Embark on a Journey of Untamed Bolivia: A True Adventurer’s Dream

When you venture into a land less traveled, the rewards are extraordinary—Bolivia is one such place. This adventure route is a wild blend of imposing geographical challenges, ancient dinosaur-scapes, expansive salt deserts, deep canyons, rushing rivers, and colonial-era haciendas. Picture strato-volcanoes standing tall alongside wild vicuñas, a tapestry of landscapes so diverse, few dare to connect them all. But for those who do, the experience is nothing short of legendary.

Starting at a breathtaking 12,000 feet La Paz crouches against the windswept Altiplano, in the shadow of the Cordillera Real. This journey circles through terrain that’s guaranteed to leave you breathless at every turn. This isn't just a trip; it’s an epic quest for the true adventurer.

Acclimatizing in La Paz and Beyond
Our journey kicks off in La Paz, Bolivia's sky-high capital nestled within a rugged canyon. Here, the first few days are all about adjusting to the thin air while exploring the highland valleys that surround this vibrant city. Standing sentinel is Mt. Illimani, a towering giant over 21,000 feet high, draped in glaciers and offering jaw-dropping views—a perfect prelude to the Bolivian Andes’ grandeur.

Lake Titicaca and the Island of the Sun - the birthplace of the Incas

The Vast White Desert of the Uyuni Salt Flats
Our adventure then takes us across the Andes, through the mining landscapes that once made Bolivia rich, descending onto the vast Altiplano and the Uyuni Salt Flats. At 12,000 feet, the Uyuni Salt Flats stretch endlessly—a surreal, otherworldly terrain that’s both haunting and beautiful. We’ll drive across this white expanse, explore cactus-studded islands, and venture into caves where pre-Inca mummies lie, capturing the eerie solitude of this unparalleled location.

Concluding in La Paz
After 8-days of adventures — visiting Lake Titicaca, traversing the Altiplano, exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats and the high-altitude deserts of the Sud Lipez region, we return to where it all began: La Paz, before departing Bolivia.

Arrival at El Alto International Airport, Immigration & Customs

Depending on your international flight schedule you will arrive very early in the morning (between 2-6 AM) at El Alto International Airport. The airport is in the city of El Alto which is on the edge of the Altiplano at 13,200 ft/4023 m above La Paz (for reference: downtown La Paz is at 12,000 ft). Upon arrival, you go through Bolivian Immigration for your tourist visa (issued upon arrival) then Customs (Aduana). 

Your guide will be waiting for you at the general passenger meeting point, just look for the sign from Sergio Photo Tours.  We will take your luggage to our private vehicle for transport to the hotel.  We'll have bottled water in the vehicle for you, which helps with the acclimatization process.

You are now at high altitude; so, you need to be aware of the effects of altitude on your body; you may feel light-headed and short of breath, but that's normal.  Once we drop down 3,000 ft/900 m in elevation to your hotel (10,200 ft/3,100 m), you should feel much better.

We drive from the airport to the lowest elevation in the city of La Paz which sits at 10,200 ft/3,100 m. We'll be heading down a winding mountain road with breathtaking views of the valley below. We head to your hotel located in Calacoto neighborhood. After checking-in you should sleep/rest until lunch time.

The best way to acclimatize to altitude, is to move slowly, drink plenty of water and rest when you are tired.  Acclimatization time is a very personal affair, some do it quickly, and others take more time. It can take a few hours or a few days.  Listen to your body.

At 2 pm we'll begin a 4-hour city tour of this fascinating city deep in the heart of the Andes; visiting open air markets, colonial neighborhoods, the witches’ market and take in the vast canyon of La Paz from breathtaking viewpoints.  We return to your hotel so you can rest before dinner. After the city tour concludes you can freshen up and rest before dinner at a local restaurant serving some of Bolivia most delicious fare.  We recommend a light dinner, avoid alcohol and caffeine before bedtime. 

During the day you may want to enjoy a Mate de Coca (coca tea), a local herbal tea that helps with acclimatization, but refrain from it at night. Anise and chamomile teas help with digestion as well.

Keep drinking water, it’s very important for acclimatization.

Hotel: Casa Grande Express (3*)

Meals Included: L, D

We depart west, up and out of the canyon where La Paz sits and drive along the shores of Lake Titicaca towards the pilgrimage city of Copacabana and our goal for the day - the Island of the Sun. This route is one of the most breathtaking roads in the Andes and we have plenty of places to stop for the grand view of Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real to the east. The road takes us across the Straits of Tiquina then onto the Copacabana Peninsula (the border of Peru is just 20 minutes up the road) and the portside town of Copacabana where we will have an early lunch.  Afterwards we board our motorized boat to the Island of the Sun, boasting grandiose Inca ruins and tremendous views of Lake Titicaca and the Andes. We have a brief 45-minute walk uphill to the hotel with stunning views of the northern Cordillera Real to the east!  We will find a good location for the sunset and enjoy some magnificent views of the lake and Andes as the sun sets. Dinner and overnight on the Island of the Sun.

