as mentioned in the program

Not included:

• Anything not listed in the program
• Tips

• Additional for TKT La Paz – Sucre: USD 99.- net per person (price subject to change without previous advice)
• Additional for TKT Uyuni – La Paz: USD 170.- net per person (price subject to change without previous advice)

Other hotel categories at request.

Local guides will be provided. TC throughout the route at request.

To reach the Ecolodge La Estancia will have a smooth walk of an hour and a half, and to leave it there is walk down od half of an hour.

Museums in La Paz, Sucre and Potosí close on Saturdays and Sundays in the afternoon and all day on Mondays.

Rainy season: (November to April) Roads might be in bad shape. Uyuni Salt flats are flooded. Access to Pucara de Ayque or Incahuasi might be difficult or impossible. Program might have to be changed due to these reasons.

As roads Uyuni Region are not paved, we will use 4×4 cars, each one with a maximum of 4 passengers. To avoid high costs, guide and / or TC will go in the back part of the cars if it will be necessary.