Detailed itinerary:
Day 1 – LA PAZ : Overnight at Real Plaza Hotel in La Paz (01 Double room + American buffet breakfast).
Day 2 – LA PAZ - UYUNI
AM : La Paz - Tiwanaku - La Paz : TIWANAKU RUINS HALF DAY
Passengers are picked up from their hotels to visit the epic city of Tiwanaku, the capital of an ancient civilization. Located 72 km away form the city of La Paz and near the south-eastern shores of Lake Titikaka. During its greatest times, the capital of Tiwanaku was the largest in the world and considered to be the Cradle of all American Civilizations. This pre-Inca ruins started endless archeological debates, the most recent radiocarbon 14 tests show that this edifications date back to 1580 B.C.
In this ancient breath taking city we will visit the Kalasasaya (Sun) temple, Semisubterranean (Earth) Temple, Akapana Pyramid and the legendary Sun Gate, the tour also takes us to the museum filled with ceramic objects and tools from previous civilizations prior to the Incas.
PM: CITY TOUR AND MOON VALLEY HALF DAY
: AM Pick up from hotel to visit the famous Witches Market, the colonial Church of San Francisco and crafts shops on Sagarnaga Street. The tour continues to the Murillo Square, where are located the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government Palace and Parliament buildings. Then visit the famous Jaen Street a colonial neighborhood, where the most interesting museums in the city are clustered together, from there we will go to the replica of the Semi-subterranean temple of Tiwanaku Culture. Changing scenery, the tour continues to the residential areas of Obrajes, Calacoto and Florida. The tour ends with a visit to the spectacular Valley of the Moon, passengers will have the opportunity to take a short hike and visit a ceramic workshop where there will be a demonstration of this art.
At 17:00 - Transfer to the Airport of La Paz for your flight to Uyuni.
At 19:15 – Departure to Uyuni
At 20:15 - Arrival to Uyuni and transfer to the hotel. Overnight at a Salt hotel Luna Salada in Uyuni (01 Double rooms + American Buffet Breakfast)
Day 3 – UYUNI – SALT FLATS
Pick up from Hotel. Departure to the Colchani village where is possible to observe the extracting salt process by hand and the salt local handicrafts. Visit to "Playa Blanca" a museum of salt; "Ojos de Sal", the salt eyes, interesting to be the exit points of the salt water; salt hexagons, geometric shapes on the salt flats surface, piles of salt and we will cross the salt flats to enjoy the beautiful landscapes. Lunch in restaurant or picnic.
Visit to Incahuasi Island, it is located in the heart of the salt flat and it is the biggest of a group of islands that represents an isolated ecosystem. The island is populated with giant cacti species that measures up to 12 meters high (26.25 feet), providing an impressive overview.
From April to November, dry season, the salt flats surface gives the opportunity to play with photography and perspective.
From December to March, the entire salt flats surface is covered with water and becomes a huge white mirror where the sky is perfectly reflected on the salt flat surface. Due to the flooding during this season, some of the attractions might not be reachable and as a precaution vehicles will only go to the safest flooded locations. Tranfer to airport.
It is advisable to wear sandals to enjoy the warm water of the salt.
At convenient time transfet to Uyuni Airport. Flight to La Paz. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight at Real Plaza Hotel in La Paz (01 Double room + Buffet American Breakfast)
Day 4 – COLCHANI – SILIOLI DESERT (OJO DE PERDIZ)
Departure to the Train Cemetery, where there are the first train engines from the XIX century
in Bolivia, continue with the visit to the Magic villages of Sud Lípez, the south region outside the
Salt Flat; San Cristobal village is known for be a mine center village. After that we visit the Rock
Valley, a group of big red rocks which form an interesting landscape. Lunch. Transfer to the
hotel in Ojo de Perdiz. We continue to the Lookout of Ollagüe Volcano, where you can watch
its activity and a desert landscape. After that, we take a look to the "Joyas Andinas", Andean
Jewelry, small lagoons, which show biodiversity of the region. Transfer to the hotel in Ojo de
Perdiz (Silioli Desert). Overnight at Tayka Del Desierto EcoHotel (02 Double rooms + American
breakfast.
Day 5 – OJO DE PERDIZ – HITO CAJON – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA.
An early departure from the hotel to begin the visits: the Stone Tree, silent testimony of the erosion of the earth and the passage of the years, part of the Siloli Desert, flatland without vegetation that gives rise to the Reserve Eduardo Avaroa , (714,745 acres) where we visit the Red Lagoon which is an amazing proof of a very diverse ecosystem in a totally desolate weather. We continue to the visit to the geysers "Sol de Mañana", with fumaroles and volcanic craters of spectacular formation at an altitude of 4.900 mtrs, spouting mixed water and superheated steam reaching 80 to 100 mtrs height; this geothermic phenomena dates from the beginning of the earth. Morning Sun, its name is due to the activity is more notorious in
the morning. Also visit the hot springs of Polques, hot water eyes due to the volcanic activity of the region. The Green Lagoon, unique for the active microorganisms that give color to the water.}, looks like as a dazzling giant emerald, due to high magnesium content. Lunch. Transfer to Hito Cajon border between Bolivia and Chile. After, continue to San Pedro de Atacama.