Hotel: Posada del Inca (4*)

Meals included: B, L, D

Today we rise before the sun to be ready for the sun to break behind the Cordillera Real.  Afterwards we have a nice breakfast and prepare for our departure.  We will have time to photograph the locals, tending to their animals and crops and going about their daily lives.  We descend the Inca Stairs and board our bat back to Copacabana and begin our drive back towards La Paz.  En-route we will enjoy a nice lunch on the shore of Lake Titicaca. Our  lunch spot has great views of the lake where traditional Bolivian  dishes are served, soups, fresh trout and local vegetables.  After lunch we head into the heart of the Cordillera Real (The Royal Mountain Range) to the basecamp of Mt. Huayna Potosi to get up close and personal with a 20,000 ft Andean giant.  You can see this mountain from La Paz.  At the lake you can peer into the Amazon basin to the east and see how the glaciers are retreating. We  begin our journey to La Paz at an appropriate time to avoid the traffic of the city of El Alto.  Our drive should be about 2 hours to our hotel. Dinner is at a local restaurant. Overnight in La Paz.

Hotel Casa Grande Express (3*)

Meals included:  B, L, D

After an early breakfast we begin our journey south along the Altiplano.  We climb out the canyon of La Paz then head south, passing by the industrial city of Oruro and other smaller typical Altiplano towns.  Our goal for today is the northern edge of the Salar de Uyuni. We have lunch en-route in Challapata and should arrive at the salt flats in the late afternoon, with plenty of time before sunset. The dirt road is still rough for the last couple of hours but the scenery is as marvelous as it has always been. We will check-in to the hotel before heading out for sunset at the salt flats.  Above us is Mt. Thunupa Volcano, an 17,450’/5,322m mega-volcano that juts out into the northern salt flats providing numerous vantage points for fabulous photography. Sunrise and sunset are especially good here, no matter the location or season. During the dry season the opportunity to create abundant abstract photos is never-ending. After sunset, we head back to our hotel for dinner and sleep. 

Hostal: Tayka de Sal (4*)

Meals included: B, L, D

Our adventure commences before dawn as we embark on a short drive to the edge of the salt flats. Witnessing the sun illuminate Thunupa’s summit as it ascends over the eastern horizon is an experience you want to photograph.  The sun rises swiftly at these latitudes, so after the sun gets too bright, we return to the hotel for breakfast. We pack up and continue our journey into the salt flats to visit some of the islands!  Continuing southeast out of the salt flats we arrive in Uyuni for an early lunch and gasoline.  We head south to the Sud L:ipez deserts and the Black Lagoon.  Our goal is the village of Villa Mar, tucked into a series of canyons below extinct volcanoes.  En-route there are cities of stone, local natural eroded lava that has surreal patterns, shapes and animal-like features.  We will shoot sunset here before heading to our hotel for the night.  Dinner and sleep in Villa Mar.

Hotel: Mallku Cueva (4*)

Meals included: B, L, D

Today we have an early departure so we can see the early morning light at Laguna Colorada while the flamingos are still waking up. After breakfast at Laguna Colorada we begin the slow climb to the highest pass on our route (4,816 m/15,800 ft). We'll flank the boiling mud pits and steaming fumaroles at Sol de Mañana caldera, where hot volcanic gas exit into the cold Andean sky. We drop into the Salar de Chalviri and the Polques hot springs for an early lunch. We return via a different route with stunning landscapes and volcanoes across the horizon. Returning via Villa Mar and the Cities of Stone we should arrive in the city of Uyuni at the end of the day, catching the sunset en-route.  Dinner and overnight in Uyuni.

Hotel El Toñito (3*)

Meals included: B, L, D

The drive to La Paz will take a while but is very spectacular because it stays high in the mountains for the first half of the trip and it’s on a paved road all the way to La Paz, so it’s fast and comfortable. Along the way you will see multi-colored red valleys, high peaks, green puna wetlands with llamas and alpacas grazing. The closer we get to La Paz you will see the glacier-covered peaks of the Cordillera Real rising above the Altiplano. The scenery is magnificent and should provide plenty of visual appeal along the entire route. We should arrive in La Paz in the late afternoon. After checking-in we head out for dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate a wonderful and adventurous journey of the Bolivian Altiplano.

Your flight departs very early in the AM (tomorrow) so we usually depart the hotel around midnight for the 45-minute drive to the airport.

Hotel Casa Grande Express (3*)

Meals included: B, L, D

We will take you to the airport at an appointed time (usually around midnight), based on your flight schedule. Drive time from hotel to the airport is 45 minutes. We need to arrive 2 ½ - 3 hours before any international departure. We will coordinate your departure time the night before.

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